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Best Florida camping: A few of our favorite campgrounds

Some of the best Florida camping can be found in county, state and federal parklands, campgrounds where you can fish and kayak, hike and ride bicycles for miles. These natural settings abound throughout Florida.

We haven’t explored them all, but of those campgrounds we have explored, these 12 campgrounds are a few of our favorites. 


Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine

Best Florida camping: You'll love the bird life at Anastasia State Park.
Best Florida camping: You’ll love the bird life at Anastasia State Park.

The four-mile-long beach is nothing short of spectacular, a magnet for beach lovers and surfers who hike to the north end of the beach for the breaks at the inlet.

The campground is tucked away in a stand of trees, well back from the rolling dunes, and there’s a beach concession nearby with a cafe and Wi-Fi serving both the campground and day-use visitors.

A tidal basin on the east side of the park allows kayaking out to the Matanzas River and the historic St. Augustine waterfront, wetlands and feeder creeks.You can also rent canoes, catamaran sailboats and paddleboards if you don’t have your own.

Nature trails wind through maritime hammocks bursting with migrating songbirds, and you can ride your bicycle on the beach and along park roads.

The campground’s 124 campsites are suitable for both tents and RVs, laid out in seven loops cut into a dense coastal forest, protected by sand dunes from onshore winds and salt spray.

[mappress mapid=”315″ alignment=”right”] Campsites are $28.00 per night, plus tax and a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Includes water and electricity. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings with a grill. A dump station is available for RV’s.

Anastasia State Park, 300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080. (904) 461-2033.  For reservations up to 11 months in advance, call 1-800-326-3521.

Read More: Coastal treasure: Camp near stunning beach, historic city


Cayo Costa State Park, Pine Island Sound

Best Florida camping: The beach on Cayo Costa is stunning, with white sand, bleached driftwood, shells and few people. (Photo by Bonnie Gross)
Best Florida camping: The beach on Cayo Costa is stunning, with white sand, bleached driftwood, shells and few people. (Photo by Bonnie Gross)

[mappress mapid=”321″ alignment=”left” initialopeninfo=”false”] Cayo Costa is the northernmost of islands protecting Pine Island Sound. The other islands in this chain are Sanibel, Captiva and North Captiva.

To be truthful, I have never camped here, but I have spent a day exploring the island and its 9 miles of pristine beaches from my boat (photo at left).  Florida Rambler co-founder Bonnie Gross has camped in the island’s cabins, and she loved it.

You can read her accounts in these articles: Live your dreams on a private island and Cayo Costa: A romantic getaway

The biggest attraction for me was the gorgeous beach, but a really good argument can be made for the scenic nature trails through pine, oak and palm hammocks, which you can hike or bike. The park is accessible only by boat or ferry. There’s a dock for private boats, or you can take a ferry from Pine Island.

The 12 rustic, one-room cabins near the beach (no water or electric) are $40 a night and the 30 primitive tent sites are $22. Boat camping at the docks on Pine Island Sound is $20 per night. Restrooms, cold water showers and potable water are located in the park

Cayo Costa State Park, 4 Nautical Miles West of Pine Island (26.685789, -82.245381), Cayo Costa FL 33922. Phone: 941-964-0375. For reservations up to 11 months in advance, call 1-800-326-3521.

Getting there: Book the Tropic Star ferry to Cayo Costa ($50 roundtrip for overnight visitors, $40 for children)   Be prepared to pay $10 per night for parking. Or take the King Fisher Fleet out of Punta Gorda. The King Fisher docks are a few minutes off I-75 and offer free parking.  

Read more: Live your dreams of a private island


Fort Desoto County Park, St. Petersberg

Best Florida camping: Paddling away from campsite at Fort DeSoto.
Best Florida camping: Paddling away from campsite at Fort DeSoto.

