Sarasota sits on Florida’s gulf coast just south of Tampa, and it punches well above its weight for a mid-sized city. Between the Ringling Museum, a thriving performing arts scene, and the annual Sarasota Film Festival, there’s no shortage of culture. And the beaches — Siesta Key, Lido Beach, Caspersen — are some of the finest white-sand stretches on the Gulf.
But here’s the thing: some of the best nature in southwest Florida is hiding just outside the city limits. 10 state parks sit within 90 minutes of downtown Sarasota, and each one shows off a different side of Florida — from alligator-rich rivers and cypress swamps to quiet lakes and wildflower prairies.
Map of State Parks Near Sarasota FL
Here is a map of the Florida state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Sarasota
1. Oscar Scherer State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 12 miles south of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 1843 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229
Oscar Scherer is the closest park to Sarasota, tucked into the town of Osprey and somehow managing to feel like a genuine wilderness despite being surrounded by suburban development. Lake Osprey and South Creek run through the park, and here’s the interesting part — because the creek is tidal, you can catch both freshwater bass and saltwater species on the same trip. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission even stocks catfish in the lake, which doesn’t hurt your odds.
There are 15 miles of trails here, including a section of the paved Legacy Trail that’s great for casual cycling. Seven marked hiking trails branch off into quieter parts of the park. Don’t expect restrooms or shelters along them, but benches pop up in the right places.
The campground has 104 sites with water and electric hookups, hot showers, and even laundry facilities — so it works for everything from a tent weekend to a longer RV stay. If you only have time for one day trip from Sarasota, this is the easiest choice.
Oscar Scherer State Park is a Florida State Park located between Sarasota and Venice, near Osprey.
Highlights associated with Oscar Scherer State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, a designated swimming area, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
See our full Oscar Scherer State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 13 miles north of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 3708 U.S. Highway 301
Ellenton, FL 34222
The oldest building within Manatee County, this impressive mansion is also South Florida’s last remaining antebellum plantation house.
Highlights associated with Gamble Plantation Historic State Park include historic sites.
See our full Gamble Plantation Historic State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Myakka River State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 15 miles southeast of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241
Myakka River is one of Florida’s oldest and biggest state parks — over 37,000 acres of river, marsh, hammock, and prairie. It’s the kind of place where you might spot an alligator sunning itself 20 feet from the road and nobody around you bats an eye.
The flat-bottomed boat tours on Upper Myakka Lake are genuinely worth the $20. You’ll spend 45 minutes to an hour gliding through the wetlands with a guide who knows exactly where the wildlife hangs out — herons, ospreys, alligators, and whatever else decides to show up that day.
For hikers, the Myakka Trail (maintained by the Florida Trail Association) loops nearly 39 miles through the park. That said, you don’t have to commit to the full thing — backcountry roads cross the trail system, so you can shorten or extend as you go. Birders will find this place a goldmine: ducks, wading birds, songbirds, raptors, and all the migratory species passing through.
Three campgrounds with 90 sites cover the basics — fire rings, picnic tables, water hookups, 50-amp electric. Six primitive backcountry campgrounds along the hiking trails serve backpackers looking for something wilder.
Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, that is located nine miles (14 km) east of Interstate 75 in Sarasota County and a portion of southeastern Manatee County on the Atlantic coastal plain.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, hiking trails, and a marina.
See our full Myakka River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Lake Manatee State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 15 miles northeast of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 20007 FL-64, Bradenton, FL 34212
At $5 per carload and open 365 days a year, Lake Manatee is hard to beat for a low-key day on the water. The lake is the main attraction — good for swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing — though keep in mind that boat motors are capped at 20 horsepower.
The fishing here is solid. Largemouth bass, sunshine bass, bluegill, catfish, shellcracker, and speckled perch all show up regularly, and you can fish either from a boat or from the park’s docks.
What surprises people is the cycling: a 2.5-mile paved trail and 2.3 miles of off-road paths wind through terrain that ranges from easy cruising to something a bit more adventurous. Spring is the best time for the off-road portion — the Florida wildflowers are in full bloom and the lake views open up through the trees.
