Florida State Parks Top Picks

Central Florida

Fort DeSoto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S
St Petersburg, Fl 33715
727-582-2100
pinellascounty.org
This expansive park and historic site consists of five offshore keys. Home to 1,136 acres on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, it also boasts some of the most stunning beaches in Florida and some of Florida’s best waterfront camping. At the heart of the park lies Fort DeSoto’s namesake fort. At ground level, artillery holds and firing galleys make up the coquina shell fort’s base. Climb to the top of the fort where cannons point at Tampa Bay for sweeping views of the park and beyond. You can also visit the small Quartermaster Museum within the park. The park’s sev-en-mile paved trail is a perfect destination for avid runners, cyclists and hikers.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
4732 Millhopper Rd
Gainesville, FL 32653
352-955-2008
devilsmillhopper.com
Discover an unexpected rainforest within this remarkable geological wonderland.
There are tons of fun activities and things to see and do here including a spectacularly unexpected rainforest that is tucked inside nature. Hike or bike the out-and-back nature trail to see the park’s 120’ deep limestone sinkhole known as “Devil’s Millhopper.” The visitor center has informative exhibits, and the picnic area is a popular lunchtime getaway for locals.

Lake Kissimmee State Park
14248 Camp Mack Rd
Lake Wales, Fl 33898
407-624-5640
lakekissimmeesp.com
You wouldn’t expect to find a beautiful park like this smack dab in Florida’s cow country but here you have it. A perfect family destination, the retreat has lots of open space, trails, three breathtaking lakes and an 1867-era “Cow Hunter Camp.” Luxury Pioneer Tents offer all the benefits of camping without sacrificing the little luxuries of home, and with a little Old-Florida charm that even the toughest cow hunters can’t deny!

Madison Blue Springs State Park
8300 Florida State Road 6
Lee, FL 32059
850-971-5003
skateparks.com
Located in one of Florida’s newest state parks, this crystal clear, first magnitude spring is considered to be one of the best swimming holes in America. Approximately 82’ wide and 25’ deep, the spring bubbles up into a limestone basin along the west bank of the Withlacoochee River. As the spring and river merges, the waters become warmer and are simply amazing to swim in. Scenic woodlands of mixed hardwoods and pines create a picturesque setting for picnicking, paddling, and wildlife viewing.

Florida Keys & Key West

Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Hwy (Mile Marker 37)
Big Pine, Fl
305-872-2353
floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/Bahia-Honda-State-Park
This 500-acre park, located on Bahia Honda Key in the Lower Keys, is a top family getaway with an award-winning beach, soft sand, warm shallow water, excellent snorkeling, campsites, cabins and concession operations. Henry Flagler’s famed railroad, completed in 1912, helped to transform Bahia Honda Key into a subtropical destination. The old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge, known as the Over-Sea Railroad Bridge, offers stunning views and you can hike to part of the original trestle railroad structure. Named after the deep natural bay under the bridge, the park is a nesting grounds for sea turtles, including the endangered hawksbill, and a quiet place to watch wading birds and shorebirds. With beaches fronting both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Bahia Honda is paradise at its best. To reserve bayside cabins up to 11 months in advance, visit floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 800-326-3521.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
601 HowardEngland Way
Key West, Fl 33040
305-292-6713
fortzachary.com
Florida’s southernmost 56-acre state park is Key West’s favorite beach park, known for its snorkeling, swimming, picnicking, fishing and nature trails. For locals, it’s a popular gathering spot for families and friends. Fort Zachary Taylor was built in the mid-1800s as one of 47 forts constructed to defend the nation’s southeastern coast-line. Named after then-President Zachary Taylor, the fort played important roles in Civil War and Spanish-American War history and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. A beachfront concession offers a variety of sandwich and snack fare, beach sundries, souvenirs, snorkel and water gear, lockers and beach chairs.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
102601 Overseas Hwy (Mile Marker102.5)
Key Largo, Fl 33037
305-451-6300
pennekamppark.com
The first undersea park in the United States, Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses about 70 nautical square miles. With full-facility campsites for RV and tent campers, it offers scuba diving, snorkeling and glass-bottom boat tours. The nearby under-water Christ of the Deep statue is at Key Largo Dry Rocks. The Visitor Center has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, six 100 to 200-gallon aquariums and nature videos. There’s also kayaking, paddle boarding and saltwater fishing, a mangrove wilderness and tropical hammocks. Established in 1960, it was named after John Pennekamp, a Miami Herald editor-columnist who also helped create Everglades National Park.

North Florida

Anastasia State Park
300 Anastasia Park Rd
St Augustine, Fl 32080
904-461-2033
floridastateparks.org/anastasia
With more than 1600 acres of pristine unspoiled beaches, tidal marshes, maritime hammocks and ancient sand dunes, St Augustine’s barrier island is absolutely captivating. Osprey and eagles rule the skies, and painted buntings and warblers often flit about the hammock forests. You can observe lots of different wildlife on the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail, or from right along the beach from a canoe or kayak.
As an extra bonus, the park’s 139 campsites for RV’s and tents are nestled in a hammock forest just a short stroll from the beach.

Bulow Creek State Park
3351 Old Dixie Hwy
Ormond Beach, Fl 32174
386-676-4050
floridastateparks.org
Small ponds and lakes dotted with cabbage palm islands provide a beautiful respite
at this beautiful park that is also home to some of the largest and oldest live oaks in Florida. The star of the show is the Fairchild Oak, which is over 400 years old and one of the largest live oaks in the South. You’ll also discover several amazing walk-ing trails that will take you through the interior of the park. FYI: Naturalist John Audubon roamed these woods during his stay at Bulow Plantation in January 1832 while working on his book “Birds of America.”

