🌿 RelaxedLong weekend · from Orlando, FL
Stuart & Jupiter — Riverwalk Charm, the Lighthouse & Wild Beaches
Just over two hours southeast of Orlando, the Treasure Coast strings together some of Florida's most laid-back river towns and unspoiled shorelines, well south of the crowds yet full of character. This relaxed three-day escape begins in historic downtown Stuart, wandering its walkable brick streets and the Riverwalk along the St. Lucie River. Day two heads down to Jupiter to climb the iconic red brick inlet lighthouse, marvel at the rock-carved shoreline of Blowing Rocks Preserve, and unwind on wide, natural beaches. Day three explores the pinewoods and river of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the quiet village of Hobe Sound before the easy drive home. Comfortable base nights in Stuart and Jupiter anchor a weekend of water, wildlife, and small-town ease.
Day 1 — Historic downtown Stuart & the RiverwalkDay 2 — Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Blowing Rocks Preserve & the beachesDay 3 — Jonathan Dickinson State Park & Hobe Sound
Day 1 — Stuart, FL
Day 1 — Stuart, FL
🚗 2 hr 10 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Orlando, FL → Stuart, FL
2 hr 10 min8:00 AM → 10:10 AM
Historic Downtown Stuart
★ 4.7Often called the sailfish capital of the world, Stuart wraps a beautifully preserved historic downtown around the St. Lucie River, its brick-paved streets lined with independent shops, galleries, cafes, and a restored 1920s cinema. The compact, walkable district has a warm, small-town feel that has earned it a reputation as one of the most charming main streets in Florida. A signature covered walkway and pocket parks invite easy browsing, and the vintage Lyric Theatre anchors the cultural scene. It is a relaxed, unhurried place to stretch your legs and settle into the slower Treasure Coast pace after the drive down.
10:10 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch11:10 AM
The Gafford
The Gafford is one of downtown Stuart's standout dining rooms, an American gastropub set in a handsome historic storefront serving elevated comfort food built around fresh local seafood and prime steaks. Its stylish yet welcoming interior and a strong cocktail and wine program make it a favorite for a relaxed, memorable lunch right in the heart of the walkable district. Regional catches and house-made touches give the menu a distinct sense of place. It is an easy, satisfying midday table before an afternoon along the water.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
Stuart Riverwalk & the St. Lucie River
★ 4.8The Stuart Riverwalk is a landscaped boardwalk and promenade tracing the edge of the St. Lucie River right at the foot of downtown, with shaded benches, a waterfront amphitheater, and long views over the water toward passing boats and the Roosevelt Bridge. It links a string of pocket parks and connects easily back into the shops and restaurants, making it perfect for a slow afternoon stroll. Anglers work the seawall, dolphins sometimes surface offshore, and the light on the river late in the day is lovely. It is the natural place to unwind and watch the water on the first afternoon.
12:10 PM📍 See location
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Evening
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Riverfront Lodging in Stuart
Base the first night in Stuart to stay close to the downtown dining and the Riverwalk, choosing from riverfront hotels, marina inns, and boutique properties within walking distance of the historic district. A room overlooking the St. Lucie River or the marina puts sunset views and evening strolls right at your door. Downtown's compact scale means dinner, a walk along the water, and a nightcap are all steps away without moving the car. The relaxed harbor-town atmosphere makes for a restful first evening on the Treasure Coast.
Day 2 — Jupiter, FL
Day 2 — Jupiter, FL
🚗 40 min driving📍 4 stops
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Morning
🚗
Drive
Stuart, FL → Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Jupiter
40 min8:00 AM → 8:40 AM
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
★ 4.7The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is the landmark of the Treasure Coast — a striking red brick tower first lit in 1860, designed in part by future Confederate general George Meade, and still an active aid to navigation. Climbing its 105 steps rewards you with a panoramic view over the sparkling Jupiter Inlet, the Loxahatchee River, and the surrounding coastline. The 120-acre outpost preserve at its base includes a museum, historic buildings, and short nature trails through coastal hammock rich with archaeological history. It is a scenic, history-filled way to open the middle day. Guided tours add context to the tower and its keepers' lives.
