Our favorite Florida outdoors guidebooks

Last updated on December 12th, 2024 at 05:33 am

These Florida outdoors guidebooks for outdoor recreation and things to do are handy companions for learning more about kayaking destinations and hiking trails, campgrounds and exploring the Sunshine State’s back roads and hidden treasures.

All of these guides make excellent gifts.

Florida Rambler may receive a modest commission if a purchase is made through these links to Amazon, supporting our efforts to bring you useful, original content without a paywall.


Florida Atlas & Gazetteer

by Delorme

No maps of Florida have the detail and depth offered by this comprehensive guide to Florida’s back roads. Detailed large-format maps take you to places you’ll never find on a smartphone or state road map. Discover campgrounds and recreation, bike trails and secluded beaches.

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Delorme Florida Atlas & Gazetteer
Delorme Florida Atlas & Gazetteer
Delorme (Author); English (Publication Language); 160 Pages – 09/02/2019 (Publication Date) – Delorme (Publisher)
$21.00

The Florida Lighthouse Trail (2nd Edition)

by Josh Liller

From Amelia Island to the Keys to Pensacola in the Panhandle, the coast of Florida is dotted with lighthouses of all sizes, shapes, materials, and — best of all –- histories. The Florida Lighthouse Trail is a compilation of short histories, written by expert contributors from around the state. Each chapter has fascinating details about these great sentinels. 

The Florida Lighthouse Trail -Second Edition
The Florida Lighthouse Trail -Second Edition
Liller, Josh (Author); English (Publication Language); 326 Pages – 04/20/2020 (Publication Date) – Pineapple Press (Publisher)
$19.95 Amazon Prime

Related story on Rambler: Travel tips for Florida lighthouse lovers


Kayaking the Keys: 50 Great Adventures

by Kathleen Patton

Spanning the 200-mile stretch of the Florida Keys, this field guide to the entire island chain highlights 50 paddling adventures. Trips include short paddles suitable for beginners and children, half-day trips as well as day-long and overnight excursions. Trips are arranged geographically, beginning at the top of the Keys in Biscayne National Park south along the islands to Key West and beyond.

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Kayaking the Keys: 50 Great Paddling Adventures in Florida's Southernmost Archipelago
Kayaking the Keys: 50 Great Paddling Adventures in Florida’s Southernmost Archipelago
Product Details: Paperback: 189 pages,; Publisher: University Press of Florida; 1st edition (December 31, 2002)
$16.14 Amazon Prime

Quixotic Key West & the Lower Keys

by Karuna Ebert and Steve Alberts

People who love visiting Key West often wonder where locals dine, drink, shop and snorkel. Well, this guidebook by Florida Rambler contributors Karuna Eberl and Steve Alberts are here to tell you. We’ve visited the Keys dozens of times, but still learn lots from this entertaining and useful guide. The book is full of practical listings for where to eat, stay and go, but it is also full of quirky stories that are part of what makes Key West unique.

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Key West & the Lower Keys Travel Guide, 2nd Ed (Second Edition, Second) (Quixotic Travel Guides)
Key West & the Lower Keys Travel Guide, 2nd Ed (Second Edition, Second) (Quixotic Travel Guides)
Eberl, Karuna (Author); English (Publication Language); 288 Pages – 11/01/2019 (Publication Date) – Quixotic Travel Guides (Publisher)
$6.25

Read this story Karuna wrote for Florida Rambler: Most beloved ‘locals’ bars and hangouts in Key West


Florida Trail Hikes: Top Scenic Destinations on Florida’s National Scenic Trail

By Sandra Friend and John Keatley

Few people know the Florida Trail as well as Sandra Friend, who has hiked it’s entire 1,500-mile length through the Sunshine State, inspiring her to write the official guide used by the Florida Trail Association. This book builds on that experience through her many return trips, guiding readers to the best scenic day hikes and overnight trips on segments reachable from more than 100 trailheads. Descriptive, informative and a must-guide for any hiker.

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Florida Trail Hikes: Top Scenic Destinations on Florida’s National Scenic Trail
  • Friend, Sandra (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 408 Pages – 06/04/2024 (Publication Date) – University Press of Florida (Publisher)

The Fort at Prospect Bluff: The British Post on the Apalachicola & the Battle of Negro Fort

By Dale Cox

The deadliest cannon shot in American history was fired at the “Negro Fort” at Prospect Bluff on Florida’s Apalachicola River on July 27, 1816. The resulting explosion killed more than 270 men, women, and children, and destroyed the largest free black settlement in North America. This is the story of an Underground Railroad that ran south to Spanish Florida and eventually to Trinidad, the Bahamas, and for a few even to Newfoundland.

The Fort at Prospect Bluff: The British Post on the Apalachicola & the Battle of Negro Fort
The Fort at Prospect Bluff: The British Post on the Apalachicola & the Battle of Negro Fort
Cox, Dale (Author); English (Publication Language); 450 Pages – 01/13/2020 (Publication Date) – Old Kitchen Media (Publisher)
$15.63 Amazon Prime

Related Story on Florida Rambler: Fort Gadsden, ‘Negro Fort’ history buried in Apalachicola National Forest


Florida Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide

by Bella Stander and Gerald C. Hill

Illustrated map and guide to all standing and “lost” lighthouses in Florida on a detailed state map with a history and description of each lighthouse. Directions to every standing light or the best viewing spots. Directory of lighthouse cruises, island ferries & sightseeing flights. Listing of maritime museums. 32 original watercolor illustrations of all standing lighthouses in Florida.

