Florida has 175 state parks from the tip of the panhandle to the tip of the Florida Keys. Many are along two major bodies of water, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. A few Florida State Parks have both bodies of water surrounding them in the Keys.
If you decided to spend a day traveling to or visiting a Florida state park each day, it would take you almost 6 months! Oh yes, you may need some snorkeling gear for a park that is underwater!
Florida State Parks – The Country’s Best Park System
Florida has 67 counties covering over 65,000 square miles. We were determined to find a county that didn’t have a Florida State Park. It was a futile effort. Every county has a state park or a river or stream originating from a park.
Have we visited all of Florida’s state parks? No. Between family, friends, and our expeditions, we estimate visits to about 40 parks in various parts of the state. Consistently, at Florida State Parks we found:
- well-managed and manicured parks.
- lost cost entry fees, if any.
- all facilities are as advertised, no surprises.
- well-planned visual opportunities and a photographer’s dream.
- helpful and courteous employees and volunteers.
If we had any surprises at all, it was the under-utilization by the general public of many state parks.
From remote islands like Cayo Costa on Florida’s west coast to very commercial operations like Silver Springs State Park, the contrasts are available for every mood and required aesthetics. There are primitive camps to full luxury cabins in Florida State Parks.
It should be noted that Florida State Parks have websites that are easily accessible and tastefully represent almost every individual park. Here are a few links that will help your travels and experiences.
- Florida State Parks Location Map
- Florida State Parks interactive “Find a Park” based on your preferences.
- This site, Visit Florida, lists some of the most popular parks.
- Look for “Springs” in the park name – Florida has hundreds, with new ones being discovered every year.
Our Favorite State Park Visits
Based on our travels, here are some notes on our favorite places to make some memories. Each has different experiences and opportunities. They are in no particular order.
St. George Island State Park – this island park offers a relatively remote beach and plenty of seabird action. Located in the middle of the panhandle and accessible by a four-mile bridge near Apalachicola. The old lighthouse on the island is worth a picture or two.
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This article originally appeared here and was republished with permission.
