23 State Parks in FLORIDA (Historic, Beautiful & Calm)

Whether you are a history lover or just enjoy serene places where you can have a lovely walk, visiting state parks should be a hobby that you take part in.

In these parks, you can enjoy time alone or with family and relax while watching the beautiful scenery or conversing with people around you.

Visiting parks with history fills you with pride for your country, and remembering what people did when parks were named after them could encourage you to do better.

There are countless state parks in Florida; keep reading to find the right one for you to visit.

And by the way, you may also want to check out the best National Parks in Florida.

State Parks in Jacksonville, Florida

1. Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park

This park at Jacksonville is a historic park built in 1862 and still preserves the original encampment during the Civil War at the mouth of St John’s River. 

You gain entry into this park for free, and in it, revisit those times during the Civil War and experience those moments again. 

The site was originally a critical military position, as Union and Confederate troops resided there. 

You can walk back in time in this contemplative and quiet park or enjoy lunch under the shade in this peaceful environment. 

It is the perfect place to visit if you want to reflect and have quiet time away from most of the world. 

A few picnic tables, a stone monument, several cannons, and a trail stand are currently available on the site. 

Address: New Berlin Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

2. Little Talbot Island State Park

This park in Little Talbot Island contains sandy beaches and is the perfect place to perform sports like kayaking, picnicking, and surfing. 

In the park, you can experience pristine beaches, miles of the bike trail, ancient dunes, and a secluded park since it is on an island. 

Because of erosion, which has led to the loss of a lot of infrastructure, there are areas in the park that need to be accessed by park visitors.

A reduced number of visitors can be allowed into the park now.

The island is home to many diverse and untouched ecosystems that visitors can explore. 

You can enjoy so many activities, from birdwatching to kayaking or even surfing; on this island, there are so many activities that you can enjoy as long as you are a lover of the outdoors. 

Address: 12157 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

3. Fort George Island Cultural State Park

This public island park is located on Fort George, a historical site that has been inhabited by humans for over five thousand years. 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection manages it and the park has a diverse environmental history. 

The location used presently for this state park was historically used for many things, such as a fort for colonialists; before that, it was a feasting ground for Native Americans and has been used for vacations since the 1920s.

A 1920s clubhouse has been restored and is still standing in this park and is one of the primary key attractions in the park currently. 

An active club in this park can be reserved and used for personal purposes. 

Address: 12241 Fort George Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

4. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park

This state park in Duval County, Jacksonville, is part of a larger state park complex called Little Talbot Island State Park. 

The park is free to enter every single day of the year. 

In this park, you can access beautiful vegetation and the coastal waters of nearby rivers. 

Pine trees protect and ensure the survival of creatures in the water close to the park and increase the diversity in the environment due to a lot of wildlife in the park. 

If you enjoy hiking, you can walk through miles of multi-use trails where you can observe the wildlife in nature in a relaxed and sedate environment. 

Natural surfaces can accommodate biking, horseback riding, and hiking while observing the diverse and distinct ecosystem. 

Address: Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

5. Amelia Island State Park

This state park measures over 80 acres of land space and is open to visitors twenty-four hours a day. 

Here, you can rent canoes and kayaks to use close to the beach and enjoy horseback riding; you are also allowed to fish if you want to. 

A little token is required if you want to enter the state park, and there are limitations to the number of people in the park simultaneously. 

Generally, a maximum number of guests can be allowed into the park in a day, and when the garden has reached that number, guests are not allowed in anymore. 

Because of the presence of wildlife, some of which include endangered species of birds, there are specific rules to ensure that nature on this island is kept safe. 

Address: Florida A1A, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

6. Big Talbot Island State Park

This state park in Florida is located on Big Talbot Island and is ideal for picnics and nature studies. 

The park is loved by people ranging from hikers who love to hike the trails on the park to photographers who enjoy taking portraits of the beautiful sites. 

There are different kinds of wildlife and habitats found in this park, and it is a perfect place to discover nature. 

