Explore All National Parks in Florida (2024)

There is no denying that Florida has an allure that attracts visitors. They don’t call it the Sunshine state for nothing!

Part of the value of this location is not just the sunshine, beaches and warm weather, but also the amazing sites you can see at the National Park Sites you can find in Florida.

I have family in the state and have visited often to check out these amazing parks. So, let’s dig into reviewing all the Florida National Park sites so you can get some awesome information to use on your next adventure.

Table of Contents

How many National Parks are in Florida?

There are actually 11 National Park sites managed by the park service in Florida. This including the three BIG National Parks:

• Biscayne National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Dry Tortugas National Park

You can also find two National Memorials, two National Monuments, two National Seashores a National Preserve and an Ecological and Historic Preserve!

List of all National Parks in Florida

1. Big Cypress National Preserve
2. Biscayne National Park
3. Canaveral National Seashore
4. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
5. De Soto National Memorial
6. Dry Tortugas National Park
7. Everglades National Park
8. Fort Caroline National Memorial
9. Fort Matanzas National Monument
10. Gulf Island National Seashore
11. Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Map of All National Parks in Florida

Big Cypress National Preserve

At over 729,00 acres, Big Cypress is the second largest National Park Site in the state and borders the Everglades National Park. It houses two visitor centers and seven established campgrounds that can be utilized for park visits. It also hosts the southern terminus for the 1,100-mile-long Florida National Scenic Trail.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 4:30pm EST
• Visitor Centers
  • Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center:33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida 34141
  • Oasis Visitor Center: 52105 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida 34141
• Entrance Fees: No Entrance fee is required but fees may be applied to Campsites. A hiking permit is required if hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail.
• Activities: Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Boating, Bird watching

Highlights

Visit the Oasis Visitor Center to see some amazing wildlife on their canal boardwalk and to hike part of the Florida National Scenic Trail

Biscayne National Park

One of the three official National Parks, Biscayne can be found on the southeast side of Florida south of Miami. At 172,000 acres, it is also the third largest, with most of it a marine sanctuary. To have a complete visit to this park, you should have some water activity to get the most out of your visit.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5:00pm EST
• Dante Fascell Visitor Center: 9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead, FL 33033
• Entrance Fees: No Entrance fee is required but fees may be required for activities such as snorkeling, boat cruises, and kayaking.
• Activities: Kayaking, Snorkeling, Boat Tours, Night boat tours, Scuba diving, paddle boarding, some hiking

Go to the non-profit Biscayne National Park Institute, to reserve special tour or excursion.

Highlights

Kayaking the Mangroves is a great experience that can be shared by the entire family. Push off right next to the visitor center parking lot and before you know it you are in mangroves looking for manatees.

Canaveral National Seashore

This park hosts an amazing stretch of undeveloped beaches and barrier islands north of Cape Canaveral. You can check out historical sites and viewing for the space program at the launch facility that is close by.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5:00pm EST
• Apollo Beach Visitor Center: 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
• Entrance Fees: No Entrance fee is required
• Activities: Sunbathing, swimming, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, camping, kayaking and some exploration of historic sites.

Highlights

Check out the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge while you are in the area. There is a great driving tour that give you the opportunity to see an amazing display of wildlife right next to Canaveral National Seashore.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Home to the oldest masonry fort in the United States, this massive 17th century Spanish fort is an amazing place to visit if you are in Northeast Florida.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5:00pm EST
• Castillo de San Macro Visitor Center: 11 South Castillo Drive Saint Augustine FL 32084
• Entrance Fees: There is a fee for access to the fort
• Activities: Self-guided tour of the fort, listen to ranger led talks and tours, watch living history demonstrations and educational programs.

De Soto National Memorial

A small park but it has a powerful story of conquest, determination, disease, exploration and exploitation. Learn all about Hernando De Soto and his 4,000-mile journey across the American south, as he searched for gold and riches. He did not find his fame and glory but made a lasting impact on the people he interacted with and the history of this region.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5pm EST
• Address: 8300 Desoto Memorial Hwy, Bradenton, FL 34209
• Entrance Fees: No Fee Required
• Activities: Hiking, Ranger talks, Living history Interpretation

Highlights

The hike around the visitor center is a great way to get out of the Florida heat, as there is shade for most of the walk. Get great views and see some of the local environment.

Dry Tortugas National Park

One of the most remote National Parks in the lower 48 states, Dry Tortugas is a rare and unique National Park. It hosts the Civil War era Fort Jefferson, but the majority of the park covers the water, with a huge marine and bird sanctuary. It is hard not to emphasize the tropical beauty of the park.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5pm EST
• Visitor Centers
  • Garden Key Visitor Center:  Fort Jefferson
  • Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center:  35 Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040
    • 9:00 – 4:00pm Tue – Sat
    • Managed by NOAA
• Entrance Fees: Yes, there is a fee to visit the park. No fee for the Eco-Discovery Center on Key West
• Activities: Tour Fort Jefferson, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, camping, boating, wildlife viewing

Highlights

• Snorkeling is amazing, with crystal clear water that allows for amazing views of coral reefs and tropical fish.
• Wondering how to get to Dry Tortugas? See all the options as it is an adventure in itself!

