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 Camping is a great way to see what Florida's natural areas have to offer. There's nothing like sleeping outdoors and being there when the sun comes up so you can hear the first bird calls and see the wildlife looking for breakfast -- something you may be a bit late for if you have to enter a park after it opens.
Of course, there are cabins and lodges within many natural areas -- and some natural areas don't have gates that open and close at a designated time. But if you really like the adventure of tent camping, hitching up that camper or exploring in your RV (recreational vehicle), this page and the following pages may give you some tips on great camping in Florida.
Where to camp in Florida:
Florida's land is so diverse, and that's what makes touring its natural areas exciting! From northern Florida springs to the Florida Keys coral reefs, and from the beaches to the wetlands to the subtropical forests, Florida is a study in diversity. Explore it! Many of Florida's campgrounds can fill up as quickly as its hotel rooms do, so it's best to call ahead to ask about availability and make a reservation if you can. It's aggravating to travel a few hours away after packing your gear only to find the place you planned to stay at is full. Like most anywhere, weekends are busier than weekdays, so reservations are especially helpful then. When you call, you may want to ask for a description of the campground. Some elements you may want to avoid in a campsite include:
Some campsites come with water and electricity outlets, and some don't. Even if you're tent camping, you may want these features. It's a good idea to ask if these are available and -- if you're in an RV -- if there's a dump station.
You'll also need to find out whether you need anything in particular to get into the campsite. Some Florida campgrounds require that you provide a refundable deposit in exchange for a key that lets you in and out of the security gate. If you'll be arriving after dark, you may have to call the campground to remind someone of that fact so you won't be locked out. In some places, you have to pay to take a ferry across, or provide your own boat, to get to your campsite. So Where Do You Go In Florida?
National parks and seashores:
Farther west than Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a small group of islands you can reach only by boat or plane. Popular with birdwatchers, the Dry Tortugas' remote location in the ocean attracts birds you rarely see elsewhere, especially as birds migrate from North America to South America.
Canaveral National Seashore preserves barrier island habitat on the Atlantic Ocean. With beautiful public beaches, scrub habitat, dune hiking trails and islands in Mosquito Lagoon, there's a lot to explore. Gulf Islands National Seashore is unique because it's made up of 11 islands scattered in Mississippi and Florida. Known for its sugary-white sand, this Panhandle-area seashore is the ultimate place for beachcombers, campers and shorebird watchers.
National Forests: The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest of the 3 national forests in Florida. It is home to the world's largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers, a bird on the endangered species list. Miles of roads and trails enable you to explore this songbird-rich land. Osceola National Forest, which is south of Okefenokee Swamp (the largest swamp in North America), continues the swampland south from Georgia into Florida with old-growth cypress trees. Osceola National Forest provides important habitat for the Florida black bear, and American robins come here by the thousands in the winter. Ocala National Forest has many beautiful springs that look as though they are lit up from underground. This forest contains the largest sand pine habitat -- a very endangered habitat -- in the world. Combined with rivers, streams and a border facing Lake George (the state's second-largest lake after Okeechobee), the Ocala is a great place to take a canoe or kayak.
National Wildlife Refuges: Of Florida's many national wildlife refuges, we think the following provide the best opportunities to explore nature:
Lake Woodruff: The Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 as a migratory bird refuge. It is located in the western part of Volusia County, near the community of DeLeon Springs.
Hobe Sound: Visit where sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach and where osprey hunt for fish. When it comes to parks, the Treasure Coast provides full-service ball parks, shuffleboard, racquetball, tennis courts, fishing holes for fresh and salt water fishing, numerous boat ramps to launch your personal craft for a day of fun on the water, or a river cruise at a local marina, bicycle paths that connect areas of the county, and scuba diving on offshore natural and artificial reefs. Loxahatchee: Explore this northern section of the Everglades that many Everglades visitors never see. The Loxahatchee River Canoe Trail is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. This is also the first river in Florida designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The coffee-colored Loxahatchee meanders through a subtropical river swamp. The Seminole’s named the river “Loxahatchee”, which means river of turtles. Bald cypress, pond apple, orchid, and fern line the bank. Heron and osprey fly overhead. Merritt Island Hike: bike or drive through brackish marshland rich in wildlife of all kinds. The seven mile journey you are about to take will provide you views of many of the animals found in the vast marshes and impoundments of the refuge. The one-way road will accommodate large recreational vehicles and ends on S.R. 406.