When visiting the park, different fees are available depending on the facilities you want access to, with an additional fee to get access to fish, another for vehicle parking, and another if you wish to access a boat. 

To enjoy a guided kayak tour of the beach, you must call ahead to make a reservation with the kayak tourist agency to ensure availability. 

Address: A1A North, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

7. Huguenot Memorial Park

As a memorial park in Jacksonville, this state park offers multiple picnic sites, playgrounds, and campgrounds that residents can enjoy. 

This park is a historical site that marks the landing of the Huguenots in 1952.

You can come to this park to spend family time in the pavilions available, enjoy alone time fishing, and participate in numerous water sports while you camp here. 

Aside from being a camper at this park, you could visit the historic site as a guest and not make reservations to stay. 

Campers and residents are allowed to bring their pets along, but guests can’t bring pets along. 

With the affordable pricing available, you can enjoy the activities and attractions, such as the numerous restaurants and outdoor activities open.

Address: 10980 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226, United States

Also see our article on Trampoline Parks in Florida.

State Parks in Orlando, Florida

1. Lake Eola Park

This park in Orlando, Florida, is located at Lake Eola and is known for its diverse swan population, which is one of the many reasons park visitors cannot get enough of it. 

The park is a great budget-friendly place for you to visit all year round. 

It has multiple facilities like a Chinese Pagoda and a theater owned by Walt Disney that hosts various events at different times of the year. 

In addition to walking or running in this beautiful park, you can rent the little paddle boats available to go through the lake and feed swans. 

You can also relax in other places in the park, such as the flower garden, or get food from the local restaurant available in the park.

Address: 512 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801, United States

2. Dickson Azalea Park

If you enjoy spending time with green nature, this park, one of the oldest parks in Orlando, is an excellent place for you. 

You can relax in scenic playgrounds with birds chirping and a flowing stream nearby. 

Originally a water hole for cattle, this public park is now a beautiful park that you can enjoy with azaleas everywhere. 

As a park that has been standing for years, it has a rich historical background and has played a crucial part in some organizations, such as Red Cross Society in the US during the war. 

The park has changed over the years, but its historical significance is still maintained, and it is currently seen as a historical market. 

Address: 100 Rosegarden Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States

3. Bill Frederick Park

This large park in Orlando, Florida, directly connects to the Turkey Lake behind it. 

Bill Frederick Park has a bicycle trail, golf course, and family-friendly swimming pool, and it is the perfect place to enjoy tent camping. 

It provides individuals, families, and community groups with beautiful views and recreational activities that can be enjoyed. 

Various entry fees depend on your kind of vehicle and how many people are in it, and once you have paid the entry fee, there is no need to worry about paying to use individual facilities. 

Aside from visiting the park for recreational purposes, you can rent it or sections for significant events such as private and corporate parties.

You can also schedule field trips at the park and enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful state park. 

Address: 3401 S Hiawassee Rd, Orlando, FL 32835, United States

4. Lake Cherokee Park

Lake Cherokee Park is open to the public twenty-four hours a day every week and is a perfect spot for people to visit if they want to chill or work out while surrounded by nature. 

Here, you can enjoy quiet walks, and little rock climbs along the many hills located in the park. 

The park, located close to Lake Cherokee, is a great budget-friendly choice to discover nearby restaurants and bars and enjoy delicious food and drinks. 

It is a great place to exercise or walk your pet if you have one. 

Most of the trails are partially covered with plant shade, so you would enjoy walking there any time, no matter how sunny the weather. 

Address: 474 Palmer St, Orlando, FL 32801, United States

5. Moss Park

This park in Orange County is a great place to enjoy hiking, biking, boating, and other expressive, fun outdoor activities. 

The park has wildlife and is surrounded by water, so the campgrounds and playgrounds are enormous sites you can enjoy spending time with your family. 

It is an excellent place to camp, whether in a tent or an RV. 

