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1213 RV Parks, RV Resorts, & Campgrounds in Florida

1213 Florida RV Parks & Campgrounds

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FLORIDA IS OPEN AND CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO CAMP.

Hurricane Ian was a devastating storm and caused major flooding and severe damage along the coastal areas of Ft. Myers Beach, Captive and Sanibel Island and Estero Bay and Bonita Springs. Some RV parks received extensive damage and will be closed for an extended period of time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these park owners, their staff, and their guests who’s lives and businesses have been temporarily devastated by this storm. We wish them the best as they rebuild.

Fortunately most of the parks in the SW Florida have re-opened and have power. Florida is a very large state with over 800 RV parks, and SW Florida has more RV parks than any other area of the state. Rest assured Florida is open for visitors and welcoming all RVers and campers.

Please continue to travel and camp in Florida. Whether you are wanting to camp now, or are waiting for the Snow Bird Season to start, you will be happy you picked Florida. You can find your perfect RV site right here on www.campflorida.com. If you have any questions, or would like assistance, you can call the Camp Florida office at 850-562-7151. Thank you, we appreciate you choosing Florida as your vacation and RV park destination.

NOTE: If you are planning a trip to SW Florida is advisable to reach out to RV parks to check on their status and site availability, and be sure to make reservations in advance.

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You'll Love Florida RV Camping

Camping with kids is great family fun, some extra planning and precautions will make the trip more fun and memorable.

Tent camping allows you to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors without the distraction of modern conveniences.

Whether you are headed on a weekend trip or you are planning an extended tour of Florida with Fido or kitty, you need to plan ahead.

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Welcome To Camp Florida RV Parks

Florida's premier rv park and campground directory - the trusted source for rving and camping in florida.

Florida is one of the most popular RVing and Camping destinations in the Nation. It has everything you could possibly want - beautiful beaches, lakes and rivers, unlimited recreational activities, the finest restaurants, shops and attractions, professional and college sporting events, world-class fishing, and amazing weather; but most importantly, Florida has hundreds of the best RV Parks and Campgrounds in the world. CampFlorida.com makes it easy to explore Florida and to find your perfect RV park or campsite. You can search for Florida RV Parks and Campgrounds by region or by amenities or city location. Once you've selected your criteria you can review the park descriptions, photos or videos, and find detailed information on each park. You can also find RV Parks and Campgrounds by their map location. Just select "View on Map". Experience everything Florida has to offer and create memories that will last a lifetime... Camp Florida!

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Featured Campgrounds

30a luxury rv resort.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 30A Luxury RV Resort is the most luxurious resort in Florida. Our passion for hospitality will be sure to make your stay on 30a the best it can be. For more information visit our website.

Amenities: Camp Fire Allowed, Credit Cards Accepted, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, Playground Facilities, Recreation Hall, Restrooms and Swimming Pool

Features: Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites and Pull Thru Sites

Camping On The Gulf

Destin, FL Camping On The Gulf is the “Destination RV Park of Northwest Florida.” Located in Northwest Florida, Destin offers beautiful beaches, fishing, boating, shopping, dining, golf or you can join in the planned activities and use the amenities at Camping On The Gulf.

Amenities: Basketball, Beach Access, Boating/Canoeing, Camp Store, Credit Cards Accepted, Fishing, Game Room, Golf Cart Rentals, Group Facilities, Hot Tub/Spa, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, LP Gas, Pavilion, Pet Friendly, Planned Activities, Playground Facilities, Pool Table, Recreation Hall, Restrooms, Shuffleboard and Swimming Pool

Features: Accommodates Double Slideouts, Beach Front Sites, Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites, Tent Sites and Waterfront Sites

Fisheating Creek Outpost

Palmdale, FL Get up-close to nature. Paddle the cypress swamps or hike the hardwood forests. See a variety of wildlife from alligators, birds, black bear and more. Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one of ours. Shaded tent or RV campsites, most have full hookups, 30/50 amp service and W/S. Waterfront tent sites available. Restrooms and Campstore.

Amenities: Boat Rentals, Boating/Canoeing, Camp Fire Allowed, Camp Store, Dump Station, Fishing, Pet Friendly and Restrooms

Features: Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Riverfront/Lakefront RV Sites, Tent Sites and Waterfront Sites

Fisherman's Cove RV Resort

Palmetto, FL Fisherman’s Cove RV Resort, located in the S. Tampa Bay area on Florida's West Central Gulf Coast. It's the only resort located on the serene and secluded shores of Terra Ceia Bay with waterway access to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishermen .. bring your entire family, because our resort has amenities that suit all. As well, the immediate area is packed with places for adventure, entertainment, and more.

