De Soto National Memorial
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De Soto National Memorial at a glance
- Best time
- March–April, October–November
- Trip length
- 2–4 hours to 1 day
- Don't miss
- Historic grounds and interpretive exhibits at De Soto National Memorial
- Nearby city
- Bradenton, FL
Explore this park
About De Soto National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting their homelands. De Soto’s quest for glory and gold would be a four year, four thousand mile odyssey of intrigue, warfare, disease, and discovery that would form the history of the United States.
1 current NPS alert
- Information: Park Visitor Center Is Closed
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 10, 2026). Official De Soto National Memorial page on nps.gov
Weather Information
Summers avg. Temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 80-90% Late afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common usually lasting only 10-20 minutes.
- Winter
are mild and dry with lows reaching on average 60 degrees.
Operating Hours
De Soto National Memorial is open with a Visitor Contact Tent. The park's Visitor Center remains closed due to Hurricane damage. The park cannot offer the movie at this time. Trails are awaiting rehabilitation and access is limited for those who need mobility assistance. There are portable restroom facilities and handwashing stations on site for visitor use.
- Monday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Friday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 4:30PM
De Soto National Memorial Entrance Gate and Parking Lot Hours
De Soto National Memorial is open seven days a week with exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The park will also be closed during periods of severe weather like tropical storms and hurricanes.
- Monday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tuesday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wednesday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thursday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Friday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Saturday8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sunday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Common questions
Planning De Soto National Memorial
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 5 reservation types on the Permits tab, including De Soto National Memorial Tours and De Soto Rancho Fishing Clinic. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
