Camping South Florida State Parks

Mill Dam Recreation Area

Near Silver Springs, Florida

Mill Dam recreation site is located approximately 5 miles east of the intersection of State Roads 40 and 19 then north mile off FSR 79. Mill Dam Lake, a 400 acre lake is great for day use recreational activities and offers visitors a picnic area including group picnic shelter and fire rings. Acce…

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenwayocala Florida

Not so much a state park as it is a trail, this awe-inspiring greenway spans from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Johns River. Boasting more than 70,000 acres of land and more than 300 miles of multi-use trails, adventure-lovers, thrill-seekers, and peace-finders can enjoy the ambitious Cross Florida Greenway. Not just home to a variety of trails, this Florida state park also offers camping options within its boundaries.

Oscar Scherer State Park Rvs And Tents

Tucked behind the urban sprawl that marks Tamiami Trail in Sarasota County is a hidden gem, a 1400-acre wilderness with paddle trails for canoe and kayak, a freshwater swimming lake and 15 miles of off-road trails for hikers and mountain bikes, including access to the 18-mile-long Legacy Trail linking Venice to Sarasota.

There are 104 sites suitable for RVs and tents with water and electric, and they are booked well advance for the winter months. Sites are $26 with an additional $7 utility fee per night plus a $6.70 one-time booking fee. Taxes are not included. Reservations can be made online at reserve.floridastateparks.org up to 11 months in advance or by calling

Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229. Phone: 941-483-5956.

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Henderson Beach State Parkdestin Florida

On a protected strip of the Emerald Coast, Henderson Beach State Park is known for its impressive 30 foot white sand dunes. The park was actually established for the preservation of the last remaining coastal scrub area in Destin, Florida. The trails that meander around the sand dunes and coastal scrub areas, make this spot a well-loved Florida state park.

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Parkhigh Springs Florida

The newest in Floridas state park system, this special spring has outstanding water clarity for swimming, snorkeling, and paddling. The spring produces an average of 44 million gallons of water per day, so its water activities are endless. The waters here gave the spring, and park, its name: theyre baby blue in color.

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From Manatees To Mermaids: The 9 Best State Parks In Florida

From manatees to mermaids: the 9 best state parks in Florida

At nearly 200 state parks throughout Florida, youll find no shortage of outdoor memories to be made.

Between 2019 and 2020, the Sunshine States state parks drew nearly 55 million visitors to their dynamic confines. And while Dry Tortugas, The Everglades and other of Floridas national parks may get the bulk of the national buzz, its state offerings offer an equally exciting way to explore the full range of Floridas many landscapes.

From a beachside lounge to a swampy paddle session to a bike ride among the most majestic of shade trees, adventures of all kinds await in Floridas state parks. Here are your nine best options.

Blue Spring State Parkorange City Florida

If you love manatees, Blue Spring is a must: its the winter home to these beloved sea cows from November to March. In fact, due to incredible conservation efforts, there was a record number of manatees in the clear waters of Blue Spring485 manatees were counted in 2018. In the spring, swimming, diving, snorkeling, and tubing are popular water activities. Blue Spring maintains a water temperature of 72 degrees, so in the summer its a hot spot for cooling off.

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Curry Hammock State Park

Open year-round, the campgrounds at Curry Hammock State Park offer a great way to enjoy the local scenery. Its an island paradise where palm trees sway on the beach like on a postcard, and the place is filled to the brim with all kinds of fun outdoor activities.

If you enjoy the water activities than you can take advantage of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or kiteboarding. If you prefer to stay on land, you can enjoy hiking, biking, and fishing.

The campgrounds stretch across the park and have all of lifes comforts, including power outlets and public restrooms. There are even picnic pavilions if you want to spread out your lunch and take in the view.

Once youre settled at Curry Hammock State Park, you wont want to leave!

Best Camping In Florida: Long Key State Park

Long Key State Park is a 965-acre park in Monroe County that is located on the island that was once the site of Henry Flaglers Long Key Fishing Camp in the Middle Keys. Once a popular fishing destination for world’s great saltwater anglers and a luxury getaway for the rich and famous in the early 20th century, today the island boasts a full-service campground where guests can spend the night and fish the famed flats. The 60 ocean-front campsites have individual electricity and water hookups, picnic tables and ground grills, and breathtaking views of the Florida Keys. Activities around the island include swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, picnicking, birdwatching, fishing, and hiking the mile-long Golden Orb Trail.

67400 Overseas Hwy, Layton, FL 33001, Phone: 305-664-4815

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Cayo Costa State Park: Campsite And Cabins

This island on Florida’s Gulf Coast is accessible only by boat or kayak. It offers nine miles of undeveloped shoreline for swimming, snorkeling, shelling, fishing and birdwatching.

