Ocala National Forest features more than a dozen developed campgrounds and two state parks you can use as a base to explore more than 600 square miles of wilderness.
Camping in Florida
Great Escape: Dispersed, primitive camping in Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest covers more than 600 square miles of Central Florida, and all of it is open to dispersed, primitive camping.
Camping with bears
Fall is bear season. Keep your eyes peeled and take necessary precautions while camping or hiking in the woods.
Beach camping in Florida: 14 sandy sojourns
Beach camping in Florida is living the dream. Stars in the sky, surf softly lapping ashore, shorebirds gliding. Let’s go camping!
Two top campgrounds, pristine beaches, surfing, kayak the lagoon and fab fishing at Sebastian Inlet
Sebastian Inlet has always been a favorite destination, and these two public campgrounds will make your getaway pleasurable.
Ancient oaks caress the soul at Highlands Hammock
Old-growth live oaks draped in air plants and Spanish moss dominate the 9,000-acre Highlands Hammock State Park, one of Florida’s original state parks. It offers lush nature trails, scenic bike riding and shady camping.
Best Florida camping: A few of our favorite campgrounds
We thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorite campgrounds — and most of the best campgrounds are in Florida’s award-winning state park system.
Florida cabin rentals in state parks: Like camping, but with comfort
One of the best places to enjoy nature is in a cabin in a Florida state park. But the cabins book up fast, so now is the time to make reservations for the winter. Our guide explains which parks have cabins, what they offer and what they cost. Of the 21 parks in Florida with cabins, we’ve stayed in 13 of them.
Discover Lake Wales Ridge State Forest for hiking, exploring, camping
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest is for explorers – folks who like to find places that aren’t in the guidebooks. Here you can hike for miles in the woods, hear only nature and have a chance to spot wildlife, including bear, bald eagles and endangered scrub jays.
Long Key State Park: Florida Keys gem but camping limited
Once the site of a luxury resort for the rich and famous, Long Key State Park is a terrific place to spend a few hours hiking, beachcombing, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking in the Florida Keys. While most of its highly prized beachfront campsites are closed, a few tent sites are open.