The conditions in this park are perfect whether it rains or not, as resin does not disrupt anything going on in the park; you can be snug and safe in your tent as far as it is set well, even if it is raining. 

There are excellent living conditions, and the park is always clean and tidy. 

Address: 12901 Moss Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32832, United States

Also see our article on Indoor Water Parks in Florida.

State Parks in Miami, Florida

1. The Barnacle Historic State Park

This state park in Coconut Grove, Miami, USA, spans over five acres of green land. 

As it was initially built in 1891, the house is the oldest surviving structure in Miami-Dade County. 

Initially, it was a grand Victorian estate, but now it is a non-profit organization that generates citizen support, education, financial support, and public awareness of society. 

It has a society called The Barnacle Society that is responsible for the park and presents regular activities such as outdoor films and concerts to support the park financially. 

Visiting this park will indeed pivot you into the quiet historical times in which the park was initially built. 

It is the perfect place to take a walk or picnic while relaxing and enjoying nature. 

Address: 3485 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133, United States

2. Kirk Munroe Park

This is a great park to visit if you plan to relax, unwind and have fun by playing sports like tennis. 

Aside from being a wonderful place to walk around, it is also a great place to walk your pets as far as they are on a leash. 

The tennis facilities in this park are excellent, with five tennis courts and a wall where you can play alone. 

Most of the park is grassed, so the space is not designated for something else; it can be used for your dog if they are leashed onto something. 

There are parking spaces available close to the park. 

Picnics are very friendly to experience here, and if you don’t want a picnic on the lush grass, you can opt for a picnic table instead. 

Address: 3101 Florida Ave, Miami, FL 33133, United States

3. Oleta River State Park

This state park at Biscayne Bay is a fun place with a beautiful atmosphere to spend time in Metropolitan Miami.

The park, which spans over a thousand acres, has amenities for all its guests and visitors, such as free wifi, free parking, complimentary breakfast, a pool, and pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible places to improve inclusivity. 

You can unwind and relax at this urban park while enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

There are trails to enjoy biking in and forest and wildlife that can explore. 

Swimming, biking, paddling, and angling are fun activities you can participate in at this park by yourself or with family or friends. 

Aside from enjoying a day’s visit to this park, you can rent one of the air-conditioned cabins available. 

Address: 3400 NE 163rd St, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, United States

4. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a historic park with a standing lighthouse that attracts tourists, visitors, and guests to enjoy the time of their lives. 

This state park, located very close to Miami, is a place to enjoy stunning views of the water from the lighthouse and water sports like fishing and kayaking. 

The park, which is usually busy because of a high influx of guests, has a population capacity that is never crossed, so it is important to come as early as possible to enjoy the most benefits. 

Entry into unique places like the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage is considered part of the tour and included in the affordable entry fee. 

The lighthouse has long signified freedom for different sets of people over the years and is a place to feel free. 

Address: 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, United States

Also see our article on Water Parks in Florida.

State Parks in Tampa, Florida

1. Ybor City Museum State Park

The state park in Tampa is where various historical attractions and monuments are exhibited and told as a story so you can understand their history. 

In this park, visitors and tourists go back in time and see the history of Ybor City and the cigar-making industry it initially originated from. 

Exhibits in this park had well-detailed, written audio or video presentations that tell their stories and the significance that particular objects played when they were used. 

The park has a beautiful ornamental garden that guests can use or rent for events. 

By visiting this park, you are offered a visit to the historical times in Ybor City, and revisiting these times is a great way to relax.

Address: 1818 E 9th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605, United States

2. Lettuce Lake Park

This family-friendly state park is where you can enjoy canoeing, birdwatching, fishing, and picnicking. 

The park, established in 1982, runs through the Hillsborough River and is a great place to spend time around the water. 

You can enjoy walking or biking on the paved trail provided or rent a canoe to enjoy your time canoeing or fishing. 

There is an entrance fee that every vehicle owner has to pay to get their vehicle inside the park, and there is parking available. 

Access fees are required to use other facilities, depending on which facility you want to use. 

