See the place
before you choose it.

How long does it take from the neighborhoods you are considering? Drive it at the hour you would really go. From January to April the coastal counties fill with seasonal residents, and a twenty-minute run to the beach can take forty-five. Barrier islands are reached by a handful of bridges, and that is where the traffic backs up. Parking at the busy beaches is often full by ten on a Saturday. State parks open at eight in the morning and close at sundown every day of the year, so a late start leaves less time inside the gate. Cayo Costa and Keewaydin Island are reached only by boat, and the Dry Tortugas by boat or seaplane.

Would you realistically use the water, parks, culture or family places after moving? Plan for the Florida year, not a vacation week. From June to September the heat index regularly passes 100 degrees and thunderstorms with lightning build most afternoons, so outdoor plans move to early morning and evening. The springs hold near seventy-two degrees all year, which makes them the summer choice. Winter is the season for state parks, birding and manatees. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Many attractions sell cheaper Florida resident tickets, and Florida State Parks sells an annual entrance pass.

Open the official source for access, fees, conditions, hours and reservations. Florida State Parks publishes hours, fees and camping, and residents can book campsites and cabins eleven months ahead, one month before everyone else. The National Park Service runs the Everglades, Biscayne, the Dry Tortugas, Canaveral National Seashore and Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets fishing licenses, seasons and bag limits, and posts the red tide status map. The Department of Health tests coastal beach water in 30 counties every two weeks and posts an advisory when a beach fails. The National Weather Service issues the daily rip current forecast.