State Parks Near Ocala, Florida
25 state park units lie within 50 miles of Ocala. The closest is Silver Springs State Park, about 6 mi northeast of town. 5 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Silver Springs State Park6 mi northeast
- Within 25 miles
- 5of 25 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 125 with cabins
- Dog-friendly
- 08 with free entry
State parks near Ocala, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Ocala; driving distance is usually longer.
Silver Springs State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Silver Springs State Park →Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, and biking. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area →Rainbow Springs State Park
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, horseback riding, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, and swimming. Water access includes a swimming beach, a swimming pool, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Rainbow Springs State Park →Price's Scrub State Park
In Marion County, about 16 miles south of Gainesville, Price's Scrub State Park covers about 962 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Price's Scrub State Park →Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Visitors come for historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, hiking, and picnicking. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park →Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, and fishing. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park →Fort Cooper State Park
Things to do include historic sites, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Overnight options include 3 campsites, with RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and primitive or hike-in sites. Roofed lodging includes cabins and lodge rooms.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort Cooper State Park →Lake Griffin State Park
Visitors come for canoeing and kayaking, boating, hiking, and picnicking. Water access includes a boat ramp. Overnight options include 42 campsites across 2 camping areas, with RV sites with full hookups and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Lake Griffin State Park →Gainesville-to-Hawthorne State Trail
Things to do include horseback riding, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Gainesville-to-Hawthorne State Trail →Crystal River Preserve State Park
Popular activities here are historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Crystal River Preserve State Park →Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Things to do include historic sites, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Crystal River Archaeological State Park →Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
The park supports historic sites, wildlife watching, hiking, and picnicking. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins and lodge rooms.
Hours, fees and rules for Dade Battlefield Historic State Park →Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
The park supports historic sites, boating, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park →Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park
Popular activities here are historic sites and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park →Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
Visitors come for wildlife watching, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park →Dunns Creek State Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, biking, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Dunns Creek State Park →Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, boating, and fishing. Camping is available: 4 campsites across 4 camping areas, including tent sites and primitive or hike-in sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park →Dudley Farm Historic State Park
Things to do include historic sites, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Dudley Farm Historic State Park →General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for General James A. Van Fleet State Trail →Ravine Gardens State Park
Things to do include historic sites, biking, hiking, and picnicking. Camping is available: 1 campsites, including RV sites with full hookups and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Ravine Gardens State Park →San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, biking, hiking, and picnicking. Overnight options include 1 campsites, with RV sites with full hookups and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park →Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park →De Leon Springs State Park
The park supports boating, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for De Leon Springs State Park →Haw Creek Preserve State Park
Popular activities here are canoeing and kayaking, wildlife watching, and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Haw Creek Preserve State Park →Hontoon Island State Park
Visitors come for historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Hontoon Island State Park →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Ocala
- Silver Springs State Park 6 mi northeast · 60 campsites
- Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area 13 mi southwest · 164 campsites
- Rainbow Springs State Park 17 mi west · 60 campsites
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 25 mi north · 55 campsites
- Fort Cooper State Park 27 mi south · 3 campsites
+ 7 more in the list above
Cabins and lodging near Ocala
- Silver Springs State Park 6 mi northeast · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Fort Cooper State Park 27 mi south · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Dade Battlefield Historic State Park 36 mi south · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park 48 mi north · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Hontoon Island State Park 50 mi east · Cabins or other roofed stays
Swimming near Ocala
- Rainbow Springs State Park 17 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- Fort Cooper State Park 27 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park 48 mi north · Beach, pool or swim area
- De Leon Springs State Park 48 mi east · Beach, pool or swim area
Hiking near Ocala
- Silver Springs State Park 6 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
- Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area 13 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Rainbow Springs State Park 17 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park 21 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 25 mi north · Hiking trails listed
+ 15 more in the list above
Fishing near Ocala
- Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area 13 mi southwest · Fishing listed
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 25 mi north · Fishing listed
- Crystal River Preserve State Park 33 mi southwest · Fishing listed
- Crystal River Archaeological State Park 34 mi southwest · Fishing listed
- Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park 40 mi west · Fishing listed
+ 4 more in the list above
Free state parks near Ocala
- Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area 13 mi southwest · No entrance fee listed
- Price's Scrub State Park 21 mi north · No entrance fee listed
- Crystal River Preserve State Park 33 mi southwest · No entrance fee listed
- Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park 39 mi southwest · No entrance fee listed
- Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park 40 mi west · No entrance fee listed
+ 3 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Ocala
What is the closest state park to Ocala?
Silver Springs State Park is the closest, about 6 miles northeast of Ocala in a straight line. Next are Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area and Rainbow Springs State Park.
How many state parks are near Ocala?
25 state park units are within 50 miles, and 5 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Ocala have camping?
12 parks list camping, the nearest being Silver Springs State Park, Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area and Rainbow Springs State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Ocala?
None of the parks listed here say dogs are allowed. Check each park page before bringing a pet.
Are there free state parks near Ocala?
8 parks list no entrance fee: Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area, Price's Scrub State Park and Crystal River Preserve State Park. Camping and some activities can still cost extra.
State parks near other cities
- Near Wildwood, FL27 mi south
- Near Leesburg, FL35 mi southeast
- Near Gainesville, FL37 mi north
- Near Apopka, FL50 mi southeast
- Near Deltona, FL60 mi east
- Near Palm Coast, FL60 mi northeast
- Near Green Cove Springs, FL63 mi northeast
- Near Daytona Beach, FL64 mi east
Or see all Florida state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.