Friday, March 22, 2024

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Free Tent Camping Florida Keys

Pine Creek Landing In Apalachicola National Forest Florida Panhandle

Free Camping in Florida!

Pine Creek Landing is located in the Apalachicola National Forest and Wildlife Management Area, in the Florida Panhandle. Here, campers can set up their primitive camping shelter and gear on the banks of the Ochlockonee River. During Floridas hunting seasons, Pine Creek Landing is used as a hunting camp.

Typically campers have access to a boat ramp at Pine Creek Landing to launch small motor boats, kayaks, and canoes into the Ochlockonee River. But, for the time being, the boat ramp is closed for public safety precautions, due to severe damage.

Camping plots are first-come, first-served and are truly primitive. Campers should pack thoroughly and come prepared with all shelter, gear, food, and water. Other campers have recently reported access to a fire ring, but there is no potable water and the Port-a-John is sometimes out of service.

Find free Florida campgrounds from your car without WiFi. The Dyrt PRO lets you download maps and campgrounds without cell service. My alternative to using pro would be to drive back out to cell service.

Florida Caverns State Park

This parks limestone caves offer something a bit different when camping in Florida. It is the only park in Florida with dry caves that offer tours to the public. RV campsites have access to water and electrical hook-ups. Campers can also participate in one of the parks daily guided tours through the caves, spend the day swimming in the Blue Hole swimming area, paddle on the Chipola River, or hike the parks scenic trails.

Coconut Cay Rv Resort And Marina

Coconut Cay RV Resort and Marina is fairly new and can be found between Key West and Key Largo. You can enjoy the private beach and see some of the most beautiful sunsets around!

There are 25 pull in sites complete with water, sewage, and electricity. Boat slips are available for those who need them. There is a bathhouse, pet walk, and boat launch as well. You can kayak or fish in this beautiful getaway. Dont forget to set aside some time to explore outside the resort. The Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center are nearby attractions you may want to check out!

Coconut Cay RV Resort and Marina/ Facebook

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Key Largo Kampground And Marina

When I last visited this campground, I found the primitive tent sites to be shady and comfortable with a few exceptions. While this park is geared towards RV camping with waterfront sites and private dockage, tent campers have space to breath. Probably the most attractive feature for tent campers is the availability of dockage for boats, and water access to fishing and snorkelers, not to mention its proximity to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale urban centers . There are 35 tent sites with a picnic table but no hookups. Tents with electric hookups and a grill are $75/night. An oversized tent site or a water-view site with electric and a grill is $90. The pads are pea gravel.

Key Largo Kampground and Marina, 101551 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Phone: 451-1431 www.keylargokampground.com

Long Key State Recreation Area

Our 5 Favorite Tent Camping Sites in the Florida Keys

Long Key State Recreation Area has sixty campsites overlooking the Atlantic Ocean for tent and RV camping in Long Key State Park. All sites are equipped with electric and water hookups, as well as picnic tables and grills. The recreation area offers three restrooms with hot showers and dump station. Activities include shallow water canoeing, kayaking, and snorkeling. Nature hiking is located on the Golden Orb Trail.

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Kings Kamp Rv Park And Marina

Just past mile marker 103 in Key Largo, sits Kings Kamp RV Park and Marina.Close to the Crocodile Lake National Refuge, Kings Kamp offers tent sites, RV sites, and even motel lodging! RV sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet and offer electric, cable and wifi.

Pets are allowed, but check the rules, as restrictions do apply. Daily winter rates start at $105 and go up to $135, depending on which type of lot.

They also offer weekly and monthly rates as well. Daily summer rates start at $93 and range up to $120. Tent site rates start at $60/daily. There are tons of options for fishing, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking nearby Kings Kamp RV Park and Marina. One of the best places to go camping in the keys.

Kings Kamp RV Park and Marina/

Everglades National Park Free Campsites 41 Miles: Bass Pro Miami

Address GPS: 25.789478, -80.383701 Elevation: 7

While our focus is boondocking and free camping, we also list and utilize overnight RV parking locations. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, it might seem strange to run across rest areas, truck stops, and Walmart parking lots in a camping directory. However, for some RVers, it is how they get from one location to the another.

Most parking lots are completely empty at night and many travelers do not need the amenities of an RV park. They just want a couple hours of shut eye before hitting the road again. A place to park is all they need.

Its a symbiotic relationship everyone benefits. Truck stops regularly provide space for truckers and often extend the service to RVers. Just like truckers, RVers use and pay for the facilities inside. Retail stores like Walmart, Cabelas, and Bass Pro enjoy the sales that come from overnighters who come in and browse the store the next day. Restaurants like Cracker Barrel and the Apple Peddler hope that their overnight guests have dinner or breakfast there.

In order for this practice to continue, we must respect our hosts and their property. That is why we strongly believe in and endorse the RVers Good Neighbor Policy. Please read and follow its guidelines. We must be gracious and humble guests. If we are not, there will be more pressure to institute state, county, and local ordinances that prohibit parking on private property.

