Last updated on September 30th, 2025 at 06:36 am
As cooler weather trickles into the Sunshine State during October and November, conditions are ripe for fall camping.
Fall doesn’t bring a lot of tree color to Florida, but you can find a smidgen of reds and yellows in our northern reaches.
Even without color, fall brings welcome relief from summer’s excruciating humidity, and that alone is reason to go camping in these special places.
Three Rivers State Park
We visited Three Rivers State Park on the Florida-Georgia state line in late October, and the trees around the lake were showing signs of color. It wasn’t dramatic, but fall colors were visible, and the weather was cool and humidity-free.
Located on Lake Seminole, where the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers merge to form the Apalachicola River, this isolated state park, its forests and campground are still recovering from a succession of brutal hurricanes.
But it has plenty to offer: 7 miles of paved and unpaved bicycle trails, 5 miles of nature trails, and world-class fishing. You can fish in Lake Seminole with either a Florida or Georgia fishing license.
In November, the average high temperature here drops into the mid-70’s — and night-time temperatures dip into the 40s.
Three Rivers State Park, 7908 Three Rivers Road, Sneads, FL. 850-482-9006. Park has 30 shaded sites @ $16 /night plus $7 daily utility fee. (Does not apply to tents.) The park’s single cabin is $65 plus $7 for utilities. Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months for non-residents. Book online or call 800-326-3521. Read: Losing track of time at Three Rivers State Park
A cursory review of reservations for campgrounds in this story indicates multiple sites are available for October and November.
Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park
Way down upon the Suwannee River, the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center is a monument to what never was, which is frankly not unusual for Florida.
Composer Stephen Foster never saw any part of the Suwannee River before or after he wrote his classic ode to the South, “Old Folks at Home.”
The park’s campground has 45 oak-shaded sites with water and electric, picnic table and fire ring, and all of the sites are ADA accessible. There are five riverside cabins with two bedrooms , a fireplace, screened porch and kitchenette.
There’s not a lot of fall color in this park, but it does get cooler here sooner than most of the state, and there’s plenty to do. Check out the park’s museum with exhibits about Foster and his music.
The scenic Florida Trail passes through, and the park’s 8-mile Hammock Loop is a single-track mountain bike trail that weaves along high river bluffs and through scenic swamp forests. Of course, paddling the historic Suwannee is a must on any adventurer’s list.
Daytime temperatures in October hang around 79-80 degrees, while lows can dip to 60, dropping another 10 degrees in November.
Stephen C. Foster Cultural Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive/ U.S. Highway 41, White Springs FL 32096. 386-397-4331. Camping: $20/night plus $7 daily utility fee. Two-bedroom cabins are $100 pus utilties with 2-night minimum. Reservations: Florida residents up to 11 months in advance, 10 months for non-residents. Book online or call 800-326-3521. Read Glorious river; great cabins, odd old museum
Gold Head Branch State Park
One of Florida’s original state parks, this park’s rolling hills and deep ravines with springs popping out of the ground supports forest hardwoods such as sweetgum, dogwood and hickory that lend themselves nicely to modest displays fall color complemented by vivid autumn wildflowers.
Three campgrounds offer 74 campsites for tents and RVs. Each of the three camping areas has a centrally located restroom with hot/cold showers. Maximum RV length is a whopping 65 feet.
There are 16 charming cabins for only $65 per night with a two-night minimum. Nine of those cabins are historic, dating back to the 1930s, when the park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corp.
Temperatures may drop into the 50s on November nights, rising into the mid-70s during the day. It’s a bit warmer in October, so wait a few weeks to camp, but you might want to book a site now.
Gold Head Branch State Park, 6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights, FL 32656. 352-473-4701. Camping: $20 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee. 16 cabins @ $65 per night plus utilities Reservations: Florida residents up to 11 months in advance, 10 months for non-residents. Book online or call 800-326-3521. Read: Unsung treasure with cabins, camping
Blackwater River State Park
Hardwoods such as red maple, hickory and sweetgum give Blackwater River State Park and adjacent forests a touch of color in November, although the region is best known for its contiguous evergreen longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem.
The best trails for viewing autumn foliage at Blackwater River State Park are the 1.75-mile Chain of Lakes Nature Trail and a one-mile segment of the Juniper Creek Trail that runs through the park and is segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Another great way to enjoy the fall color here is to paddle the river.
The appealing campground has 30 campsites and is sheltered by tall longleaf pines. It offers spacious gravel sites with full hookups, picnic table, fire ring and grill, and can accommodate tents and RVs up to 50 feet.
Surrounding this state park, protecting the integrity and quality of the Blackwater River, is a vast state forest and wilderness areas offering a plethora of outdoor adventures. Read more about it in this story: Cabins, camping, biking & hiking in ‘canoe capitol’
Blackwater River State Park, 7720 Deaton Bridge Road, Milton FL 32564. 850-983-5363. Camping: 30 sites with full hookups at $20 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee for RVs (Tents exempt from utility fee). Reservations: Florida residents up to 11 months in advance, 10 months for non-residents. Book online or call 800-326-3521.
Falling Waters State Park
We have not actually camped at Falling Waters State Park in fall, so we can’t personally attest to the visibility of fall color.
But this curious preserve with the highest waterfall in the state is positioned atop one of the highest hills in Florida, and the elevation of its campground is 324 feet above sea level, a veritable mountain for us.
The park’s unique topography and hardwood forest feature Southern sugar maple, sweetgum, and sourwood trees, all of which lend themselves to a degree of autumn foliage.
Nestled among longleaf pines and sometimes colorful dogwoods, the campground features 24 campsites with water and electric, as well as full-facility bathhouse and a dump station.
Falling Waters State Park, 1130 State Park Road, Chipley FL 32428. Phone: 850-638-6130. Camping: 24 campsites with electric and water. No sewer hookups but there is a full-facility bath house and dump station. $18 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee for RVs (no utility fee for tents). Reservations: Florida residents up to 11 months in advance, 10 months for non-residents. Book online or call 800-326-3521.
Visit but you can’t stay (at least not this year)
Torreya State Park
The campground at Torreya State Park may be the best place in the state for fall foliage, but the campground was closed in 2025 while it undergoes hurricane restoration.
The park is especially vulnerable to high winds because of its elevation, and it’s that same elevation that gives it a leg up on fall color.
Although the campground is temporarily closed due to hurricane damage, it is still worth a day trip.
Torreya’s bluffs are encircled by deep ravines in a deciduous forest and the rare Torreya tree, a dainty evergreen unique to this area.
The park has 16 miles of challenging hiking trails, dipping in and out of steep ravines, a landscape contour not often encountered in the pancake state.
Read more: Torreya State Park: Florida as you never knew it
Suwannee River State Park
The campground at Suwannee River State Park is closed while upgrades are underway, and reservations are not yet being accepted in Fall 2025 for the park’s new cabins.
We certainly sensed autumn’s promise when we visited in late fall, and by our second night, temperatures had dipped to the refreshing 50s.
Suwannee River State Park is at the juncture of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers, making it an ideal destination for paddlers.
You can read more about our visit to Suwannee River State Park
Do you have a favorite campground for fall color in Florida?
Let us know in the comments below!