Amenities available include barbecue grills, bird watching, board walking, a boat dock, a hiking trail, a playground, paved trails, canoe rentals, and many more.

Address: 6920 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33637, United States

Also see our article on Water Park Resorts in Florida.

State Parks in Fort Myers, Florida

1. Manatee Park

Despite initial thought, this state park in Fort Myers only sometimes includes sightings of Manatees. 

This park has sightings of manatees only during warm weather, so even though they are always in water, they only come out during certain conditions. 

You can rent kayaks, visit the arena, and hike the trails in this park. 

When visiting the park, you only need to pay for parking for your vehicles and get access to most of the park facilities. 

Animals are not allowed in the park, except they are service animals. 

Aside from the water, there is also a beautiful garden with an extensive butterfly demonstration. 

You could visit the park for entertainment or educational purposes to learn about the manatees or flowers. 

Address: 10901 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905, United States

2. Estero Bay Preserve State Park

This park in Fort Myers is where you can explore natural habitats for exclusive wildlife. 

Here, you can see a wide variety of native plant species and animal species. 

Asides from this location at Fort Myers, this park has another location in Estero, Florida. 

There are several trails where you can enjoy hiking or biking in this state park, which are solid in some areas and flooded seasonally in others, so it is advisable to visit this park with a raincoat. 

The park is dog friendly, whether your dog is a pet or a service animal, as long as it is on a leash. 

When hiking on the trails, there are a lot of exotic birds to watch if you enjoy birdwatching. 

While hiking, you can choose whether to use a more primitive trail like the Winkler Point Access or a more enticing trail like the Estero River Scrub Access. 

Address: 17981 Winkler Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33908, United States

Also see our article on Botanical Gardens in Florida.

State Parks in Pensacola, Florida

1. Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

This state park in Pensacola is home to many exotic plant types, such as four different pitcher plants. 

Asides from having rare plant species, there are also animal species in this large park that are almost extinct. 

Some distinct pitcher plants include a carnivorous pitcher plant unique only to the Gold Coast and a few other places. 

This park’s rare animals and plants depend on the wet habitat that ensures their survival. 

You can experience a boardwalk where you would enjoy a view of the stunning Tarkiln Bayou. 

In addition to viewing exotic wildlife, visitors can hike, fish, walk, run, or enjoy a picnic at this mesmerizing park.

There is an interpretive exhibit that shows little stories about some of the things that you might encounter in the park. 

Address: 2401 Bauer Rd, Pensacola, FL 32506, United States

2. Perdido Key State Park

In this state park at Pensacola, you can enjoy surfing, swimming, and chilling around the beautiful garden.

The park features a beach, so you can enjoy your time around the water or play close to the beach sand.

There is an entry fee that vehicle owners have to pay in the honor box at the park entrance, but if you are without a vehicle, you can use the park for free.

You can enjoy board walking, surf fishing, sunbathing, and picnicking.

There are many beautiful things to observe, like watching nesting turtles, the beach mouse at Perdido Key, and nesting shore birds.

After the Sally Hurricane in 2020, some boardwalks suffered extreme damage, so it is essential to be careful while board walking.

Address: 15301 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507, United States

3. Miraflores Park

This park is an excellent place to walk alone or with your pet.

You can also listen to music while you jog or run through the park. 

At the historic park, you can view multiple statues and monuments while having a great time resting on a bench under the provided gazebo.

There is playground equipment like swings that children can enjoy and walking trails you could follow if you are in the mood for a walk.

Pensacola has a lot of historical heritage, and this park is one of the places that hold much of this history.

The Peruvian author Richardo Palma has a monument built for him in this park to show the influence of his literary works on America.

Address: 1601 E La Rua St, Pensacola, FL 32501, United States

If you liked this article, you may also like to read about the best Botanical Gardens, Tourist Places, and Date Ideas in Florida.

Looking beyond Florida? Check out our article on the best State Parks in Illinois and New York.