Management Private Retail Store

RV Parking

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Things To Do At The Florida Keys

When the temperature in many parts of the country start to drop, it’s time to head south to the Florida Keys for some sun and surf. This popular destination is a short drive from Miami and offers a variety of things to see and do.

You can enjoy a group camping over there. There is plenty of space to set up a 12 person camping tent.

Bulow Creek State Park

Island Tent Camping at Durney Key Florida

No entrance fee is required for the Bulow Creek State Park. If you like the forest, you will love it here as the campground has one of the largest live oak forests along Floridas east coast. The Park has a lot of trails for hikers to explore and to see the deer, raccoons and barred owls. The place is also perfect for bicycling, picnicking, paddling, wildlife viewing, geo-seeking, and weddings.

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Unique Camping Experiences Florida Keys Dry Tortugas

We werent able to do this because we couldnt leave our bunny, but we would love to have taken the ferry or a private vessel to Dry Tortugas National Park and camped there. According to the National Park Service, Camping at Garden Key is an incredible experience with amazing star gazing, snorkeling, sunsets, and more! But you must be prepared to camp in this remote location. To assist you in your planning, be sure to review the information on this page to learn more about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park. The camping fee is cheap , however you have to pay for the ferry or a private vessel there and back, which are a little pricier.

As always, if you have other suggestions, feel free to reach out!

State Rv Camping Information

CLEWISTONUSACE/COE manages Lake Okeechobee and the Okeechobee Waterway. RV camping is permitted at several campgrounds. Developed campgrounds overview in the area.

  • Franklin North Electric available RV campsites. RV dump as well as pull through campsites, fishing facilities and more await your RV camping trip.
  • St Lucie South Electric and non electric campsites, RV dump station, boat ramp, and even a playground are available at this USACE campground.
  • Two campgrounds suitable for RV camping are located in the park. The park features endangered species, the nations largest subtropical wilderness, and offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities.

  • Long Pine Key Campground offers 108 campsites with water and RV dump station.
  • Flamingo Campground has 234 RV camping sites, many with a view of the water.
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    Everglades National Park Free Camping 35 Miles:

    Address Elevation: 13

    Management Private Casino

    The road in is Paved. There are 30 or more campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. You may stay 5 days at Miccosuke Resort and Casino.

    Nice parking lot in the casino. Indian reservation so they have private police and security, nice small casino with huge bingo room, good buffet with bogo deals, great bar with cheap drinks. You must register your rv at the security desk and get an orange permit, theyll let you stay quite a few days with registration for free. There are trash cans in the parking lot but if they are full they ask you to pack it out.

    Amenities:

    Free Camping In Floridas Public Lands

    Florida Keys Camping: The Top 10 Campgrounds and RV Parks â Expedition ...

    Nothing against the jungle, of course, its one of the best things about this statenowhere else in the US will you find forests quite like those in Florida, and indeed its everglade ecosystem is something found nowhere else in the world. Still, free camping on Floridas public lands can mean everything from palm-shaded waterfronts to Spanish moss dripping from pine trees.

    If youre used to just rolling up to national forest or BLM land and finding a spot, note that most of the organizations that oversee Floridas public lands will still require you to call ahead to make a reservation.

    Notable exceptions are found in the states national forestlands. Near the Georgia border, East Tower Hunt Camp in Osceola National Forestas the name impliesis a busy place during hunting season but not particularly so the rest of the year. The front portion of the camping area is largely wide open, and suitable for any sized rig, while cozier, more private areas are tucked back into the forest for you vanlifers and tent campers. A handful of other free camping spots exist within 30 minutes of East Tower as well.

    In Floridas Ocala National Forestin the central part of the state, north of Orlando, near infamous Lake Georgea handful of additional places to camp for free, and without a permit, exist. While some, like Lake Mary, are tent camping only, there isnt exactly a shortage of places appropriate for somewhat larger RVs.

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    Snowbird Guide To Free Camping In Florida

    Floridas snowbird season starts in October and ends in April finding free camping during these busy 6-7 months can be maddening!

    In this guide, I summarize the options for free camping in Florida during snowbird season which unfortunately coincide with the main hunting season! It is therefore extremely important for snowbirds to be aware of Floridas hunting seasons and their impact on free camping choices. Camp safe!

    Key West Canping In Long Key State Park

    Image from The Dyrt camper Sarah T.

    Long Key State Park has a storied past of being a luxury destination along the railroad line to Key West. Today, the site is a secluded haven for Florida Keys beach camping.

    All 60 of Long Keys campsites are beach front, and provide campers with a front row seat to the Atlantic Ocean. Water recreation like kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing are popular pastimes here. A picnic table, grill, electric and water hookups is present at each sitethough the park advises that campers bring an extension cord because the hookups are located between sites.

