Where You Should Off-Road or Overland in Florida

by John Wren
Where You Should Off-Road or Overland in Florida

Florida’s diverse topography offers thrilling terrain for off-road enthusiasts and breathtaking landscapes for overland adventurers. With an array of trails and parks sprawled across the Sunshine State, there’s no shortage of outdoor excitement for those with an explorer’s spirit. If you’re looking to try off-roading or overlanding in Florida, read below to learn where you should go to achieve the best outdoor adventure possible!

Preparing for Off-Roading and Overlanding in Florida

Before we tell you some of the best spots in Florida for overlanders and off-roaders, ensure you’re ready to meet the challenges of these off-road adventures. If this is your first experience off-roading, brush up on the rules every driver should know. You want to stay on the trails and be courteous to other drivers.

Ensure your vehicle is in peak condition. This means checking tire pressure and the status of recovery gear. You also want to make sure you have all the necessary tools for emergency repairs. If you’re planning a weekend off-roading trip, check the weather forecast and pack the right supplies for a safe and fun off-roading experience.

The Best Florida Off-Roading Locations

Here are some of the top off-roading spots in Florida.

Ocala National Forest

One of the premier off-road destinations in Florida, Ocala National Forest, boasts over 100 miles of rugged trails. It’s full of challenging terrains, including steep climbs, dunes, and deep-water crossings.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress offers a vast landscape of diverse environments, including hardwood hammocks, pinelands, prairies, and the freshwater Big Cypress Swamp. Challenge yourself with the Bear Island Grade or tackle the deep mud of Turner River.

Hard Rock Off-Road Park

For those seeking a purpose-built playground, Hard Rock Off-Road Park is ideal. It has varying trail ratings catering to all skill levels and off-road vehicles. Experience everything from mud bogs to fast dirt tracks.

The Best Florida Overlanding Destinations

If you want to go overlanding, consider these destinations.

The Florida Trail

The Florida Trail offers a one-of-a-kind experience from the Everglades to the Florida panhandle, covering over 1,000 miles. Overnight camping is popular along the trail, especially in the diverse terrain of the state’s northern reaches.

Everglades National Park

Explore unparalleled scenery while enduring the challenges of the Everglades’ unique landscape. Swamp buggy trails, such as the Shark Valley Loop, offer a mix of open prairies and hardwood hammocks.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Linked with the neighboring Everglades, Big Cypress’s trails provide a habitat for numerous species and are ideal for multi-day trips. Overlanders particularly revere the off-road vehicle (ORV) route from the northern border of Big Cypress to the southern edge of the park.

