We’re very lucky that Florida is home to so much natural beauty. From the lakes and the springs to the beautiful beaches, some of the best natural features might be right in your own backyard. And what better place to scout for these gems than in state parks! We polled our readers on our Only In Florida Facebook page and our Florida Nature Lovers Facebook group and found the top state parks. Whether you’re planning a getaway in the sunshine or a chance to escape for the weekend with the whole family, here are some of the best that our readers came up with.
- Silver Springs State Park
Facebook Silver Springs State Park Formerly known as Silver River State Park, this Marion County gem contains Florida’s very first tourist attraction - Silver Springs. Dating back to the 1870s, people used to head to this area in order to enjoy the crystal clear waters of one of the largest springs in the country. Today, you can take a glass-bottom boat tour and get a unique vantage point of this magical place. Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488, USA
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Google David Nelson This state park on Saint George Island is a real beauty. Visitors are able to enjoy a strip of paradise on this barrier island with a day pass or spend the night at a campsite. At nearly 2,000 acres of natural wonderment, including ocean access, you might want to spend longer than just one night here. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, 1900 E Gulf Beach Dr, St George Island, FL 32328, USA
- Camp Helen State Park
Google Visit Panama City Beach Camp Helen State Park is a place where guests can immerse themselves in natural beauty and an environment rich in scrub oak forests and winding sand dunes. While often overlooked, this ecological gem is situated near Panama City Beach right over the Phillips Inlet Bridge. With a rare dune lake to explore, this is truly one of the most special, and perhaps underrated state parks in the state. Camp Helen State Park, 23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, USA
- Bahia Honda Key
Flickr ucumaria photography Bahia Honda State Park is an island in the Florida Keys that is a rare find, but a popular attraction. Not only is there an award-winning beach that you can swim and paddle through, but there is also a historic bridge that has become a photographer’s dream. Come enjoy a day in the sunshine and snorkel through this slice of paradise. Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA
- Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Flickr Steven Miller If you’re looking for the perfect place to view wildlife in its natural habitat, then head to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This park is known for a lot of things, but most important being the place to see manatees up close! Bring your camera for this one - you never know when you might run into alligators, black bears, red wolves, Key deer, flamingos, whooping cranes, and so much more. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, USA
- Fort Clinch State Park
Google Shawn Graham Where history and nature collide. Fort Clinch State Park is located near Amelia Island right along the Amelia River. Part of the beauty of this 1,400-acre state park is the fact that the 19th-century Fort Clinch is situated here! Enjoy the rows of cannons still pointing across the St. Mary’s River as you learn all about this state park and the importance it has within the Civil War. Fort Clinch State Park, 2601 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, USA
- Myakka State Park
Flickr Rick Schwartz This Florida state park is quite a doozy. Clocking in at 37,000 acres, Myakka River State Park offers so much to guests. First opened in 1942, this park highlights the Myakka River, which flows through 58 square miles of the park. Did we happen to mention this is one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks, too? Enjoy a diverse landscape and tons of hiking trails! Myakka River State Park, 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241, USA
- Honeymoon Island State Park
Flickr daveynin Honeymoon Island State Park is located on the barrier island, Honeymoon Island. Stretching 385-acres in the land, plus at least four miles of beach, this state park is a real gem. There are numerous things to do here to explore, from hiking pine flatwood trails to laying out a towel and catching the sun. With three distinct beaches to choose from, this is a vacation in and of itself.
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Google Christopher Price Near the Palm Coast along A1A, visitors will find Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, a serene spot in nature that many might not know to exist. The park is most famous for its formal gardens, but also for the preservation of the original habitat of a Florida barrier island. With 425 acres of preserved coastal scenery, it doesn’t get much better than this. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137, USA
- Henderson Beach State Park
TripAdvisor iSoloTravelGirl What is the perfect word you can use to describe Henderson Beach State Park? Majestic. Picture 30-foot snowy white sand dunes, Florida sun glinting off the rolling waves, and warm gulf waters to frolic in. The best part of it all - this is usually a much less-crowded park than many of the others in the area. Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541, USA
- Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Google Luis Monsalve Rounding out this list is one of South Florida’s true gems - Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Surrounded by beautiful turquoise water, just minutes from downtown Miami, this state park offers some respite from the more popular Miami beaches. Plus, one of the best attractions in the park is Cape Florida Light, the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. History and natural beauty all rolled into one. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA
Have you visited any of these state parks in Florida? Did your favorite make the list? Share with us your thoughts and experiences in the comments section! Also, feel free to join our Florida Nature Lovers Facebook Group in order to discover some of the most beautiful photographs from the Sunshine State.
