Florida

State Parks

FloridaStateParks.org
 Edward Ball Wakulla Springs

Big Talbot Island Welcome

Our system of award-winning state
parks represents the finest examples
of natural beauty and cultural diversity
available throughout Florida and has
inspired visitors for nearly 75 years. The
benefits of state parks to both residents
and visitors are endless. Unmatched
Blue Spring recreational opportunities and facilities
help to strengthen families, educate
children, expand local economies and foster
community pride. Florida’s state parks and
preserves are critical to our individual peace
of mind and personal health. You are invited
to visit soon and often, and please let park
staff know if they can assist you in any way.

Welcome to .

Fakahatchee Strand

National Gold Medal Winner

Florida State Parks - “America’s First Two-Time Winner”

Curry Hammock

Cover photo: Delnor-Wiggins Pass

Use this publication, printed with soy based ink on 10%
recycled paper, to explore this beautiful state. When
you’re finished using the guide, share it with a friend
or return it to a state park for other visitors to use or
recycle it in your community.
The Florida State Parks Passport is designed as a travel aid
to help you discover . As a collector’s
journal, the passport will help you plan park visits, record
your experiences and collect each park’s unique stamp. To
qualify for a commemorative gift, be sure to collect a stamp
at each park you visit. Passports may be purchased at a
ranger station or by calling Homosassa Springs Wildlife State
Park at (352) 628-1002.

Ponce de Leon Springs

 A Look Inside...

Florida State Parks

General Information
5-8
Accessibility
Pet Policies
Camping & Cabins
Resource Management
Gamble Plantation
Florida Park Police
Annual Pass
Park Programs
Activity Key

Northwest Region 9 - 18

Northeast Region 19 - 30

Central Region 31 - 40

Southwest Region 41 - 50

Southeast Region 51 - 58

Annual Events 59 - 60

Office of Greenways & Trails 61 - 62

Fort Clinch
Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas 63

State Lands 64

Support Organizations 65 - 66

Volunteers

AmeriCorps

Friends of Florida State Parks

Annual Pass 67

Gift Shop 68

Find a Park 69

Deer Lake
Florida Folk Festival 70

For more information • (850) 245-2157 • FloridaStateParks.org 4

 Florida State Parks
Whether you enjoy hiking a rugged trail, kayaking an ancient river, sunbathing at the world’s best beaches,
learning about ancient cultures or touring historic homes, you’ll find just the right setting at any one of Florida’s
161 state parks. A favorite of families for the past seven decades, Florida State Parks will stir your imagination and leave
you with a greater appreciation for the people, places and events that have shaped this great state. Discover the legacies
that remain from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and spend the night in cabins built by young American men
during the Great Depression. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere of recently built cabins along the famous Suwannee River or
overlooking Central Florida’s chain of lakes.

Camping enthusiasts will find well-maintained facilities and a safe, friendly atmosphere to get away from it all and
enjoy the beauty of this state’s natural landscapes. Many parks with water features including beaches, lakes, springs or
rivers offer water craft rentals such as canoes or kayaks.

Florida’s state parks are open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset every day of the year. Museums, visitor centers and historic
sites are closed two days a week and hours may vary. Call ahead to the park of your choice for more information.
The mission of the Florida Park Service is to preserve and protect our natural and cultural resources and to
provide recreational opportunities to park visitors. Considerable commitment of staff and funding is required
to carry out this mission. State park fees help offset the rising costs of providing resource protection, park
maintenance and visitor services. Please check with each park for information on entrance fees, which vary
throughout the state.

In the following pages you will find brief and informative descriptions of every state park and historic site
maintained by the Florida Park Service. This guide is organized into geographic regions with color coded
Dudley Farm sections for your convenience in locating the park of your choice. For more information, call (850) 245-2157
or visit us online at FloridaStateParks.org.

Accessibility
In Florida state parks, we are committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services
for all people. Our goal is that all visitors, including those with disabilities, will be able to participate in and
enjoy recreational activities and park experiences. Camping, picnicking, cabins, fishing piers, trails, historic
sites, exhibits and swimming areas are some of the many opportunities available for all visitors to enjoy.

For information about specific facilities and programs, please call or write the park that interests you.

For general questions regarding the accessibility of any park facility or program, please call (850) 245-2157
Homosassa Springs to speak with the state park Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator. Park information is also available in
large print. TDD users, please dial 711 for the Florida Relay Service (U.S. only).

Pet Policies
Pets are welcome in designated areas at all Florida state parks. They must be well behaved and
kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. Pet owners are required to pick up after their pets
and properly dispose of their waste. Pets are not permitted on beaches, playgrounds, bathing areas,
cabins, park buildings or concession facilities. Service animals are allowed in all areas of Florida
state parks. Owners of horses visiting state parks must provide proof of a negative Coggins test.

Camping with pets is permitted in designated areas. Before you make a reservation to camp we
suggest that you contact the park for its pet policy. Pets must not be left unattended for more
than 30 minutes and must be confined in the owner’s camping unit during quiet time from 11:00
Suwannee River
p.m. – 7:00 a.m. Any pet that is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive will not be allowed
to remain in the park. Non-furbearing pets, such as reptiles, birds or fish, must be confined or
under the physical control of the owner. Some animals may be prohibited on park property.
These rules are written to ensure the enjoyment and safety of all park visitors and failure to
abide by them may result in the visitor being asked to leave or board the pet outside the park.