National J.N. "Ding" Darling : Hike, bike or drive past mud flats and mangroves full of birds, manatees, gators and crocs. The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations.
Lower Suwannee & Ceder Keys : Paddle in 36,000 acres of wetlands and hike through pine forests near the historic Suwannee River to see bald eagles and migratory birds. The Suwannee River (Lower) Canoe Trail is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. This section of the Suwannee River begins at Suwannee River State Park and continues downstream for 51.7 miles. Most of the time, the lower Suwannee River is wide, tranquil and gentle, and the scenery is spectacular. St. Marks : This unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. It is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses 68,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida. The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life.
St. Vincent: St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, in Franklin County, Florida, is an undeveloped barrier island just offshore from the mouth of the Apalachicola River, in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is managed to preserve, in as natural a state as possible, its highly varied plant and animal communities. Florida's state parks, forests and wildlife management areas
Florida State Parks: About 12 million people visit Florida state parks each year, with the largest number to any one state park going to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Florida state parks give you places to snorkel, dive, swim, paddle, fish, boat, waterski, cave, camp, hike, bike, skate ... and probably more in nearly every corner of Florida, at a bargain price.
Florida State Forests:
Wildlife Management Areas: The Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in central Florida south of Kissimmee is one of the best places to see bald eagles in the continental United States, along with whooping cranes and several other species. As part of the Everglades north of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area is full of pine flatwoods, ponds, swamps -- and wildlife. Raised dirt roads take you through some of the watery areas, while the Florida National Scenic Trail winds through the uplands. Between the Tolomato River and the Atlantic Ocean north of St. Augustine lies a barrier island good for waterfowl watching: Guana River Wildlife Management Area & State Park. This site is also good for seeing wading birds and raptors -- especially peregrine falcons. Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area south of Punta Gorda is good woodland habitat, so you can look out for woodpeckers, rabbits, deer and various songbirds.
The more you know about Florida's natural areas, the more you'll be able to distinguish them. And as you travel and explore them, you'll find that many natural areas are adjacent to each other. For example, in southwestern Florida, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Park, Fakahatchee Strand State Forest and Picayune Strand State Forest all come together to make up one huge protected area -- and that Collier-Seminole SP and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Marine Research Area aren't far away, adding even more to the preservation. If you're not overwhelmed by all of these natural areas in Florida, then try Alaska!
On that note, many tent campers may want to stay away from campgrounds made for RVs or campgrounds that get heavy RV use. This isn't a matter of looking down on RVers, but tent campers may want an area to themselves. There's something to be said for those who head to the wilderness for the sounds of nature, and instead get the hum of generators and the sound of the football game on the satellite TV. (One time while enjoying a campfire breakfast next to our tent, our RV neighbor spent about 5 minutes vacuuming the turf carpeting outside his door.) Many campgrounds are set up to put tent campers away from the others for this purpose. Tents are the least expensive shelter, of course. They can store in your closet, along with sleeping bags. If you want to hike 6 miles to a primitive campsite, you can do so with your tent. A variety of tents on the market may make purchasing one a tough choice. The one factor we suggest on a tent is having screen windows on more than one side, to allow breezes to blow through. This helps air out the tent, and in Florida, you'll likely want that breeze on most days. If not, you can always zip the flaps over the screens. Other features -- how tall it is, how easy it is to put up and take down, how much it weighs, how many people it sleeps -- are just a matter of your taste and budget. The downside of tent camping is that you may be tempted to also bring along an air mattress, folding chairs and various other accessories that clutter your car and make packing more difficult! Campers seem to be the middle ground for many people. Like RVs, they provide more solid shelter than tents and provide many of the comforts of home. But unlike RVs, you can't drive them, so they have to be towed. Campers are also more compact than RVs, which may be a plus to many people. New campers can be almost luxurious, but if price is a consideration, you may find a slightly used one for sale that will be just the thing for you. RVs are the only way to go for many people. Fuel up, and there's nowhere you can't travel to. It's like an apartment on wheels. Depending on your budget, your RV can be elite or just nicely basic. An RV can be quite an expense, so do plenty of research and talk to several dealers before buying one. You may consider buying a used RV as an alternative. Or if an occasional trip is all you're interested in, consider renting one from RV America. Many out-of-state RV owners come to Florida in the winter months. Some travel around the South, but others stay put at campgrounds that allow long stays. If this interests you, make sure you ask your campground about the maximum allowable stay. When camping, you'll typically pay more than tent campers to park your RV at campgrounds, but you may get a discount if you pay a month or so in advance.
