Camping

The best places for stargazing in Florida are lonely places where dark skies light up the night, especially if you’re a camper. We found a dozen heavenly spots to indulge in the galaxies.

This state park is so worth a drive to explore. It would take days to experience it all – a beautiful beach, a well-preserved Civil War fort, hiking, biking, wildlife, great camping.

The Peace River has been a beloved paddling destination for decades. It was heartbreaking to see the floods after Hurricane Ian, which closed the long-time outfitter for paddling trips in Arcadia for months. But the Peace is back and it is as beauiful as ever. It’s also a great river for groups, families and beginners.

Our annual guide includes campground and lodging links with a full menu of things to do at the fair and nearby.

Glamping in Florida is now offered in six state and one national park, where some fancy tents come with chandeliers. The idea: Be in the wild, but be comfy. Newest addition: Colt Creek State Park in Lakeland.

The Econlockhatchee — Econ for short — is close to Central Florida cities, yet it offers vast wild areas to kayak and even camp along a beautiful river not overrun with people.

County park campgrounds are increasingly on our radar as campers get shut out of crowded state parks or face skyrocketing rates at private campgrounds.

With the best beach in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda is everyone’s favorite. We also love the park for its historic bridge, great beachfront camping and cabins.

Secluded campground tucked into the shady woods of Oscar Scherer State Park with access to a fabulous rail trail linking Sarasota to Venice.

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.

Sebastian Inlet is always a favored destination, largely because of these two awesome campgrounds make your getaway.

Not only is the Suwannee a stunning wild river worth exploring for its beauty, it also offers five unusual river camps accessible only by boat. The camps have screened, covered camping platforms with electricity and a central bathhouse with hot water. The free river camps provide comfy conditions for multi-day trips.

There are few parks in Florida with as much to offer as Pinellas County’s Fort DeSoto Park. And no park in the state, not even Everglades National Park, attracts as many visitors.

The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival attracts thousands for competitive rides over hill and dale. This is your guide to the festival with schedules, a list of nearby campgrounds and links to hotel and vacation home reservations.

Curry Hammock State Park is a hidden island in the Florida Keys near Marathon right off US 1. It has excellent camping and a swimming beach safe for kids. The park offers a kayak trail that is perfect for a short, inexpensive paddling experience. (They rent kayaks and SUPs.)

A low-key destination for kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and camping in our guide for things to do in the Lower Florida Keys.