Everglades National Park

This is the iconic park in the state of Florida and has much to offer. As the largest and most visited park of the eleven, it has numerous activities and unique sites to consider.

Park Details

• Operating Hours: 9am – 5pm EST
• Visitor Centers
  • Earnest Coe Visitor Center:  40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
  • Shark Valley Visitor Center:  36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33194
  • Guy Bradley (Flamingo) Visitor Center:  1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy, Homestead, Florida 33034
  • Gulf Coast Visitor Center: CLOSED – 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City, Florida 34139
• Entrance Fees: Yes, there is a fee to visit the park.
• Activities:
  • Hiking, Biking, Camping, Fishing Boating, Bird & Wildlife watching, kayaking, Nuclear Missile Base tour, photography, Tram Tours
  • Go to the non-profit Everglades National Park Institute, to reserve special tours or excursions

Highlights

Consider a Ranger Tour of the cold war Nike Missile Base, just outside of the Earnest Coe Visitor Center. You can also take a tram at the Shark Vally Visitor Center to the observation tower. Reserve your spot early at Recreation.gov.

Fort Caroline National Memorial

This memorial commemorates the 200+ French Huguenots who in 1565 attempted to make this a permanent colony in America. This park tells part of the story of the French and Spanish Colonization in the New World, and how it impacted not only global history, but the local indigenous people as well.

Park Details

• Operating Hours:
• Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center:  12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32225
• Entrance Fees: No Fee Required
• Activities: Tour the fort, Living History, Ecological review

Highlights

Fort Caroline is within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, so can visit both sites easily in the same visit.

Fort Matanzas National Monument

One of several Spanish forts on the coast of Florida, Fort Matanzas served as a Southern outpost for the larger Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. Also, the site of the massacre of the French Huguenots from Fort Caroline in 1565.

Park Details

• Operating Hours:
• Fort Matanzas Visitor Center:  8635 A1A South Saint Augustine, FL 32080
• Entrance Fees: No Fee Required
• Activities: Fort Tour, Fishing, Nature Trails, Hiking

Highlights

• To visit the fort you need to take a short (5 min) ferry ride
• Ferry passes are first come first serve. Passes are usually all handed out before 11am for the day.  Ferry is closed on Tuesdays.

Gulf Island National Seashore

The seashore along the Gulf of Mexico is a very popular. It is listed as the fifth most visited National Service site with over eight million visitors last year. The National Seashore attracts visitors with white sand beaches, water activities and historical forts.

Park Details

• Operating Hours:
• Visitor Centers
  • Fort Barrancas Visitor Center (CLOSED through May 2024): 3182 Taylor Rd, Pensacola, FL 32508
  • William M Colmer Visitor Center: 3500 Park Rd Ocean Springs, MS 39564
• Entrance Fees: Yes, there is an entrance fee in some areas. You can visit Fort Barrancas without a fee.
• Activities: Beaches, hiking, boating, fishing, camping, visit Fort Pickens, take a tram

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

This preserve has one of the last unspoiled wetlands on the East coast. It holds a ton of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts such as hiking, boating, kayaking and bird watching. For history buffs, it also boasts the 16th century attempt of French Colonization in Florida, and the legacy of slavery at the Kingsley Plantation. 

Park Details

• Visitor Centers
  • Operating Hours: 9 – 4:30pm – Closed Mon and Tue
  • Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center:  12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32225
  • Kingsley Plantation Visitor Center:  11676 Palmetto Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32226
  • Fort George Island Visitor Center and Ribault Club: 11241 Fort George Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32226
• Entrance Fees: No Entrance fee is required
• Activities: Hiking, Tour Fort Caroline, Visit a Plantation, Wildlife viewing

Highlights

Fort Caroline is located within Timucuan Ecological Preserve. If you are coming here, plan time to visit the fort as well!

Florida National Park Questions

What is the largest National Park in Florida?

The Everglades National Park is by far the largest in area. With over 1.5 million acres, it has over half of the entire National Park acreage in the state! You can also fit the entire state of Delaware inside the park (!)

How many people visit Florida’s National Parks?

In a word, a lot! As you can imagine, Florida hosts a number of visitors attracted by the sunshine and warm weather. When looking at the National Parks in Florida, over 13.3 million people visited last year.

What is the most popular National Park in Florida?

Out of all the National Park sites in Florida, the Gulf Islands National Seashore has the most visitors with over 5 million visits last year.

What was the least visited National Park in Florida?

The Dry Tortugas National Park was the least visited Park last year. Given its remote location, and the fact that you can’t just drive there makes it a challenging place to visit with under 84 thousand visitors last year.

State Park Passport Program

Did you know that Florida has a state park passport program? Did you also know that there are 24 other State Park Passport programs, as well?

Check out below if you want to learn more about Florida’s program and see if your state is on the list!

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