Palatka, FL city of murals, festivals and Florida charm, is situated within a scenic bend of the St. Johns River. Enjoy the tranquil beauty of Waterfront Park, admire over 20 artistically painted murals throughout the historic downtown and celebrate several festivals and fairs hosted by the city each year. This year will be the 75th Florida Azalea Festival, the oldest and one of the largest festivals in the entire state of Florida! Spend a relaxing day in the peaceful setting of Ravine Gardens State Park. If you’re feeling a bit more adventuresome, check out Hog Waller Mudbog & ATV for a good time. Or, to check one off your bucket list, head over to Skydive Palatka for the ultimate adrenaline rush!

Where is Palatka, Florida Located?

Palatka is located in northeastern Florida’s Putnam County. The city sits on the western banks of the scenic St. Johns River, one of the few rivers that flow north. A city of about 10,500 residents, Palatka is located between Jacksonville to the northeast and Orlando to the south and is the county seat of Putnam County.

What to See and Do in Palatka?

Palatka, FL City of Murals Tour

Palatka, FL city of murals, lives up to it’s name! Take the mural tour around historic downtown for a look at Palatka and Putnam County’s history and culture depicted in mural art. More than 20 murals can be found along the historic streets of downtown. Walk or drive to view the murals. A map of their locations can be found on line, at the Welcome Center or simply stop by one of the local businesses to pick one up. It’s fun to locate the murals, admire their artistry and read the story that is told by each one.

Visit Historic Downtown Palatka – Shops, Dining and More!

Spend time exploring the historic area of downtown Palatka. Here you’ll find boutique shops, causal dining, friendly pubs and of course the famous Palatka, FL city of murals tour. We drove around town to get oriented when we first arrived and couldn’t help but stop at several of the beautiful murals we spotted.

Palatka, FL Festivals and Fairs

Come celebrate Florida’s history and heritage during one of the many festivals and fairs hosted by the city each year. Palatka is home to the oldest festival in Florida, The Florida Azalea Festival, one of the largest festivals in the southeast. Held the first weekend of March each year, the festival has been held in the historic downtown area of Palatka for nearly 75 years. Enjoy an amazing variety of native and exotic plants, loads of kid-friendly activities, food and drink options as well as live entertainment. Ravine Gardens State Park joins in the celebrations each year with its Azalea Days. Azaleas should be at their peak blooming season at this time so be sure to bring your camera, you’ll be glad you did!

List of Fairs and Festivals in Palatka

Florida Azalea Festival – First Weekend of March
Putnam County Fair – March
Mug Race – First Saturday in May
Bostwick Blueberry Festival – May
Blue Crab Festvial – Memorial Day Weekend
Occupation of Palatka – Last Weekend of September
Palatka Railfest – October
Rock N’ Blues BBQ Bash – October
The Palatka Bluegrass Festival – November

Click here for a link to all of Palatka’s Festivals and Fairs

Ravine Gardens State Park

Ravine Gardens State Park has an abundance of azalea flowers, miles of hiking trails and two suspension bridges. A combination of formal and natural gardens, the 146-acre park is stunningly beautiful. Explore the winding pathways, steep stairways and suspension bridges found throughout the park. And, depending on the weather, the park will be in glorious color each February or March when the azaleas reach their full blooming peak. Don’t miss the celebration of the Florida Azalea Festival along with the parks Azalea Days each year. You can read all about Ravine Gardens State Park here.

Palatka, FL Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park is a beautiful and peaceful park located on the banks of the St. Johns River. The views and atmosphere here are beautiful. Boat ramp, children’s playground, a pier and benches for relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery are all available. Take the time to relax and enjoy this stunning view!

Hog Waller Mud Bog & ATV

Hog Waller Mud Bog in Palatka, Florida is hard to beat if you are into exciting outdoor adventure and aren’t scared of getting dirty! Hog Waller has a very large mud pit and sits on over 1,000 acres with trails into Florida’s wild & untamed bad lands. Bring your own truck, rent a truck or just come out to watch the excitement, you’re sure to have a great time! You can read all about Hog Waller Mud Bog here.

Where to Stay in Palatka, FL?

You’ll find a great choice of hotels in Palatka. We’ve listed a few options below with links to reviews, additional photos and availability.

Holiday Inn Express Palatka Northwest:
3813 Reid Street, Palatka, FL

2.5 miles to Ravine Garden State Park, 19 minute drive to Hog Waller Mud Bog & ATV, a 10 minute drive to Palatka Golf Course and a 5 minute drive to Skydive Palatka.

To read our review of the Holiday Inn Express in Palatka click here.

Hampton Inn Palatka:
100 Memorial Parkway, Palatka, FL

1.5 miles from Ravine Gardens State Park, 20 minute drive to Hog Waller Mud Bog & ATV, a 5 minute drive to Palatka Golf Course and a 10 minute drive to Skydive Palatka..

Best Western Inn Palatka:
119 Hwy 17 S, East Palatka, FL

2 miles to Ravine Gardens State Park, 23 minute drive to Hog Waller Mud Bog & ATV, a 7 minute drive to Palatka Golf Course and an 11 minute drive to Skydive Palatka .

Have you visited Palatka, FL and some of its many attractions? Let us know in the comment section below about your visit there, we’d love to hear from you!