Best State and National Parks in Florida

Florida manages more than 170 state parks and has three national parks, a national preserve, and a national seashore within its borders. That is a lot of public land for a state most people associate with theme parks and beaches. The parks range from the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States (Everglades) to the first undersea park established in the country (John Pennekamp) to springs that hold more water than most rivers. This guide covers the national parks and the state parks most worth building a trip around, organized by type, with notes on reservations, fees, and what each actually offers.

Quick-Reference Table

National Parks

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, covering 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairie, mangrove forest, cypress swamp, and open water in South Florida. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to rare and endangered species including the Florida panther, American crocodile, and snail kite, along with more than 350 bird species. Wildlife viewing here is a serious pursuit: winter is the prime season, when low water levels concentrate wading birds and alligators at visible feeding areas along the main park road.

The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm, the Pa-hay-okee Overlook, and the Flamingo area are the main stops for day visitors. Canoe and kayak trips into the backcountry — especially the Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile route from Everglades City to Flamingo — are among the most memorable experiences the park offers. For context on the invasive species pressure the Everglades faces, see our piece on Florida’s invasive species problem. For things to do in the gateway towns, see our guides to Naples and Sarasota.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas is 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, reachable only by ferry or seaplane. The park’s main feature is Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century masonry fortification covering most of the island — the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere when it was built, and never finished. Fort Jefferson held prisoners after the Civil War, including Dr. Samuel Mudd, convicted of conspiracy in Lincoln’s assassination. The snorkeling around the moat walls is some of the clearest in Florida. The Yankee Freedom III ferry departs Key West in the morning and returns in the afternoon; the seaplane from Key West flies day trips. Both book up weeks in advance in winter and spring. Full coverage in our piece on Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson.

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park protects Biscayne Bay south of Miami and the northernmost section of the Florida Keys. About 95 percent of the park is water. The terrestrial sections include a narrow mainland mangrove shoreline and several undeveloped barrier islands with backcountry camping. The park is best experienced by boat: glass-bottom boat tours, snorkel trips, and scuba diving excursions depart from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Convoy Point. The coral reefs here are part of the Florida Reef, the only barrier reef in the continental United States. The park is accessible year-round; summer is hot and afternoon thunderstorms are daily; winter has the clearest skies and best visibility underwater.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve covers 729,000 acres north of Everglades National Park in South Florida, protecting the watershed that feeds the Everglades. It is a flat, wet wilderness of cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, and wet prairie. The Preserve allows activities that the National Park does not, including off-road vehicle use in designated areas, airboat tours, and hunting. Birding here is excellent; the Florida panther population in the Big Cypress / Everglades ecosystem is monitored but rarely seen by casual visitors.

Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore on Florida’s east coast protects 24 miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville — the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on Florida’s east coast. It sits adjacent to Kennedy Space Center, and rocket launches visible from the beach are a genuine draw when the schedule aligns. The beaches host significant sea turtle nesting; sections may be closed at night during nesting season. Swimming, surfing, and wildlife watching are the main activities. No reservations are required for day beach access; check the schedule for possible launch-related closures.

Spring Parks

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee is consistently ranked among Florida’s best state parks and for good reason: a six-mile spring-fed river with extraordinary clarity, nine contributing springs, and a tube run that has become a Florida rite of passage. The water is 68°F and clear to the bottom in fifteen feet. Timed entry tickets are required and sell out on summer weekends; book in advance. Full coverage in our Florida springs guide.

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring in Orange City is Florida’s most significant manatee refuge. The warm spring run hosts hundreds of manatees during winter months; more than 700 were recorded in a single count in recent seasons. Swimming is prohibited when manatees are present (typically November 15 through March 31 — verify current dates with the park). Outside manatee season, the spring is open for swimming and snorkeling. The boardwalk along the spring run is open year-round. Book day-use reservations well in advance. Detailed coverage in our Florida manatee tours guide.