Stay informed about local news and weather during the hurricane season. Get the NBC 6 South Florida app for iOS or Android and pick your alerts.

Cayo Costa Island showcases shorebirds, manatees, porpoises and sea turtles offshore.

Campsites and cabins are available for overnight stays, and a ferry service runs to the island from several mainland locations.

Admission: $2 per person

Location: 4 Nautical Miles West of Pine Island

Caladesi Island State Park Near Tampa

Caladesi Island State Park is located on the Island of Caladesi in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located in the west of Dunedin, Florida.

If you ask for any special point to visit in 2022 where you can enjoy the best time of your life, we will suggest you visit the most amazing beaches of Caladesi Island State Park. This Caladesi Island State Park is the perfect location for people who want to spend some time on the peaceful beaches of Florida.

You dont need to worry about staying on Caladesi Island. The hotels on this Island are really comfortable and available at different rates.

You can book any hotel in Caladesi Island ranging from 4 to 5-star hotels. The price of the stay can vary depending upon the location and the surroundings. A stay in Caladesi Island is usually not very expensive.

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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Parkmicanopy Florida

A stop in this park and youll think youve stumbled, somehow, into the plains of the west. Shockingly, wild bison and horses roam this diverse prairie, making it a unique experience only found in this Florida state park. Camping here is a musttheres so much to do in this preserve, youll want at least a few days to take it all in.

There are over 30 miles of trails for equestrian, biking, and walking, and 23,000 acres of true Florida wilderness to take in. Its a spectacular prairie preserve with a rich and varied landscape.

Florida Caverns State Park

At Florida Caverns State Park in you’ll find the only guided tour of dry caves in the state. These spectacular marvels are the main draw to the park but the camping paddling hiking biking and golf can’t be beat. Bring your own horse – equestrian campsites and stables are available. A perfect day? Check out the caverns rent a kayak and paddle the Chipola River take a bike ride and finish up with a evening around the campfire. Tours are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so plan accordingly.

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Panhandle And Big Bend

White-sand beaches and laid-back beach towns fringe the Gulf of Mexico in Floridaâs north-western county. Panama City, Destin, and Pensacola are gateways to the Panhandle, where you can pitch your tent right on the beach along the Gulf Islands National Seashore or check into an RV resort at one of the seaside state parks. The Apalachicola National Forest, just outside Tallahassee, is another favorite for campers, with everything from primitive tent sites to RV sites with electric hookups.

Best Florida State Parks & Campgrounds

6 Popular Places to Camp in Florida

• Anastasia State Park, near St. Augustine
• Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key
• Blue Spring State Park, near Orlando
• Fort De Soto County Park, St. Petersburg/Tampa
• Grayton Beach State Park, between Panama City and Pensacola
• Rainbow Springs State Park, near Ocala National Forest

Where: St. Augustine, FL

Located on a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Florida, Anastasia State Park offers 1,600 acres of white sandy beaches, diverse plant and animal life, a tidal marsh, ancient sand dunes, and miles of nature trails. There are 139 campsites available, including a picnic area with grills. Activities include camping, biking and mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, and birdwatching. The park allows equipment rentals for the watersports mentioned and biking.

When To VisitThis park is open year-round and is a viable camping destination any time of year granted you plan for low or high temperatures. Temperature highs range between 67 in winter months to 91 in summer months – highest being in July. Lows are as low as 46 in January. June – September show the highest rainfall with 9 – 10 days out of the month with rain compared to 5 – 6 days most other months.

Book a Campsite:

Where: The Florida Keys

Book a Campsite:

Where: 1 hour north of Orlando

Book a Campsite:

Where: South of St. Petersburg, about 40 minutes from Tampa

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Campgrounds In Florida National Parks

There are 11 National Parks in Florida, but we know of only three that have campgrounds:

• Dry Tortugas National Park – Key West
• Everglades National Park – Miami, Naples, and Homestead
• Gulf Islands National Seashore – Gulf Breeze

Two of these parks are on the Florida mainland and allow camping: Everglades National Park and Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Dry Tortugas National Park also allows camping but is on a remote island west of Key West accessible only by boat or private plane.

Other places that allow camping are Big Cypress National Preserve west of Everglades National Park, Gulf Island National Seashore, and Canaveral National Seashore.

Us Army Corps Of Engineers Campgrounds

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the navigable waterways of the United States, including those in Florida.

The Corp has developed and maintained many campgrounds along these routes.

The Florida campgrounds are along the Okeechobee Waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean near Stuart to the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Myers.

