Florida is known for its attractions, from beach resorts, theme parks and nautical recreations. The Sunshine State is also known as a popular destination for outdoor adventurers. The choice of natural attractions and activities is endless, including camping. With millions of acres of public lands, you’ll easily find the best camping places in Florida. Tent camping is possible year-round, especially during winter. Campers can explore the wildlife, hike through national forests, and snorkel coral reefs. You can stay in some of the best camping spots Florida offers, each with slightly something different to offer. With widely diverse topography, from the coastline, forests, prairies, and rivers, camping in Florida gives you the best outdoor recreation experience. There are countless camping grounds in the state. Yet choosing one for your next adventure can be a little dilemma sometimes. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best camping grounds in Florida. In case you’re heading to another beach destination, take a look at our list of the best camping spots on the Oregon Coast next.
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Boyd’s Key West Campground
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Boyd’s Key West Campground is considered one of the best camping places in Florida for tent or RV camping. It’s perfect for a family-friendly vacation. The place offers a tropical camp setting with a picturesque oceanfront, making it one of the best camping on the beach in Florida.
Boyd’s Key West Campground offers various camp options. Primitive Tent- Waterfront View and Inland are equipped with a free-standing charcoal grill and picnic table. But, you’ll find no water or electric service in this area. Those coming with RVs can choose a waterfront view or an inland campsite. Speaking of which, check our recommendation of accessories for RV camping.
These campsites offer plenty of amenities, including cable TV service, full hookup, water hookup, and picnic table. Each primitive campsite is only allowed for one tent. The campground also provides a dumping station. For entertainment dan relaxation, there are a game room and swimming pool. The campground also accommodates group activities with meeting rooms and a ballroom.
For recreational activities, campers can enjoy fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and boating. What’s more, the campground offers visitors glass-bottom boat tours and sunset cruises.
Cayo Costa State Park
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Looking for the best camping spots Florida provides with an untouched majestic place? Then, Cayo Costa State Park should be on your top list for the best camping in Florida State Parks. This unspoiled Gulf Coast island offers views of beaches, dunes, and wind-shaped trees. The place is excellent for outdoor activities and is considered one of the best camping on the beach in Florida. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, snorkeling, and birdwatching are among them. Also, the park offers visitors to have some exploration along with walking and bicycling trails.
Boasting miles of beautiful beaches, dense mangrove swamps, acres of pine forests, and oak-palm hammocks, this park is accessible only by ferry, boat, or helicopter. However, the park offers several camping options, including primitive campsites and cabins. It has 30 campsites in fairly sunny and near the beach.
Restroom facilities include cold showers and flush toilets. Each campsite offers a ground grill, a picnic table, and access to potable water. Please note that you’ll find no sites with electricity and generators are not allowed. If you want to bring your hammocks, we suggest reserving primitive campsites 8, 9, 15, and 22. Visitors can hang hammocks on the approved post in these four designated areas. So, pack your backpacking hammocks and get the spot!
Flamingo Campground
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Flamingo Campground at Everglades National Park is known as one of the best camping in Florida State Parks. It’s a perfect place to experience a night under the stars at one of its campsites. Besides, the park will give visitors one of Florida’s most natural settings. Not only can the campsites accommodate tents and RVs, but it also offers three group sites, making it one of the best camping grounds in Florida.
The campground has 274 tent sites and 65 RV sites with fire pits and picnic tables. You’re always welcome to bring your own folding camping tables. 41 of RV sites in T-loop sites have electricity hookups. Amenities include restrooms, solar-heated showers, grills, picnic tables, and two dump stations. Meanwhile, the potable water filling stations are located next to the dump station. An amphitheater is available for seasonal Ranger programs. Generators are allowed in T-loop only, while they’re not allowed in walk-in campsites or other camping areas.
There are also two overnight options for visitors, eco-tents and houseboats. The eco-tents are connected with campsites by a boardwalk. Each eco-tent has a view of Florida Bay and is equipped with two double beds or a queen bed. Visitors can enjoy the canoe trails and several hiking trails in Flamingo Campground. We strongly recommend making a reservation for campsites in advance to get the spot.
Peace River Campground Arcadia
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Peace River Campground Arcadia can be your best option for those who want to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors with their family. Located on the Peace River in Arcadia, Florida, it’s a family-owned and operated campground. Considered one of the best camping places in Florida, the place is perfect for experiencing Florida’s nature and wildlife. Also, the campground welcomes children and pets.
The campground offers various facilities, from showers, restrooms, to laundry. You’ll also find a bike path, basketball court, and a playground with a game room. What’s more, it has a heated pool to accommodate visitors who don’t want to plunge in the cold natural Peace River water. While staying here, don’t miss the chance to go hiking and fishing in this tranquil park. If you plan to go fishing, don’t leave out your fishing sunglasses with you!
