Collier-Seminole State Park: mangroves, royal palms and the Walking Dredge
Paddle the Blackwater River and see the 1924 dredge that helped build the Tamiami Trail, southeast of Naples.
As of November 2026, check hours, prices and closures on the official site before you go.
Why go
The 7,271-acre Collier-Seminole State Park, at 20200 Tamiami Trail E., lies partly within one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world, according to Florida State Parks. It protects one of three original stands of royal palm in Florida. The park is home to the last existing Bay City Walking Dredge, built in 1924 and used to build the Tamiami Trail; it is a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
Current notices: the Blockhouse and Royal Palm Hammock Nature Trail are closed (since May 27, 2026); the ranger station is open only Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the park advises bug spray because of heavy mosquitoes.
Itinerary
Day trip
- Morning
See the Walking Dredge, then rent a canoe to paddle the Blackwater River.
- Midday
Ranger programs run December through March, per the park.
- Afternoon
Head to Goodland for seafood (see Local spots below).
Official info
- Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, FL 34114. Open 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. Phone 239-393-7306.
Checked on floridastateparks.org November 2, 2026.
Estimated expenses
Admission is $5 per vehicle (two to eight people), $4 for a single-occupant vehicle and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to Florida State Parks. Fuel: AAA's Naples metro average for regular gas was $3.93 a gallon on November 2, 2026 (AAA). At 25 mpg, a 50-mile round trip uses about 2 gallons, or roughly $8. Use the trip estimator on the Getaways page for your own starting point.
Local spots
Independent local businesses near this trip. Nobody paid to be listed. Ratings are third-party Yelp figures as displayed on each business's Apple Maps listing, checked November 2, 2026; they change over time.
Tags appear only when a restaurant's own menu or website states them. Confirm allergies directly with the restaurant.
No listed spot here states that option. Untagged spots may still offer it; ask the restaurant.
- Little Bar Restaurant (Goodland)
A seafood restaurant at 205 Harbor Place in Goodland, per its Apple Maps listing. Dietary tags: none verified on its own site this run.
Yelp: 4.0 stars from 477 Yelp reviews (checked November 2, 2026; source listing).
Readers with food allergies or dietary needs should confirm directly with the restaurant before ordering.
Practical tips
- Bring bug spray; the park advises screened tents or canopies.
- The ranger station is closed Monday through Thursday.
- The Blockhouse and Royal Palm Hammock Nature Trail are closed.
- Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Getaways guides are informational. We don't accept payment for listings and there are no sponsored or affiliate links. Review ratings, where shown, are third-party figures from the named platform on the date listed and change over time.
Plan ahead, check the official page the day you go, and enjoy the trip.
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