Big Talbot Island State Park
State Rd, A1A North
Jacksonville, Fl 32226
904-251-2320
floridastateparks.org
Located on one of Northeast Florida’s unique sea islands, Big Talbot Island State Park is primarily a natural preserve, providing a premier location for nature study, bird-watching and photography. You can explore the diverse island habitats by hiking Blackrock Trail to the shoreline, Big Pine Trail to the marsh, or Old Kings High-way and Jones Cut through the maritime forest. Launch a boat from the north end of the island to fish and tour the salt marsh, or rent a kayak and take a guided paddle tour. The unique beach here is famous for the salt-washed skeletons of live oak and cedar trees that once grew near the shore.

The Palm Beaches

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
North Palm Beach
10900 Jack Nicklaus Dr,
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
561-624-6952
macarthurbeach.org
Nestled on a barrier island with almost two miles of pristine, stunning beachfront, this quiet sanctuary is The Palm Beaches only state park. Activities like swimming, snorkeling and fishing in the clear blue waters of the Atlantic are just the beginning of all the fun that you can have here. The flip side of the park sits in the urban estuary of the Intracoastal Waterway where you can kayak, canoe, hike short trails and visit the Nature Center. The park rents single and double ocean canoes, perfect for sighting the manatees that inhabit the local waters or for sighting great blue herons in the swamplands. Calm surf and a children’s playground, makes this a good spot for families.

Peanut Island Park
AKA Palm Beach Inlet
6500 Peanut Island Rd
Riviera Beach, Fl 33404
561-845-4445
discover.pbcgov.org
Home of the fascinating Palm Beach Maritime Museum and President John F Kennedy’s Cold War bomb shelter, this 80-acre park is a magnet for boaters who often anchor in the shallow, sandy bottom waters on the north and west sides of the is-land. There’s a guarded swimming area here, as well, but the real draw is the great snorkeling around the rocky shoreline on the southern edge of the island. A good size campground with a large community fire ring, picnic pavilion, restrooms and hot showers is comprised of 20 camping sites, all equipped with tent pads, pic-nic tables and barbecue grills. A boat dock and boat slips are also available. FYI: To explore the beach at Peanut Island you must arrive by boat. Fortunately, that’s easy and fun. You can take a shuttle from Sailfish Marina (98 Lake Dr, Palm Beach Shores) or a water taxi from Riviera Beach Marina (Slip 522 200 E. 13th St, Riviera Beach).

Red Reef Park
1400 N State Rd A1A
Boca Raton, Fl 33432
561-393-7810
mybocaparks.org
Make sure you put this secluded, 67-acre oceanfront park on your bucket list. Heavily foliated, the park is a favorite haunt for a variety of small tropical birds and offers a myriad of amenities including an oceanside 9-hole golf course and the 20-acre Gumbo Limbo Nature Center which showcases several intriguing exhibits. A scenic boardwalk with benches, a pavilion and breathtaking ocean vistas leads to a brick walkway that extends to South Beach. This is your place in the sun where swimming, snorkeling and surf fishing rule the day. Restrooms and showering sta-tions are nearby, as well as a picnic area equipped with grills and tables.

South Florida

Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 SE Hwy
Hobe Sound, Fl 33455
772-546-2771
floridastateparks.org
As the largest state park in Southeast Florida, the vast and wild Jonathan Dickson State Park stretches out along the northern shore of the pristine Loxahatchee River and covers sixteen natural communities. The park has a small sandy beach for swimming and there are several hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails.
History buffs will be intrigued by the top secret World War II training camp; the story of the shipwrecked Quaker merchant who is the park’s namesake; and Trap-per Nelson, the legendary “Wild Man of the Loxahatchee,” who, in the 1930’s, set up his own attraction in the wilds along the river. Guided nature tours, horseback rides, paddling and bicycle rentals, as well as camping sites and cabins are also available.

Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72
Sarasota, Fl 34241
941-361-6511
floridastateparks.org
Savor wildflower covered prairies, wild wetlands and gorgeous pinelands at one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks. The majestic Myakka River flows through an amazing 58 miles of unspoiled wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. As Florida’s first state-designated wild and scenic river, boating, fishing, and ca-noeing kayaking are popular activities on the water. FYI: the Myakka River boasts some of the biggest alligators you’ll ever see, and in huge numbers. With miles of trails and backroads to hike or bike, you can literally spend several days here and not run out of things to do. There are also three outstanding campgrounds and his-toric palm-tree log cabins built during the Depression.

Everglades National Park
40001 SR-9336
Homestead, Fl 33034
305-242-770
nps.gov/ever
Renowned as the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River, the Everglades are the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America and contain the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. This network of wet-lands and forests is fed by a “River of Grass” flowing out of Lake Okeechobee, southwest into Florida Bay. The majority of South Florida’s fresh water, which is stored in the Biscayne Aquifer, is recharged in the park. The Everglades are home to frogs, toads, alligators, hundreds of species of birds, 300 different species of fish, Florida panthers (endangered), crocodiles, snakes, and more. Just as the diverse fauna and flora have survived here for thousands of years, American Indians, and later settlers have made this region their home. Like the Everglades themselves, the lives of American Indians living in and around this region have been significantly altered over hundreds of years. In Everglades National Park, you can still experi-ence the natural and landscape of hundreds of years of American Indian cultural heritage and immerse yourself in a subtropical world that is unlike few other places on earth.