Florida State Parks will offer free admission from February 13 to February 16, 2026, in recognition of George Washington’s birthday and the start of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The initiative, announced by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), aims to encourage both residents and visitors to experience historic locations across the state.
According to DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert, “As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but through the landscapes themselves. Our parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our nation.”
Florida’s state parks include sites significant to American history, such as barrier islands, riverbanks, forts and settlements. Some parks preserve places linked with the Revolutionary period when British West Florida was sometimes referred to as the “fourteenth colony.” Visitors can explore historical connections at several locations:
– Big Talbot Island State Park and Fort George Island Cultural State Park feature plantations that produced indigo and Sea Island cotton supporting the British cause.
– Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park contains a former frontier trading post between Native Americans and British settlers.
– Tomoka State Park is home to a British-era indigo plantation along the Tomoka River.
– San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park saw changes in control during periods of British rule.
– Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, Amelia Island State Park and Fort Clinch State Park were involved in military conflicts or border tensions with Georgia.
The free admission applies only to day-use visits and does not include Skyway Fishing Pier State Park or Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. Other fees for overnight stays, special events or concessions will still apply.
The DEP serves as Florida’s main environmental management agency, overseeing more than 175 state parks, trails and historic sites throughout the state while protecting air, water and land resources (https://floridadep.gov/). It also provides permitting for environmental projects, manages waste regulation programs and supports community resilience efforts (https://floridadep.gov/).
For information on park locations or planning a visit, individuals are encouraged to use FloridaStateParks.org. More details about Florida’s role in America’s 250th anniversary are available at America250FL.com.
