CAMPGROUNDS IN FLORIDA

Campgrounds in Florida enjoy the state's temperate climate that allows camping all year round.  We only get snow every decade or so, and even then it's very light.

Florida Tourist Camp Vintage Postcard

The weather in summer, however, is so hot and humid only hardy souls and people lucky enough to have air conditioned RVs take advantage of the many campgrounds.

Even when it's not super hot, air conditioning is a great way to stay inside and escape the mosquitoes and gnats.

Our top choice for camping in Florida is one of the wonderful state parks.  Of these 175 parks, about 50 of them have campgrounds. 

The campsites are usually carved out of the natural pine and palmetto and give you a lot more privacy than you get in most private campgrounds in Florida.

A Florida State Park

These sites usually have electricity, water, a picnic table, and a fire ring.  Some parks have full service RV sites. 

Most of the parks have other amenities like kayaking, biking, hiking, interpretative exhibits, swimming, special events, and other fun family friendly activities.

Many of them have miles of hiking and biking trails. Some of Florida's best fishing is in the rivers, lakes, and ponds of the state parks.  Several of the parks have beautiful white sand beaches.

Florida state parks almost always have clean restrooms and showers, and most of the parks are pet friendly. 

They are great places to experience the outdoors in safety and comfort, and the first places we look when we want to go camping.

Campsite at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Here Are The 50 Florida State Parks With Full Service Campgrounds

Map of Florida State Parks with Full Service Campgrounds

1. Alafia River State Park, Lithia
2. Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine
3. Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key
4. Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola
5. Blackwater River State Park, Holt
6. Blue Spring State Park, Orange City
7. Collier-Seminole State Park, Naples
8. Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon
9. Dr. Julian G Bruce St George Island State Park, St George Island
10. Falling Waters State Park, Chipley
11. Faver-Dykes State Park, St. Augustine
12. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna
13. Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach
14. Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville
15. Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, Flagler Beach
16. Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
17. Henderson Beach State Park, Destin
18. Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring
19. Hillsborough River State Park, Thonotosassa
20. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo
21. Jonathon Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound
22. Kissimmee Prairie State Park, Okeechobee
23. Koreshan State Historic Site, Estero
24. Lake Griffin State Park, Leesburg
25. Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales
26. Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont
27. Lake Manatee State Park, Bradenton
28. Little Manatee River State Park, Wimauma
29. Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville
30. Long Key State Park, Long Key
31. Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland
32. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Keystone Heights
33. Myakka River State Park, Sarasota
34. Ochlockonee River State Park, Sopchoppy
35. O'Leno State Park, High Springs
36. Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey
37. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Micanopy
38. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Ponce de Leon Springs
39. Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon
40. Sebastian Inlet State Park, Melbourne Beach
41. Silver Springs State Park, Ocala
42. St. Andrews State Park, Panama City
43. Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park, White Springs
44. Suwannee River State Park, Live Oak
45. T H Stone Memorial St Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St Joe
46. Three Rivers State Park, Sneads
47. Tomoka State Park, Ormond Beach
48. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
49. Torreya State Park, Bristol
50. Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka

Reservations for campsites at these parks can be made through the  Florida State Park Reservation Service.

Many of these state parks are near Florida tourist destination cities like Orlando, St. Augustine, Miami, Fort Myers, and others.

Learn more about all 175 Florida State Parks, including addresses and telephone numbers here:  Florida State Parks

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Another way you can enjoy campgrounds in Florida - even if you don't have a tent or RV - is by staying in a Florida State Park Camping Cabin.  Many of them are relatively new. 

Most cabins can be rented for one night during the week, but your stay usually has to be extended on weekends and holidays to a two day minimum. 

Other than RV camping in big motor homes or trailers, some of the best camping without any fuss is in these cabins.  

Cabins can typically accommodate either four or six visitors, and provide a nice alternative to more conventional lodging choices in nearby towns.

Here Are the 20 Florida State Parks With Camping Cabins

Map of Florida State Parks with Camping Cabins

1. Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key, Florida
2. Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida
3. Cayo Costa State Park, Boca Grande,Florida
4. Econfina River State Park, Econfina, Florida
5. Fanning Springs State Park, Fanning Springs, Florida
6. Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach,Florida
7. Hontoon Island State Park, Deland, Florida
8. Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound, Florida
9. Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, Mayo, Florida
10. Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont, Florida
11. Gold Head Branch State Park, Keystone Heights, Florida
12. Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida
13. OLeno State Park, High Springs, Florida
14. Oleta River State Park, North Miami, Florida
15. Silver River State Park, Ocala, Florida
16. Stephen Foster State Park, White Springs, Florida
17. Suwannee River State Park, Live Oak, Florida
18. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St. Joe, Florida
19. Three Rivers State Park, Sneads, Florida
20. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Learn more about Florida State Park Camping Cabins.

