Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is a Florida state park located in Bushnell, Florida.
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Summary
The park commemorates the site of the Dade Massacre that occurred on December 28, 1835, during the Second Seminole War.
Visitors to the park can learn about the history of the Seminole Wars through exhibits and interpretive programs. The park also features a visitor center, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a reenactment of the battle that takes place every January.
Some of the specific points of interest to see at the park include the historic battlefield, the Herlong Mansion, and the park's nature trails. Visitors can also participate in ranger-led programs, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing.
Interesting facts about the park include that it is home to the largest contiguous sandhill ecosystem in the state and that it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.
The best time of year to visit Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is during the winter months when temperatures are mild and the chances of rain are lower. The park is open year-round from 8 am to sunset, and admission fees are $3 per vehicle for up to eight people.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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