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Bison in Florida? Yes, that’s possible! And the best part is that they are roaming free on a prairie alongside herds of wild horses!
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park sits just south of Gainesville, and it was Florida’s very first state preserve.
It’s the only place in Florida where you can see wild-roaming bison.
It’s about an hour and a half from Jacksonville, and only 15 minutes from Gainesville.
Please note that while I try to be as accurate as possible, I always recommend checking the official website and socials. Things can change quickly and as much as I try to stay on top of things, it’s not always the case.
🦬 Quick Information About Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
📍 Where: 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667 (this is the main entrance)
🦬 What is it?
Florida’s first state preserve, covering nearly 23,000 acres of open prairie, marsh and hammock forest.
Alongside the bison and the horses there are nearly 300 species of birds, plus alligators, deer, bobcats and wild turkeys. 🐊
There are eight trails and more than 30 miles of them in total, a 50 foot observation tower, a newly renovated visitor center, and fishing and canoeing on Lake Wauburg. 🛶
🚪 The three entrances
This is the bit worth getting right, because they’re in different places and different fees.
Main entrance, Micanopy. $6 per vehicle for two to eight people, $4 if you’re on your own, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. This is where you’ll find the visitor center, the 50 foot observation tower and the campground. 🔭
Bolen Bluff. $2 per vehicle, up to eight people. A 2.6 mile round trip trail, and this is the one the park itself lists for bison or horses, along with bobcats, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. 🦬
La Chua Trail. $4 per vehicle. Around three miles round trip with a boardwalk section, and the park lists alligators, wild horses and over 300 species of birds here. 🐊
🚗 Doing all three: Bolen Bluff is roughly five minutes north of the main entrance on US-441, and La Chua is about 15 minutes on from there. So you can string the lot together in one day if you start early.
⏰ Best time to go: Early in the morning, and ideally between October and May, which are Florida’s drier months. Spotting the animals takes a bit of patience either way.
🔭 What to bring: Binoculars. You’ll want them.
📅 Hours: 8am to sunset, 365 days a year. The ranger station closes earlier, at 6pm Sunday through Thursday, and at sundown on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays.
🏕️ Camping: There’s a shaded campground with full facility sites, plus equestrian and primitive hike-in camping.
🚗 From Jacksonville: About 1 hour 30 minutes
🚗 From Gainesville: About 15 minutes
⚠️ Worth knowing: Some trails get muddy or flood outright in the rainy season, so it’s worth calling the ranger station to check conditions before you drive out.
📞 Contact: 352-466-3397
🌐 More information: 👉 floridastateparks.org
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