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14 Incredible State Parks near Clearwater, FL (+ Map)

Clearwater has access to a wide selection of state parks. There are boat-in-only island escapes, nature preserves, and Florida's famous springs waiting to be discovered and explored.
ItIsWild.com: Best State Parks near Clearwater, FL

Florida offers endless adventures, and the many state parks near Clearwater share a diverse collection of wildlife, hiking trails, beaches, campgrounds, and more for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. 

Local state parks are home to crystal clear waters, islands, fort ruins, lighthouses, hilly areas, flatlands, marshes, swamps, rivers, lakes, and mangrove forests.

Some parks can only be accessed by boat, but you can catch a ride from some of the many marinas between Clearwater and Tampa Bay.

Check out what Clearwater has to offer!

State Parks near Clearwater:

  1. Caladesi Island State Park
  2. Honeymoon Island State Park
  3. Anclote Key Preserve State Park
  4. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
  5. Hillsborough River State Park
  6. Colt Creek State Park
  7. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
  8. Alafia River State Park
  9. Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
  10. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
  11. Egmont Key State Park
  12. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
  13. Little Manatee River State Park
  14. Lake Manatee State Park
State Parks near Clearwater Florida Comparison Table
Comparison Table

1. Caladesi Island State Park

Caladesi Island State Park in Florida
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0
  • Website: Caladesi Island State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 9 miles (20 min)
  • Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics, Boat Camping

Caladesi Island State Park is a boat-in-only park offering mangrove forests, miles of pristine beaches, and crystal clear turquoise water for snorkeling and swimming.

There are two ways to get to this unique tropical paradise. One is to come by own boat – you can moor at the marina or join other boaters at beach moorings. The second way is to take a ferry that leaves from Honeymoon Island State Park.

Apart from swimming and sunbathing, the park offers a couple of hiking trails, ocean fishing, and kayak adventures. 

The only way to stay on the island is to find a birth at the marina, but generally, this is a day-use destination.

2. Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida Arial View
Source: depositphotos
  • Website: Honeymoon Island State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 8 miles (20 min)
  • Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics, Surfing

Honeymoon Island State Park is another island park nestled among bright blue waters. It’s known for a wide range of activities and can be easily reached by car.

Like Caladesi Island, this park’s main attraction is the wide and long sugar sand beach with plenty of space to escape the crowds, although it’s one of the most visited state parks in the country, let alone Florida.

Besides swimming and relaxing on the beach, the park offers kayak rentals and has a 2.5-mile hiking trail running through virgin pine woods.

What’s more, there is a surf spot at the north end and plenty of fishing places. Pelican Cove is anglers’ favorite, with snook, drum, jack, seatrout, and various sharks on offer.

3. Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Anclote Key Preserve Park Lighthouse in Florida
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Anclote Key Preserve State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 14 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics, Camping, Snorkeling

You have to get to Anclote Key Preserve State Park by boat, jet ski, kayak, or any means of water transportation because this remote island is only accessible by water. The nearest ferry service is at Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.

Boaters often encounter a chickee hut that rises from the water, complete with a small dock on their way to the park. Plus, the park’s lighthouse is an exciting site, with plenty of surrounding areas to explore. 

Land your boat on the beach, get out, and go exploring. Camping is a fun overnight experience at this island park, offering breathtaking views of the sparkling skies above. 

The shells you can collect on this island are colorful and unique compared to shells gathered at most Florida beaches. 

4. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Florida
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0

Waterways at Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park are lined with native vegetation, including various palms and mangroves, providing shade and beautiful views for kayakers. 

Be careful because several areas of the water get shallow, and the floor of the springs is rocky.

Visitors wanting to experience the park on land can follow the boardwalk that winds all around, taking you up close to the springs and wildlife. 

Don’t be surprised if you come across a giant replica of an eagle’s nest or a historical display of an oven showing how early inhabitants made salt.

5. Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River State Park in Florida
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Hillsborough River State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 44 miles (1 h)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping, Horseback Riding

Hillsborough River State Park has many unique features in and out of the water, including beautiful bridges leading over the water providing spectacular views. 

Walkways are lined with moss-covered trees, and dead tree trunks rise from the water providing a resting place for turtles and birds. Parts of the river are rocky, creating mini rapids with rough flowing water. 

During the day, it is common to encounter an alligator sunning on the river’s shores before slithering back into the water. 

6. Colt Creek State Park

Colt Creek State Park in Florida
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0
  • Website: Colt Creek State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 64 miles (1h 20min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping, Horseback Riding

Take a hike through Colt Creek State Park down to the Green Swamp, surrounded by a flatland area, a treeline in the distance, and a boardwalk jetting out to get a closer look at the water. 

Paved, natural, and boardwalk paths provide hiking opportunities through the forest and along the water. 

Kayaking along the quiet river is popular, along with fishing in the lake and the Green Swamp. 

Camping pads made out of crushed rocks with a picnic table are the perfect spot for RV or tent camping. 