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs near Dunnellon is the headwater of the Rainbow River, one of the most beautiful spring runs in Florida. The swimming area is clear, spring-fed, and popular with families. The park’s man-made waterfalls (constructed in the 1960s) are scenic but not natural — see our waterfalls guide for context. The tubing takeout at KP Hole County Park is a separate facility. Full coverage in the Florida springs guide.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Twenty minutes north of Orlando, Wekiwa Springs is the most accessible major spring park from central Florida. The spring pool is large and clear; paddlers launch onto the Wekiva River for half-day and full-day floats. The park sits in the middle of suburban Orange County but feels completely removed from it. Reserve day-use entry ahead, particularly on weekends.

Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs near Ocala is one of the largest spring groups in the state, producing more than 500 million gallons per day. The park is best known for its glass-bottom boat tours, which have operated on the spring since the 1870s. The springs here became famous as a filming location for early Tarzan movies and underwater films in the mid-20th century. The wild rhesus macaques established at Silver Springs by a 1938 jungle cruise operator are a separate story — fully covered in our piece on the wild monkeys of Silver Springs.

Coastal and Island Parks

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at Key Largo is commonly described as the first undersea park in the United States, established in 1963. It protects approximately 70 nautical square miles of coral reef, seagrass beds, and mangrove habitat. The Florida Reef here is one of the only living coral barrier reef systems in the continental United States. The park offers glass-bottom boat tours for non-divers, snorkel trips to the reef (guides required), and scuba diving. The famous submerged Christ of the Abyss statue sits in about 25 feet of water; it is one of the most photographed dive sites in the country. Book boat tours in advance; they fill quickly in season.

Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park, at MM 37 in the Florida Keys, has a beach widely regarded as one of the best in the Keys for its combination of sand quality, setting, and water clarity. The old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge spans the channel and is visible from the park. The surrounding water is good for snorkeling and the campground here is one of the most popular in the Florida Keys system. Day-use entry and camping both fill up fast in winter and spring; reserve well ahead.

Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, in Pinellas County, sits at the end of a causeway and is one of the most visited state parks in Florida. The park has Gulf-facing beaches that have regularly appeared in top-beach rankings, though rankings vary by year and methodology — hedge any superlatives. The main draw in addition to the beach is the ferry to Caladesi Island, which departs from the south end of Honeymoon Island. Book day-use reservations for peak season.

Caladesi Island State Park

Caladesi Island is accessible only by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by private boat. The lack of a road bridge keeps it far less crowded than most barrier island parks on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The beach here has appeared in national top-beach surveys multiple times, though again rankings should be treated as general indicators rather than firm claims. The island has a mangrove kayak trail, a small marina, and excellent shelling. Ferry tickets are limited; buy ahead during winter and spring. For more on the Honeymoon Island and Caladesi area, see our Honeymoon Island guide.

Fort De Soto Park

Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County is a county park, not a state park, but it belongs on any list of the best parks in Florida. Located on a series of barrier islands at the mouth of Tampa Bay, the park has a Gulf beach, a bay beach, kayak rentals, a fishing pier, and the ruins of an early 20th-century coastal defense fort. The beach here has repeatedly ranked among the best in the country in Dr. Beach surveys. There is no day-use reservation requirement, but the park fills its parking lots on busy weekends. Arrive early. For nearby activities, see our guides to Florida dolphin tours and the Fort De Soto kayak tours.

Inland Wilderness Parks

Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park, 20 miles east of Sarasota in Manatee and Sarasota counties, is one of the largest state parks in Florida at nearly 37,000 acres. The park has one of the best concentrations of alligators accessible to casual visitors anywhere in Florida: the lake area along the main road is frequently populated with dozens of visible alligators. Airboat tours and tram tours operate within the park. The tram tours into the palmetto prairie provide reliable wildlife viewing at a level that rivals much larger national parks. For things to do in the Sarasota area, see our Sarasota guide.

