Florida’s Largest State Park Is One Of Its Most Underrated

When considering of Florida, cool, sun-drenched college towns, beach-filled islands, or the quirky towns of stunning Key West usually spring to thoughts. Nonetheless, that is not all that Florida has to supply. It is also full of bucket-list-worthy state parks that you need to visit.

So, in case you’re on the lookout for a brand new vacation spot to take a look at on your summer season trip, why not add the biggest state park in Florida to your itinerary?

Regardless of its measurement, this stunning state park is criminally underrated, with few individuals exterior of Florida even recognizing the identify.

With wildlife excursions, cabins, loads of out of doors actions to take pleasure in, and a comparatively straightforward location to achieve from the primary Florida sights, it is a no-brainer. So, the place is it, and what are you able to count on? Let’s discover out.

Myakka River State Park Is One Of Florida’s Most Underrated Spots

As the biggest state park in Florida, it is properly value visiting

Situated simply 20 miles inland from the bustling beachfront city of Sarasota, lies Myakka River State Park, an outdoorsy paradise that is predominantly a wetland ecosystem. At over 37,000 acres, Myakka River State Park is the biggest state park in Florida and likewise one of many oldest, formally opening to the general public in 1941.

Open one year a yr from 8 am till sundown, it is a super-accessible park full of trails, the mighty Myakka River, and loads of alternatives to see some wonderful Floridian wildlife.

In case you do not need to depart the park, there are additionally 90 campsites in its 3 campgrounds, making it one of the best places to camp in Florida. Need one thing a bit of bit safer and homey? The state park also has log cabins that you can stay in for $70 per night time, plus tax, a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation charge, and a $7 nightly utility charge.

Accessing the state park costs as little as $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, further passengers, and passengers in autos with holders of an Annual Particular person Entrance Cross. In case you’re in a single-occupant car, entrance prices $4, and it is $6 per car carrying between 2 and eight individuals.

What Can You See And Do In Myakka River State Park?

From wildlife recognizing to out of doors excursions, this place has one thing for everybody

So, when you’re on the state park, what are you able to see and do there? Properly, one of many largest attracts to Myakka River State Park is the wildlife. Guests can have the prospect to see bobcats, otters, alligators, and 100-plus species of birds.

If it is birds you are on the lookout for, make sure that to go to between November to mid-April. Throughout this era, between 9 am and 1 pm, there’s a chicken naturalist within the Birdwalk space on most days. This implies you will get knowledgeable birdspotting ideas and study extra concerning the animals you are seeing round this a part of Myakka River State Park.

The Florida dry prairie, which is a globally imperiled ecosystem, additionally covers nearly half of the park. That is the second-most biodiverse ecosystem in the entire of North America, and hosts a number of various plant species.

Other than the considerable wildlife, Myakka River State Park is a superb place for outdoorsy sorts. There are many hiking trails, in addition to tenting and fishing alternatives.

Because the park is dominated by the namesake Myakka River, boat excursions are additionally a preferred exercise, and it is one of many best places to kayak in Florida.

There are two sorts of tenting within the state park: commonplace and primitive. Primitive is extra of your wild tenting model within the prairie sections, close to to in style trails. These are clearly cheaper, however capability is much less, and there are subsequent to no amenities accessible.

How Do You Get to Myakka River State Park?

It is nice for a West Coast Florida street journey

If you wish to go to Myakka River State Park, the commonest day journey vacation spot is from Sarasota. It is round a 30-minute drive from the middle of town to the state park. It is value saying that public transport doesn’t go to the state park in any respect, so you may want a automobile, a taxi, or a motorbike.

In case you’re arising the coast from Fort Myers, the drive time is round one hour and 20 minutes, so it is a cool place to cease in your technique to Sarasota. From Tampa, it is simply an hour and 40 minutes to Myakka River State Park, so once more, it is undoubtedly doable as a day journey.

The closest airport to Myakka River State Park is Sarasota Bradenton Worldwide Airport (SRQ). For a home airport, this has a fairly large providing of routes and airways. Nonetheless, a lot of the routes are from the East Coast. In truth, Denver is as far west as you possibly can go.

In case you’re coming from the West Coast, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, the UK, or Europe, you may be higher off flying instantly into Tampa Worldwide Airport and to the park.

Each Sarasota and Tampa Airports have a plethora of automobile rental corporations to select from upon arrival. In case you want biking to Myakka River State Park, you will get there from Sarasota by bike in a single hour and half-hour.

So, in case you’re on the lookout for a brand new Florida vacation spot to take a look at, go to the Myakka River State Park, Florida’s largest and most underrated state park. Crammed with thrilling wildlife and loads of out of doors actions, it is simply 20 minutes from vibrant Sarasota!