Oscar Scherer State Park

One of our favorite campgrounds. We have Been coming here for 30 years. Make reservations in advance though because they are always booked

This is one of the most peaceful state parks in south Florida. Filled with trees and vegetation, there are plenty of shade, shelter and pic nic areas. The camping is my personal favorite. The sites are large and secluded with plenty of trees to ensure you can escape from the Florida Sun. The camping area has plenty of restrooms throughout the campground. This park defiantly will not let the campers down.

Stayed here with a group of paramedics working a sporting event. All fire department and private EMS guys. All nice and all good guys. We were treated like criminals by the park rangers. We had the police called on us because some kid took an old beer can back to his mom. We were harassed to no end and forced to move twice. We had our reservations scrutinized 3 times and were finally content to pack up and leave. Really sad. Nice looking place.

Nice park. Waterfront/​Creekside camping lot was a nice touch. Cut fire wood available for $ 5 donation. Very private camp sites. Bathrooms were okay. Internet at the nature center was very very slow. I wanted to get the southwestern Florida experience and thought I captured it here with my family. I would stay again.

Florida has some wonderful State Parks and Oscar Scherer State Park, which consists of some two miles of parkland created by the generosity of Elsa Scherer Burrors in memory of her father, Oscar Scherer, and the tireless efforts of countless environmentally minded individuals, is an outstanding example of one of them, particularly for camping.
As camping grounds go, the camp sites are large, spacious, most with water, electric and nicely distanced apart. The restroom and shower facilities are many, properly distanced, spotlessly clean and maintained to the highest degree by the various dedicated campground hosts. Indeed, this is one camping area that has made the very best use of the campground host program.
As for walking trials, biking trails, fresh water swimming, youth facilities, even an area dedicated for Wi Fi users, one could hardly ask for more.
For bird watchers it is home to the rare, endangered Florida scrub-​jay of which I saw several, and the only species whose habitat is entirely restricted to the State of Florida. There are, of course, various other birds (I ended up getting into a heated argument with what I think was a rather brazen loud squawking Willow Flycatcher who made the mistake of unnecessarily waking me up at all hours of the night… Srsly…did he really think was about to mate, or worse yet nest with him, or what?) as well as a variety of varied plant life.

Great park. My fiancée and I enjoyed a leisurely paddle, mostly in the shade, about a mile and a half. Saw lots of cool native plants and birds. Of particular interest are the endangered scrub jays; this is the last intensively protected population of this endemic bird.

This is a great state park. I have been coming here for 20+ years and love it. I wish there were more open spaces like this in South West Florida.

i love this park but I use to live here as a child .my dad was a ranger here and the lake is great my kids love coming here. the price isn’t bad last time we was here it was $ 3.00 at the gate or if you stay in a site its like $ 25.00 a nite with electric. I believe the snack bar is back open to .they redone alot here!

A large acreage of scrubby flatwoods makes this park one of the best places to see Florida scrub-​jays, a threatened species found only in Florida. The park protects scrubby and pine flatwoods that were once widespread throughout Sarasota County. Fifteen miles of trails through these beautiful natural areas provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and wildlife viewing. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along South Creek, a blackwater stream that flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, but motorized boats are not permitted in the park boundaries. Freshwater and saltwater fishing are available along the creek. Anglers can fish along the shores of Lake Osprey, which is also the parks swimming destination. Picnic areas along South Creek are equipped with grills; pavilions can be reserved for a fee. The park has full-​facility campsites and a youth/​group campground. The park nature center has exhibits and videos about the parks natural communities. Located on U.S. 41, two miles south of Osprey.
Hours of Operation
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Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.
Driving Directions
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Oscar Scherer State Park is located on U.S.41, six miles south of Sarasota. Heading south on I-​75 take exit 200. Heading north on I-​75 take exit 195.
Park Fees
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Park Entrance: $ 4.00 per vehicle for up to 8 people.
Family Entrance Pass: $ 85.60.
Individual Entrance Pass: $ 42.80.
Dump Station: $ 6.42 + entrance fees of $ 4.00.
Sunset Entrance: $ 3.00.
Overnight Parking/​Overflow: $ 12.10, only when campground is full.
Camping Fee: $ 24.20 per night
Small Pavilion Pass: $ 32.10
Large Pavilion: $ 64.20
Youth Area: $ 4.00 per person.