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Florida has 67 counties and more than 400 towns and cities.  Some of these communities have campgrounds. 

Some are very basic and provide nothing more than a site with no service;  others are full service.

Trimble Park in Orange County

Quite a few of these local and county parks are just as nice and clean as a Florida state park. 

The photo above is of Trimble Park not far from Orlando and Mount Dora.

Learn more about Local and County Parks.

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There are 11 National Parks in Florida, but we know of only three that have campgrounds:  

• Dry Tortugas National Park - Key West
• Everglades National Park - Miami, Naples, and Homestead
  
• Gulf Islands National Seashore - Gulf Breeze

Everglades National Park Flamingo Campground

Two of these parks are on the Florida mainland and allow camping:  Everglades National Park and Gulf Islands National Seashore. 

Dry Tortugas National Park also allows camping but is on a remote island west of Key West accessible only by boat or private plane.

Other places that allow camping are Big Cypress National Preserve west of Everglades National Park, Gulf Island National Seashore, and Canaveral National Seashore.

Learn about Big Cypress National Preserve Camping.

Learn about Dry Tortugas National Park Camping.

Learn about Everglades National Park Camping.

Learn about Canaveral National Seashore Camping.

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Florida has 3 National Forests:  Apalachicola, Osceola, and Ocala.  Most of these forests have campgrounds.  The camp sites range from primitive trail hiking campgrounds to full service RV sites. 

Alexander Springs, Ocala National Forest

Here are links to the campgrounds in the Florida National Forests.

Apalachicola National Forest Campgrounds

Ocala National Forest Campgrounds

Osceola National Forest Campgrounds

Florida National Forests in General.

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There are 37 state forests covering 1.1 million acres.  

Camping opportunities are plentiful throughout the state with more than 80 campgrounds offering primitive to improved campsite experiences.

From camping along waterways to hiking meandering trails through the forest, there are campgrounds in Florida for every taste in the state forests.   

Blackwater River State Forest

Reserve America has a List of 92 Campgrounds in Florida State Forests.

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Who knows how many private campgrounds there are in Florida?.

These include RV parks, some mobile home parks, fish camps, and just about any variety of ownership and level of comfort and amenities that you can imagine.

Many of these campgrounds in Florida become permanent homes for people who buy park models.  A park model is designed to be permanently affixed to the property. 

These campgrounds over time become trailer parks with a small percentage of sites reserved for transient campers.

Holiday Travel Resort, Leesburg

Some full time RV residents prefer private campgrounds because some of them have a larger amenity package. 

This might include a general store, mailbox facilities, and a swimming pool.  They typically cost more than their publicly owned counterparts.

Learn more about Florida Private Campgrounds

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the navigable waterways of the United States, including those in Florida. 

The Corp has developed and maintained many campgrounds along these routes.

The Florida campgrounds are along the Okeechobee Waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean near Stuart to the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Myers. 

The campgrounds are located with one near the east end, one near the west end, and one close to the center.

Ortona Lock Campground near Moore Haven on Okeechobee Waterway

The three that we know about are:

St. Lucie South Campground, Stuart (772-287-1382)
Ortona South Campground, Moore Haven (863-675-8400)
W.P. Franklin Campground North, Alva (239-694-8770)

Learn more about Army Corps of Engineer Campgrounds in Florida

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Elk and Moose Lodges, American Legion, and Others.  These fraternal organizations sometimes allow members and non-members alike to camp on their properties.  Here's one site that tells you about that: Snowbird RV Trails. 

Farms, Vineyards.  There are a few farms and vineyards in Florida that will let you camp on their property.  Here is a membership site that will tell you about them:  Harvest Hosts.

Private Homes.  There are thousands of people who will let you camp on their private property, sometimes free, other times for a modest fee.  Here is a site that lists many of them.  Hipcamp.

U.S. Military Campgrounds.  Some military bases in Florida have campgrounds or areas where camping is allowed.  These campgrounds are typically reserved for active duty or retired members of the United States armed forces.  Here is a source of info: U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Site

Camping in Style in an Airstream

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Camping Life is an Old Florida Tradition

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