Florida is most renowned for its miles of pristine beachfront with azure ocean and silky sand.
Still, its wilderness areas have lots to offer, from cooling natural springs to cypress woods and animals abounding.
Adventurers in Northwest Florida have even more reason to rejoice when it comes to enjoying the outdoors, with multiple state parks showcasing the best of the state.
In the Tallahassee area, you can find many parks to satisfy your outdoor needs, including options near the water and day parks.
Take a look and find the right park for your family or yourself!
Map of State Parks Near Tallahassee FL
Here is a map of the Florida state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Tallahassee
Here is more information on each of those state parks, including the distance from Tallahassee and notable features to expect.
1. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Location: 3540 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32309
For under ten dollars a day, you can visit the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park just twenty minutes away from Tallahassee.
Arrive at 8 am if you want to spend the entire day or until sunset when the park closes. If you plan to visit the beautiful gardens, it will cost you an extra three dollars for children and six dollars for adults.
The park offers something for everyone in sunny Florida. Grab a fishing license to try for largemouth bass, bream, and bluegill at Lake Hall but stay off Lake Overstreet. Next, try geocaching using GPS devices for an interactive experience and potential treasure hunt.
After, get out in nature on foot, horse, or bike to enjoy the trails perfect for novices and up. End the day on a boat out on the water or take a cool dip to escape the heat.
The flowering season runs from January 1 to April 30, with the floral peak occurring in mid-to-late March. However, keep in mind this park does not offer a campground.
You can explore native history and a gorgeous pond surrounded by a garden making this a destination even if you cannot spend the night on the grounds. Enjoy the south properly at a park covered in greenery and flowers.
2. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Location: 465 Wakulla Park Dr, Wakulla Springs, FL 32327
The Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park sits south of Tallahassee and it’s Florida’s largest freshwater spring with an on-site hotel at this unique park.
While you cannot camp at this park, you can stay at a stately lodge with antique charm, and staying at the lodge gains you free admittance to the park. As the park is only a short twenty-minute drive from Tallahassee, you can make this a day trip or go for longer to enjoy the park at your leisure.
Enjoy a boat trip down the river and back around the spring, where you will see alligators, turtles, and beautiful birds. You will also learn about the skeleton remains of hundreds of mastodons at the bottom of the spring during the boat excursion. Wakulla Springs’ springs are among the state’s largest and deepest, making them ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Next, try out biking, hiking, equestrian routes, and a swimming area are all available in the park, used to film some of the early Tarzan films. However, the main attraction is the glass bottom boats that drift over the bowl of the Wakulla Spring.
It’s a refuge for local kids who enjoy the adrenaline thrill of leaping from the dive tower and swimming in the 70-degree water. Finally, the park is home to a diverse range of plants and animals with a myriad of wonders to explore.
3. Ochlockonee River State Park
Location: 429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy Hwy, Sopchoppy, FL 32358
About forty miles southwest of Tallahassee, you will find the Ochlockonee River State Park by the bay with access to the river and the Gulf of Mexico.
While the park is a little farther away from the capital, you can camp here with the whole family at one of thirty campsites. They each offer electricity, water, a fire ring, a clothesline, and a picnic table with restrooms nearby. One of the campsites is a three-hammock hanging structure for a unique vacation.
Ochlockonee is a mix of brackish, tidal surges, and freshwater that signifies “yellow waters.” Visitors can explore the park on trails while viewing a variety of animals, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, as well as natural communities like pine Flatwoods and oak thickets.
The river is easily accessible thanks to a boat ramp ready to catch largemouth bass, bream, catfish, and speckled perch among the freshwater and saltwater fish found in the park’s waters. In addition, try out various other water activities, from swimming to canoeing.
Children and adults will love geocaching with hidden caches. The park makes the perfect location for stargazing with very little light pollution at night. Take a guided tour with one of the rangers to learn more about the area or take the children to the playground perfect for day use.
As the park is wheelchair accessible, it’s a fun choice to get out in nature with the whole family.
4. Torreya State Park
Location: 2576 NW Torreya Park Rd, Bristol, FL 32321
Fifty miles to the west of Tallahassee, find a natural wonderland ready to explore at Torreya State Park. Torreya is one of Florida’s most picturesque towns, with high cliffs overlooking the Apalachicola River. The park is named after a Torreya tree that can only be found on the cliffs along the Apalachicola River.
With thirty campsites, including electric and water hookups, are available for reservation at this 12,000-acre park. In addition, reservations are available for one huge 20-foot yurt with a domed tent with floors, electricity, a lockable wooden door, three large windows, and many more amenities for five people.
If you would rather, try out primitive campsites overlooking the scenic river and the mountains for a wonderful adventure. The park also offers a cabin you can rent but no pets.
Once your campsite is set up, set out to explore options to hike, fish, geocache, paddle, and view wildlife viewing. The park includes a rich history from the Civil War with a 3,000 square foot home on the river’s west bank, which you can tour.
Enjoy the wildlife, too but watch out for snakes who will definitely avoid you too. Furthermore, you may see bears, raccoons, deer, squirrels, boats, foxes, and turtles. Find your personal haven by the water at this incredible state park.
5. Three Rivers State Park
Location: 7908 Three Rivers Park Rd, Sneads, FL 32460
Northwest of Tallahassee, you can enjoy the Three Rivers State Park, ready to help you forget about all your worries and lose track of time. Take a vacation by the Georgia border at Lake Seminole and the Chattahoochee River.
With no wi-fi on the premise, you can only access the outside world by phone, but you will be too busy exploring the wildlife and water. Keep an eye out for alligators on the banks while viewing the beautiful trails.
The park offers cycling, hiking, boating, bass fishing, picnicking, and birding, along with many other activities such as cross-country skiing and archery for the adventurous. Kids will love the playgrounds and a pavilion for events in the picnic areas.
Enjoy almost ten miles of multi-use trails, all accessible to picnic and camping areas. Add in a fishing pier for a great way to relax while by the lake. Finally, you can rent a canoe by the lake or a kayak for one or two people.
Next, find a fantastic campsite on the premises. Guests can rent one cabin on the property, which has one bedroom and one bathroom. The cabin does not allow pets but does offer a fully equipped kitchen and fishing gear.
For a more authentic experience, try out one of thirty tent and RV spots available at the park. The campsites allow pets and include water and electricity, among other amenities making it the perfect choice for practically anyone.
Leave A Comment