Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In most of Florida's state parks, well-behaved pets on a 6-foot, hand-held leash or otherwise under physical control are welcome on our hiking trails, in our picnicking areas and in our campgrounds. Remember to always pick up after your pet and dispose of waste in trash receptacles.

The park areas where pets are not allowed:

• Enclosed areas (such as restrooms, welcome centers, restaurants and concession stands).
• Beaches (the one exception to this is a pet-friendly section of beach at Honeymoon Island State Park).
• Swimming areas and boat ramps.
• Playgrounds.
• Pets are not allowed in cabins.

There may be additional park-specific limitations on where pets are permitted; please check with the park directly if you have questions. View our pet policy.

Egmont Key State Park, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park do not permit pets within the park. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park provides complimentary kennels at the park entrance for pets whose owners are visiting the park, as pets are not permitted in the boats and exhibit areas. 

Individually trained service animals in a working capacity are allowed in all public areas of a state park when accompanied by a visitor with a disability. 

Emotional support animals, therapy animals and companion animals must follow the same rules for pets as set forth in the Florida State Parks Pet Policy.

Florida State Parks do not offer unleashed pet areas. 

Pets must be on a 6-foot, hand-held leash or otherwise under physical control – such as being in a crate, a pet carrier or pet stroller where they are secured and cannot jump out.

No. We do not offer cabins where pets are permitted. Guests may not keep a pet crated outside a cabin where they are staying or in a vehicle parked outside a cabin. 

A service animal accompanying a guest who is staying in a cabin is permitted. Our state park campgrounds are pet friendly.

We do not have any breed restrictions. However, the maximum number of pets that may be on a single campsite is four. 

Please review the pet camping rules as shown in the Pet Policy, including the quiet hours when all pets must be kept inside the camping rig.

In most coastal parks with beaches, pets are not permitted on the sand or in the water so that they do not disturb shorebirds or sea turtles or their nests. The one exception to this rule is a pet-friendly section of beach at Honeymoon Island State Park. In this location, pets must remain leashed or otherwise under physical control.

Around inland freshwater and brackish rivers, springs, creeks, lakes and other bodies of water, pets are not permitted in designated swimming areas, tubing runs, boat launches or other water areas due to their being viewed as potential prey by alligators. For the safety of your pet and other state park guests, please keep your pet away from these areas.