Bestseller No. 1
RHINO USA Folding Survival Shovel w/Pick - Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Military Style Entrenching Tool for Off Road, Camping, Gardening, Beach, Digging Dirt, Sand, Mud & Snow.
  • AMERICAN OWNED, FAMILY OPERATED - Join the Rhino USA Family and Support a Father/Son Business With the Best USA-Based Customer Support.
  • 3-IN-1 MULTIPURPOSE - Features a Versatile Design With a 180-Degree Shovel, 90-Degree Pickaxe, and 90-Degree Pick hoe, Allowing you to Tackle Various Tasks With a Single Tool.
  • COMPACT AND PORTABLE - Measures a Full 22" Long When Extended, but Folds Down to Just 9" x 6" for Easy Storage in the Included Heavy-Duty Carry Case; Weighs Only 2 lbs for Effortless Portability.
  • CARBON STEEL CONSTRUCTION - Engineered From Carbon Steel with a Black Powder-Coated Finish for Enhanced Strength, Corrosion Resistance, and a Sleek, Durable Appearance.
  • REAL LIFETIME REPLACEMENT - All Rhino USA Products Come With a Lifetime Replacement. If you Encounter any Issues, We'll Ensure You're 100% Satisfied With a Replacement or Refund.
Bestseller No. 2
Car Battery Terminal Connectors, 2 Pcs 4 Way Quick Release Disconnect Car Battery Terminal for SAE/JIS Type A Posts, Compatible With Cars, Vans, Trucks and More
  • [4 WAY BATTERY TERMINAL] Made of high-quality brass and steel material which is corrosion resistant with excellent electrical conductivity that can reduce voltage distortion and transmission loss. And...
  • [POSITIVE & NEGATIVE LABELED] Positive and Negative is clearly labeled on the battery terminal connectors that you can easily recognize.
  • [WIDELY USE] Our battery terminal connectors are compatible with cars, vans, caravan, tachts, trucks, pickups, buses, etc. Works on round post auto batteries SAE/JIS Type A posts. Please be sure to...
  • [EASY TO USE] Equipped with a hex wrench which can help you to complete installation more convenient and easier. And it only takes a minute to clean, use the terminal cleaning brush that we provided...
  • [WHAT YOU RECEIVE] Package contains 2 battery terminal connectors (positive and negative), 4 insulation sleeves, 2 battery terminal cleaning brushes, 2 battery anti-corrosion washers and a hex wrench....
Bestseller No. 3
ALL-TOP Adjustable Auto-Stop Tire Deflator Valve Kit (10-30 PSI) 4 PCS Screw-on Tyre Air Down Tool for Offroad 4x4 (with 5 Valve caps)
  • 【CREATIVE】 This kit allows you to Air Down tires in a short period and you do not have to wait and keep an eye on tire pressure. The Deflator Valve will automatically stop at your pre-set PSI...
  • 【ACCURACY】Each Tire Deflator is individually Calibrated, yet +/- 2 PSI is considered acceptable. The deflator kit is designed for quick off-road air down setup, but not for accurate vehicle...
  • 【ADJUSTABLE】 No Tools are required. The Tire deflator come with Clear Scale Display, adjust the desired Air Pressure and it stop letting air out when the PSI value has been reached., simply by...
  • 【PACKAGING】 This kit comes with 4 pieces Deflator Valves and one Zipper Pouch. It will be a perfect Tire Deflation Tool for your Offroad buddy, Trucks, Powersports, SUV, RV, or UTV.
  • 【RELIABLE WARRANTY】 To Join ALL-TOP's 200,000+ Community today, our Reliable Overland Products support all Pro Players over the world. We persistently improve our Overland Products & After-Sale...
Bestseller No. 4
Nilight Led Pods 2Pcs 18W 1260LM Flood Led Off Road Lights Super Bright Driving Fog Boat Lights Led Work Light Bar for Trucks Pickup Golf Cart SUV ATV UTV 4x4 Van Camper,2 Years Warranty
  • Super bright and wide illumination range: Advanced LED chips give out bright and white ray for clear visibility. Special designed lamp cup leads to a wider illumination range, allowing you to see the...
  • Better heat dissipation: Quick cooling aluminum alloy heat sinks and high-quality heat conduction silicone gel can effectively extend the lifespan of the light bar to over 30, 000 hours.
  • High protective performance: IP67 Waterproof Rate, waterproof up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes and effectively dustproof. The stainless mounting brackets are rustproof and anticorrosive.
  • Many indoor and outdoor uses: Garden lighting, backyard lighting, back-up light, off road lighting, construction lighting and so on.
  • Package includes: 2PCS 18W flood led pods. Wattage 18 watts
Bestseller No. 5
Rhino USA Recovery Tow Strap (3" x 20') - 31,518lb Break Strength - Emergency Recovery Strap Tow Rope for Truck, UTV, ATV & More - Heavy Duty Towing Strap for Offroad 4x4 Use - Compatible with Jeep
  • AMERICAN OWNED, FAMILY OPERATED - Join the Rhino USA Family and Support a Father/Son Business With the Best USA-Based Customer Support.
  • ULTIMATE STATIC STRAP - Crafted from Durable Polyester, Our Weather-Resistant Strap Ensures Long-Lasting Performance, Superior Strength, and Reliable Protection During Recovery Situations
  • USED FOR FLAT RECOVERY - Ideal for Towing or Pulling Vehicles that are Stuck on Flat Surfaces, Providing a Reliable Solution for Recovering Vehicles Without Damaging Them.
  • TRIPLE REINFORCED ENDS - High Tensile Loop Ends Provide Protection Against Wear and Tear, Abrasion, and Load Stress, Ensuring Durable and Secure Connection Points When Recovering
  • REAL LIFETIME REPLACEMENT - All Rhino USA Products Come With a Lifetime Replacement. If you Encounter any Issues, We'll Ensure You're 100% Satisfied With a Replacement or Refund.
Bestseller No. 6
2 Pcs Shovel Holder for Truck, Heavy Duty Shovel Mounts for Roof Rack, Quick Release Axe Holder Mount Kit, Metal and Rubber Car Accessories/ Garage Storage/ Truck/ Wall Mounting Brackets
  • Durable Metal Rubber Clamps: Our shovel holders are equipped with metal supporting brackets and quality rubber buckles; This tool grips with nice load bearing capacity, holds shovel tightly and...
  • Size Specifications: the shovel mounts are for mounting tools in about 0.67-1.57 inches/ 17-40 mm, 2 roof rack clamps total load bearing capacity is about 62 lbs and bottom mounting area is about 2.56...
  • Clamp Mounting Kit: includes 4 truck shovel mounts,8 fixing screws and 8 fixing nuts, you can install this shovel holder clamp in record time; You can mount this shovel holder for truck to a flat...
  • Wide Application: install metal rubber shovel holders on roof rack, track bed rack to keep shovel, axes, hammer, rake, hoses, military equipment securely in place; Widely applied on work vehicles,...
  • Warm Reminder: please make sure the installation area and supported diameters meet your needs before purchasing; Tools with a diameter smaller than 0.67 inch will result in loose fixation
Bestseller No. 7
Rhino USA Tire Plug Repair Kit (86-Piece) Fix Punctures & Plug Flats with Ease - Heavy Duty Flat Tire Puncture Repair Kit for Car, Motorcycle, ATV, UTV, RV, Trailer, Tractor, Etc
  • AMERICAN OWNED, FAMILY OPERATED - Join the Rhino Family & Support a USA based Father/Son Business!
  • Stop waiting on a tow truck - Quickly plug & go on the road without hesitation or wait times.
  • Works with any tubeless tire - Emergency patch for truck, bike, lawn mower, sedan + many more.
  • Deluxe Tire Repair Kit- Includes everything needed to easily repair a punctured tire.

Those are our picks for where you should off-road or overland in Florida and why. By following these tips and charting a course to these spectacular locations, you’ll be well on your way to an off-road or overlanding experience that captures the essence of Florida’s wilderness. Whichever Florida destination you choose, we’re sure you’ll have the experience of a lifetime and want to return for more!

You may also like

Outdoors Magazine

Embracing the Great Outdoors is a compelling blog dedicated to celebrating the beauty and thrill of outdoor activities, weaving tales of awe-inspiring hiking trails, serene fishing spots, strategic hunting expeditions, and invigorating camping adventures to inspire and guide like-minded enthusiasts.

Edtior's Picks

Latest Articles

©2025 Outdoors Magazine. All Right Reserved.