US-1904
Myakka River State Park
Over 37,000 acres on State Road 72 east of Sarasota, one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. The Myakka was designated a Florida Wild and Scenic River in 1985. Two shallow lakes joined by wetlands, hammocks and dry prairie — a globally imperilled ecosystem the park is restoring through prescribed burns.
At a glance
- Entry
- $6 per vehicle (two to eight people). $4 single-occupant vehicle. $2 pedestrians,...
- Hours
- Open 8:00 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. The North Gate...
- Operating position
- See park page →
- Tables
- Yes
- Shade
- Good
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Water
- Bring your own
- Grid
- EL87ug
More about this park
Official park page Florida State Parks → Trail maps, closures, facilities and current alerts, kept current by the agency. Activation history POTA.app — US-1904 → Every activation, activator and hunter log for this park. This guide covers conditions on the ground, not the logbook.Useful for activating
Listed by Florida State Parks , checked August 2026. Not verified on site. This is only what affects operating — see the park’s own page for everything else.
- Campground
- Primitive camping
- Cabins
- Electric hookups
- Roofed pavilion
- Boat ramp
- Kayak launch
- Hiking trails
Getting in
Parking
Fishermen's Loop has picnic tables right on the river bank with clear ground for radials.Hours
Open 8:00 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. The North Gate opens only on Saturday, Sunday and state holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Access
Florida state park on State Road 72 east of Sarasota.Setting up
Where to operate
Fishermen's Loop, at a picnic table on the river bank. Shade, clear ground for a full radial field, and a direct view of the water.Antennas
A Radioddity HF-010 went up in about 15 minutes and measured 1.107 SWR.Cell coverage
- general: 4G LTE was usable — the tablet controlled the Pi over it without trouble.
Before you go
Conditions to plan for
Alligators move through the river constantly at Fishermen's Loop, often several at a time and within a few feet of the bank where the tables are. Deer on the prairie at dusk. Note also that as of an alert dated 28 October 2025 and still posted in August 2026, drinking water is unavailable in the park; free bottled water is available at the ranger station 8 a.m. to sunset. Confirm before relying on it.My activation reports from here
One write-up so far.