Florida, North Florida and Jacksonville University in 2 Days: A North Florida College Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing the University of Florida, the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University from one hotel at the edge of UF's campus: official tour sign-ups, visitor parking at all three schools, a free art museum next door for siblings, lunch stops in Jacksonville, and North Florida weather by season.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
University of Florida (Gainesville) · University of North Florida (Jacksonville) · Jacksonville University (Jacksonville)
Days
2: UF on day 1, then North Florida and Jacksonville University on day 2 before flying home from Jacksonville. Arrive the day before.
Fly into
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), about 19 minutes and 9 miles from the hotel with no traffic, with daily jet service to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte and Miami.
Best base
Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, on UF's southwest corner: about a 7-minute walk to the Harn Museum of Art and about 8 minutes by car to the Reitz Union.
Car or transit
You'll need a car. North Florida is about 2 hours (88 miles) east of the hotel with no traffic, and Jacksonville University is about 20 minutes from North Florida.
Registration
All three schools take tour sign-ups online. UF and North Florida run weekday tours; North Florida asks you to register at least two weeks ahead, and UF opens registration about 4 to 6 weeks out.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see three very different North Florida schools in one trip: the University of Florida, the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University.
You sleep at the edge of UF's campus for both nights, then spend day 2 in Jacksonville and fly home from there, so there's no hotel change.
Why this order
Day 1: UF's campus tour is a brief admissions information session and a 60-minute student-led walking tour, and the free Harn Museum of Art is a short walk from the hotel.
Day 2: North Florida's weekday tours take about two hours and come with a free parking pass for registered guests, and Jacksonville University is about 20 minutes away.
Jacksonville University's student-led visit runs 1.5 to 2 hours and includes an admissions presentation, a golf-cart ride to farther parts of campus, and stops at the dining hall, the Riverhouse, a freshman residence hall and a classroom.
Each campus parks you differently
UF: the Welcome Center garage, just south of the Reitz Union at Museum Road and Reitz Union Drive, is a pay garage: $8 for the day, $5 for 2 hours or $2 for 45 minutes, paid at the stair-tower and elevator pay stations. Paid parking runs Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
North Florida: registered tour guests get a free parking pass for the day; watch your email for parking details before you go.
Jacksonville University: request a free one-day visitor permit from Campus Safety and Security at the Howard Administration Building or by emailing security@ju.edu. Visitors may also park in Lot I.
Tour availability varies by season.
Summers are hot and stormy: Gainesville averages about 91°F highs in July, and June is the wettest month at about 7.6 inches of rain. Plan for afternoon showers on summer visits.
North Florida says a tour may be modified or rescheduled if lightning is in the immediate area, so check the forecast the day before.
UF doesn't run tours during university breaks or holidays, so pick a date when classes are in session.
Winter is mild: January averages about 67°F highs and 43°F lows in Gainesville, with no measurable snow.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. The Gainesville-to-Jacksonville drive is about 88 miles, so leave a buffer before your North Florida tour.
All three schools are on Eastern time.
Arrival day: fly into Gainesville and check in by UF
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) → Hilton University of Florida Conference Center (1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville)
Driving (no traffic)
~19 min, 9.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Driving
Drive
Hotel → Harn Museum of Art (3259 Hull Rd.)
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Driving
~7 min walk, 0.3 mi
GNV has daily jet service to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte and Miami.
If you land in time, the Harn is free and open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., with Thursday evenings until 9 p.m. for Art After Dark. It's closed Mondays.
Day 1: University of Florida
Hotel → UF Welcome Center garage (Museum Rd. at Reitz Union Dr.)
Driving (no traffic)
~8 min, 2.9 mi
Driving
~45 min walk, 2.1 mi
Reitz Union → Century Tower
Driving (no traffic)
Short drive
Driving
~9 min walk, 0.4 mi
Reitz Union area → The Swamp Restaurant (1104 SW 2nd Ave.)
Driving (no traffic)
Short drive
Driving
~20 min walk, 0.9 mi
Register on UF's campus tour page. Tours run Monday through Friday during the academic year, with registration opening about 4 to 6 weeks ahead; there are no tours during breaks or holidays.
Add a specialty session if it fits your student: UF lists Honors, Journalism, Engineering and Music sessions on select days.
The Jennings Hall housing showroom takes walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it isn't part of the campus tour.
Can't make a guided tour? UF's campus is open to the public, and its GatorWay app has a self-guided tour.
Day 2: North Florida and Jacksonville University, then fly home
Hotel → University of North Florida Welcome Center (Building 10, 1 UNF Dr., Jacksonville)
Driving (no traffic)
~2 hr 2 min, 88.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Driving
Drive
North Florida → Southern Grounds San Pablo (14100 Mayo Blvd.)
Driving (no traffic)
~12 min, 6.3 mi
Driving
Drive
North Florida → Jacksonville University (2800 University Blvd. N.)
Driving (no traffic)
~20 min, 11.4 mi
Driving
Drive
Jacksonville University → Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Driving (no traffic)
~49 min, 23.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Driving
Drive
Check out early: North Florida asks tour guests to arrive 30 minutes before the tour and check in at the Welcome Center, Building 10, suite 1500. The tour takes about two hours.
North Florida takes walk-ins but strongly recommends registering, at least two weeks ahead, and asks you to hold off on travel bookings until your tour spot is confirmed.
Book a Jacksonville University tour on its sign-up page by picking a green date that leaves time after North Florida. The visit runs 1.5 to 2 hours.
Flying home from Gainesville instead? Jacksonville University is about 1 hour 55 minutes from the hotel with no traffic.
