In honor of America’s 250th birthday, visitors to Florida State Parks can enter almost all of the system’s 175 parks for free this Friday through Sunday.
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Covering a wide range of landscapes and habitats from caverns to wetlands and springs to beaches, Florida’s state parks are part of an award-winning system of public lands where people can paddle, hike, camp, swim, view wildlife, take horseback rides and more.
“While every July Fourth is special, we recognize this Independence Day is a significant moment in our nation’s history,” said Alexis A. Lambert, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “I invite all Floridians, their friends and their family to our state parks to enjoy the outdoors, make new memories and support our treasured public lands.”
The free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. All other fees remain in effect, including tours, rentals, overnight accommodations and special events.
In 2025, Florida State Parks and trails hosted more than 28 million visitors, generating a $3.6 billion direct impact on local economies throughout the state.
In addition to the free-admission weekend, Adventures Unbound by Guest Services offers limited-edition America 250-branded merchandise, including hats, caps, shirts, pins and more at select parks. These include Blue Spring State Park, Crystal River State Park, De Leon Springs State Park, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Hontoon Island State Park, Oleta River State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, Rock Springs Guest Ranch, St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island and Wekiwa Springs State Park. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park also offer the merchandise despite not offering free admission.
Here are the top parks in the greater Central Florida region offering free admission this weekend. For popular parks with springs, be sure to arrive extra early to ensure entry.
Blue Spring State Park
Known as a wintertime haven for manatees seeking warm waters, Blue Spring State Park presents a summertime oasis for snorkelers and tubers. Enter the 72-degree water from one of two entrances to navigate upstream to the spring boil, then float back and do it all again. Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals available in the park) or take a guided river boat cruise.
Address: 1800 Wekiwa Circle in Apopka
More information: floridastateparks.org or bluespringadventures.com
De Leon Springs State Park
North of DeLand, there’s a scenic oasis that was once reputed to be the fountain of youth that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sought. While he never actually made it that far inland, the spring now represents a place for families and friends to gather for swimming, boat tours and make-your-own pancakes in the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House. The popular restaurant reaches capacity early, so be sure to arrive well in advance to get on the waitlist.
Address: 601 Ponce De Leon Blvd. in De Leon Springs
More information: floridastateparks.org or deleonspringsadventures.com
Hontoon Island State Park
Only accessible by boat, Hontoon Island is more remote and often less crowded than Central Florida’s other outdoor destinations. Take a short ferry ride across the St. Johns River to visit the 1,650-acre island with 8 miles of trails for biking and hiking. One destination accessible on the trails is a Native American shell mound. Keep an eye out for deer, wild turkey, river otters, bobcats, wading birds and birds of prey. Admission to the park is always free, not just for the Fourth of July weekend.
Address: 2309 River Ridge Road in DeLand (ferry parking)
More information: floridastateparks.org or hontoonislandadventures.com
Wekiwa Springs State Park/Rock Springs Run State Reserve
As one of the most popular state parks in Florida, Wekiwa Springs sees more than 434,000 visitors per year. Last year, the park began using a day-use reservation system for visitors to ensure entry before arrival. Reservations are currently sold out for the weekend of July 3-5, but some could become available at the last minute.
Alternatively, visit nearby Rock Springs Run State Reserve to bike, hike or horseback ride on 17 miles of trails, including the Historic Ethel Trail that shares the history of a once-forgotten town. The on-site Rock Springs Guest Ranch hosts glamping stays and visitors for horseback rides.
Address: 1800 Wekiwa Circle in Apopka or 31515 Wekiva River Road in Sorrento
More information: floridastateparks.org, wekiwaspringsadventures.com or rockspringsguestranch.com
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Lake Louisa State Park
Visit the scenic rolling hills of southern Lake County to discover a 4,500-acre outdoor playground with more than 20 miles of trails, glamping sites, horseback riding, paddling and more. Take a short nature walk of a mile or two, or connect hiking loops for a full day of 10-15 miles, navigating the park’s 11 distinct natural communities. Look out for gopher tortoises, fox squirrels and birds of prey.
Amid a hot Fourth of July weekend, it might be worth visiting the swimming beach on the south shore of Lake Louisa, but be cautious of gators when taking a dip. Paddling (on-site rentals available) or boating would be a safer bet. Before or after a visit to the state park, stop by Showcase of Citrus for orange juice slushies and Florida-centric edibles from the Old Time Country Store.
Address: 7305 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont
More information: floridastateparks.org or lakelouisastatepark.com
Rainbow Springs State Park
Representing the fourth-largest spring in Florida, Rainbow Springs produces 490 million gallons of water daily, which spills out into the Rainbow River and Withlacoochee River. Swim in the cool head springs with snorkel gear to see Floridian fish and vegetation in sapphire-blue waters. Visitors can also experience the spring run on a tube, canoe or kayak.
This summer season, Rainbow Springs began implementing a day-use reservation program. The weekend of July 3-5 is currently sold out online, but additional spots could become available. Tubing is available from a separate entrance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Address: 19158 S.W. 81st Place Road in Dunnellon
More information: floridastateparks.org or visitrainbowsprings.com
Silver Springs State Park
The park’s famous glass-bottom boat tours started in the late 1870s when Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell attached a piece of glass to the bottom of a rowboat, allowing visitors to gaze down into the crystal-clear springs without getting wet. On a modern-day glass-bottom boat tour, visitors learn about the movies filmed at Silver Springs, including “Tarzan” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” the health of the springs and the Florida fauna people might encounter. There’s a chance of seeing alligators, native birds and nonnative monkeys introduced by a jungle boat captain in the 1930s.
The 30-minute tour ($17 per person) stops at several major springs that make up the Silver River headwaters, including the largest and most stunning one, Mammoth Spring. It’s recommended to book tours online in advance, especially during times of peak visitation.
While a glass-bottom boat tour is the highlight of many visits to Silver Springs, the park also offers a gift shop, food, paddling experiences, camping and hiking.
Address: 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Silver Springs
More information: floridastateparks.org or silversprings.com
Lake Griffin State Park
North of Leesburg, this 620-acre park offers opportunities to paddle and explore Lake Griffin’s marshes on a guided trip or on your own. The park’s oldest inhabitant is the “Mammoth” live oak, estimated at 300 to 500 years old. A half-mile nature trail traverses a portion of the basin swamp and takes hikers right to the gigantic oak.
Address: 3089 U.S. Highway 441 in Fruitland Park
More information: floridastateparks.org
Lake Kissimmee State Park
About an hour and a half south of Orlando, this park is a time capsule, featuring living-history demonstrations in an 1876 cow camp. Other experiences in the park include hiking, camping, glamping, paddling on Lake Kissimmee or Lake Rosalie, horseback riding and fishing. Visitors have 13 miles of trails to choose from where wildlife such as white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes, turkeys and bobcats may be spotted.
Address: 14248 Camp Mack Road in Lake Wales
More information: floridastateparks.org or lakekissimmeesp.com
Tomoka State Park
Billed as a “bird watcher’s paradise,” this natural destination set on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach has more than 160 species of birds to spot. Hike along a half-mile nature trail, fish from waterfront destinations (and watch out for manatees!) or explore by paddling near the park’s 12 miles of shoreline. The Tomoka Outpost is a unique offering with souvenirs, boiled peanuts and other Florida-centric goods.
Address: 2099 N. Beach St. in Ormond Beach
More information: floridastateparks.org
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