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park south of Gainesville is a large, flat basin that was a lake within historical memory and is now one of the most productive wildlife viewing areas in Florida. Bison were reintroduced to Paynes Prairie in 1975; the herd is visible from the main observation tower and from the La Chua Trail, which extends into the prairie from the north end. Wild horses, sandhill cranes, and vast numbers of wading birds are also present. The La Chua Trail, accessible from Gainesville, is the best single wildlife walk in north Florida.

Planning Your Visit

Fees

Federal parks (Everglades, Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, Big Cypress, Canaveral) have their own fee structures. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80; verify current price with the NPS) covers entry to all federal parks and is worth buying if you plan multiple national park visits in the same year. Florida State Parks charge per-vehicle day-use fees that vary by park, generally in the $4–$8 range for single-occupancy vehicles and $6–$20 for vehicles with more passengers. Confirm current fees with each park before visiting, as they are subject to change.

Reservations

Florida’s spring parks, the most popular coastal parks, and all campgrounds require advance reservations. The Florida State Parks system uses Reserve America (floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com) for both camping and day-use entry reservations. Dry Tortugas ferry tickets must be booked through the Yankee Freedom ferry operator. Failure to reserve can mean arriving at a park that is already at capacity — which happens regularly at Ichetucknee, Honeymoon Island, Caladesi, Blue Spring, and Myakka River on summer and winter weekends.

Questions People Ask

How many national parks does Florida have?

Florida has three national parks (Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas), one national preserve (Big Cypress), one national seashore (Canaveral), and several national monuments and recreation areas. Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is the best national park in Florida?

Everglades National Park is the most ecologically significant. Dry Tortugas is the most remote and dramatic. Biscayne is almost entirely underwater and best experienced by boat or snorkel. The right answer depends on what you are looking for.

Do you need reservations for Florida state parks?

Many popular Florida state parks now require reservations for day-use access, especially on weekends. Ichetucknee Springs, Wekiwa Springs, Blue Spring, Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island, and others use timed-entry reservation systems. Book through the Florida State Parks reservation system. Check each park’s page for current requirements.

Is Dry Tortugas worth the trip?

Yes, if remote wilderness and history appeal to you. Dry Tortugas is 70 miles west of Key West, reachable only by ferry or seaplane. The park contains Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century masonry fort, and some of the clearest snorkeling water in Florida. The ferry books up weeks in advance in peak season. See our full coverage: Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson.

What is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park known for?

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at Key Largo is commonly described as the first undersea park in the United States, established in 1963. It protects a section of the Florida Reef, one of the only living coral reef systems in the continental US. The park offers glass-bottom boat tours, snorkel trips, and scuba diving tours departing from the park marina.

What are the best beach parks in Florida?

Caladesi Island State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park regularly appear in national top-beach surveys, though rankings vary by year and methodology. Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys has a beach considered among Florida’s finest for its setting and clarity. Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County (a county park, not a state park) also consistently ranks among the top Gulf beaches.

Can you camp in Florida’s national parks?

Yes. Everglades has backcountry camping sites accessible by canoe or kayak and a few drive-in campgrounds. Dry Tortugas has a tent camping area on Garden Key accessible by ferry, with limited spots that require advance reservations. Biscayne has backcountry island camping. All campsite reservations should be made well in advance, especially for winter and spring.

What Florida parks are best for wildlife viewing?

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Gainesville) has bison, wild horses, alligators, and extensive bird life visible from observation platforms. Myakka River State Park (Sarasota) has dense alligator concentrations and tram tours. Everglades National Park has the most diverse wildlife in the state. Blue Spring State Park is the top manatee viewing site in winter.

Is Myakka River State Park worth visiting?

Yes. Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s largest and oldest state parks, with a roughly 37,000-acre wilderness area, airboat tours, tram tours through the palmetto prairie, and some of the most reliable alligator viewing in the state. It is about 20 miles east of Sarasota and makes an excellent full-day trip.

See also: Florida springs guide, caves in Florida, waterfalls in Florida, and Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson.