Adventure

The Best Places for Camping in Florida, from the Keys to the Everglades

The Sunshine State has no shortage of beautiful places to pitch a tent (or park your RV).

November 10, 2021

Two red canoes on ramp at Manatee Springs State Park

From bucolic beachfronts to turquoise springs and Civil War forts, the options for camping in Florida are endless. You'll find a little of everything in terms of campsite offerings as well—from glamping sites to full RV hookups in state parks, to private beach camping, the state’s got a destination-worthy site for every type of traveler. And the activities abound: From these outdoors hubs, hike miles-deep into nature, kayak with manatees, or roast marshmallows with Disney characters (seriously).

Here are 11 destinations we love for camping in Florida.

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Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park
Located 38 miles past the main Homestead entrance of Everglades National Park along Florida Bay, the Flamingo Campground forces you to unplug. Here in this Wi-Fi-less landscape, an hour southwest of anything resembling civilization, you’ll have no choice but to enjoy the quiet of America’s largest subtropical wilderness. The year-round campground has 274 tent sites and 65 RV sites, plus a few additional “glamping" eco tents stocked with beds, patios, and bug protection screens. Interspersed with hiking trails, the campground marina also rents kayaks to explore the bay or Buttonwood Canal. While you won’t see any flamingos here, this is the section of the park where you’re most likely to see crocodiles—the only place in the contiguous U.S. where they reside.
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The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort, Walt Disney World
If your preferred type of Floridian wildlife is more the Mickey Mouse-type, then The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort offer wilderness with a bit of whimsy. The most economical means of staying in Walt Disney World, the perfectly manicured campground offers sites for tents, RVs, and camper vans, at a cost that’s nearly $1,000 cheaper per night than the nearby Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Within 750 acres of peaceful pine and cypress forest, you’ll find activities like a waterslide pool, archery lessons, and horseback riding. Meet your comfort food quota with barbecue from P&J’s Southern Takeout and moonshine margaritas at Crockett’s Tavern, but save room for s’mores by the communal campfire with Chip ’n’ Dale.

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Pensacola Beach RV Resort, Pensacola
Mixology isn’t a typical campground feature, but at Pensacola Beach RV Resort, cocktails connect the campground to its past. The resort is located on what was formerly Shea’s Tiki House Motel. Though hurricanes destroyed the property, new owners revived the tiki legacy when they opened the resort in 2012, augmenting their RV sites with a tiki shop, swimming pool (heated in the winter months), playgrounds, and the Sneaky Tiki Bar, a tropical watering hole located right on the sand, open March 1 through November 1. Along with about 70 RV sites, the campground offers tiki-themed accommodations for rent, like the Tiki Hut trailer and the Tiki Room, with a queen bed, bathroom, kitchenette, and private patio.
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Long Key State Park, Florida Keys
Halfway between Key Largo and Key West is the far more subdued Long Key, home to the 965-acre Long Key State Park. But it wasn’t always this serene. In the early 20th century, the Long Key Fishing Camp was a veritable Playboy Mansion for elite saltwater fishermen, U.S. presidents, and celebrities looking for an island escape. After the facility was razed by a hurricane in 1935, Long Key State Park filled the void with hiking trails, kayaking, bird-watching, camping, and of course, fishing—though nowadays the fishing is less bourgeoisie. Though part of the campground was damaged by Hurricane Irma, tent sites are accessible for hike-in visitors, each with astounding ocean-front views, picnic tables, and hammock stands.

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Fort De Soto, Tampa Bay
For prime beach camping, head about 10 miles south of St. Petersburg to Fort De Soto Campground, a Gulf oasis for waterfront wonders on St. Christopher Key and St. Jean Key. It’s part of Fort De Soto County Park, established to protect barrier islands that once served as military camps during the Civil War. Nowadays, it’s a place of tranquility, with 238 tent and RV sites shrouded by maritime forest, including some so close to the water you can practically fish right from your tent. While removed from the hustle of nearby cities, the campground offers Wi-Fi and amenities, including playgrounds, kayak rentals, and a camp store. With its accessible paved trails and a dog park, it’s equally welcoming for pet-owners and those in wheelchairs.
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Blackwater River State Park, Holt
When it comes to immersive nature in Florida the Everglades get most of the attention, but Blackwater River State Park is the sleeper hit. Located 35 miles northeast of Pensacola, the park boasts some of the state’s most unique ecosystems, including one of the largest longleaf pine forests in the world, and one of the purest sand-bottom rivers. The park’s campground is small, capped at 30 tent and RV sites to preserve the solitude. While it feels primitive, sites are equipped with electric and water hookups. Take the Juniper Lake Nature Trail through the woods to the river for kayaking, fishing, or sunbathing on a sandbar.

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Ichetucknee Springs, Fort White
Swimming in freshwater in Florida is usually a no-no (ahem, alligators), but Ichetucknee Springs is the rare exception. This is thanks to the park’s crystal-clear turquoise springs, which are almost entirely gator-free thanks to cooler water temperatures (and a ranger presence, as back-up). The campground, nestled in a lush forest of soaring oak trees that provide each campsite with shade and privacy, is a go-to for families thanks to its arcade room, community bonfires, and movie nights. They also provide tube rentals, which they’ll tie to your vehicle so you can drive five minutes to Ichetucknee Springs to float or swim. Year-round camping includes primitive tent sites with no electric or water hookups, tent camping with electricity, and RVs.
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Cayo Costa State Park, Captiva
In terms of absolute solace, it doesn’t get much better than Cayo Costa State Park, a small tent campground accessible only by boat. Perched about 25 miles off the west coast from Fort Myers, the island can be reached by private vessel or aboard Captiva Cruises from Jug Creek Marina. Out here, it’s nothing but nautical nature, with nine miles of unobstructed beachfront and meandering trails for bicycling and walking. The 30 primitive beach-side tent sites come with picnic tables, ground grills, and water hookups, though no electricity. Since the campground is a mile from the ferry dock, the park provides tram service between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. all year. Don’t fret about the lack of electricity, either: Cayo Costa is an apt reminder of how enriching nature can be, with opportunities for fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and wildlife-watching—manatees, porpoises, and sea turtles are often around.

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Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland
If manatees are a priority, visit their namesake Manatee Springs State Park about an hour west of Gainesville. Though the park is open all year, you’re most likely to spot these mammals in the winter months, when they flock to the pristine springs for warmth. Drink in the sights along a boardwalk trail through the woods and along the water, or explore further on 8.5 miles of nature trails through swampy forests. The campground features 80 sites in three sections, most reserved for tents and all easily walkable to the springs. To get even closer to the manatees, rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the park’s concessionaire, Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures.
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Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, Jacksonville
A convenient escape from Florida’s largest city, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a breath of fresh air in Jacksonville. Teeming with 300 tent and RV sites plus a few cabins, the park’s campground has family fun written all over it, with activities like a splash park (open Memorial Day through Halloween), a playground, disc golf, and paddle boarding, plus access to 1.5 miles of beachfront and more than 20 miles of biking and hiking trails draped in Spanish moss.

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Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore
It’s camping with a side of war lore at Fort Pickens Campground. Tucked at the westernmost tip of Santa Rosa Island, this massive campground has numerous areas for RVs, tents, and camper vans, most shaded by towering live oaks and all accessible to the beach on Pensacola Bay. Activities include watching the Blue Angels soar overhead on practice flights from March through November, the Fort Pickens fishing pier, and touring the Civil War fort itself, a mighty brick garrison built to defend the bay from naval attacks in 1834.