Naples is known for golfing, sunny weather, and miles of white sandy beaches. But not many know that it’s surrounded by fantastic state parks, too.
The choice here is diverse. You can select from nature preserves, historical parks, and island retreats. Some are hectic tourist-filled places, and others are serene and quiet spots.
And when it comes to activities, there is plenty to do. From swimming and fishing to hiking, camping, and kayaking, the nearby state parks have it all.
Check out what Naples has to offer!
State Parks near Naples:
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Collier-Seminole State Park
- Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve
- Lovers Key State Park
- Estero Bay Preserve State Park
- Mound Key Archaeological State Park
- Koreshan State Park
- Cayo Costa State Park
- Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
1. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Website: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Distance from Naples: 11 miles (25 min)
- Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is the nearest state park to Naples. It’s a highly-rated and popular place teeming with exotic wildlife and offering excellent amenities.
It has a beautiful beach with soft-powered sand that you can enjoy walking on with your bare feet. The park is ideal for sunbathing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching, and holding picnics.
Visitors can collect seashells or watch dolphins near the beach who frequent this spot. Plenty of amenities are available for families looking for a fun vacation.
You can grill, hold picnics in the designated areas, use umbrellas, or take a shower if you need to feel fresh. There is also food and ice cream available, but no rentals exist.
2. Collier-Seminole State Park
- Website: Collier-Seminole State Park
- Distance from Naples: 17 miles (25 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping
Collier-Seminole State Park combines the natural environment with engineering history. It’s surrounded by Florida’s famous mangrove swamp and has the last remaining dredge engine on display.
It’s a vast park, but it’s not the busiest one, making it ideal for nature escapes and giving you the taste of nearby Everglades. Canoeing, hiking, biking, and kayaking are all possible here.
There is a guide for taking visitors canoeing on 3-hour rides. Since every detail is provided, the visitors can relax and enjoy the trip on the Blackwater river, which runs through the mangroves to Blackwater Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands.
It is an ideal place for camping for families looking for adventure. The site gets hot, so plan accordingly. Bug spray is a good idea, too.
3. Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve
- Website: Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve
- Distance from Naples: 36 miles (45 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Biking, Picnics
Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve has unique features worth exploring. It is the largest park in Florida and is home to different animal and plant species. The forested swamp houses deer, black bears, panthers, other bird species, and wildlife.
You can indulge in many activities in this reserve. You can hike through the trails, bird, cycle, hold picnics, watch wildlife, go fishing on the river, and many more.
Many amenities include parking, restrooms, historical sites, nature trails, fishing spots, and visitor areas.
Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve offers more trails than other parks, making it ideal for hikers and bikers. The 11-mile compact dirt trail is popular with cyclists and is the most time-efficient way to see the park.
And for kayaking lovers, there is plenty of water to explore, including canoe trails with mangrove tunnels and cypress trees.
The only drawback to the park is the lack of campgrounds. It would be nice to spend at least a weekend here, as there is plenty to explore.
4. Lovers Key State Park
- Website: Lovers Key State Park
- Distance from Naples: 24 miles (45 min)
- Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Snorkeling
Lovers Key State Park is a stunning coastal park with a two-mile beach and pristine mangrove forest. Yet, it’s a very developed and visitor-friendly spot.
The park is suitable for people visiting with families since it has plenty of amenities. It is known for people having weddings because the scenery is breathtaking.
There are many activities to enjoy here. A hike through the trails is fantastic, though fishing, cycling, swimming, padding, and kayaking are also on the list of to-dos in this park. If you love collecting shells, there are plenty of them, too.
There are umbrellas for rent, restaurants, shower rooms, car parking, etc. Enjoy Lovers Key State Park wildlife as you walk through the trails to the beach. You might be lucky to see the dolphins, too.
5. Estero Bay Preserve State Park
- Website: Estero Bay Preserve State Park
- Distance from Naples: 23 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Biking, Picnics
Estero Bay Preserve State Park is home to a wide selection of plants and wildlife. It’s a fantastic place to experience Florida’s swamps and pine forests and spot eagles, ospreys, turtles, alligators, and more.
Unlike many state parks, this one allows dogs. It is an ideal place to visit with your family and the drier months are better because, during the rainy season, the place gets muddy.
There are plenty of fun activities, like canoeing, fishing, hiking, and kayaking. The park is undeveloped and wild, and the phone signal is practically non-existent, so plan accordingly.
Like many preserves, there are no campgrounds here either. But considering it’s only 40 minutes from Naples, this state park is excellent for day trips.
6. Mound Key Archaeological State Park
- Website: Mound Key Archaeological State Park
- Distance from Naples: 14 miles (30 min)
- Activities: Hiking
Mound Key Archaeological State Park is a boat-in-only destination at the center of Estero Bay. It’s a completely undeveloped location, offering Calusa Indians’ ceremonial site and a few miles of trails for hiking.
A lot of history is found here. Throughout the hiking journey, there are small information stands describing the park’s history and significance.
Getting to Mound Key is an adventure in itself. The most popular option is to rent kayaks at Lover Key State Park and embark on a 5-mile (return) paddling trip. Alternatively, you can paddle from Koreshan State Park or take guided tours.
7. Koreshan State Park
- Website: Koreshan State Park
- Distance from Naples: 28 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Picnics, Camping
Koreshan State Park is rich in history and ideal for recreational purposes. The park can leave you mesmerized by its historic buildings that date a hundred years back. If you love history, you will be intrigued by this place.
The park is pet friendly and ideal for a visit with your family. Many activities are available such as hiking, swimming, canoeing, boating, and fishing, just to name a few. The park is quiet and safe because there are marks to show directions.
If you love wildlife, you will be pleased to know more about Gopher tortoises that thrive here. They live in burrows which are also suitable for other animals as they use them to find food and shelter.
What’s more, Koreshan State Park has a fantastic campground with full hookups, making it an ideal place to spend a few days and explore the surrounding area.
8. Cayo Costa State Park
- Website: Cayo Costa State Park
- Distance from Naples: 67 miles (1h 30min)
- Activities: Swimming, Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Biking, Picnics, Camping, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving
Cayo Costa State Park is accessible by boat only. It is a barrier island park with historical significance and is the most versatile option on the list.
Camping is allowed, though it should be in designated areas. The park is accessible throughout the year, and there are numerous activities you can undertake.
Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are popular here. Plus, there are kayaking and fishing to try. And on land, you can explore hiking trails and rent bicycles for leisurely rides.
Because this park is hard to get to, you can have 9 miles of pristine beach all to yourself most of the time. And staying overnight is the perfect way to feel like Robinson Crusoe.
To get to Cayo Costa State Park, you need to take one of the ferries. The most popular option is Captiva Cruises running from Captiva.
9. Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
- Website: Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
- Distance from Naples: 63 miles (1h 5min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boating, Hiking, Biking, Picnics
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park is known as the third largest park in Florida. It is home to a lot of wildlife and is ideal for birdwatching, hiking, fishing, and paddling.
There are boat rides that can take you through the shallow waters. Plenty of wading birds roam around, and when you go to the upper side, you can see squirrels, coyotes, raccoons, and other animals.
This nature preserve feels truly wild and pristine. It’s an undeveloped place, so don’t expect many amenities or good cell service.
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