There are 175 state parks in Florida and all of them are special in their own way. These are some of the best places in the state to see the Real Florida. Places to go hiking, fishing, see some unique wildlife, visit a pristine beach, or go paddling in a crystal clear spring. With so many parks there’s probably one of our favorites near you! Here are the best Florida State Parks for some of our favorite outdoor activities.
Best Florida State Park for Hiking
Big Shoals State Park – White Springs, FL
Big Shoals has one of the most extensive trail systems in Florida, with 28 miles of trails to explore for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
Just about every state park in Florida is a great state park for hiking, but only Big Shoals State Park will offer you views of limestone bluffs that rise 80 feet above the Suwanee River. Located in far north Florida near Lake City, Big Shoals has a topography and rugged terrain that you won’t find anywhere else in the state. And when the water levels are right, the Suwannee River that cuts through this park features a stretch of Class III whitewater rapids!
Honorable Mention: Hillsborough River State Park, Alafia River State Park, Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Best Florida State Park for Mountain Biking
Alafia River State Park – Lithia, FL
Alafia River is one of the most unique state parks in Florida. The park sits on land that was once a huge phosphate mine, but it was eventually reclaimed for the public and turned into a state park. The forest has grown back, but all the hills, valleys, and wild elevation changes remain to make this place a playground for mountain biking. There aren’t a lot of places in Florida with a topography like this! It’s easily the best Florida state park for mountain biking.
Alafia River State Park has 17 miles of biking trails with ratings that run from novice to highly advanced, and is so popular with mountain bikers that there’s even a full service bike shop on location.
This is a park that’s best known for mountain biking, but there’s still plenty to do for you non-bikers out there. Alafia River State Park is also a popular place for horseback riding, hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, fishing, and boating. The Alafia River cuts through the middle of the park, and there’s a public boat ramp available.
Honorable Mention: Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Rock Springs Run State Park
Best Florida State Park for exploring the deep wilderness
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is the biggest and the wildest state park in Florida. It’s been called “the Amazon of North America” and a place where adventurous explorers can really get themselves muddy while trekking through some of Florida’s most untamed wilderness. It’s a place just on the edge of the Florida Everglades, where you can see Florida Panthers, Manatees, Bald Eagles, Black Bears, and even the occasional American Crocodile in its mangrove filled waterways.
The wildlife here is amazing, but the star of this park are the wild Ghost Orchids. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is world-famous among orchid lovers for being the home of this rare and elusive flower. The park was even featured in the novel “The Orchid Thief” and the Nicolas Cage movie “Adaptation” based on the book.
The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk will keep you high and dry above the swamp as you explore, but there are also guided swamp tours available if you really want to get out there and experience the park. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park also has kayak launches and hiking trails that will get you close to the wildlife.
Honorable Mention: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Alafia River State Park
Best Florida State Park for Kayaking (Freshwater)
Silver Springs State Park – Ocala, FL
Before it was a state park, Silver Springs was one of the oldest, most quintessentially “Florida” attractions in the state. For decades this park delighted visitors who came to ride the world famous glass bottom boats over the impossibly crystal clear water found here. In 2013 it was merged with nearby Silver River State Park to form Silver Springs State Park.
Silver Springs is a fantastic place and one of the best Florida state parks to get on the water with a kayak to enjoy the world famous springs. You can bring your own, or you can rent one here. The park even has clear kayaks to rent so you can see the water under your while you paddle.
From the water you might encounter manatees, alligators, deer, foxes, bobcats, and even an occasional bear. Silver Springs is also famously the home to a huge colony of wild rhesus macaque monkeys! Back in the day, the owners of the park brought in some monkeys to spice the place up a little, but their population grew and grew until they became well established.
Honorable Mention: Oleta River State Park, Rainbow River State Park, Suwanee River State Park
Best Florida State Park for Kayaking (Saltwater)
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park – Punta Gorda, FL
Florida’s third-largest state park is a vast preserve of coastal habitat and shoreline that makes up over 100 miles of shoreline on Florida’s southwest Gulf coast. There are some boardwalks and hiking trails, but this is park that’s best explored from a kayak or canoe. The park is a huge mangrove forest where you can find dolphins, manatees, and countless wading birds. Bring along your fishing gear and you’ll find plenty of snook and redfish back here too.
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park has two marked paddling trails you can follow for a self-guided experience, but you’ll want to make sure you have a fully charged phone, plenty of water, and maybe even a GPS or a map if you plan to go exploring on your own. This park can be a maze of mangrove tunnels and it’s easy to get lost if you go off the marked path.