[mappress mapid=”320″ alignment=”left” initialopeninfo=”false”] St. PETERSBURG – The beach at Fort Desoto routinely wins kudos as one of Florida’s Top 10, and deservedly so. This sprawling spit of sand at the mouth of Tampa Bay is a paradise for beachgoers, kayakers and canoeists, as well as bicyclists.

The campground  has 238 sites on three connected islands and include a separate section for tents and another section for RV or tent campers with pets.

A majority of the sites are waterfront, allowing you to launch your kayaks, canoes or paddleboards right from your back yard with  easy access to more islands and paddle trails you can explore by water.

As you enter the park, there is a large boat ramp with parking available to both campers and day visitors.

The 1,136-acre park has several swimming beaches, a dog beach, two fishing piers and a historic fort that once guarded the entrance to Tampa Bay from intruders.

Waterfront RV sites are $38.50 in season ($40.50 for waterfront) and $37 off-season. Waterfront tent sites are $33.50 in-season ($35.50 for waterfront) and $30 off season. Plus tax. A number of sites are set aside for walkup campers, but reservations are definitely recommended because this park fills up.

The park is public and is operated by Pinellas County

Fort Desoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715 . Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance online or by calling the park office at (727) 582-2267.

Read more: Fort DeSoto’s beach ranked among best in nation


Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound

Best Florida camping: A tent at Jonathan Dickenson State Park.
Best Florida camping: A tent at Jonathan Dickenson State Park.

There are two campgrounds in this massive park, and I favor the River Campground, deep in the 11,500-acre park on the bank of the Loxahatchee River, one of two federally designated Wild and Scenie rivers in Florida.

The Pine Grove Campground is newer, with 90 sites, near the entrance to the park, adjacent to U.S. 1. “Pine Grove” is a misnomer. Once upon a time, this campground was thick with shade-producing pines, but no longer. The pines were wiped out as the campground was renovated. It will take years for vegetation to return.

The new campground is more suitable for RVs because of the concrete pads, and it is packed with families on weekends. Each site has water, sewer and electric hookups.

Almost all 45 sites in the River Campground are deep in vegetation, suitable for either tent or RV. Cabins are also available near the riverside concession stand.

The river is major draw for paddlers. Paved and off-road bike trails run throughout the park. Hiking trails run deep into the backcountry, where there are two primitive tent sites for energetic backpackers who need to trek 5 miles to one site and 9 miles to the other.

[mappress mapid=”317″ alignment=”right”] Campsites are $26.00 per night, plus tax and a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Includes water and electricity. Well-appointed cabins run $95 plus tax and non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, FL 33455. Phone: (772) 546-2771. For reservations, call 1-800-326-3521.

Related article:  Jonathan Dickinson State Park: A Florida treasure


Kelly Park / Rock Spring, Apopka

Best Florida camping: Campsite at Kelly Park/Rock Springs.
Best Florida camping: Campsite at Kelly Park/Rock Springs.

[mappress mapid=”313″ alignment=”left” initialopeninfo=”false”] APOPKA — Hands down, this is my favorite campground near Orlando.

There are only 26 campsites, and every one is spacious, clean and well-shaded. It’s also just a short walk through the woods to one of the most treasured springs in the state, Rock Spring, where you can swim in the refreshingly cool, clear water that extends down the Run in a series of elongated pools.

Near the park is a privately run canoe and kayak livery, King’s Landing, where you’ll be set up for an 8.5 mile paddle down Rock Spring Run through a pristine tropical jungle to the Wekiva River.

Kelly Park is very busy on weekends, with lines building after 10 a.m. on exterior roads, but campers have a private entrance day or night.

The basic camping rate is $23 per night for non-residents, with discounts for seniors and Orange County residents. No pets. This is bear and alligator country, and Fido would be seen as an easy meal.

Kelly Park is about 50 minutes from Disney World and Universal Studios via the Western Expressway (SR 429) and Florida’s Turnpike.

Kelly Park Rock Spring, 400 East Kelly Park Rd., Apopka, FL 32712. Phone: (407) 254-1902. Reservations can be made online up to 45 days in advance, or call 407-889-4179. 

