Residents of Lake Nona who want time outdoors, whether to watch birds or simply walk under the trees, have a notable option in Orange County's Moss Park and the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area connected to it. This guide covers when each is open, what it costs to enter, where Moss Park is, and what the county says about birding. For more ideas, visit the Lake Nona Living things to do page.
Moss Park
Moss Park is an Orange County park located at 12901 Moss Park Rd., Orlando, FL 32832, according to Orange County Parks and Recreation.
Hours
The county lists Moss Park as open Sunday through Saturday, so it is available every day of the week. Hours change with the season:
- Summer: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Winter: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Because the closing time is earlier in winter, anyone planning an afternoon visit in the cooler months should leave enough time before 6 p.m.
Admission
The county states that, effective August 11, 2026, the park admission fee is $5 per vehicle. The fee is charged per vehicle, so the cost is the same no matter how many people ride together.
Birding and wildlife
Moss Park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. The county also offers a Bird and Critter Search brochure for visitors who want help looking for wildlife. The park page on the county website is the place to start for details about that brochure.
For birders, being on the trail is a good reason to bring binoculars and a notebook. Moving slowly and quietly is a sound habit anywhere wildlife lives, and the brochure can give a visit a bit of structure, almost like a checklist for the day.
Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
Split Oak Forest is a separate area with its own county page. According to Orange County Parks and Recreation, it is accessed by a hiking trail located within Moss Park.
That detail shapes how a visit works. Anyone heading to Split Oak Forest begins at Moss Park, so the Moss Park admission fee and hours are part of the plan.
Hours
Split Oak Forest is listed as open Sunday through Saturday, with the same seasonal pattern as Moss Park:
- Summer: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Winter: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Planning a visit
A short checklist can make an outing smoother:
- Confirm the season, since the closing time is 8 p.m. in summer and 6 p.m. in winter.
- Plan for the $5 per vehicle admission at Moss Park.
- Use the address, 12901 Moss Park Rd., Orlando, FL 32832, in your map app.
- If you want to explore Split Oak Forest, plan to take the hiking trail within Moss Park.
- Look for the Bird and Critter Search brochure offered by the county.
Since the hiking trail runs from Moss Park into Split Oak Forest, it makes sense to leave time to walk back and still be out before the park's closing time. Comfortable shoes, water and a hat are sensible things to pack for any trail, though the county pages are the place to check for rules and conditions.
About nature centers
The official pages used for this guide describe Moss Park and Split Oak Forest. They do not list a nature center at either location, so this guide does not describe one. Residents who are looking for a staffed nature center should check with Orange County Parks and Recreation before making plans.
A note on accuracy
Hours, fees and access can change. The details above come from Orange County Parks and Recreation pages, and those pages are the best place to confirm anything before leaving home. For more about places to go around Lake Nona, the things to do page collects further ideas.
Who to contact
- Orange County Parks and Recreation: the source for Moss Park and Split Oak Forest hours, admission and access details.
- Moss Park: 12901 Moss Park Rd., Orlando, FL 32832.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.