Honorable Mention: Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park, Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Lovers Key State Park
Best Florida State Park for Fishing
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park – St. Petersburg, FL
This is the only place in the world where you can literally just drive out over the ocean and park your car next to a deep-sea fishing spot. When the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge was demolished and replaced, the remaining spans of the old bridge were kept and converted into the world’s longest fishing piers. The park is made of two piers; the north pier that juts out into the gulf from St. Petersburg, and the south pier across the bay in Terra Ceia. Both piers run parallel to the spectacular Sunshine Skyway Bridge so you’ll have an incredible view while you spend your time fishing.
From here you can catch just about everything that swims in Florida waters. Grouper, snook, cobia snapper, sea bass, redfish, even sharks and tarpon can all be caught here. There’s a bait & tackle shop at both piers too where you can stock up on supplies or rent gear if you didn’t bring your own.
Honorable Mention: Cayo Costa State Park, Honeymoon Island State Park, Amelia Island State Park, Bahia Honda State Park
Best Florida State Park for Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – Key Largo, FL
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is almost entirely underwater and was the first undersea park in the United States when it was established in 1963. The 70 square mile park has since become a world-famous diving destination. The Florida Reef, the third-largest in the world, runs directly through this park and attracts huge numbers of tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins year-round. The most popular dive spot in the park is the “Christ of the Abyss”, an 81⁄2-foot-tall, 4,000 lb bronze statue that was put here in 1965, and has been photographed countless times.
Not ready to get into the water just yet? The park also offers glass-bottom boat tours, kayak rentals, and paddleboards so you can explore this beautiful piece of the ocean from the topside. There’s also a 30,000 gallon aquarium at the visitors center. Not only is John Pennekamp one of the best Florida state parks for water activities, but this place could also easily be a National Park. It’s a true Florida treasure.
Honorable Mention: Bahia Honda State Park, San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park, Fanning Springs State Park, Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park
Best Florida State Park for Wildlife Photography
Paynes Prarie Preserve State Park – Micanopy, FL
This incredible state park just a little south of Gainesville is home to the only herd of wild and free roaming bison east of the Mississippi River! It’s a really unexpected site to look onto this vast prairie and see these giant beasts that most of us associate with the American West wandering around in Florida. The park is also home to wild horses, and nearly every other critter that lives in Florida (except for Florida Panthers & American Crocodiles – they live down in south Florida). For wildlife viewing, photography, and birding, this is one of the best Florida state parks in the northern half of the state.
This park has so many different plants, animals, and birds that it’s a nature photographers dream! Just be sure to check their website or call ahead if you plan to do any hiking here. The park is susceptible to flooding after heavy rains in the summer. Much of Paynes Prairie was under water for months after Hurricane Irma dumped 15 inches of rain on the area in one day in 2017. As long as the ground is dry though, you’ll have a great time exploring and photographing this vast gem of a state park.
Honorable Mention: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Alafia River State Park
Best Florida State Park for seeing a Waterfall
Falling Waters State Park – Chipley, FL
Lots of people are really surprised when they learn there is actually place in flat Florida where you can see a 70 foot waterfall. At Falling Waters State Park in the Florida panhandle you can experience the highest waterfall in the state.
But because this is still Florida, a state without any real hills or cliffs for water to fall off of, this waterfall actually goes down into a 100-foot sinkhole. A boardwalk and observation platform allows you to get up close to this natural Florida wonder that feeds water to a mysterious, and still unknown destination.
The park is also a great place for hiking, fishing, camping, and swimming in the parks lake with a sandy beach.
Best Florida State Park for going Underground to Escape the Heat
Florida Caverns State Park – Marianna, FL
The vast underwater cave system that runs through the limestone of north Florida isn’t a huge secret, but a lot of people are surprised to find that there are actually some dry caves to explore in Florida too. The biggest cave in Florida can be found at Florida Caverns State Park in Florida’s panhandle about 60 miles west of Tallahassee.
At Florida Caverns State Park you can go underground where it’s usually a nice cool 67 degrees to take a guided tour of these magnificent caves. You’ll see classic cave structures like stalagmites and stalactites as you move from one room to another with the gentle sound of dripping water in the background. The cave is dramatically lit to bring out a true sense of awe as you explore this unexpected Florida wonder.