Facebook Silver Springs State Park
Formerly known as Silver River State Park, this Marion County gem contains Florida’s very first tourist attraction - Silver Springs. Dating back to the 1870s, people used to head to this area in order to enjoy the crystal clear waters of one of the largest springs in the country. Today, you can take a glass-bottom boat tour and get a unique vantage point of this magical place.
Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488, USA
Google David Nelson
This state park on Saint George Island is a real beauty. Visitors are able to enjoy a strip of paradise on this barrier island with a day pass or spend the night at a campsite. At nearly 2,000 acres of natural wonderment, including ocean access, you might want to spend longer than just one night here.
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, 1900 E Gulf Beach Dr, St George Island, FL 32328, USA
Google Visit Panama City Beach
Camp Helen State Park is a place where guests can immerse themselves in natural beauty and an environment rich in scrub oak forests and winding sand dunes. While often overlooked, this ecological gem is situated near Panama City Beach right over the Phillips Inlet Bridge. With a rare dune lake to explore, this is truly one of the most special, and perhaps underrated state parks in the state.
Camp Helen State Park, 23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, USA
Flickr ucumaria photography
Bahia Honda State Park is an island in the Florida Keys that is a rare find, but a popular attraction. Not only is there an award-winning beach that you can swim and paddle through, but there is also a historic bridge that has become a photographer’s dream. Come enjoy a day in the sunshine and snorkel through this slice of paradise.
Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA
Flickr Steven Miller
If you’re looking for the perfect place to view wildlife in its natural habitat, then head to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This park is known for a lot of things, but most important being the place to see manatees up close! Bring your camera for this one - you never know when you might run into alligators, black bears, red wolves, Key deer, flamingos, whooping cranes, and so much more.
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, USA
Google Shawn Graham
Where history and nature collide. Fort Clinch State Park is located near Amelia Island right along the Amelia River. Part of the beauty of this 1,400-acre state park is the fact that the 19th-century Fort Clinch is situated here! Enjoy the rows of cannons still pointing across the St. Mary’s River as you learn all about this state park and the importance it has within the Civil War.
Fort Clinch State Park, 2601 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, USA
Flickr Rick Schwartz
This Florida state park is quite a doozy. Clocking in at 37,000 acres, Myakka River State Park offers so much to guests. First opened in 1942, this park highlights the Myakka River, which flows through 58 square miles of the park. Did we happen to mention this is one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks, too? Enjoy a diverse landscape and tons of hiking trails!
Myakka River State Park, 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241, USA
Flickr daveynin
Honeymoon Island State Park is located on the barrier island, Honeymoon Island. Stretching 385-acres in the land, plus at least four miles of beach, this state park is a real gem. There are numerous things to do here to explore, from hiking pine flatwood trails to laying out a towel and catching the sun. With three distinct beaches to choose from, this is a vacation in and of itself.
Google Christopher Price
Near the Palm Coast along A1A, visitors will find Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, a serene spot in nature that many might not know to exist. The park is most famous for its formal gardens, but also for the preservation of the original habitat of a Florida barrier island. With 425 acres of preserved coastal scenery, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137, USA
TripAdvisor iSoloTravelGirl
What is the perfect word you can use to describe Henderson Beach State Park? Majestic. Picture 30-foot snowy white sand dunes, Florida sun glinting off the rolling waves, and warm gulf waters to frolic in. The best part of it all - this is usually a much less-crowded park than many of the others in the area.
Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541, USA
Google Luis Monsalve
Rounding out this list is one of South Florida’s true gems - Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Surrounded by beautiful turquoise water, just minutes from downtown Miami, this state park offers some respite from the more popular Miami beaches. Plus, one of the best attractions in the park is Cape Florida Light, the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. History and natural beauty all rolled into one.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA
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