birds flying over the shore at a state park near daytona beach floridaDaytona Beach is one of the best and most famous beaches in the whole of the USA. Well known for its flat, wide expanse of hard packed sand, it’s a place where you can sunbathe, swim and even drive along its iconic shoreline.

But it’s not a beach you are ever likely to be alone on, as hundreds and thousands of people from all over the world come and visit it throughout the year.

Thankfully to escape the crowds there are a number of excellent state parks near Daytona Beach you can go to. Offering everything from quieter more remote beaches to isolated forest, creeks, rivers, lagoons and marshes, they provide the perfect place to escape the crowds.

Below is a selection of some of the best of them.

Map of State Parks Near Daytona Beach FL

Here is a map of the Florida state parks covered in this post:

List of State Parks Near Daytona Beach

Here are each of those state parks with distance from Daytona Beach and what is special about each.

These five state parks near Daytona Beach are all within an hour’s drive. So we highly we recommend you try and visit them the next time you need some peace and quiet.

1. Anastasia State Park

Location: 300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32080

Just about an hour’s drive north of Daytona lies the wonderful Anastasia State Park. Encompassing over 1600 acres of pristine, isolated beaches, as well as magnificent ancient sand dunes, tidal marshes and maritime hammocks, this is a great destination to get away from it all.

Cycling on the beach is a popular activity here, as is surfing, shelling, fishing and boating. Its also a mecca for lovers of bird watching, enabling you to spot numerous species here including osprey, eagles, warblers and roseate spoonbills.

The park accommodates 139 campsites for both tents and RVs, all of which are located near the beach. For your comfort, all the sites have water and electricity, as well as a range of other amenities including fire rings, picnic tables and an in-ground grill.
Such is the outstanding natural beauty of this area, a number of couples choose to get married here.

2. Amelia Island State Park

Location: Florida A1A, Jacksonville, FL 32226

The drive over to Amelia Island State Park from Daytona Beach might take two hours, but if you are looking for a remote beach where there will be hardly any people, its definitely a place you should head to.

Limited to just 300 cars and only 600 people, the park actually closes to new visitors until some 150 people leave. So it is a really secluded spot, and it’s conceivable you won’t pass anyone during your time here.

Protecting over 200 acres of pristine wilderness along Amelia Island’s southern tip, the landscape here is one of stunning beaches, coastal maritime forests and salt marshes – which many consider to be the Real Florida.

One of the main attractions of Amelia Island is that it is the only state park in Florida that offers horseback riding on the beach.

It is also an excellent spot to beach comb for shells and sharks teeth, whilst fishing is popular here too. Unfortunately there are no camping facilities here though.

3. Dunns Creek State Park

Location: FL-15, Pomona Park, FL 32181

A little closer to Daytona Beach, Dunns Creek State Park can be reached after a 70 minute drive.

Nestled close to the St. Johns River, it features more than 6,200 acres of stunning sandhills that are covered in wiregrass, sand pine scrub and longleaf pines, to form a truly spectacular sight.

This terrain protects a number of endangered, or severely under threat species of fauna including fox squirrels and the gopher tortoise. All kinds of birds reside here too, whilst black bears, alligators, bobcats and turtles can also be seen throughout the park.

There are no camping facilities here but if you are looking for a place to reconnect with nature, this is as good as any. There are a number of biking and cycling trails that will enable you to explore the area in more detail, whilst geo-seeking, fishing and picnicking are also popular too.

The park is open every day of the year from 8am to sunset.

4. Big Talbot Island State Park

Location: Jacksonville, FL 32226

The Big Talbot Island State Park is another destination which involves a two hour drive from Daytona Beach.

Situated on a unique sea island on Northeast Florida, the park is predominantly a natural preserve which provides a great venue for appreciating the wonders of nature.

Boasting a magnificent terrain of maritime forest, lush wetlands, rugged bluffs and salt marshes, this is a great spot for hiking – with a number of trails taking you all over the island.

Some of these trails will take you to Boneyard Beach, an enchanting beach which is well known for the scattered driftwood remains of cedar trees and live oaks that previously grew by the shore. While others will take you to spots where birds like ospreys, black skimmers, terns and piping plovers all reside.

Another area that has no camping facilities, it is however an incredible landscape for the keen amateur or professional photographer, as well as fishing, boating and biking enthusiasts too.

5. Little Talbot State Park

Location: 12157 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226

If you are looking for a wonderful outdoor location to camp overnight a great yet remote spot, why not consider Little Talbot State Park.

Accessed via an hour and 45 minute drive from Daytona Beach, this park near Jacksonville is tucked away among jaw-dropping ancient dunes which is interspersed with lush forestlands of American holly, oaks and Southern magnolia trees.

All of the 36 campsites here have 20- or 30-amp electricity, as well as fresh water, picnic table and fire rings too. For those looking for a longer stay, the campground also provides a laundry facility, as well as two bathhouses that possess hot showers.

Presenting more than five miles of immaculate beaches and three miles of bike trails, it is a lovely place to come for surfing, beachcombing, hiking, fishing and kayaking.