Read more: Cool camping near Orlando


Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales

Best Florida camping: Lake Kissimmee State Park Cow Camp fire.
Best Florida camping: Lake Kissimmee State Park Cow Camp fire.

[mappress mapid=”314″ alignment=”left” initialopeninfo=”false”] LAKE WALES – I wanted to get away from the family (and everybody else) for a few days, so I packed a tent, my canoe and bike, and I drove out to this remote state park near Sebring. What a wonderful surprise!

Every one of the 60 campsites is shaded by oak hammock, and they are separated by thick vegetation that offers plenty of privacy between sites.

While I was there, no fewer than four deer crossed a clearing behind my site, through a common area where the campfire ring is shared.  These woods are filled with wildlife and birds who seek shelter from northern winters.

The lake is nearby and easily accessible for canoes, kayaks and there’s a boat launch for motorboats. Lake Kissimmee is in the heart of cracker country, and you can visit a restored 1876 Cow Camp, where you can learn about Florida’s frontiers men and women.

Campsites are $20, including water and electric. Primitive campsites are available for $5. Day use is $5.

Lake Kissimmee State Park,14248 Camp Mack Rd., Lake Wales FL 33898. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. Call 1-800-326-3521.

Read more: Lake Kissimmee State Park: Where old Florida lives on


Long Point Park, Melbourne Beach

Best Florida camping: Long Point Park. (Photo by John Massung, IndianRiverbyAir.com)
Best Florida camping: Long Point Park. (Photo by John Massung, IndianRiverbyAir.com)

Every campsite in this well-run Brevard County campground is on an island with excellent access to fishing and boating, Shaded sites are rare, but most sites are waterfront and enjoy a breeze off the Indian River.

Pull your boat, kayak or canoe ashore right behind your RV or tent, and if you have an inside site, there is a boat ramp with a fish-cleaning station and a small dock.

Long Point is just a few miles south of Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area’s pristine beaches, excellent catwalk and jetty fishing as well as two museums, a treasure museum and the other for anglers.

The island at Long Point has a wildlife pond, a swimming pond and a playground. An adjacent island offers a mile of nature trails.

[mappress mapid=”316″ alignment=”right”] Long Point has 113 waterfront campsites and 57 interior sites. All sites have water and electric. Some interior sites have sewer hookups. There is a dump station on the island for everybody else. Camping fees for non-residents are $28 per night plus tax. Brevard County residents get a $2 per night discount.

Long Point Park Campground700 Long Point Road, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951. For reservations, call (321) 952-4532 or book online.

Related article:  Two great campgrounds near Sebastian Inlet


Myakka River State Park, Sarasota

Best Florida camping: A few of our favorite campgrounds 1

Best Florida camping: Campsites at Myakka River State Park
Best Florida camping: Campsites at Myakka River State Park

One of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks, Myakka River State Park has three campgrounds with a total of 90 sites.

Every site has water hookups and 50 amp electric service, and the 38 sites in the new Palmetto Ridge campground also have sewer hookups.  A dump station is available for everybody else. Sites in all three campgrounds have fire rings and picnic tables.

The park is paradise for cyclists and paddlers, not to mention hikers and wildlife observation. I was amazed how close I could get to a red-shouldered hawk sitting quietly in a tree.

There are seven miles of paved park roads and backcountry dirt roads that wind through backwoods habitats. Canoe or kayak on a large lake or down the wild and scenic Myakka River.

MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK, 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida 34241. Reservations accepted by phone, 800-326-3521

Read more: Camping at Myakka River State Park.


St. George’s Island State Park, Apalachicola

Best Florida campgrounds: Catching whiting in the surf on St. George's Island
Best Florida campgrounds: St. George’s Island

[mappress mapid=”319″ alignment=”left” initialopeninfo=”false”] I visited this state park when it first opened many years ago and, unfortunately, haven’t been back since.