Florida Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide
Florida Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide
Bella Stander (Author); English (Publication Language); 12/15/2021 (Publication Date) – Bella Terra Publishing (Publisher)
$7.95 Amazon Prime

Canoeing & Kayaking Florida

by Johnny Milloy

An earlier edition of this book in my library has a lot of bookmarked pages. I find it a valuable resource when planning my next kayaking adventure. Milloy has built upon the earlier work of Elizabeth Carter, Lou Glaros, John Pearce Doug Sphar for this latest edition, compiling detailed planning tools for more than 100 paddle trails throughout the state of Florida, organized by region, with easy-to-read maps, trip and shuttle details, even grading scenery. Water levels are a constant challenge on Florida’s inland waterways, and this guide tells you how to find current levels and compare them to normal levels.

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Canoeing & Kayaking Florida (Canoe and Kayak Series)
Canoeing & Kayaking Florida (Canoe and Kayak Series)
Molloy, Johnny (Author); English (Publication Language); 312 Pages – 12/05/2023 (Publication Date) – Menasha Ridge Press (Publisher)
$16.50 Amazon Prime

Related article: Best kayaking in Orlando and Central Florida: 15 wild rivers


Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddle Trail

by the Florida Paddling Trails Association

This is the eighth edition, useful for both short and long-distance paddlers who yearn to paddle all or part of the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail from Pensacola to Key West to the Georgia border. Every Florida coastal habitat type is featured, from barrier island dune systems to salt marsh and mangroves, along with the Sunshine State’s colorful history. The guide includes information on launches, campsites, campgrounds, motels, points-of-interest, and the many public lands along the route. 

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Guide (Text Only): Eighth Edition
Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Guide (Text Only): Eighth Edition
Trails Association, Florida Paddling (Author); English (Publication Language); 392 Pages – 05/31/2022 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
$17.95 Amazon Prime

Touring the Springs of Florida

By Melissa Watson

Florida has the highest concentration of fresh-water springs in the world, and Melissa Watson’s “Touring the Springs of Florida” features full-color photos and in-depth descriptions for each spring included in this book and surrounding areas. Detailed maps, GPS coordinates, and thorough driving directions lead you every step of the way. Whether you’re tubing, swimming, snorkeling, paddling, hiking, diving, or simply sightseeing, there’s a spring for you.

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Touring the Springs of Florida: A Guide to the State's Best Springs (Touring Hot Springs)
Touring the Springs of Florida: A Guide to the State’s Best Springs (Touring Hot Springs)
Watson, Melissa (Author); English (Publication Language); 272 Pages – 04/01/2015 (Publication Date) – Falcon Guides (Publisher)
$24.66 Amazon Prime

Related articles: Florida’s Springs


Camping Florida

By Rick Sapp

I’ve camped all over Florida, usually in public campgrounds because they offer a natural experience with more space at a lower price than private campgrounds. This guide is right up my alley with its focus on public campgrounds, everything from primitive sites to campgrounds with hookups, from youth and group sites to teepees, yurts, and cabins. It includes hundreds of campgrounds, many of which you’d never know exist.

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Camping Florida: A Comprehensive Guide To Hundreds Of Campgrounds, 2nd Edition (Regional Camping Series)
Camping Florida: A Comprehensive Guide To Hundreds Of Campgrounds, 2nd Edition (Regional Camping Series)
Sapp, Rick (Author); English (Publication Language); 224 Pages – 09/01/2019 (Publication Date) – Falcon Guides (Publisher)
$15.49 Amazon Prime

Related articles: Affordable Camping in Florida, RV & Tent


Backroads of Florida

by Paul Franklin and photographer Nancy Mikula

Explore the “other” side of Florida, where quiet rural byways and quirky roadside charm lie beyond glittering coastal cities and trendy beach resorts. Follow in the footsteps of the Spanish explorers, pirates, crackers and cowboys who shaped Florida’s history. Whether it’s skimming across the Everglades in an airboat, snorkeling with manatees or paddling your kayak through a cypress swamp full of alligators, orchids, and tropical birds, there’s a world of excitement and beauty waiting for you on Florida’s back roads. 

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Backroads of Florida - Second Edition: Along the Byways to Breathtaking Landscapes and Quirky Small Towns
Backroads of Florida – Second Edition: Along the Byways to Breathtaking Landscapes and Quirky Small Towns
Franklin, Paul M. (Author); English (Publication Language); 176 Pages – 12/01/2016 (Publication Date) – Voyageur Press (Publisher)
$21.30 Amazon Prime


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One Comment

  1. Thanks for the list I picked up “touring the springs” as I’ve been meaning to check out some springs when the summer crowds fade away and “backroads” because driving backroads and actually knowing a little bit of history has to be one of my favorite distractions.

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