Stay at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs and spend a weekend following one of North Florida’s most fascinating Civil War stories, from the Gulf Coast through Wakulla County to the Battle of Natural Bridge.
In March 1865, just weeks before the war ended, Union troops came ashore near St. Marks and started moving inland. Their goal was to threaten the railroad, St. Marks, and ultimately Tallahassee. But getting through Wakulla was no easy thing. Rivers, swamps, marshes and a handful of usable crossings shaped almost every move they made.
This weekend itinerary follows that story from the Gulf to Natural Bridge, with plenty of time to enjoy Wakulla along the way.
Friday: Settle In at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs
Check into The Lodge at Wakulla Springs and keep the first evening simple.
Walk around the spring, explore the lodge, and get a feel for the landscape. The live oaks, river and thick woods are a good introduction to the weekend because terrain is such a big part of the Civil War story here.
Have dinner at the lodge and call it an early night. Saturday starts at the coast.
Saturday: Start Where the Campaign Began
After breakfast, head south through Wakulla County toward St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the St. Marks Lighthouse. This is where the story really begins.
Union ships were operating off this coast in 1865, and troops landed in the area before beginning their push inland. When you’re standing near the lighthouse looking across miles of marsh, water and tidal creeks, it becomes pretty obvious that moving an army through this part of Florida would have been difficult.
Take some time here. Walk, watch for wildlife and enjoy the refuge before heading back toward St. Marks.
Stop in St. Marks
St. Marks was much more important during the Civil War than its size might suggest today.
The port was connected to Tallahassee by railroad, giving the capital a direct route to the Gulf. That made the town, railroad and surrounding waterways strategically important to both sides.
Spend a little time around town before visiting San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park.
The old fort site sits where the St. Marks and Wakulla rivers come together. Once you see the location, it makes sense why people fought over this piece of ground for centuries. Whoever controlled this area had access to the rivers, the Gulf and routes leading inland.
Afterward, grab lunch in St. Marks. Follow the River Inland. In the afternoon, head north toward Newport.
The St. Marks River presented a serious problem for Union troops trying to move north. There were only so many places an army could cross, especially with horses, wagons and equipment. That difficulty eventually helped push the campaign toward Natural Bridge
From Newport, make your way through Crawfordville and back toward Wakulla Springs. Stop for coffee, something sweet or a look around town if you have time.
Then head back to the lodge for dinner and another night at the springs.
Sunday: Natural Bridge
After breakfast, drive north to Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park.
On March 6, 1865, Union troops trying to move toward Tallahassee met Confederate defenders at a natural crossing of the St. Marks River. The fighting here stopped the Union advance.
Walk the battlefield and spend some time looking at the river and surrounding terrain. After driving the route from the Gulf, the location of the battle makes much more sense. The troops didn’t simply choose Natural Bridge at random. Wakulla’s rivers, wetlands and limited crossings helped funnel the campaign here.
The Union force never reached Tallahassee, and the city remained the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi River not captured by Union troops before the war ended.