11 Underrated State Parks In Florida

11 Underrated State Parks In Florida


March 24, 2025 | Miles Brucker

11 Underrated State Parks In Florida


Sun-Soaked Treasures

The search for tropical bliss ends right here in Florida. Most tourists skip these state parks, leaving their beauty untouched. Secluded beaches and islands make all of them a secret paradise.

Biscayne National Park

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Fort Clinch State Park

History buffs might initially visit Fort Clinch for its well-preserved 19th-century fortress, but they stay for the Caribbean-worthy beaches surrounding it. Fort Clinch State Park is a 1,400-acre area on the northern tip of Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, Florida. 

File:Fort Clinch State Park, Florida, US.jpgbubba73, Wikimedia Commons

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Fort Clinch State Park (Cont.)

Individuals can enjoy hiking on several trails, such as a 4.8-mile beach walk and a 5.7-mile multi-use trail. Other activities include pier fishing, surfcasting, swimming, sunbathing, bicycling, birding, and wildlife viewing. The park also hosts living history re-enactments of Civil War-era military life.

File:Fernandina Beach FL Fort Clinch fort18.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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Caladesi Island State Park

Only accessible by boat or ferry, Caladesi Island feels like stepping onto a private Caribbean getaway. The park has a 2.5-mile nature trail that passes through slash-pine forests and the historic Scharrer Homestead. Wildlife thrives here, with sea turtles nesting along the shoreline.

File:Caladesi trail oak.jpgNo machine-readable author provided. Philipp Michel Reichold assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons

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Caladesi Island State Park (Cont.)

What makes Caladesi truly special is its isolation. The park is across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach. Here, you will find a marina, picnic pavilions, bathhouses, a concession stand (Cafe Caladesi), and a three-mile nature trail.

File:Caladesi island marina02.jpgNo machine-readable author provided. Philipp Michel Reichold assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons

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Cayo Costa State Park

The warm, crystal-clear waters surrounding Cayo Costa offer some of Florida's best snorkeling opportunities. This remote island is accessible only by boat or private ferry and is located directly south of Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island) and north of North Captiva Island.

File:Marine shoreline of Cayo Costa Island (Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida, USA) (23771084953).jpgJames St. John, Wikimedia Commons

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Cayo Costa State Park (Cont.)

The park displays nine miles of beautiful beaches, acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps. It is said that the Calusa Native Americans once inhabited this island, which Cuban fishermen later used for fishing operations. 

File:CayoCostaSP Landscape01.jpghttps://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_pauline/, Wikimedia Commons

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Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Kayaking down the tea-colored Loxahatchee River through cypress swamps feels like an adventure out of a tropical jungle. While Jonathan Dickinson State Park doesn't feature traditional beaches, its diverse ecosystems give an equally impressive natural experience.

File:Jonathan Dickinson State Park 001.JPGStephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons

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Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Cont.)

Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a huge 10,500-acre park in Florida, sitting in Martin County, right between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. There are two full-facility campgrounds and a primitive campground in the park, as well as the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center.

File:Jonathan Dickinson State Park 012.JPGStephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons

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Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Cont.)

Historically, the park got its name from Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant who was shipwrecked in 1696. It was also the site of Camp Murphy, a US Army radar training school during WWII. The park supports about 150 species of birds, deer, raccoons, and alligators.

File:Jonathan Dickinson State Park 039.JPGStephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Wikimedia Commons

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St. Joseph Peninsula State Park 

This spot was established in 1967 and is named after T H Stone, a respected community leader in Gulf County. As per reports, it was initially developed under the Land Acquisition Trust Fund program. The Bayview Trail is a popular hike here.

File:St Joseph Peninsula FL SP beach north01.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (Cont.)

Some of the nicest beaches in the United States can be found at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, about 21 miles from Port St. Joe. It functions as a vital habitat for many endangered creatures, like the snowy plover and the St. Andrews beach mouse. 

File:St Joseph Peninsula FL SP St Joseph Bay pano01.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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Little Talbot Island State Park

Little Talbot Island preserves one of the few undeveloped barrier islands along Florida's northeast coast. It is situated on State Road A1A and is accessible via Heckscher Drive. The park is usually open from 8 a.m. to sunset and provides wheelchair-accessible entrances.