Colt Creek State Park is horse-friendly, offering wide grassy paths perfect for horseback riding. 

7. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Source: unsplash

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is unlike any other state park in Southwest Florida. This park has colorful mermaids, manatees, and a water park.

The giant slides at the park include two-speed slides and one with twists and turns for splashing into the springs. 

Make your way down to the underwater viewing area, where you can interact with the mermaids and see the colorful fish that call Weeki Wachee Springs State Park home.

The emerald green waters are perfect for kayaking along clear water, allowing you to see the bottom of the spring and all the animals within it. 

8. Alafia River State Park

Alafia River State Park in Florida
Source: depositphotos
  • Website: Alafia River State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 56 miles (1h 15min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Picnics, Camping, Glamping

Alafia River State Park has several trails perfect for mountain biking, including dirt paths that go up and down the rough terrain of the park, boardwalk paths, and bridge bike courses that twist turns.

Dirt paths travel through patches of lust native plants, which shelter alligators often seen in the park sunning near a path or walking across a pathway.

The elevation changes at Alafia River State Park are unlike any other in Southwest Florida. 

The green swamp waters lie underneath boardwalks and common walkways along many of the park’s hiking and biking trails. 

9. Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park

Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park near Tampa
Source: unsplash

Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park is home to lush mangrove forests that line the waterways of this park, with long boardwalk trails sprawling throughout.

The park’s waterways look like a labyrinth with water winding in and out and all around smaller land masses covered with grass. 

Shallow waters provide an environment where seagrasses thrive and grow undisturbed, providing shelter for sand dollars and horseshoe crabs. The vast amounts of seagrass make this aquatic preserve a must-experience for any nature lover.

The mollusk reef is unique and home to many living oysters that thrive in the area with a balanced amount of saltwater and freshwater.

10. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
Source: depositphotos

The Skyway Bridge is a spectacular site and an even more fantastic drive-over experience. The Skyway Fishing Pier State Park has the perfect view of the bridge and offers access to spend the day fishing.

Easy parking makes this an excellent area for anglers who flock here day and night. It’s a productive spot with a wide variety of species, including Spanish mackerel, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, snook, and many more.

Just be careful because pelicans and seagulls lurk on the pier trying to steal your bait and anything you might reel in. 

11. Egmont Key State Park

Egmont Key State Park
Source: depositphotos
  • Website: Egmont Key State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 33 miles (50 min)
  • Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Picnics, Snorkeling

Egmont Key State Park is a pristine island park, a tropical paradise offering beach access, hiking trails, and a stone historical site to explore. 

The ruins of Fort Dade are like a ghost town, perfect for exploring and feeling like you are a part of history. The Egmont Key Lighthouse is another unique attraction to visit.

Giant rocks create a watch platform in the water where you can see dolphins swimming around, and unique historical relics come up from the water, including one that looks like a giant plant pot. 

The park is a popular turtle nesting site, attracting several seagulls and other birds waiting for the baby sea turtles to emerge and run for the water.

To get to Egmont Key State Park, you need to take a ferry leaving Fort DeSoto Boat Ramp

12. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park

Nature Preserve near Tampa Florida
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 43 miles (55 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics

Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is a relatively quiet park, which makes it the perfect place for someone looking to enjoy nature without the heavy crowds.

It is more common to encounter a bobcat or two when hiking along the grassy trails than it is for another person.  

Concrete walkways follow the water’s shoreline with picnic pavilions, and it is common to see egrets standing in the marshy waters.

Large palm fronds and mangrove trees line walkways and waterways, with many leaning over and covering the path from the sun while exploring.

13. Little Manatee River State Park

Little Manatee River State Park in Florida
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Little Manatee River State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 55 miles (1h 10min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping, Horseback Riding

The shallow waters at Little Manatee River State Park are perfect for paddling and getting up close to aquatic plants and wildlife. 

The park has a quiet playground, unique bridges, and winding boardwalks found along several hiking paths. 

A common sight is turtles sunning on logs rising from the river’s water. Sometimes the turtles are joined by an egret and other birds, making for great photo opportunities.

A concrete staircase heading down to the water offers the perfect place to launch your canoe or kayak. 

Alligators are commonly spotted on the shores, and kayakers catch a glimpse of their tail just as they splash into the water.

14. Lake Manatee State Park

lake manatee state park in florida
Source: flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Website: Lake Manatee State Park
  • Distance from Clearwater: 59 miles (1h 15min)
  • Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping

Lake Manatee State Park is a charming lakeside park with plenty of activities and excellent campgrounds.

Picnic benches can be found along the water, offering places to take a break, eat lunch, and enjoy the view. 

Swimming areas allow cooling off after long hikes through a remote forest. And if you’re into biking, there are both paved and off-road routes.

Lake Manatee is 2,400 acres in size and offers excellent kayaking and canoeing, especially considering that boats here are limited to 20 hp.

If you want to escape crowds of tourists and the city’s noise, Lake Manatee State Park is a fantastic spot that feels remote and wild.

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