---
title: "Jacksonville’s Top Parks"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/f349240d-e09c-48e2-b5c8-94e11aed7c4b
source_url: "https://www.visitjacksonville.com/blog/jacksonvilles-top-parks/"
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summary: "Jacksonville's top parks guide highlights the city's largest-in-the-nation urban park system, covering national parks, state parks, and a wide range of outdoor activities from hiking and kayaking to fishing and wildlife viewing. The guide provides descriptions, historical context, and locations for notable parks including Fort Caroline National Memorial, Timucuan Preserve, Kingsley Plantation, and several state parks along the coast."
tags: "jacksonville, parks, outdoor-recreation, florida, state-parks, national-parks, eco-adventure"
key_entities: "Jacksonville (location), Fort Caroline National Memorial (location), Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (location), Kingsley Plantation (location), Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park (location), Talbot Islands State Parks (location), Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park (location), Fort George Island Cultural State Park (location), George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park (location), St. Johns River (location), Florida (location), urban park system (concept), Civil War (event)"
classification: "reference"
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---

# Jacksonville’s Top Parks

Jacksonville’s Top Parks ​With the largest urban park system in the entire nation, visitors can experience the ultimate coastal eco-adventure in Jax! Our parks take you from peaceful riverfront views, to kayaking the marshes and wetlands, biking miles of nature trails, paddleboarding in freshwaters lagoons, surfing the best waves in the region, fishing all year-round, and connecting to the local wildlife in settings you’ve never experienced in Florida before. Our parks are active, family friendly and waiting to host your next green adventure! National Parks 1. Fort Caroline National Memorial A historic replica of the fort settled by French colonists in 1564, complete with cannons, flags and breathtaking views of the St. Johns River. Step back in time and learn about the French and Spanish rivalry in the area during the 16th century at the museum inside of the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center located in the park. Hike the Theodore Roosevelt loop which is a 1.3-mile nature loop trail shaded by live oaks. While you're at Fort Caroline stop by the Ribault Monument that represents France claiming Florida in 1562. Location: 12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225 2. Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve At 46,000 acres this is Jacksonville’s biggest park! Wetlands, marshes, unique wildlife, beautiful beaches, historic sites, and pristine sea islands make this area one of Jacksonville’s must-see spots. You can hike, bike, swim, surf, fish and discover old Florida inside the Timucuan Preserve. Location: North Jacksonville 12713 Ft Caroline Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225 3. Kingsley Plantation First built in 1798, this is one of the last remaining plantation homes in the state of Florida, providing a vital link to the region's colonial heritage. Park Rangers provide daily guided tours and audio tours of the plantation grounds. Learn about the history of the plantation and the people who lived there in the late 1700’s and 1800’s. This “Lion’s Story Teller” audio tour lasts about 1 hour and is at no cost to you. Location: 11676 Palmetto Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32226 State Parks 4. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park At 4,000 acres, this North Jacksonville park is filled to the brim with activities. Canoeing, kayaking, rare bird watching, camping, hiking, biking and even equestrian trail riding. There are 3 miles of hiking trails and almost 13-miles of multi-use trails. You can connect to both Cedar Point Preserve and Betz Tiger Point from this park. Location: 13802 Pumpkin Hill Road, Jacksonville, FL, FL 32226 5. Talbot Islands State Parks Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island offer a unique mix of beach environment and coastal woodlands unique to Northeast Florida. Must-see spots include Blackrock Beach and Boneyard Beach. The parks offer camping grounds, hiking trails , biking paths, kayaking tours, fishing lagoons and plenty of opportunities for local wildlife sightings. Location: State Road A1A North, Jacksonville, FL, FL 32226 6. Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Built in 1862, this was an important military camp during the Civil War, occupied by both Confederate and Union troops. Its location near the mouth of the St. Johns River allowed for easy access to the inland areas of Florida's east coast. Today, the park is an ideal place for a picnic with an encampment reproduction staged. Entrance to the park is free. Location: 9400 New Berlin Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32226 7. Fort George Island Cultural State Park Named after a 1736 fort built in the area to defend the southern flank of Georgia when it was a colony. Today, visitors come for boating, fishing, off-road bicycling, and hiking. A key attraction is the restored Ribault Club, once an exclusive resort. This park offers a public boat launch. Location: 11241 Fort George Road, Jacksonville, FL 32226 8. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park This one-mile long, pedestrian-only bridge is one of Jacksonville’s best fishing spots. Anglers can catch a variety of fish here, including whiting, jack, drum and tarpon. The bridge is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Location: State Road A1A South, Jacksonville, FL, FL 32226 City Parks 9. Hanna Park This Beaches park is a haven for outdoor lovers. It has 1.5 miles of public beach with one of the best surfing spots in the city. Hanna also has over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails with different levels of difficulty, camping grounds and cabins, and a 60-acre lake for paddleboarding and fishing. Location: 500 Wonderwood Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32233 10. Huguenot Memorial Park This seaside park offers 70 campground sites, a playground, picnic areas & great shore fishing. It is also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail with 237 species spotted here. This park is also home to the only beach in Jacksonville where you can drive your car into the sand. Location: 10980 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226 11. Castaway Island Preserve Along the Intracoastal Waterway, in Jacksonville’s Southside, you’ll find the salt marshes and tidal creeks of this preserve. Castaway has a mile-long interactive boardwalk trail perfect for exploring the local wildlife. There is a public canoe/kayak launch. Location: 2921 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32225 12. Dutton Island Preserve This Atlantic Beach park has almost 2 miles of nature trails, a fishing and viewing pier, a canoe/kayak launch, picnic areas, pavilions and primitive camping areas. The preserve is a great spot for paddle boarding in the Intracoastal Waterway and great sunset photos. Location: 622 Dutton Island Rd W, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 13. Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Located in the historic Arlington neighborhood, the Arboretum is by far one of the best hidden outdoors spots in Jacksonville. It offers great hiking trails, different ecosystems, local wildlife, natural streams, and a beautiful pond covered in lilies. The arboretum is pet-friendly and ideal for a family hike. Location: 1445 Millcoe Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225 14. Fort Family Regional Park at Baymeadows With 52-acres of family fun, this Southside park offers soccer field, tennis courts, covered picnic areas, walking trails, a children’s playground, and a lake with a paved trail ideal for relaxation and fishing. Location: 8000 Baymeadows Rd E, Jacksonville, FL 32256 15. Losco Regional Park Conveniently located at the crossroads of Jacksonville’s bustling beltway system, this 210-acre park has scenic paved trails that wraps around the park, one multi-use field, soccer fields, two playgrounds, and a splash pad. Location: 10931 Hood Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32257 16. James Weldon Johnson Park First established in 1857, this is Jacksonville’s first park. It has plenty of history and it’s a significant site for the Civil Rights movement. Nowadays, there’s always a cool family-friendly event taking place, including ArtWalk, music festivals, and lunchtime food trucks and activities. Location: 135 W Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 17. Memorial Park This is the perfect park for a riverfront picnic in the heart of historic Riverside Avondale. This 6-acre World War I memorial features sweeping views of the St. Johns River, a great lawn ideal for relaxation, sunbathers, soccer players and energetic dogs. The half-mile shaded loop around the park is great for running and biking. Location: 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 18. Riverside Park In the heart of the Five Points area, this 11-acre park has a beautiful fountain, a playground to keep the little ones occupied and a dog park for your furry friends. Location: 753 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 19. Stockton Park Located in the beautiful riverfront Ortega neighborhood, this park is ideal for a picnic, an easy walk along the St. Johns River, and fishing. There’s also a beautiful gazebo that offers shade while you gaze out onto the river. Location: 4021 Ortega Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 20. Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park This regional park offers several miles of hiking and biking trails easily accessible and marked. There is plenty of free parking, playgrounds, restroom facilities, an amphitheater, and a beautifully manicured picnic area with grills and walking trails. This park even has its own dog park for furry friends of all sizes. Location: 7000 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244 21. Baldwin Rail Trail The 14.5-mile paved trail is great for getting familiar with your bike if you’re new to it. Bikes and people of all sizes and ages can enjoy this shady, easy trail through a quiet section of Northeast Florida. Location: 1800 Imeson Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32220 22. Walter Jones Park This 10-acre park is Jacksonville’s first historical park. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking picturesque landscape, with oak trees and remnants of orange groves draped with Spanish moss. The area is rich in Civil War and African American history. The Mandarin Museum & Historic Society is housed on the park grounds. Guided tours of Walter Jones Historical Park and its historic buildings are available during operating hours for a suggested donation of $7 per guest. Visit on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am – 2 pm for free admission. Location: 12471 Mandarin Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 The nature trail at Ringhaver Park is serene and quiet. It’s about a mile long; you can see gopher tortoises burrowing in their homes; and hear the beautiful songs of the many birds around you. There is also a newly renovated boardwalk that leads you down to the Ortega River. This is the perfect place to bring your family for a little getaway hike. Jacinda, Po, and Tigress (@kungfuaussies) Local Tip To learn about our many other parks in the city, go to JAXPARKS.com . Parks With so many parks, green is Jacksonville’s color! Jacksonville boasts the largest urban park system in the nation with more than 80,000 acres of parks, including 2 National park sites, 7 state… Read More Author Patty Local Expert- Only In Jax