5 Florida state parks that beat the tourist crowds

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, near Jupiter on the Atlantic coast, packs more variety than most parks twice its size. The Loxahatchee River runs through it – one of two federally designated Wild and Scenic rivers in Florida. You can paddle it, hike the sand pine scrub, or take a guided boat tour to the site of a pioneer homestead. The park also has camping and glamping options. It is underrated, and that is part of its appeal.

Anastasia State Park sits minutes from St. Augustine but feels a world removed. The beach runs for four miles, backed by dunes and sea oats. Birdlife is dense – shorebirds, wading birds, raptors. Rent a kayak and paddle Salt Run, the protected lagoon behind the beach. Then walk into the old city for pizza on St. George Street.

Rainbow Springs State Park, two hours northwest of Orlando, has water clear enough to see every pebble on the bottom. The spring boils up at 72 degrees year-round. You can swim in it, tube down the Rainbow River, or walk the gardens past man-made waterfalls left from the park's 1930s tourist era. Spring is the best time to visit, before the summer crowds arrive.

This story was originally published on July 25, 2025, and most recently updated on August 17, 2026.