How Big Is Florida? Compare Its Size in Miles, Acres, Kilometers, and More!

Florida is one of the biggest states by population, but when it comes to total area, it is the USA’s 22^nd largest state. The Sunshine State has a total area of 65,758 square miles, which is bigger than the average state. However, around 18% of Florida is covered in water. Below you will find out how big Florida is by acres, square miles, and kilometers.

How Big is Florida in Acres?

Florida has a total area of 45.65 million acres, consisting of 2.32 million acres of coastal bays and sounds, 1.67 million acres of inland water, and 34.70 million acres of land area.

How Big is Florida in Square Miles?

The Sunshine State has a total area of 65,758 square miles, consisting of 53,625 square miles of inland water and 53,625 square miles of land area.

How Big is Florida in Kilometers?

Florida has a total area of 170312,44 square kilometers, consisting of 31424.3257 square kilometers and 138888,11 square kilometers of land area.

How Big is Florida Compared to California?

When it comes to total area, California is much bigger than Florida. California is around 163,696 square miles, while Florida is 65,758 square miles, making California the third largest state in the U.S. Therefore, California is over two times larger than the Sunshine State.

The two states also differ geographically. For example, Florida extends into the Atlantic Ocean and is notorious for its magnificent sandy beaches, Florida Keys, and Everglades wetlands. In comparison, California stretches along the western coast of the U.S., with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. The beautiful state boasts diverse landscapes, including towering mountains, breathtaking beaches, and vast desert regions like Death Valley.

How Big is Florida Compared to Texas?

As Texas is the second largest state in the United States, it is much bigger than Florida. For example, Texas has a total area of  268,581 square miles, while the Sunshine State has a total area of 65,758 square miles. Therefore, Texas is 202,838 square miles larger than Florida. As a result, Texas is over four times bigger than the Sunshine State.

These two states have a lot in common. They both have warm climates, and high humidity, especially in coastal regions. However, due to Texas’s large size, temperatures can differ considerably, especially during winter. For example, some places in Texas, further north and in the panhandle, experience freezing temperatures and snow.

Wildlife In Florida

Thanks to Florida’s warm climate and total area, it boasts some of the USA’s best wildlife, including:

West Indian Manatee

These gentle sea creatures weigh around 1,000 pounds and measure about 10 feet long. Interestingly, West Indian manatees are related to the elephant. These marine animals migrate to warm waters during the winter and are often spotted in Florida’s rivers, springs, inlets, or nearby power plants. There are plenty of places in the Sunshine State where visitors can view these manatees, like Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Blue Spring State Park, and Three Sisters Springs.

Bobcat

The Bobcat derived its name from its short or bobbed tail. These wild cats are double the size of domestic cats. Furthermore, they have terribly shark teeth and claws. Luckily, bobcats are shy and elusive. They prefer to hide in grassy or wooded areas, but residents often spot them on deserted roads in the early mornings and around sunset when they are most active. It is extremely rare to spot one of these cats during the day, except from December to April, their breeding season. The best places to visit if you want to see a bobcat are Wekiwa Springs State Park and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. However, there are no guarantees you will find one.

Florida Black Bear

The Florida black bear mostly inhabits areas with access to fruits, honey, honey bees, nuts, twigs, and small animals. They are timid animals with large, curved claws they use for climbing. The best time to try and spot one of these bears in Florida is from May to September. Tourists often see Florida black bears in Wekiwa Springs State Park.

Great Blue Heron

The Great blue heron has a large, slender body and long neck. They are around four feet tall and have a wingspan of approximately 6 feet. Its great bill is used to spear snakes, frogs, and fish in marshes, lakes, rivers, and oceans. They are most active just before sunrise and at sunset. However, they forage during the day and at night. Great blue herons occur in Florida throughout the year and prefer to inhabit areas near freshwater and saltwater. There are several places to see these birds in the Sunshine State, including Sebastian Inlet State Park.

Florida Panther

South Florida has a small number of Florida panthers monitored by biologists using radio collars. Unfortunately, the Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals on the planet. They are nocturnal, as they mostly hunt at night. Therefore, sightings are uncommon. These panthers inhabit the state’s hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and mixed swamp forests of the Everglades. If you are lucky enough, you might spot one at the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is an air-breathing, warm-blooded mammal that exhibits significant communication skills and social interactions. These marine animals are associated with happiness, as they always look like they are smiling and often frolic playfully in waves or alongside boats. Dolphins are a common sight at Florida’s beaches and occur in the area throughout the year. There are plenty of dolphin-watching tours. However, you can also swim with the dolphins at the aquarium. Additionally, there are several parks and sanctuaries in the state where visitors might spot these boisterous mammals.

Sea Turtle

There are certain signs one must look out for when searching for sea turtles on Florida’s shores. For example, they leave behind tiny tracks in the sand. These turtles migrate great distances to return to the site where they were born to lay eggs. In Florida, sea turtles have nesting locations along the coasts of Titusville to the Sebastian Inlet. However, tourists can also see them at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, which stretches from Wabasso to Melbourne Beach, which hosts the USA’s largest population of Loggerhead sea turtles. These marine animals nest from May to October. But they are also seen in June and July when on public turtle walks.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Paiboon Chooklin/Shutterstock.com