The campgrounds are located with one near the east end, one near the west end, and one close to the center.

The three that we know about are:

St. Lucie South Campground, Stuart Ortona South Campground, Moore Haven W.P. Franklin Campground North, Alva

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St Joseph Peninsula State Park Best Beaches

Oh, my! These beaches are unbelievable, and they consistently rank among the best in the nation. The park offers 10 miles of white-sand beach and some of the tallest sand dunes in the state. You can launch your kayaks and canoes from the beach, or from the boat ramp on the bayside. There are three hiking trails, including the 6-mile Wilderness Preserve Trail that meanders through 1750 acres of an unspoiled coastal eco-system that is bustling with wildlife. Swim in the Gulf or the bay. There are two campgrounds with a total of 119 sites, each with 30-amp electric, water, a picnic table and fire ring, and all are just a short walk to the beach. The Shady Pines campground has more shade. Pets are welcome in the campground, but not on the beach or other day-use areas. Some sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, but most are much smaller with individual limits. Eight cabins are available for $100 a night overlooking St. Josephs Bay.

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, FL Park office: 850-227-1327

Bahia Honda State Park Florida Keys

The Florida Keys have some excellent state parks, but Bahia Honda has a few things that make it exceptional. Happily, after being damaged in the 2017 Hurricane Irma, the beachfront Sandspur Campground probably the best tent campground in the Keys has reopened, along with the long and beautiful Sandspur Beach.

Bahia Honda State Park has other campgrounds and even cabins. The problem is both cabins and campgrounds are so popular that you have to make a whole project out of acquiring reservations.

Even as a day tripper, though, Bahia Honda is worth a visit. Calusa Beach is a gorgeous crescent-shaped, white-sand beach with clear turquoise water where snorkelers see wonderful sea life. Kayaking over this clear water is a joy. And we love admiring the old saddleback Bahia Honda Bridge, the centerpiece of this park, the most difficult bridge built by Henry Flaglers Overseas Railroad in the early part of the 20th Century.

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Florida Cavern State Park Mariana

Image by Floridastateparks.org

The Florida cavern Park is one of the best state parks in Florida to visit and famous for its colorful cave stalactites and breathtaking rock formation.

The Chipola River offers opportunities for equestrian camping, kayaking, and biking along the river shore.

Part of the attraction of the park is the 9-hole golf course located at the entrance of the park.

A night camping will cost $20, and the park admission per vehicle is just $5. Cave tours will cost you an additional amount that varies, but it discourages schedules during Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort Orlando

Fort Wilderness resort in Disney Orlando offers RV camping for the family and their pets. Stay at the campgrounds, so you have the chance to see fireworks as well as an easier way towards the Magic Kingdom.

The Fort Wilderness campgrounds offer a great feel of the animals around such as armadillos, rabbits, ducks, and deer roaming around the cypress and pine forest as massive as 750 acres.

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Sebastian Inlet State Parkmelbourne Beach Florida

Sebastian Inlet is best known for its surfing communityin fact, surfers from around the globe come to state park just for a chance to ride First Peak and Monster Hole. However, there is quite a bit more to this park than just being a surfers haven.

Offering museums, trails, fishing, and some pretty specatular beach, this state park on Floridas Atlantic coastline offers visitors a wide-range of outdoor activities.

Boyds Key West Campground

This family-friendly vacation spot is located in Key West, Florida, and provides a tropical camp setting for tent or RV camping. Its considered as one of the best campgrounds in Florida.

Boyds Key West Campground allows visitors to relax in the RV or tent while facing the picturesque oceanfront.

This family-owned campground provides a dedicated tenting area that allows one tent per unit area. The campground has also made the campsites and amenities accessible to persons with disabilities. Boyds Key West Campground also provides suitable RV hookup sites.

The campground also provides facilities such as ballroom and meeting rooms for group activities. The camp is equipped with a game room, dumping station, and a swimming pool. Visitors also have the chance to relax and chill by the scenic Atlantic Ocean bordering the park.

This Florida based campground offers guests the recreational opportunity to relax by the swimming pools, fishing or snorkeling, and boating. The campground also allows visitors to go for ocean tours in glass-bottom boats and enjoy the sunset cruises.

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The Snowbirds Guide To Camping At Rv Parks In South Florida

Image from Koreshan Historic State Park

Before embarking to one of these nine recommended RV parks in South Florida, youll want to be prepared for the region you seek to spend warmer days. When in the Everglades for example, make sure to bring plenty of mosquito repellent. If considering island-hopping in the Keys, campers should consider towing a car behind their RVnavigating roads on the Key Largo can be tricky in a large vehicle.