Get to know other campers in the Ice Cream Social and bingo game at their Recreational Hall in the evening. You can get a bowl of ice cream and each bingo card for only 1 USD each. Its 160 acres campground has plenty of primitive camping. Also, the campground provides 225 full hookup sites and can accommodate large RVs. If you come with a group, we recommend you opt for the Buddy Site. It can accommodate 2, 3, and 4 RVs together. Forget something at home? Worry not! You can check their camp store to get everything you need. Please note that the campground has a No Glass policy for the safety of campers.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
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You’ll find plenty of options for the best camping grounds in Florida, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It’s the largest state park in Southeast Florida and offers upland lakes, coastal sandhills, and forests. On top of that, the place boasts the pristine Loxahatchee River, making the area a unique spot to explore and camp.
The park has two campgrounds; the first is Pine Grove Campground, with 90 campsites. It’s located near the ranger station on the east side of the state park. Meanwhile, the River Campground has 52 campsites near the Loxahatchee River, about four miles from the park entrance. Both River Campground and Pine Grove Campground are equipped with large, tiled restrooms with hot showers. Besides, each campground has a washer and dryer. No wonder the park is a favorite amongst the campers and is considered one of the best camping places in Florida.
Amenities in all campsites include water, electricity, picnic table, and grill, similar to other best camping in Florida State Parks. Visitors can enjoy the sewer hookup provided on all Pine Grove campsites. There’s also a dump station located at Pine Grove Campground, approximately four miles (6.4 km) from the River Campground.
Both Pine Grove Campground and River Campground allow RVs and well-behaved pets. Also, Jonathan Dickinson State Park has two backpack camps on segments of the Florida Trail. Here, pets and firewood are not allowed. There’s a pitcher pump near each camp, but water must be treated. Hence, check our recommendation for the best water filter for backpacking. Those who want to camp with their horses can do it in five available campsites. Note that horses must be confined in sturdy portable pens or tethered overnight to the provided tie-out. Visitors can make a reservation up to eleven months in advance.
Long Pine Key Campground
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While visiting Everglades National Park, visitors have two options of best camping spots Florida has. One of them is Long Pine Key Campground, which opens seasonally from November to April. It’s located adjacent to the Long Pine Key Trail and only a few miles from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
There are 108 drive-up sites for tents, one group site, and RVs. Some tent and RV sites are available at first-come, first-serve. Reservation is available for group camping at a minimum of 10 people. The campground offers essential amenities for those who want to tune in with nature. A potable water filling station, bathhouses, and a dump station are available. Other amenities include fire grates, restrooms, and a nearby picnic area.
During your stay in the campground, you can enjoy and explore the area. There is an amphitheater for winter programs, a pleasant pond for fishing, and some hiking trails. Planning to come in winter and go hiking? Then, put in the jacket for winter hiking on your list! All these facilities make Long Pine Key one of the best camping places in Florida.
Fort De Soto Park
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In Fort De Soto Park, one of the best camping grounds in Florida, you’ll see five offshore islands that are connected by either causeway or bridge. This historic site, as well as an expansive park, offers one of the most stunning beaches in Florida and other treasures to discover. It’s located on an island in Tampa Bay Area, making it one of the best camping on the beach in Florida.
The campground is considered one of the best Florida’s best waterfront camping. Fort De Soto Park campground has over 7 miles of waterfront sites with stunning white sandy beaches and blue-green water. There are also scenic bridges and stunning mangrove-lined islands. The campground has 238 family camping sites with facilities. These include electricity, water, picnic tables, and charcoal grills. Besides, they provide showers, modern restrooms, dryers, washers, and sanitary disposal stations. If you need Wi-Fi, it’s available at the office and camp store.
Here, visitors will find other facilities like a campground store and play area. If you’re planning to camp with your fur baby in the best camping spots Florida offers, make sure to get sites in Area 2 (sites 86-164). Entertain yourself while camping here by canoeing, kayaking, birdwatching, or exploring the nature trail. If you plan to kayak but don’t have one, you can choose one of these recreational kayaks. Before coming, we recommend checking the availability in advance as the campsites get full quickly. Visitors may make reservations up to six months in advance and limited to one individual per day.
Curry Hammock State Park
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Curry Hammock State Park opens year-round, allowing visitors to enjoy the local scenery. The park is the largest undeveloped piece of land between Big Pine Key and Key Largo. It’s an island with palm trees swaying on the beach, mangrove swamp, and seagrass beds. Tons of outdoor activities are available, both on land and water. Swimming, biking, hiking, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and kiteboarding are some options.