Florida Camping - Weather: Winter brings Florida the dry season and mild, sunny days that are perfect for being outdoors. There are few days when rain and cool temperatures are in the forecast. However, you should still be prepared. Between December and May, make sure you have a warm-up suit or other warm clothing and a blanket when camping. It can be in the 80s (F) in the daytime and dip into the 30s (F) at night in the winter, so packing a range of clothing is the best way to prepare. The wet season -- hurricane season -- rarely sees temperatures under 80 (F), and with the heat index, the temperature and humidity can feel as though the temperature is more than 100 (F). Rain is common in the afternoon, and sometimes it rains all day. If you plan to camp between June and November, always be aware of the forecast, and be prepared to get wet. This hot, wet weather can bring out mosquitoes and other insects that can make the outdoors unpleasant. Tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes can loom on the coast and even come inland. The months that see the most tropical activity are August, September and October, but "hurricane season" defines the months between June and November. If a hurricane were to reach the area of Florida you were camping in, you'd likely be evacuated from your campground. So if you haven't been scared away from camping during these months, always have a backup plan -- such as knowing the location of a nearby hotel or, if a major hurricane blows through, being prepared to travel several hours away, perhaps to another state, depending on the forecast. Please take note that Florida has been experiencing a drought for the past few years, and even the wet season hasn't been very wet. Low water levels may affect your campground water use, fishing plans and wildlife viewing, and dry conditions may prevent you from legally making a campfire.
Florida Camping - Checklist:
Florida Camping - Do's & Don'ts Follow any rules your campground has. You don't want to be fined or asked to leave, and you don't want to make things worse for other campers by encouraging the campground manager to make stricter rules in the future. Some rules may include the prohibition of pets and alcohol, observed quiet times at night and guidelines for campfires. It's also common sense to clean up after yourself before you leave your campsite. Don't leave trash that can ruin the site for not only the next camper, but for the wildlife who may visit. Even if it's a gum wrapper or a cigarette butt, please dispose of it properly. Don't feed any wildlife, especially if they seem to be asking for a handout. It's dangerous for wild animals to associate people with food because they can become aggressive. When that happens, wildlife managers often have no choice but to kill the animals. Another unfortunate result of feeding animals is that their natural diet can be disrupted, and they can suffer from malnutrition, which can make it hard for them to bear young or even make them die. Lastly, animals that are too used to people may become too comfortable in our presence, making it easy for people with ill intentions to harm these animals that have now become too trusting.
If you really care about wildlife, please don't feed them.
Camping will continue to be enjoyable as long as each camper acts responsibly. Florida Tourism Industry topics Featured: Florida Brochures ~ Florida Brochure Design ~ Florida Brochure Printing ~ Florida Brochure Distribution ~ Florida Brochure Services including Ocala, Tallahassee, Gainsvills, Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Sarasota by the "Brochureguys!" ~ Florida Suncoast Tourism Promotions, Inc. |
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North of Everglades National Park's boundaries is 
Crystal River & 
Suwannee River country is what you'll find at 
Florida Camping: Tent, Camper or RV?|
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