If you’ve been looking for the best national parks in Florida then stick around as this article discusses just that. Florida is known for its sunshine and beaches, but it also has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the United States. National parks offer stunning scenery, wildlife, adventure, and history, and offer a variety of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages and interests.

In this article, I set out to show you 10 of the best national parks in Florida that you should visit if you want to have a good time in nature and also learn about the history and cultures of Florida.

List of 10 Best National Parks in Florida

Below are the best national parks in Florida with remarkable features and side attractions:

1. Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is one of the largest and most diverse national parks in Florida (and in the country). It covers more than 1.5 million acres of land that contain wetlands, prairies, forests, and mangroves that are home to a variety of wildlife, such as alligators, manatees, panthers, and flamingos. You can explore this natural wonderland by hiking, biking, boating, or camping at this park.

• Location: Southern Florida (near Miami)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor centers have varying hours; check website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

2. Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park is one of the most scenic and accessible national parks in Florida. It encompasses more than 170,000 acres of land and water that border Miami along Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is among the best national parks in Florida with a lot of marine side attractions: islands, beaches, coral reefs, and shipwrecks. In this park, you can engage in sporting activities like boating, fishing, swimming, and/or diving. Also, you can enjoy other attractions like Boca Chita Key or Stiltsville at this park.

• Location: Southeastern Florida (near Miami)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor center open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm

3. Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote and adventurous national parks in Florida. It consists of seven islands and surrounding waters that lie about 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, it houses Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century fort that was used as a prison and a naval base. Here, you can also see coral reefs, marine life, birds, and shipwrecks at this park.

• Location: Western Florida (near Key West)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor center open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm

4. Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore is one of the most pristine and relaxing national parks in Florida. It is one of the best national parks in Florida with tons of coastal side attractions. It covers more than 50 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and Mosquito Lagoon and offers opportunities for surfing, fishing, swimming, and sunbathing. You can also see wildlife like sea turtles, dolphins, and manatees at this park.

• Location: Eastern Florida (near Titusville)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on season and location; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm

5. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is one of the most interesting and historic national parks in Florida (and in the country). It preserves a 17th-century stone fort that was built by the Spanish to defend their colony of St. Augustine. It is the oldest masonry fort in North America and has witnessed many battles and sieges over its history. You can learn about this history and culture by visiting this fort or taking guided tours or special events.

• Location: Northeastern Florida (near St. Augustine)
• Operating Hours: Open daily from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm

6. De Soto National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial is one of the most significant and educational national parks in Florida (and in the country). It commemorates the landing of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his expedition in 1539, which was one of the first European contacts with Native Americans in North America. You can learn about this encounter and its impact by visiting this site, which features a visitor center, trails, exhibits, and a living history camp.

• Location: Western Florida (near Bradenton)
• Operating Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/deso/index.htm

7. Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument is one of the best national parks in Florida to learn about the military history of America. It protects a small stone fort that was built by the Spanish in 1742 to guard the southern approach to St. Augustine against British attacks. You can access this fort by taking a free ferry ride across the Matanzas River or enjoy other attractions like nature trails, boardwalks, and picnic areas at this park.

• Location: Northeastern Florida (near St. Augustine)
• Operating Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm

8. Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore is one of the most fun and beautiful national parks in Florida (and in Mississippi). It encompasses more than 160 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico that offer opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. You can also see historic forts, lighthouses, batteries, and museums that tell the story of the region’s military and maritime history.

• Location: Northwestern Florida (and southern Mississippi) (near Pensacola).
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on season and location; check the website for details.
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm

9. Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is one of the best national parks in Florida with ecologically diverse animal and plant species. It covers more than 46,000 acres of land that contain salt marshes, coastal dunes, hardwood hammocks, and pine flatwoods that are home to a variety of wildlife, such as alligators, otters, eagles, and pelicans. You can also see historic sites like Fort Caroline or Kingsley Plantation or learn about the native Timucua people at this park.

• Location: Northeastern Florida (near Jacksonville).
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on season and location; check the website for details.
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/timu/index.htm

10. St. Augustine National Historical Park

St. Augustine National Historical Park is one of the most interesting and historic national parks in Florida (and in the country). It preserves several sites that are related to the history and culture of St. Augustine, which is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America. You can see sites like Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas, Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, and Colonial Quarter at this park.

• Location: Northeastern Florida (near St. Augustine)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on site; check website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/state/fl/index.htm

Conclusion

A cursory examination of some of the best national parks in Florida gives a quick insight into the rich and interesting history of the American military force. But that’s not all. These parks also help one to learn and appreciate the beauty of American history and culture over the years. Furthermore, they afford you the opportunity to see natural coastal life and habitats like swamps or beaches, fossils or forts, islands, and rivers. So, if you’re looking for a good place to have a great adventure, experience nature and also explore history firsthand, you should consider visiting some (if not all) of these parks.