Located on the northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine claims to be the oldest city in America.
Well known for its impressive Spanish colonial architecture, as well as its stunning beaches, excellent dining options and lively nightlife, it is a lovely place to live and work.
However sometimes it’s good to have a break, and get away for a while, and on these occasions residents are lucky because there are a number of excellent state parks they can visit.
Situated within close or very easy driving distance of St Augustine, these destinations are fabulous places to rest and relax.
Many of them are tucked away on much quieter parts of the Florida coastline, or nestled inland, in some of the more picturesque rural parts of the state.
Offering landscapes that take the form of everything from remote and isolated beaches to raging rivers, dense forest, lush wetlands and beautiful meadows, they are perfect for those who love to hike, swim, camp or engaging in a range of water based activities.
Map of State Parks Near St. Augustine FL
Here is a map of the Florida state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near St. Augustine
For those who want to get away from the city for a while, these five state parks near St Augustine all offer very good camping facilities and are very easy to get to by car.
1. Faver-Dykes State Park
Location: 1000 Faver Dykes Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32086
Reached in just 30 minutes from St Augustine, the Faver-Dykes State Park is situated on the southern outskirts of the city.
As it borders Pellicer Creek, which is a designated state canoe trail, it offers a wide range of activities for the visitor including hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing and picnicking.
The park is teaming with wildlife too, accommodating more than 100 bird species during the spring and fall migrations. In addition you are also like to see deer, bobcats, hawks, turkeys and river otters as well, especially if you explore into the forested areas.
Surrounded by towering longleaf pines the campground provides very good facilities, which include 30 sites that can accommodate tents or RVs up to 35 feet.
2. Manatee Springs State Park
Location: 11650 NW 115th St, Chiefland, FL 32626
While the Manatee Springs State Park is a 2 hour 20 minute drive towards Florida’s west coast, its well worth the journey over there.
True to its name, manatees are the main highlights here and can be spotted at the park in the cooler months, while birds and mammals can be seen all year-round.
The park also features an 800-foot boardwalk, which winds its way through a fabulous cypress forest that overlooks incredible first-magnitude springs. Releasing an astounding 100 million gallons of waters a day, it is a lovely place to cool off for a dip.
There are 8.5 miles of nature trails to explore, as well as an easy connection to the 32-mile Nature Coast State Trail.
The park offers 80 campsites within three loops, all of which have electricity and water at every site, as well as a hot shower restroom and a dump station.
3. Anastasia State Park
Location: 300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Although its right on its doorstep, the Anastasia State Park is a world away in terms of vibe from the city of St Augustine.
Comprising more than 1600 acres of immaculate beaches, as well as spectacular, undulating sand dunes, pristine maritime hammocks and lush tidal marshes, this is a fantastic place to rest and relax from the pressures of city life.
One of the most popular things to do here is cycle on the beach, which extends for as far as the eye can see. While shelling, fishing, surfing and boating are regular activities too.
The park is also a haven for ornithologists, as there are plenty of warblers, osprey, eagles and roseate spoonbills here too.
Overall there are 139 beachside campsites at the park for both tents and RVs. All of them have water and electricity, in addition to picnic tables, fire rings and an in-ground grill.
4. Wekiwa Springs State Park
Location: 1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka, FL 32712
The 100 minute drive south, and inland, from St Augustine to the stunning Wekiwa Springs State Park is a beautiful journey.
Located just 20 minutes north of Orlando, this 7000-acre Florida park is notable for the emerald springs that feed the Wekiwa River, and its verdant tropical hammocks that provide excellent spots to cool off on a hot summer’s day.
The park has miles of trails which can be explored by foot, on horseback or bike, while kayaks and canoes can also be hired on site, to venture along the waterways.
Noted for its picturesque sandhill uplands that features rolling hills and longleaf pine, the park offers 60 roomy campsites. Each of which has water and electrical hook-ups, as well as a picnic table and a fire ring with grill.
In addition, some sites come with sewer hook-ups, while a dump station is located at the campground.
If you do visit here, just be mindful that the Florida black bear is a native of the park, which you may well encounter during your stay.
5. Colt Creek State Park
Location: 16000 State Rte 471, Lakeland, FL 33809
From St Augustine, the inland and southern drive to Colt Creek State Park takes about 3 hours. But once you get there you will be presented with 5,000 stunning acres of native Central Florida habitat to explore.
A terrain that features shimmering lakes, gently winding creeks, dense forests of longleaf pine flatwoods and plenty of picturesque open vistas, visitors can enjoy it first hand along the 15 miles of shared, hiking and biking trails the park accommodates.
A popular spot for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, the park is home to a wide variety of animals including alligators, white-tailed deer and bald eagles, as well as the Sherman’s fox squirrel and the gopher tortoise.
It offers a number of different types of camping options, including primitive campsites, a group campground and an equestrian campground.
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