    If youre looking for a view of the ocean this is the perfect place. The sites are literally on the beach. Its a great place to kayak or just lounge in the shallows. The Dyrt camper Sarah T.

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    Tips For Boondocking In Florida

    Florida spans 65,757 square miles. Most of this enormous land area includes white sand coastlines and sub-tropical forests.

    You couldnt choose a more unique landscape for your camping trip in the U.S. While this can be exciting, some difficult obstacles do arise in such a wild environment.

    Furthermore, the government, along with its citizenry, make every effort to preserve Floridas wilderness.

    Weve included important tips to help you enjoy a safe and legal camping trip in The Sunshine State:

    St Joseph Peninsula State Park

    Camping Alone in the Florida Keys: Bahia Honda Park

    This Gulf Coast park southwest of Panama City is a thin strip of land with a heavily-forested interior surrounded by white sand beaches on two sides. Visitors can enjoy the waters of St. Joseph Bay or the Gulf of Mexico from one of two primary campgrounds. Primitive, tent-only camping is also available in the peninsulas Wilderness Preserve.

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    Grassy Key Rv Park & Resort

    58671 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL Mile Marker 58.7

    If you want a central location from which to explore all of the Florida Keys attractions, this RV park in Marathon is a great spot!

    This is no mega-resort with dozens of sites the limited number of sites at this resort keeps things simple and quiet.

    The on-site marina is the perfect spot to launch your kayaks and paddleboards, or you can relax and enjoy fantastic views of the Gulf of Mexico.

    Choose from waterfront, premium, or standard sites, and continuously updated amenities.

    • Cost: starting at $69 per night, with Good Sam discount offered
    • Reservations: Call 305-289-1606
    • Size Allowance: up to 45
    • Tent Camping: No
    • Hookups: Water/Sewer/Cable/Electric
    • Dump Station: No
    • On-Site Amenities include laundry, clubhouse, dog walk area, swimming pool, watercraft launch, lounging beach, beach games, and on-site camp store.

    Gregory E Moore Rv Resort Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

    This park offers a unique combination of state park and RV resort. Topsail Hill is like getting the best of both worlds. It offers more than 3 miles of sandy beaches, as well as coastal dune lakes with freshwater fishing. Resort amenities include cable TV, camp concession, laundry facility, and outdoor playground.

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    How To Prepare For Free Camping In Florida

    Water is the key to life. When youre boondocking, the rule of thumb is to bring 5 gallons of water per person per day. Thats for washing up, dishes and other small needs, like water for the animals.

    What will you use for power?

    At a campground, you plug in the cord, and magically you have power. When free-camping, you will need to have an alternative power source.

    The most common is a generator. Most drivable RVs come with one, and it uses gas. Ensure you have a full tank or a way to add gas to your tank if this is your option. They also have portable generators useful for travel trailer owners.

    Many RVers choose solar power. They have panels on the top of their RV or use portable panels to harness the suns energy. The energy goes into batteries, and you run everything in your rig off those batteries.

    Its a great renewable energy system.

    You will also need something to collect your waste.

    Free camping is a carry-in, carry out endeavor. If you bring it in, you must cart it out.

    Have a plan for dumping your tanks before and after you go. If the tank gets full while youre there, there are portable tanks to collect the excess waste.

    The key to long term free camping is planning and conserving your resources.

    Pro Tip: Weve teamed up with RV Masterclass this week to offer a giveaway of their signature course bundle!

    Free Camping In Campgrounds Of The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission

    15 Best Florida Beach Camping Destinations

    Floridas Wildlife Management Areas and Wildlife and Environmental Areas are part of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission .

    With some exceptions, camping is generally very primitive and seasonal. Camping seasons, rules, permits, and fees vary from site to site. Safety regulations during hunting season are of specific importance to campers.

    That said, the 36 free campsites in these wildlife areas are popular and in high demand every winter. They are shown in green on the camping map below.

    I published a separate article to cover camping in the Florida Wildlife Management Areas. Read here: Florida WMA and WEA Camping for Snowbirds

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    Have The Right Mindset

    All of my trips to south Florida have been fun, and filled with great memories. But, they were also unnecessarily stressful. Looking back, I know I could have enjoyed myself more on those trips.

    Why? Because I had the wrong mindset, and I was doing it wrong. Specifically, I was cheap, and unrealistic about my budget expectations.

    Full-time travelers know that to stay on the road, its vital to maintain an efficient, low-cost lifestyle.

    Frugality is a virtue. Its an important value that most of us share. Travels biggest expense is lodging, which is why many of us prefer boondocking and free camping.

    I also prefer boondocking over tightly-packed RV parks and campgrounds. So, when in South Florida and the Keys, I kept my same mentality.

    Over the years I searched endlessly for boondocking spots and free camping in the Florida Keys. Ive found some, and Ive done it. But, I dont recommend it today.

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