UF's campus tour is a brief admissions information session followed by a 60-minute student-led walking tour, Monday through Friday while classes are in session. Registration opens about 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
Specialty sessions run on select days for Honors, Journalism, Engineering and Music. The campus is also open to the public, with a self-guided tour in the GatorWay app.
School groups book through UF's group tour page; the Welcome Center asks groups to arrive 20 minutes early and notes there's no restroom break during the tour.
Visitor parking
Welcome Center garage (737 Reitz Union Dr., just south of the Reitz Union): $8 daily, $5 for 2 hours or $2 for 45 minutes. Garage 5 at 1108 Gale Lemerand Dr. is another visitor option. Paid parking runs Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Getting there
About 8 minutes by car from the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center to the Reitz Union with no traffic.
What to know
The Harn Museum of Art on the UF Cultural Plaza is free. The neighboring Florida Museum of Natural History's exhibits building is closed for renovation and reopens Monday, Nov. 23, 2026.
Weekday campus tours run Monday through Friday and take about two hours. Walk-ins are accepted, but North Florida strongly recommends registering at least two weeks ahead because tours fill quickly.
Check in at the Welcome Center, Building 10, suite 1500, 30 minutes before your tour. For accessibility needs, contact SAC@unf.edu or 904-620-2769.
Visitor parking
Registered tour guests get a free parking pass for the day; parking details for your tour come by email.
Getting there
About 2 hours from the Hilton by UF with no traffic, and about 20 minutes from Jacksonville University.
What to know
If lightning is in the immediate area, the tour may be modified or rescheduled, and tours are rescheduled if the university closes for weather.
Contact
UNF Welcome Center, Building 10, 1 UNF Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32224; visitunf@unf.edu.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Student-led visits run 1.5 to 2 hours: an admissions presentation, an optional conversation with an admissions counselor, and a tour with a golf-cart ride to farther amenities and stops at the dining hall, the Riverhouse, a freshman residence hall and a classroom.
Jacksonville University says incoming freshmen can earn a one-time $1,000 visit grant for attending an on-campus tour; confirm the terms with admissions.
Interested in aviation? Jacksonville University recommends a 10 a.m. tour followed by a visit to its program at Craig Airport, (904) 641-5774.
Visitor parking
Request a free one-day visitor permit from Campus Safety and Security at the Howard Administration Building, or email security@ju.edu. Visitors may also park in Lot I.
Getting there
About 20 minutes from North Florida and about 49 minutes from Jacksonville International Airport with no traffic.
What to know
Can't make it in person? Jacksonville University also has an online virtual tour.
Contact
Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32211. Tour questions: Donna Cowley, dcowley@ju.edu, (904) 256-7198.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville
1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL
Why here
It's on UF's southwest corner, about a 7-minute walk to the Harn Museum of Art and about 8 minutes by car to the Reitz Union, and about 19 minutes from GNV with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists free self-parking and an outdoor pool. Amenities and room types change, so confirm them on the listing before you book.
One hotel by UF's campus for both nights means no repacking: UF is minutes away, and on day 2 you check out, see both Jacksonville schools and fly home from JAX.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
Gainesville (UF)
Eat
The Swamp Restaurant
1104 SW 2nd Ave., Gainesville, FL
A Gainesville landmark that opened in 1994 off West University Avenue and has reopened in the Gainesville Innovation District, about a 20-minute walk from the Reitz Union.
A pizza shop, live-music venue and toy store where you can eat in a vintage van, under a plane or in a greenhouse; about 15 minutes by car from the hotel.
Free admission, about a 7-minute walk from the hotel: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1–5 p.m., with Art After Dark on Thursdays until 9 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas, about 26 minutes by car from Jacksonville University, if siblings need a stop while the rest of the family tours.
At UF, use the Welcome Center garage just south of the Reitz Union: $8 for the day, $5 for 2 hours.
At North Florida, registered tour guests get a free day parking pass.
At Jacksonville University, get a free one-day visitor permit from Campus Safety (security@ju.edu) or park in Lot I.
Flying in and out
Gainesville Regional (GNV) is about 19 minutes from the hotel with no traffic and has daily jet service to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte and Miami.
Jacksonville International (JAX) is about 49 minutes from Jacksonville University and about 2 hours 15 minutes from the hotel with no traffic, so it's the easy airport to fly home from after day 2.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Gainesville)
Spring: April averages about 82°F highs and 56°F lows, with about 2.7 inches of rain.
Summer: July averages about 91°F highs and 72°F lows, with about 6.7 inches of rain.
Fall: October averages about 82°F highs and 61°F lows, with about 2.7 inches of rain.
Winter: January averages about 67°F highs and 43°F lows.
Parent checklist
Register for all three tours online: UF about 4 to 6 weeks out, North Florida at least two weeks ahead, and a Jacksonville University slot that leaves time after North Florida.
Pick weekdays when UF classes are in session; UF doesn't tour during breaks or holidays.
Email security@ju.edu ahead for a free Jacksonville University visitor permit.
Book the Hilton by UF for two nights and a one-way car rental from GNV to JAX, or round trip if you fly home from Gainesville.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (University of Florida, University of North Florida and Jacksonville University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Comfort Inn Gainesville – University Area (hotel's own site; address) (not linked: https://www.choicehotels.com/florida/gainesville/comfort-inn-hotels/fl102)
DoubleTree by Hilton Gainesville (hotel's own site; location and parking) (not linked: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/gnvgldt-doubletree-gainesville/hotel-location/)
