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Wrap up your summer with FREE entry for Florida Parks

Florida State Parks and public libraries in South Florida offer an opportunity for free entry to almost all state parks in the Florida through Sept. 12, 2022.

Usual entry for Florida state parks varies, but typically is about $5-$10 per vehicle.

Some state parks rent kayaks. Photo/Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Real Florida Reader Program offers library patrons free vouchers during summer on loan. The voucher offers entry for about 170 state parks in Florida, with a few exceptions.

Phone your local library to verify if a voucher is available for loan. If you’re not already a library patron eligible to borrow books & other items, signing up at your local library is easy and free.

Florida State Parks in Palm Beach County

  • John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, 10900 Jack Nichlaus Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408

Florida State Parks in Broward County

  • Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
  • Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, 6503 N Ocean Dr, Dania Beach, FL 33004

The Barnacle State Park

Florida State Parks in Miami-Dade County

  • Oleta River State Park, 3400 Ne 163Rd St, N Miami, FL 33160
  • The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Hwy Coconut Grove, FL 33133
  • Bill Boggs Cape Florida State Park, 1200 S Crandon Blvd Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Florida State Parks in Monroe County 

  • Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, County Rd. 905 & Mile Marker 106, Key Largo, FL 33037
  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
  • Florida Keys Heritage Trail, 3 La Croix Court, Key Largo, FL 33037 plus multiple entrances throughout the islands
  • Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, 84900 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL33036 
  • Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy Islamorada, FL 33001
  • Indian Key Historic State Park, Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036
  • San Pedro Underwater Archeaeological Preserve State Park
  • Long Key State Park, 67400 Overseas Hwy, Long Key, FL 33001
  • Curry Hammock State Park, 56200 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
  • Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (multiple locations)
  • Bahia Honda State Park, 36850 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL 33043
  • Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040

Information about the program is online.

Information about Florida State Parks is online.

Things to do with kids this summer (free, low-cost & deals)

Other Parks

South Florida’s scenic parks & natural areas, plenty are free

Other Free and Inexpensive Events

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays

All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations

Discounts at Cinemark on Tuesdays

All Day | Discounted | Cinemark

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

MOSAIC deals & discounts: Various days, times & venues in PBC

Discounted | Various sites in Palm Beach Co.

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Market Tuesdays at CityPlace Doral

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | CityPlace Doral

Tasty Tuesdays with Food Trucks

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Amphitheater in Boca Raton

Food Trucks Tuesdays

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haulover Beach Park

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

MOSAIC deals & discounts: Various days, times & venues in PBC

Discounted | Various sites in Palm Beach Co.

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Fandom: Kowai Yo! Demons, Monsters & Spirits in Japan for teens

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Haitian Heritage Month Guest Storytime

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Miami Public Library

Food Trucks In Volunteer Park

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Volunteer Park Plantation

Food truck gathering at Pelican Harbor Marina

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pelican Harbor Marina

$9 deal for roller skating in Davie

6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Discounted | Galaxy Skateway Davie

Art & Jazz on The Avenue in Delray

6:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach

Kompa Classes at North Miami Library

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | North Miami Public Library

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

The Moth - Miami StorySLAM

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater

Comedy Night at Pub 52

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Comedy Night at Exit One Taproom

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Exit One Taproom, Miami-Dade

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Sunny Days/Starry Nights at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale with free entry

11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Food Truck Thursdays at Highland Oaks Park

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Highland Oaks Park

Food Trucks at Tree Tops in Davie

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Treetops Park

Live music: Clematis by Night

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live music at Doral Yard

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

Friday, June 2, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Free outdoor film & fun in Tamarac

FREE | Tamarac Sports complex

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

First Fridays @ 5 concert in the Amphitheater

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Park, Boynton Beach

First Friday Concert

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Park, Boynton Beach

Art After Dark Fridays: Entertainment, activities & times vary

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Food truck gathering at Tropical Park

5:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Tropical Park

Downtown Delray Art Walk

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Delray Beach

Free First Fridays at ICA

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | ICA Miami

Free Gallery Night entry

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Old Town Untapped in Pompano

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bailey Contemporary Arts

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Jam on percussion for free

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | South Florida Center for Percussive Arts

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Pride on the Block

7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Clematis Street, WPB

Art After Dark: Jazz Fridays

7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Night Forest Walk in North Broward

7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Fern Forest Nature Center

Summer in the City: Free Music Fridays

7:30 pm | FREE | Mizner Park in Boca

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

First Friday Art Walk

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Arts Garage, Delray Beach

Free outdoor films in Hollywood

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | ArtsPark

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU free every Saturday

All Day | FREE | Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Gold Coast Museum free first Saturday

All Day | FREE | Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Plantation Farmers Market

8:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Volunteer Park Plantation

Yappy Saturday

9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Sawgrass Farmer's & Artisan's market

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Sawgrass Mills

Children's Bookfest in Fort Lauderdale

11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | African American Research Library

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Pride Family Fest

1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Pride on the Block

1:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Clematis Street, WPB

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Cultural Saturdays at Dania Ponite

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Night sky viewing with telescopes in west Broward

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fox Observatory

Discount late-night movies

11:30 pm to 2:00 am | $5.00 | Coral Gables Art Cinema

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Pinecrest drive-up Farmer's Market

8:00 am to 2:00 pm | Pinecrest Gardens

Palmetto Bay Farmer's Market

8:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Coral Reef Park

Tamarac Farmers Market

9:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park

Free trees for Miami-Dade residents

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Miami Dade College North Campus

Vizcaya weekly farmer's market

9:00 am to 2:00 pm | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dream car classic in Hollywood

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hollywood

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Sawgrass Farmer's & Artisan's market

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Sawgrass Mills

Free live music at Jazz Brunch in Fort Lauderdale

11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk

Farmer's Market at Village of Merrick Park

11:00 am to 5:00 pm | Merrick Park

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

CommuniTEA Dance

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Bluegrass festival and acoustic jam

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Greynolds Park

Free CommuniTea Dance at Arsht Center

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE

New Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition for adults

1:30 pm to 4:30 pm | Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach

Free tour of historic Biltmore Hotel

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Biltmore Hotel

Family Sundays at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Dania Pointe

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade, Miami Beach

Tropical Sundays Live Music

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Poinciana Fiesta and Celebration Party and Reception

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

Comedy Night at Nightlife Brewing Co.

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Salsa dance class

9:00 pm | FREE | Ball & Chain

 

Patti Roth

About Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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