File:Little Talbot Island - Myrtle Creek.jpgMwanner, Wikimedia Commons

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Little Talbot Island State Park (Cont.)

This park was established in 1951. Its highlights include beachside picnic pavilions, bathhouses, a nature trail, a playground, a youth/group tent campground, a full-facility campground, and a small boat ramp. The campground also offers boat and bicycle rentals.

File:Little Talbot Island SP bdwk03.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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Biscayne National Park

Situated in Miami-Dade County, Florida, around 21 miles south of Miami, Biscayne National Park is a must-visit spot. It is characterized by various marine ecosystems, such as a mainland mangrove shoreline, mangrove forests, coral reefs, and Biscayne Bay's shallow seas. 

File:Biscayne National Park visitor center.JPGFredlyfish4, Wikimedia Commons

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Biscayne National Park (Cont.)

Certain islands offer camping options and opportunities for fishing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and nature observation. Over 10,000 years of human history are preserved in Biscayne National Park, which was renamed a national park in 1980 after being established as a national monument in 1968. 

File:Columbus Day weekend boaters at Biscayne Bay.jpgGary Bremen Park Images for Media Use, Wikimedia Commons

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Myakka River State Park

One of Florida's biggest and oldest state parks, Myakka is just outside Sarasota and covers 37,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, and pinelands. In addition to a 74-foot observation tower, the park has picnic spaces, barbeque grills, public restrooms, and a canopy walkway. 

File:Trail in Myakka River State Park.jpgMx. Granger, Wikimedia Commons

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Myakka River State Park (Cont.)

The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park in the 1930s. The family of Bertha Palmer donated a section of the park. It experiences a subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers, with a mean temperature range of approximately 50°F to 92°F.

File:Myakka River - Kayaking.jpgMwanner, Wikimedia Commons

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Anastasia State Park

St. Augustine, the earliest continuously occupied European settlement in continental America, was founded in 1565 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Menendez de Aviles. It is closely linked to the rich cultural and historical legacy of Anastasia State Park, which was set up in 1949.

File:A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway - Greetings from Anastasia State Park - NARA - 7716676.jpgS. Clyde, Wikimedia Commons

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Anastasia State Park (Cont.)

One of the park's historical features is the Old Spanish Coquina Quarries. These quarries were used to extract coquina rock, a sedimentary rock composed of shells and sand, which was used in constructing the Castillo de San Marcos. The quarries date back to the 1700s.

File:St Aug Anastasia SP quarries03.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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Anastasia State Park (Cont.)

Anastasia State Park was then acquired by the state of Florida in 1949 from the US War Assets Administration. The place has picnic tables, BBQ grills, public restrooms, and a campground with 139 spots for RVs and tents. Plus, there’s a beach shop.

File:St Aug Anastasia SP dunes04.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

This Gulf Coast beauty takes its name from the massive dunes that once resembled the topsails of ships. What makes this park extraordinary is its collection of rare coastal dune lakes. The freshwater bodies occasionally connect to the Gulf.

File:Topsail Hill Preserve State Park main entrance.JPGSkye Marthaler, Wikimedia Commons

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Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (Cont.)

Nature enthusiasts can explore 15 natural communities within the park's boundaries, from pine flatwoods to wet prairies, each supporting different plant and animal species. This park's history goes back to Native Americans' use of the land for fishing and hunting. 

Topsail Hill Preserve State ParkTopsail Hill Preserve State Park by 30A

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Wekiwa Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs is celebrated for its scenery and varied ecosystems, which encompass tropical hammocks and sandhill uplands. Here, visitors can find canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals, and a famous dining option known as The Watering Hole.

File:Wekiwa Run.jpgThe original uploader was Mwanner at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons

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Wekiwa Springs State Park (Cont.)

About an hour north of the Disney region, in Apopka, Florida, is Wekiwa Springs State Park. It is a 7,000-acre area with admission fees of $6 per vehicle (up to eight passengers), $4 for single-occupant vehicles, and $2 for bikers or walkers.

File:Wekiwa Springs State Park springs02.jpgEbyabe, Wikimedia Commons

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