Amenities: Boat Launch, Boating/Canoeing, Cable TV/Satellite, Credit Cards Accepted, Dog Park, Fishing, Fitness Center, Game Room, Group Facilities, Hot Tub/Spa, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, Pavilion, Pet Friendly, Planned Activities, Pool Table, Recreation Hall, Restrooms, RV Storage, Shuffleboard and Swimming Pool

Features: Accommodates Double Slideouts, Electric 30 amp, Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Waterfront Sites and Rally Friendly

Flat Creek Family Campground

Chattahoochee, FL Located south of interstate 10, on Flat Creek Rd (Exit 166) approximately 30 miles west of Tallahassee.

Amenities: Camp Fire Allowed, Camp Store, Dog Park, Laundromat, LP Gas, Pet Friendly, Playground Facilities, Recreation Hall, Restrooms and Swimming Pool

Features: Electric 30 amp, Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites and Tent Sites

Keystone Heights RV Resort

Keystone Heights, FL Beautiful new RV resort located 30 min N. of Gainesville. Locally owned & operated. Gated and secure with on-site rentals, mini-golf, pickleball, a gorgeous pool, hot tub, sauna and more. Big Rig Friendly - huge RV sites with concrete slabs and exquisite landscaping. Perfect for guests that enjoy an active, adult, RV lifestyle. Our Resort stands out from the rest, earning a 10-10-10 Goodsam rating

Amenities: Cable TV/Satellite, Credit Cards Accepted, Dog Park, Fishing, Group Facilities, Hot Tub/Spa, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, Miniature Golf, Pavilion, Pet Friendly, Planned Activities, Pool Table, Recreation Hall, Restrooms, RV Storage, Shuffleboard and Swimming Pool

Features: Accommodates Double Slideouts, Electric 30 amp, Electric 50 amp, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites, Riverfront/Lakefront RV Sites, Waterfront Sites and Rally Friendly

Madison RV & Golf Resort

Madison, FL The Madison RV & Golf Resort features 95 spacious RV sites that are Big Rig friendly, and include back-in, pull-thru and waterfront options. All lots are a spacious 80’ long x 37’ wide with beautiful landscaping for privacy! The park is pet friendly and offers many amenities, including: a beautiful 9 hole golf course, pickle ball court, swimming pool, fishing and more.

Amenities: Camp Fire Allowed, Dog Park, Fishing, Fitness Center, Golf Cart Rentals, Golf Course, Group Facilities, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, LP Gas, Pet Friendly, Recreation Hall, RV Storage and Swimming Pool

Features: Accommodates Double Slideouts, Electric 30 amp, Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites and Waterfront Sites

North Beach Camp Resort

St. Augustine, FL North Beach Camp Resort is a beautifully wooded campground spanning a barrier island from the Atlantic Ocean to Tolomato River. Just 5 miles north of downtown St. Augustine and historic sites. Enjoy the sunrise and beach from our ocean deck and the sunset from our fishing pier and river deck.

Amenities: Basketball, Beach Access, Boat Launch, Boating/Canoeing, Bocce Ball, Cable TV/Satellite, Camp Fire Allowed, Camp Store, Credit Cards Accepted, Dump Station, Fishing, Game Room, Group Facilities, Handicapped Access, Horseshoes, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, LP Gas, Pet Friendly, Planned Activities, Playground Facilities, Pool Table, Recreation Hall, Restaurant, Restrooms, RV Storage, Shuffleboard and Swimming Pool

Features: Accommodates Double Slideouts, Electric 30 amp, Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites, Tent Sites and Waterfront Sites

Twin Lakes Camp Resort

Defuniak Springs, FL A truly unique Florida resort nestled on a peninsula between Lake Holley and Lake King. This property enjoys over two thousand feet of water-frontage boasting a view from any Site, Cabin or Glamping Tent.