You can also stay overnight on its campground that stretches across the park. Also, there’s ADA accessible site, and some sites come with tent pads. The campground has 28 campsites with a gravel parking area for cars and RVs. Like other campgrounds in Florida, it’s equipped with several amenities. These include a picnic table, electrical service, charcoal grill, and hammock posts. Other facilities are also available, such as a dump station and ADA-compliant bathhouse with hot showers. Like many other best camping in Florida State Parks, there are no laundry facilities.
In this best camping on the beach in Florida, sites 13 and 15 have beach access, while some campsites have an ocean view. Please note that open flames and launching powerboats or other motorized vessels are not allowed on campsites. Campers can take pets with them, but they’re not allowed in the bathhouses, water, and on the beach. Besides, pets should always be hand-held leashed in designated areas. Oh, don’t forget to bring the dog beds for their comfort!
Ocala National Forest
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Ocala National Forest is next on our list for the best camping grounds in Florida. It offers a camping experience away from the crowds and deep in the woods. The forest stretches out across Central Florida, a vast pine forest comprising rivers, lakes, and springs.
Here, visitors will find miles of trails with extensive opportunities to camp along those trails. The forest offers a diverse campsite for every type of camper, including full-service sites and primitive walk-in tent camping sites. Cabins for families or groups are also available. The Ocala National Forest has 14 campsites, including Salt Springs, which offers full hookups. Some grounds feature amenities, such as dump stations and shower facilities. Make sure to bring your camping shower kit for your next adventurer!
Suppose you prefer to have a primitive and solitary camping experience. In that case, you can choose dispersed sites along the forest away from campgrounds. Cabin rentals can accommodate 10 and 12 people for those coming with families or groups. Or, you can choose group camping that is available by reservation only. What’s more, it has RVs sites with partial and full hookups.
There are plenty of water activities you can do in the freshwater lakes. These include boating, fishing, canoeing, skiing, kayaking, and air-boating. Or you can explore the three of Florida’s top natural springs, Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and Alexander Springs. These springs are why this place is one of the best camping spots Florida offers.
Manatee Springs State Park
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Seeing manatees in their natural habitats can be one of the best highlights when you camp in Manatee Spring State Park. It’s why the park is considered one of the best camping places in Florida. They can be seen in cooler months, while fish, mammals, and birds are spotted year-round. The state park also offers miles of nature trails and park boardwalks, making it a popular spot for cooling off, strolling around, and biking. What’s more, there are plenty of water sports that can be done, from snorkeling, kayaking, to scuba diving.
In this best camping in Florida State Parks, you’ll find a campground that is surrounded by shady red oak woods. There are 80 campsites in thee loops, including two group camping areas for youth. Each loop is near the spring and has its own hot shower restroom. Meanwhile, each site of the best camping spots Florida provides that has water and electricity. The youth group campsites have various amenities, such as an outdoor shower, drinking water, a portable toilet, and a fire circle. Some campsites are available for tent camping only
To protect the forests, visitors cannot bring firewood into the park. However, visitors can get the firewood at the park. We recommend choosing sites 7, 20, 32, and 37 for the paved area. The gravel areas are available at several sites, such as 5, 9, 25, and 39. If you prefer for tent camping only area, some sites including 2, 15, 24, 31, and 40, are available.
Bahia Honda State Park
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Bahia Honda State Park boasts iconic Florida Keys scenery, from palm-lined sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, sea breezes, and magnificent sunsets. The park is considered the darkest location for stargazing in the Florida Keys, making it an excellent place for stargazing. That’s why we put it on the top of our list for the best camping grounds in Florida.
Also, visitors have plenty of water activities options, from snorkeling, boat trips, and kayak. For nature lovers, it’s the perfect place for birdwatching and exploring wildlife in nature.
The state park is known for its unmatched ocean views from its large and private campsites and cleanliness. As one of the best camping on the beach in Florida, Bahia Honda State Park offers several campgrounds to choose from, including Buttonwood Campground, which accommodates from small tents to large RVs. The campsites are gravel and have amenities, such as water, electricity, picnic tables, and grills.
Another one is Sandspur Campground, with hot showers, restrooms, and a dump station. Choose sites 12-25 if you prefer to camp on the waterfront. There are also primitive sites, which is Bayside Campground. It has eight non-electric sites with water, a picnic table, and water. A small restroom is available nearby, while the bathhouse with hot showers is half-mile away.
Want to bring your hammock and pets? Then, you can choose campsites 45 and 73. Your pets must be leashed, confined, and underattended at all times. Unlike other best camping grounds in Florida, Bahia Honda State Park offers camping boats. It will be a unique experience, so bring along the binoculars for boating. Visitors can rent boat slips overnight. The rent includes electricity, water, and full use of facilities, from showers, bathhouse, trash disposal, to pump-out.