Sixty campsites sit within walking distance of the beaches and fishing spots, all with water and 30-amp electric hookups.
Lake Manatee State Park (Lake Manatee State Recreation Area) is a 556-acre (2.3 km2) State Park in the U.S.
Highlights associated with Lake Manatee State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, a designated swimming area, a boat launch, and playgrounds.
See our full Lake Manatee State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 17 miles north of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 130 Terra Ceia Rd
Terra Ceia, FL 34250
Terra Ceia Preserve (also known as Frog Creek and Terra Ceia Preserve State Park) is a 1,932-acre (7.82 km2) preserve located in Manatee County, Florida north of Palmetto.
Highlights associated with Terra Ceia Preserve State Park include river access, wooded landscapes, and wetland habitat.
See our full Terra Ceia Preserve State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 25 miles north of Sarasota (straight-line).
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is a Florida State Park located on the north and south sides of the mouth of Tampa Bay.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a fishing pier and playgrounds.
See our full Skyway Fishing Pier State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Little Manatee River State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 25 miles northeast of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 215 Lightfoot Rd
Wimauma, FL 33598
Little Manatee River State Park is a 2,433-acre (985 ha) Florida State Park located 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Sun City, off U.S.
Highlights associated with Little Manatee River State Park include lake recreation, river access, and wetland habitat.
See our full Little Manatee River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 26 miles north of Sarasota (straight-line).
Highlights associated with Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, a designated swimming area, a boat launch, and playgrounds.
See our full Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Wingate Creek State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 27 miles east of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 38620 East, FL-64, Myakka City, FL 34251
This 614-acre park is the quiet, understated member of the group — and that’s exactly its appeal. No entrance fee, no facilities, no crowds. Just 614 acres of Florida scrub, flatwoods, and creek corridor where Wingate Creek and Johnson Creek converge before flowing into the upper Myakka River.
The park is maintained with prescribed fire, and the results show up every fall: terrestrial orchids, blazing stars, Florida paintbrush, and pine lilies carpeting the open areas. Wildlife-wise, you might spot gopher tortoises shuffling through the underbrush, Sherman’s fox squirrels in the canopy, white-tailed deer at the edges, and the occasional eastern coachwhip snake (harmless, despite looking intimidating). Birders regularly log great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and wild turkeys.
Come here if you want genuine solitude and Florida the way it looked before the condos arrived. Open daily from 8 AM to sundown.
Explore Wingate Creek State Park’s multi-use trails, wetlands, and bird-watching in Florida’s undeveloped natural areas. Ideal for nature lovers.
Highlights associated with Wingate Creek State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Wingate Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Highlands Hammock State Park
Distance from Sarasota: about 62 miles east of Sarasota (straight-line).
Location: 5931 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872
The longest drive on this list — but Highlands Hammock is the kind of park that makes the extra mileage worthwhile. It holds more rare and Florida-endemic species than any other state park in the system: deer, alligators, black bears, and even the occasional Florida panther have been documented here.
Nine hiking trails wind through the park, and the standout is an elevated boardwalk that takes you straight through a cypress swamp. It’s atmospheric in a way that’s hard to describe until you’re standing there surrounded by ancient trees draped in Spanish moss. Cyclists get a 3-mile paved loop and a 6-mile off-road trail.
The park also runs guided and narrated tram tours — a good option if you want to cover more ground and have someone point out what you’d otherwise walk right past.
Camping options include full-hookup RV sites (accommodating rigs up to 50 feet) and primitive tent sites. Reservations are a good idea, especially during the cooler months when snowbirds are in town.
Highlands Hammock State Park is a 9,000-acre (3,640 ha) park 4 miles (6 km) west of Sebring in Highlands County, Florida, off U.S.
Highlights associated with Highlands Hammock State Park include beach access, river access, and old-growth forest.
See our full Highlands Hammock State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