8:40 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch9:40 AM
Guanabanas
Guanabanas is a quintessential Jupiter waterfront experience — an open-air, tiki-style restaurant built into a lush tropical jungle setting right on the Intracoastal, with thatched roofs, koi ponds, and boat dockage. The menu leans into fresh Florida seafood, fish tacos, and island-inspired plates, best enjoyed with a frozen drink under the palms. Its laid-back, jungle-bar atmosphere captures the easygoing spirit of the coast perfectly. It is a fun, relaxed midday stop between the lighthouse and the beaches, and it draws a crowd, so expect a lively scene.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
Blowing Rocks Preserve
★ 4.7Blowing Rocks Preserve, on Jupiter Island, protects the largest Anastasia limestone outcropping on the U.S. Atlantic coast — a dramatic, weathered rock shoreline unlike anything else in Florida. When winter seas and high tides surge against the eroded ledges, water is forced upward through blowholes in spectacular plumes as high as fifty feet. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, the preserve also has a restored dune, native plant trails, and a quiet stretch of beach for a walk among the rocks. Even on calm days the sculpted shoreline is striking, making this one of the most memorable natural stops on the coast.
12:00 PM📍 See location
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Evening
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Beachside Lodging in Jupiter
Shift the second night down to Jupiter to stay close to its beaches and waterfront for the final morning, choosing from oceanfront resorts, Intracoastal inns, and boutique hotels near the inlet. A room near the water puts you within reach of Jupiter's wide, natural, and largely undeveloped beaches — some of the loveliest in South Florida — for a sunrise walk. The town's relaxed riverfront restaurant scene offers plenty of options for a low-key dinner. Basing here also shortens the next morning's drive toward Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Day 3 — Hobe Sound, FL
Day 3 — Hobe Sound, FL
🚗 2 hr 35 min driving📍 3 stops
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Morning
🚗
Drive
Jupiter, FL → Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound
20 min8:00 AM → 8:20 AM
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
★ 4.7Jonathan Dickinson State Park spreads across more than 10,000 acres of globally rare Florida sand-pine scrub, pine flatwoods, and the federally designated Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River. Its signature climb is Hobe Mountain, an ancient sand dune topped by an observation tower with sweeping views over a sea of untouched wilderness to the Atlantic beyond. Guided boat tours run up the tea-colored Loxahatchee River past cypress and mangrove to the pioneer homestead of Trapper Nelson, the legendary wild man of the Loxahatchee. Manatees, alligators, ospreys, and gopher tortoises are common sights along its quiet trails and paddling routes, making it a serene final immersion in wild Florida.
8:20 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch9:20 AM
Harry & the Natives
Harry & the Natives is a beloved old-Florida roadhouse in Hobe Sound, a quirky, memorabilia-crammed institution that has been serving travelers along the coastal highway for generations. The menu delivers hearty American and Southern comfort classics — burgers, fried seafood, gator, and Key lime pie — in a rambling, unpretentious dining room full of local history and character. It is exactly the kind of authentic, off-beat roadside spot that defines the slower Treasure Coast. A relaxed, characterful lunch here is a fitting final meal before turning back toward Orlando.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
Hobe Sound Beach & National Wildlife Refuge
★ 4.9Hobe Sound offers a wonderfully unspoiled stretch of coast, anchored by the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, which protects one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in the United States along with pristine dune and sand-pine scrub. The public Hobe Sound Beach nearby is a wide, natural shoreline backed by tall dunes, far quieter than the resort beaches to the south. A short nature trail and small interpretive center explain the refuge's role in protecting nesting loggerheads and green turtles. A final barefoot walk on this wild beach is a peaceful, fitting close to the weekend before the drive home.
12:00 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Hobe Sound, FL → Orlando, FL
2 hr 15 min5:00 PM → 7:15 PM
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