Hontoon Island State Park: A River Island You Reach by Boat

Near DeLand on the St. Johns River lies an island park with a delightful catch. You cannot drive to Hontoon Island. A free passenger ferry carries visitors across a narrow channel to a quiet world of oak hammocks, river views, and centuries of human history.

Cross by Ferry

The short boat ride sets the tone. As the ferry glides across the water, the hum of the highway disappears, replaced by birdsong and the lap of the river. Once ashore, you trade cars for footpaths, bikes, and canoes, and the whole island slows to a gentle pace.

Ancient History

Hontoon was a gathering place for the Timucua and earlier peoples, who left behind enormous mounds of freshwater snail shells along the riverbank. An impressive replica of a carved wooden owl totem, found in the surrounding waters, hints at the rich culture that thrived here long before European arrival.

Paddle, Hike, and Stay

The St. Johns and its side creeks make for superb paddling, with manatees, alligators, and wading birds all part of the show. A nature trail leads through cabbage palm hammock to one of the largest shell mounds, while rustic cabins and campsites let you linger after the day visitors have gone.

Bring a cooler, a canoe or your hiking shoes, and check the ferry hours before you go. Hontoon Island is the kind of unhurried, off-the-grid retreat that reminds you why the St. Johns has drawn people for thousands of years.

Official page: Hontoon Island State Park