Above ground, the park also has some hiking trails that wind through the woods, while fishing and boating are available on the Chipola River that cuts through the park.
Best Florida State Park for Bird Watching
Honeymoon Island State Park – Dunedin, FL
Florida is full of state parks for great bird watching, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. But Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin is special because of it’s pine flats right near the Gulf of Mexico attract birds of all kinds to the island. The park is famous for its huge population of ospreys, but is also home to great horned owls, and actively nesting bald eagles.
Honeymoon Island isn’t only for bird nerds though. The state park also features one of our favorite beaches on the gulf coast. It’s an underrated gem of a beach with no development to speak of, so it’s a great place to hide from the packed tourist beaches like nearby Clearwater Beach where you can relax away from the crowds, high-rise condos, and tourist traps. As the name suggets, Honeymoon Island State Park is on a barrier island, but it’s reachable by a bridge that connects to the mainland. Caladesi Island State Park is right next to this park too, making it a great day trip to come out and visit both.
Honorable Mention: Grayton Beach State Park, Amelia Island State Park, Alafia River State Park, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Best Florida State Park for seeing Manatees
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park – Homosassa, FL
There are a lot of springs and rivers that attract manatees during the winter, but one of the most reliable places to see lots of them at once is Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The park is on Florida’s “Nature Coast”, near the Crystal River Preserve, and this entire region is known for its manatee habitat. What we love about this park is that it’s a place where manatees will be seen year-round in the crystal clear river, but also injured manatees are rehabilitated here before being released back into the wild. There’s a series of boardwalks and bridges over the clear waters and an underwater observation area where you can see endless schools of fish and up-close views of the manatees that will often swim right up to the windows.
The park also features what for the lack of a better term would call a “zoo” full of native Florida animals that are kept here because injuries or other reasons prevent them from being able to survive in the wild. This place has bears, bald eagles, panthers, flamingos, otters, reptiles, and key deer all waiting to meet you.
Honorable Mention: Crystal River Preserve State Park, Blue Spring State Park, Manatee Springs State Park
See Also: Best places in Florida to see Manatees
Best Florida State Park for watching Sunset
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park – Key West, FL
There is no shortage of places to see the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s west coast. Just go to any beach on the gulf and you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic show. But Key West has an entire culture and party that revolves around watching the sun set into the sea. Every night, the area around Mallory Square fills up with partiers, tourists, and street performers to watch the sunset, and even applaud when it finally does.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is just a short conch shell throw away from Mallory Square and a great alternative if you want to avoid the crowds and find a place to enjoy the show with a little peace. The park is on the islands easternmost point where you’ll have a wonderful view of the open water. And of course, make sure to get here with plenty of time to explore the fort itself. Fort Zachary Taylor predates the Civil War and it’s red brick walls and canon ports are full of history.
Fun Fact! This is also the southernmost state park in the continental United States.
Honorable Mention: TH Stone St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Honeymoon Island State Park, Cayo Costa State Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
See also: Best places for Florida Sunsets
Best Florida State Park for Getting Away from it All
Cayo Costa State Park – Captiva, FL
There are a few Florida State Parks on islands that you can only get to by boat, but Cayo Costa might be the most beautiful. This is a place that could be mistaken for an island in the Caribbean. It has wide stretches of powdery white sand, clear blue water, and best of all – very few other human visitors most of the time. If you take the effort to get out here, you’ll be rewarded with a place far away from the crowds of tourists that flock to the other gulf coast beaches. Out here it’s just you and the seabirds.
There are campgrounds out here too if you want to live out your very own “Castaway” adventure, but they’re limited and reservations fill up quick, so make sure you reserve a spot well in advance. Cayo Costa is our favorite as the best Florida state park to get away from the world for a while.
Honorable Mention: Egmont Key State Park, Anclote Key State Park, Caladesi Island State Park
Best Florida State Park for visiting a Lighthouse
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park – Key Biscayne, FL
There are only a few Florida state parks that have a lighthouse, and most of them are on islands only reachable by boat. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne is easy to reach and has one of the most picturesque lighthouses in the entire country. The lighthouse here has just such a classic, romantic look to it, and looks so perfect here right up on the beach among the tropical island scenery. The lighthouse is open most days where you can climb the spiral staircase to the top for an epic view of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. If you’re not afraid of heights, this is a must-do!