Camping & Cabins

Florida’s state parks offer more than 50 family campgrounds statewide. Full-facility
campgrounds include water, electricity, a grill and picnic table on each campsite, along with
centralized showers, restrooms and dump station. Cabins are available in many parks with a
variety of settings and styles. Styles vary from fully equipped modern cabins to hand-hewn,
lumber or palm-log retreats. Reservations may be made as much as 11 months in advance.
To make a reservation, please contact ReserveAmerica at (800) 326-3521, (866) I CAMP FL,
Three Rivers TDD (888) 433-0287 or visit the website at ReserveAmerica.com.

5 For reservations • (800) 326-3521 • ReserveAmerica.com

Overnight Fees and Discounts:

Camping Fees (up to 8 people per site) $10 to $50

Cabin Fees (4 to 6 people per cabin) $20 to $120
Camping Discount ½ off camping fee
(Discounts apply to Florida residents only, who are 65 years old and older or 100% disabled.)

When making reservations, please indicate that you qualify for a camping discount. Discounts are applied at

the time you make the reservation and proof must be provided at check-in.

Resource Management
Florida’s ecosystems evolved through dynamic natural processes such as fire, flood and the
interaction of native species. Our goal is to restore and maintain these ecosystems in state parks with
a carefully implemented program of prescribed fire, hydrological restoration and removal of invasive
exotic plants.
Blackwater River
Many state parks offer wonderful opportunities for viewing native Florida wildlife. West Indian manatees,
dolphins, otters, birds of every kind and color, deer, tree snails, sea turtles, scrub lizards and gopher
tortoises abound in many parks. Wildlife observation is among the more visible benefits of good
resource stewardship.

State parks are also home to many cultural resources, which provide links to our past. These range
from Native American campsites, to lighthouses built to protect seafarers, to a bakery that supplied
bread to immigrant cigar makers. Our state’s past is rich and vibrant, and the Florida Park Service
helps keep it alive by preserving these places and interpreting the significant events.

Florida Park Police

Florida Park Police Officers are responsible for protecting Florida’s state parks and other
Department of Environmental Protection managed lands, including greenways and
trails, coastal and aquatic preserves and recreational areas. Park Police want to make your visit safe
and enjoyable. Here are a few basic tips to help you have a great time in Florida state parks.

• Parks are home to many types of wildlife. While animals can be interesting to watch and
beautiful to photograph, keep in mind that their behavior can be unpredictable. Always keep

a safe distance when viewing. Never feed a wild animal. Keep all food items safely stored in

secured containers or in your vehicle.

• A park is the perfect place to enjoy riding a bicycle! Keep in mind basic “rules of the road”:
travel in the same direction as motorized traffic and follow all posted road signs. If you are Fort Clinch
under 16, you must wear a bicycle helmet.
• Everyone likes having fun outside with friends and family. Enjoy your day in the sun-
shine… alcohol consumption is prohibited except in restaurants and lodges that sell
alcohol and during park-sanctioned events.
• For a fun day on the water, ensure that your boat has all required safety gear on board.
File a float plan with someone so they will know when to expect your return. Be sure
to purchase a Florida fishing license, if required. Check with local officials for further
information.

Please preserve our resources for all visitors. Take plenty of photographs to remember
your visit, but leave nature and historical artifacts in place for future enjoyment.

PASS Annual Pass

The Annual Pass allows you to discover, experience and enjoy the beauty of
Florida’s state parks for just pennies a day. Passes are honored at more than 100 state
parks, except Homosassa Springs and Skyway Fishing Pier, where they are valid for a
33% discount. Ask about passes at any state park or call: (352) 628-1002.

Passes make wonderful gifts and may be purchased at park offices or by mail:
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Attn: Annual Passes
4156 South Suncoast Boulevard
Homosassa, FL 34446

Or visit: FloridaStateParks.org/annualpass/default.cfm Bahia Honda

For more information • (850) 245-2157 • FloridaStateParks.org 6

 Park Programs

The Florida Park Service offers many

different interpretive programs. These
programs are an easy and fun way to discover
the unique opportunities available in each
park, and are also great for meeting and
getting to know the many people who make
up the Florida Park Service.

The programs offered in each state park

are as varied as the locations themselves.
Living history reenactments, nature trails
and interpretive exhibits are just a few of the
many enjoyable experiences that are available
in our state parks.

One way to become more familiar with these

Pumpkin Hill
opportunities is through the Get REAL
(Recreational and Environmental Adventures Torreya
in Learning) program. These programs
provide a classroom without walls, connecting
students with state parks and valuable
learning experiences.

Another example of these kinds of

opportunities can be found in the LIFE
(Learning in Florida’s Environment)
initiative, a series of environmental science
education programs taking place at a variety
of parks. This reflects the Department of
Environmental Protection’s commitment to
working with local school districts to increase
both student learning and teacher professional
development. The hands on, field based
experiences are designed to make the learning
process a more personal and memorable
Savannas experience, while still meeting Florida Manatee Springs
Sunshine State Standards for education.

Washington Oaks Gardens Hillsborough River

7 For reservations • (800) 326-3521 • ReserveAmerica.com

 Activity Key

Beaches Camping (Primitive)

Bicycling Camping (Youth)

Birding Canoe/Kayak Launch

Boating Canoeing/Kayaking

Boat Ramp Concession/Restaurant

Madison Blue Spring

Boat Tours Fishing (Fresh/Salt)

Cabins/Lodging Hiking/Nature Trails

Campfire Circle Historic Site

Camping (Equestrian) Horse Trail

Camping (Full-Facility) Interpretive Exhibit

M

Topsail Hill Camping (Group) Museum

Picnic Area
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier

Playground

RV Camping

Scuba Diving
Torreya

Day-Use Showers

Snorkeling

Swimming

Tubing

Blackwater River Visitor Center

For more information • (850) 245-2157 • FloridaStateParks.org 8