But the memories of this park are still with me, and it remains one of my favorite campgrounds in Florida, largely because it has 9 miles of one of the most beautiful white-sand Gulf beach you’ll find anywhere in Florida.

And there’s no better location to enjoy famous Apalachicola oysters, which are harvested in Apalachicola Bay and sold fresh locally. I don’t know if it’s still there, but I have vivid memories of an oyster shack near the state park where you sat on the back porch for an afternoon of eating oysters and drinking beer.

The campground is deep in the park, laid out behind a magnificent wall of sand dunes just a hop and a skip from the Gulf of Mexico. There are 60 sites with electric and water, and there are six sites with concrete pads.

On the bay side, there are two natural launch ramps. Both ramps are restricted to small craft less than 24 feet with shallow draft. Launch fees are $8-$10, depending on the number of people in the boats.

Camping fees are $24 a night, including water and electric. Day-use fee is $6 per vehicle.

St. George Island State Park, 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island FL 32328. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. call 1-800-326-3521.

Read more: Apalachicola & St. George Island: Delightful town; spectacular beach


Trimble Park, Mount Dora

Best Florida campgrounds: Lakefront campsite at Trimble Park.
Best Florida camping: Lakefront campsite at Trimble Park. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

This tiny 71-acre Orange County park on a point between Lake Carlton and Lake Beauclaire has just 15 campsites, all well-appointed and shaded by oak trees.

The campsites string out along the lakefront, where you can launch a kayak or fish from a dock. 

Each site has a 30-amp electric and water hookups, picnic tables on a paver patio, lantern post, charcoal grill with smoker lid, and a fire ring with benches. There are no sewer hookups, but the rest rooms with showers are conveniently located, and there’s a dump station is at the campground exit. 

The park has a boat ramp, boat docks and a playground in the day-use area, which is separate from the campground.

Campsites are $23 per night with discounts for seniors and Orange County residents. 

Trimble Park, 5802 Trimble Park Road, Mount Dora, FL 32757. For campgroud reservations, book online or call 352-383-1993 up to 45 days in advance. 

Read more: Orange County Parks 


W. P. Franklin Lock Campground, Alva

Best Florida camping:   W.P. Franklin Lock near Fort Myers.
Best Florida camping: W.P. Franklin Lock near Fort Myers.

Of the three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds along the cross-state Okeechobee Waterway, the W.P. Franklin Lock near Fort Myers is my favorite.

Meticulously maintained, this campground rides high on an island in the middle of the Caloosahatchee River — and all but three of the 22 RV or tent campsites are waterfront. There are eight boat sites for transient boaters on the waterway.

Every waterfront campsite has a gradual slope to the water, making it easy to launch a kayak, canoe or paddle board or fish from your site.

All 30 sites, including the boat sites, have water hookups and 20-/30-/50-amp electric service, and there are even a few pull-throughs. A dump station, rest rooms with showers and a laundry are on the island, and there’s a playground for your kids.

The downside the Franklin Lock Campground is everybody else likes it, too, often making it difficult to get a campsite reservation. Plan as far ahead as you can and camp there on weekdays, if that’s possible.

W.P. Franklin North, 17850 North Franklin Lock Road, Alva, FL. Phone: (239) 694-8770.  Reservations accepted up to 180 days in advance online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777GPS: 26°43’27″N, 81°41’34″W

Getting there: From I-75, take Exit 141. Follow State Road 80 east to SR 31 in Labelle. Turn left onto SR 31 N and travel 4 mi to SR 78. Turn east on SR 78 for 3 miles to North Franklin Lock Rd. Follow the signs.

Read more: Camping with the Corps


Do you have suggestions for Best Florida Camping? Tell us in the comments below, and we’ll visit them and see if they will make our “favorites list.”


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Alex

Friday 21st of August 2020

Our favorite is Fisheating Creek, no beach but great kayaking.

Caffeine Clicks

Wednesday 5th of August 2020

I have been to several of these parks. I think I going to reserve a spot at Lake Kissimmee State Park in Lake Wales based on your recommendation.

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