This park is a popular day trip from the Miami area, and an awesome place to go paddling, bicyling, and fishing. This state park is one of the rare places on the east coast of Florida where you can watch the sunset over water since it sticks out into Biscayne Bay. This is our favorite park to see a lighthouse, but it’s also one of the best Florida state parks for taking tropical Florida photos worthy of a postcard.
Honorable Mention: Egmont Key State Park, Anclote Key State Park, Gasparilla Island State Park
Best Florida State Park for Stargazing
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park – Okeechobee, FL
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is one of the only officially designated “Dark Sky Areas” in Florida. It’s a place where you can bring your telescope or just gaze at the night sky without all that annoying light pollution ruining the view. The park is in the middle of the state, in a sparsely populated area with Sebring being the nearest town, still over 25 miles away. The night sky here is dark, inky black where you can easily see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
Even by day, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is stunning. It’s a vast Florida grassland that’s also one of the best Florida state parks for birdwatching and camping.
Honorable Mention: Curry Hammock State Park, Long Key State Park, Econfina River State Park
Best Florida State Park for Surfing
Sebastian Inlet State Park – Melbourne Beach, FL
For surfing in Florida, you pretty much need to hit the beaches of the state’s east coast. The beaches from Daytona all the way to Jupiter have surfable waves much of the year. But one place, in particular, is known above the others in Florida’s surfer community; Sebastian Inlet. The breaks here are even considered among the best on the entire east coast of the country.
When the weather is just right, this place can become crowded with surfers chasing the perfect wave, so get out there early. Sebastian Inlet hosts the annual Florida Pro Surf competition each year and is even a qualifying location for the World Surf League.
Honorable Mention: North Peninsula State Park, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
Best Florida State Park for a taste of Old Florida Kitchiness
Weeki Wachee State Park – Spring Hill, FL
Think of some of those classic Old Florida kitschy attractions in the time before Mickey Mouse showed up to build his empire, and there’s a great chance you pictured those famous mermaids of Weeki Wachee. The mermaids have been performing in the springs here since 1947 and are something that generations of visitors to Florida have witnessed. The Weeki Wachee mermaid eventually show became something of a Florida sensation, attracting celebrities to see them, including even Elvis Presley in 1961 – a fact that the folks at Weeki Wachee are still very proud of.
The shows are still an ongoing attraction at this Florida icon that also has a water park, a boat tour, and a beautiful crystal clear river to paddle or go snorkeling. If you’re looking for a place where Old Florida still exists, Weeki Wachee is among the best Florida state parks for that kitschiness you’re after.
Honorable Mention: Silver Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs State Park
Best Florida State Park for Shelling
Amelia Island State Park – Jacksonville, FL
Amelia Island on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is just a short drive from Jacksonville and one of the best beaches in the state. The park is a beautiful oasis that serves as a refuge for birds and all the wildlife that call this coastal wetland home. Go into the surf and you’ll find huge varieties of seashells that even rival the better known Sanibel Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Sanibel might be known as the Seashell Capital of the World, but the beaches on Amelia Island will also reveal plenty of shark’s teeth and other fossils buried in the sand. These are the best beaches outside Venice Beach for shark tooth hunters.
The beach here brings plenty of sea shellers to this park, but Amelia Island is probably even more famous for being the only state park in Florida that allows horseback riding on the beach! Come here for shelling or riding, and either way you’re going to have a unique experience in this unspoiled part of northeast Florida.
Honorable Mention: Little Talbot Island State Park, Cayo Costa State Park, Honeymoon Island State Park, T.H. Stone St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Best Florida State Park for a Beach Day
Grayton Beach State Park – Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Florida’s coastlines are dotted with over 50 seaside state parks, and all of them are outstanding places to spend a day at the beach. You really can’t go wrong with any of them! But if we had to choose just one, we’d choose Grayton Beach State Park on Florida’s Emerald Coast.
This beach consistently ranks among the best beaches in the country, with fine powder white sand, gorgeous dunes, and clear turquoise waters. It’s a beautiful park that’s been left undeveloped and a wonderful little retreat from some of the more popular (and touristy) beaches just down the coast in Destin, Pensacola, and Panama City. But being so close to these towns also means it’s easy to reach for a family beach day.
The beach isn’t the only thing to do here either. Just beyond the dunes you can go paddling in Western Lake or go hiking through the coastal woodlands. Grayton Beach is a popular place to spend the day, and one best Florida state parks on Florida’s Emerald Coast.
Honorable Mention: Honeymoon Island State Park, Anastasia State Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Lovers Key State Park