Crystal River Archaeological State Park

Crystal River Archaeological State Park

Crystal River Archaeological State Park
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A top archaeological destination for Native American artifacts.
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  • Kathydale
    Chicago, Illinois26 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting historical site
    Small but well laid out museum, helps explain the burial and ceremonial mounds on the property. Talk to the rangers, the story of how the museum came to be and how the land was acquired is just as interesting as the history of the ancient peoples that lived here. Bring cash. $3.00 fee to park. There are clean bathrooms here as well.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 December 2023
  • Miranda
    108 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice Park
    The park is nice and has very nice paved pathways. The trees and grounds are very beautiful. There isn't much to look at, but what was there is interesting! The museum was closed when we went so we couldn't see anything artifacts but the walk around was nice. We did climb up to the top of the hill. It was beautiful up there, even though the day we went it was cloudly and grey! Overall a nice place to stop and stretch your legs.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 16 January 2024
  • vikilw
    Tampa, Florida5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful and Beautiful
    I'd been wanting to go here for ages. I love indigenous Florida and that feeling like you're stepping back in time and you really get that here. We were greeted at the welcome center by a lovely man who gave us a map and some "must sees'. We picked an absolutely beautiful day to go so we enjoyed the walk, climbed the mounds, enjoyed the gorgeous view of the river (WE SAW A DOLPHIN!!!!) and got to meet some dogs as the area is pet friendly. It's a great place to go get a walk in and enjoy the sites while learning some amazing things about ancient Florida. It's $3 per vehicle to support the state park system but the actual admission is free.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 27 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles367 reviews
Excellent
166
Very good
135
Average
55
Poor
8
Terrible
3

pat l
Gainesville, GA1,102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021
This park is just beautiful. We walked most of the trails on a drizzly wet day in about 30-45 minutes. We climbed the steps to the biggest mound and could see out onto the river as well as around the park. It was a nice quiet place that we really enjoyed.

Due to COVID, the museum is closed so there is very little information about the area. The signs are very lacking and maybe downright confusing. They did, thankfully, have the restrooms open.

There is an honor box to collect your $3 fee to the park. No attendant, so have correct change or you can make an extra donation to the FL State Parks! ;)
Written 14 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RocFamily
Rochester, NY103 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
The site is very pleasant and worth the $3 per vehicle entry fee. The museum (closed 2 days/week) had a lot of displays but was missing several including a prehistoric canoe. A rude/arrogant volunteer at the visitor center was very condescending. The walkways are extremely uneven and they sprayed all the chipped and broken sidewalk with orange spray paint perhaps 20 years ago. Don't bring anyone with balance issues or a walker. However, the grounds themselves are quite nice if you don't trip on the sidewalk. The magnificent main mound has a set of stairs you can climb to see the commanding view. The waterfront area is peaceful. There is a short narration video inside the museum. Learned a lot about the area's history and would take others here. No see um insects were aggressive and numerous. bring bug spray. Very uncrowded.
Written 7 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hilljs7
Orlando, FL57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
This place is a hidden gem, I have lived here for 22+ years and have never heard of it. Right off the main road in Crystal River is the site of pre-Native American burial grounds and "Middens" (piles of their shells and trash). The welcome center has a museum of artifacts that have been recovered from the site and a self guided tour around the mounds. It is a beautiful and fascinating place to contemplate what happened here thousands of years ago and why these peoples built these mounds.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TrailTrekker15
Tallahassee, FL5,463 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Solo
I stopped by Crystal River Archeological SP to see the Indian mounds. The museum has many artifacts from the mounds on display as well as a video describing the site. The mounds are distinct and impressive. The mound by Crystal River is particularly impressive with great views from the top. I learned quite a bit about the Native American peoples who lived here 1 - 2 thousand years ago that I did not previously know. It took about 45 min to see everything which made for a nice place to stretch my legs on my way to Orlando. Definitely a great visit!
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathydale
Chicago, IL26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Small but well laid out museum, helps explain the burial and ceremonial mounds on the property. Talk to the rangers, the story of how the museum came to be and how the land was acquired is just as interesting as the history of the ancient peoples that lived here. Bring cash. $3.00 fee to park. There are clean bathrooms here as well.
Written 14 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather
On my computer624 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Family
What a lovely park with a lot of archeological history. It's 3.00 to enter (cash only) and the visitors center had a movie to watch, several exhibits on the mounds and pottery and more. The grounds are pretty and it was a nice way to get out and enjoy the lovely florida "winter" weather.
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vikilw
Tampa, FL5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Friends
I'd been wanting to go here for ages. I love indigenous Florida and that feeling like you're stepping back in time and you really get that here. We were greeted at the welcome center by a lovely man who gave us a map and some "must sees'. We picked an absolutely beautiful day to go so we enjoyed the walk, climbed the mounds, enjoyed the gorgeous view of the river (WE SAW A DOLPHIN!!!!) and got to meet some dogs as the area is pet friendly. It's a great place to go get a walk in and enjoy the sites while learning some amazing things about ancient Florida. It's $3 per vehicle to support the state park system but the actual admission is free.
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen H
St. Petersburg, FL574 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
This was a ceremonial and burial site many hundreds and even thousands of years ago. Interesting small museum with artifacts and a good video explaining the site. The mounds are in an easily walkable area with a paved path. However, there are stairs to climb to get to the top of the largest mound.
Check the web site before you go to be sure the museum is open if you want to go inside.
Like other places in Florida, it will be hot if you go in the summer.
Written 18 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WilsonP
Lancaster, NH563 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Stop in and check out this piece of history. The folks in the information center were very helpful. Check out that old dug out canoe! Just a short walk on the trails to see the mounds and easy walk up the stairs to the tallest mound where you get some nice views. That's a big pile of sea shells!
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

George H
The Cincinnati Region87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Our guide Phillip did a masterful job covering the archaeology and history of this very nice park. It's in a beautiful setting. Walking around the park was, for me anyway, refreshing and a bit uplifting. The museum's a bit dated, but the displays are well-done.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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