Contact Information
13207 S.R. 72
Sarasota, Florida 34241
Phone: 941-361-6511
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's largest
and most diverse natural areas. The "Florida
Wild and Scenic" Myakka River flows through
58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks
and pinelands. The river and its two shallow lakes
attract a myriad of wetland creatures making birding,
canoeing, fishing and wildlife observation popular
activities.
Hours of Operation
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown
365 days a year.
Driving Directions
Myakka River State Park is located 9 miles east
of I-75 in Sarasota on S.R. 72.
ACTIVITIES
Full Facility Camping
76 campsites. All have water and electirc. Most
sites have 30 amp service. A wastewater dump station
is located near Old Prairie campground. All campsites
are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities
with hot showers. All sites are dirt base; few sites
have vegetation buffers. Pets are prohibited overnight
in the park.
Bicycling
Myakka River offers cyclers diverse opportunities
to explore the variety of landscapes for which the
area is noted.
Birding
The park is famous for birding opportunities. Shallow
lakes, thousands of wetlands and the diversity of
habitats account for the nearly 100 species of birds
listed as common or abundant on the park bird list.
Beginning Birding classes are offered Sunday mornings,
Thanksgiving through Easter.
Boat Ramp
A boat ramp provides access to Upper Myakka Lake.
Cabins
There are 5 historic log cabins that accommodate
up to 6 people Myakka River Log Cabins
Canoeing
Fourteen miles of the Myakka Wild and Scenic River
flow through the park. Bring your own canoe or kayak,
or rent from Myakka River Outpost. A boat ramp on
the Upper Myakka Lake provides access to the river
and both lakes. Additional canoe launch locations
are at picnic areas along the main drive.
Concessions
Myakka Outpost sells camping and fishing supplies,
t-shirts and hats, field guides and nature books,
souvenirs, and good things to eat such as gator
stew, gator jerky, gator sandwiches, ice cream and
snacks. They also rent bicycles, canoes and kayaks.
Fishing
The Myakka River and Upper and Lower Myakka Lakes
provide ample opportunity for freshwater fishing.
More on Fishing
Horse Trails
Bring your own horse and register to ride the 14-mile,
multi-looped trail. Proof of negative Coggins test
is required. There’s an additional fee for
use of the horse trail. The trail passes through
hammock, prairie, and wetlands and is extremely
wet and buggy during the summer. More on Horse Trails
Interpretive Programs
Nature Walk--Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. Join a park
ranger for a walk in the park to discover the many
secrets of nature. Terrain is moderately rough.
Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Campfire Programs (Thanksgiving through Easter)
Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sit back and enjoy intriguing
stories about the “Real Florida” by
the light of a flickering fire. Programs last
approximately 30 minutes and are usually illustrated
with color slides.
Beginning Birding (Thanksgiving through Easter)
Sundays at 9;00 a.m. Want a fascinating new hobby?
Learn the basic skills of birding and discover
one of Florida’s premiere birding hot spots.
Binoculars and field guides are provided. Easy
terrain.
Nature Trails
The Boylston Nature Trail is a 45-minute walk
through a shady, oak/palm hammock. A spur trail
takes you to the Myakka Canopy Walkway and 74-foot
high tower.
Picnicking
Picnic areas with tables and grills are designated
on the park brochure and on the park map (download
from right column of this page). Pavilions can
be reserved for a fee. Unreserved pavilions are
available on a first come basis.
Primitive Camping
Six primitive campsites are located along 37 miles
of trails. Myakka River Primitive Campsites
RV's
RV's up to 35' are allowed in the park. A dump
station is available.
Tours
Hop aboard one of the world's two largest airboats,
the "Myakka Maiden," or the "Gator
Gal" for a scenic cruise on the Upper Myakka
Lake. Discover what makes the Myakka unique among
America's freshwater lakes. Hear intriguing stories
about the alligator, anhinga, and sandhill crane
as you become acquainted with the variety of creatures
that make their home here.
Scenic Drive: A 7- mile drive winds through shady
hammocks, grassy marshes and along the Upper Lake.
Visitor Center
Includes displays of wildlife and their habitats,
frog calls; also features the Myakka Movies.
Wildlife Viewing
Deer, raccoons, opossums, red-shouldered hawks,
turkeys, barred owls, and vultures are commonly
seen along the park drive. The river, lakes and
wetlands attract huge alligators, ducks, wading
birds, woodstorks, sandhill cranes, roseate spoonbills,
eagles, ospreys, and shorebirds. Hiking trails
lead to the prairies and pinelands that harbor
caracaras, Bachman’s sparrows, bobcats,
bobwhite quail, and meadowlarks.
Youth Camping
Three group camping areas accommodate up to 20
people each. Preference for reservations is given
to groups with more than 50% of campers under
18 years of age.
