8 Florida State Parks Worth a Trip Once the Heat Breaks
Floridians who spent the summer indoors finally have a reason to get back outside.
Here are the Florida state parks worth a trip once the heat breaks.
1. Torreya State Park
Torreya State Park, near Bristol, has what Florida State Parks calls the finest display of fall color in the state.
Hardwoods at Torreya and two other northern parks change color in mid-November.
You pay $3 a vehicle to enter.
Overnight accommodations are closed effective Oct. 11, 2026.
Day use is open.
From its high bluffs, you can look out over the Apalachicola River.
2. Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock State Park, near Sebring, runs its alligator tram tours from mid-November through April.
On brisk mornings, you may find alligators lined up on the banks of South Canal, basking in the sun.
Trams run daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. during the winter season.
The park adds more trams based on visitor demand.
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12.
Kids under 6 ride free.
The Hammock Inn Concession sells tickets the day of the tour, and you can call it at 863-402-0061 for tour details.
Park entry costs $6 a vehicle on top of the tickets.
The park calls late fall, winter and spring ideal seasons for exploring its trails.
Those trails run from 975 feet to over 3,000 feet.
3. Blue Spring State Park
Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, keeps its swimming season to April 1 through Nov. 14.
Entry costs $6 a vehicle.
The park often reaches capacity and may temporarily close.
From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees crowd into the spring run to get out of the cold.
The park’s webcam runs live during the winter months, so you can check on the manatees before you drive over.
Blue Spring’s Day-Use Reservations
Day-use visitors to Blue Spring State Park, including people with annual passes, pedestrians and cyclists, have needed a reservation since July 15, 2026.
You pay the entry fee online when you book.
The reservation itself costs nothing extra.
You can book up to 60 days ahead.
Same-day reservations stay open until the park reaches its limit.
Overnight guests use their camping reservation to get in.
4. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, south of Gainesville, hosts migrating sandhill cranes from December through February.
From Jackson’s Gap Trail, you can look for sandhill cranes, alligators, egrets and herons in the wetlands.
Florida State Parks says nowhere else in the state can you experience wild-roaming bison and horses.
If you camp, you can join ranger-led campfire programs on Saturday evenings from November through February.
Entry is $6 a vehicle.
If you want a higher view, the Wacahoota Trail leads to a 50-foot observation tower at the edge of the prairie.
The walk is a quarter mile round trip from the visitor center.
5. Myakka River State Park
Myakka River State Park, near Sarasota, has its best wildlife viewing when water levels are lower, usually January through March.
You can spot bobcats, otters, alligators and 100-plus bird species there.
As of Oct. 12, 2026, the park’s Birdwalk page lists the boardwalk as unavailable due to hurricane damage.
You can use the North Gate only on Saturday, Sunday and state holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $6 a vehicle.
The park calls late fall, winter and early spring the ideal hiking seasons.
Psst! How much do you know about state parks? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
State Park Trivia
Answer these questions on state parks, from springs to sinkholes. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Florida State Parks invites you to swim at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, where which prehistoric animal once roamed?
6. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Maclay Gardens State Park, in Tallahassee, calls January 1 through April 30 its peak blooming season.
Admission is $6 a vehicle.
From January through April, you pay a special fee on top of that to visit the gardens and the historic Maclay House.
Camellia Christmas in December is one of its annual events.
You'll find hundreds of camellias and azaleas in the gardens, with the floral peak in late February.
7. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, near Okeechobee, became Florida's first Dark Sky Park in 2016.
The night sky is a winter delight, since the dry air in wintertime makes the skies clearer.
Entry costs $4 a vehicle.
The park closes at sunset, like every state park.
To stay after dark, you can book a campsite, reserve an astronomy pad site or use an after-hours pass if you hold an annual pass.
After dark on the astronomy pads, all lights must be red spectrum.
Campfires aren't allowed there.
8. Manatee Springs State Park
At Manatee Springs State Park, near Chiefland, you can see manatees in the cooler months.
The park doesn't list months.
You may see resting manatees or even jumping sturgeon on the Suwannee River, the park manager says.
Admission is $6 a vehicle.
Construction affects the ranger station, Hickory Camp Loop and waterfront picnic area, effective Oct. 6, 2026.
The park's 800-foot boardwalk follows the spring run to its meeting with the Suwannee River.
Winter Eagle Nests
Bald eagles return to many state parks to nest in the winter months.
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, in Jacksonville, and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park both have documented bald eagle nests.
Pumpkin Hill Creek is free.
Whether you hike, bike or ride, you can explore the preserve's 15 miles of multi-use trails.
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