Amenities: Boat Launch, Boat Rentals, Boating/Canoeing, Cable TV/Satellite, Camp Fire Allowed, Camp Store, Credit Cards Accepted, Fishing, Fitness Center, Internet/Wifi Available, Laundromat, Pet Friendly, Playground Facilities, Recreation Hall, Restrooms and Swimming Pool

Features: Electric 50 amp, Family Friendly, Full Hookup Sites, Other Rental Accommodations, Pull Thru Sites, Riverfront/Lakefront RV Sites, Tent Sites and Waterfront Sites

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10 of florida's great rv parks.

St. George Island State Park -Collins Vacation Rentals

A snorkeler takes the plunge and enjoys the sandy floor of Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest. -Julie Fletcher for VISIT FLORIDA

RV camping at Fort Wilderness is about as family friendly as it gets. -Kevin Mims for VISIT FLORIDA

Tourists rest on the beach at Fort de Soto Park. -Lara Cerri

A traffic jam, African style, at Lion Country Safari. -Jill Martin. VISIT FLORIDA

The campsites at Bahia Honda Park are amazing. -Lauren Tjaden

By Kevin Mims It's no secret that Florida is one of the most popular destinations for RV'ers, especially in the winter months. RV parks in Florida are easy to find and range from rustic retreats all the way up to high-end private resorts.

The typical RV'er is changing, too. More and more, working couples and young families are discovering the lifestyle, hitting the road on weekends and vacations – with a few even deciding to ditch their sticks-and-bricks home in favor of full-time wandering. 

Heading to the Sunshine State? Here's a list of some of the best RV parks in Florida you should visit on your travels that offer a well-rounded experience that's affordable and fun for everyone in your crew.

1. Florida Caverns State Park , Marianna

We’ve got more than our fair share of natural wonders, but one of the most interesting has to be Florida Caverns State Park. See colorful stalagmites, stalactites and other formations on the cave tour. Hiking, biking, equestrian camping and kayaking on the Chipola River can be done right at the park, plus there is a 9-hole golf course located at the entrance.

2. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park , Santa Rosa Beach

Hook up at one of 156 big-rig friendly sites at Gregory E. Moore RV Resort (it’s in the park) and take a tram down to one of the most unbelievable beaches in the state. Hiking trails showcase Morris and Campbell Lakes, two ultra rare coastal dune lakes that can only be found in a handful of places in the entire world.

3. Anastasia State Park , St. Augustine

If you’re planning to explore St. Augustine, you won’t find a better spot to set up base camp. Downtown is only 10 minutes away, but you’ll definitely want to set aside plenty of time to relax in the park too. Hit the beach, the trails or just relax in camp. You’ve got lots of options.

4. Fort Pickens Campground , Pensacola

The further you drive back on Fort Pickens Road in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the further back in time it feels. 200 sites are nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay, offering a great location for hiking, beach activities (Langdon Beach is awesome), or exploring Fort Pickens and other military gun batteries nearby.

5. St. George Island State Park

It’s located in a section of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast, but camping here is anything but forgettable. St. George Island always gets plenty of love from Dr. Beach (it’s currently ranked as the third best beach in the U.S.), so you can imagine why it's one of the best RV parks in Florida. Bring boats, swim trunks and plenty of sunscreen for this one.

6. Juniper Springs National Recreation Area , Ocala

No trip to Florida is complete without checking out a crystal-clear freshwater spring. Set up camp at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest, and you’ll see what the fuss is all about. Don’t miss a kayak or canoe trip down seven-mile Juniper Run, one of the most breathtaking and popular paddling trips in the country.

7. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort , Orlando

Disney, you say? Yep, RV camping at Fort Wilderness is pretty darn nice. Of course, it’s about as family friendly as it gets – pet friendly, too – and is an affordable lodging choice if you are planning to visit the theme parks. You’ll have easy access to the Magic Kingdom and the ability to see fireworks right from the campground. Give it a shot; you’ll definitely be surprised.

8. Bahia Honda State Park , Florida Keys

Located at Mile Marker 36.8 on Big Pine Key, Bahia Honda State Park is one of the most sought after camping locations in the country. It can be a little tricky to get a reservation (this goes for everywhere in the Keys) so make sure to do some advance planning if you are looking to get a spot in paradise. There’s only one problem: you can’t stay forever.

9. Lion Country Safari KOA , Loxahatchee

It’s not common to hear lions roaring from your campsite – in Florida, anyway – but that’s exactly what you’ll hear at Lion Country KOA, making it one of the most unique, best RV parks in Florida. Big-rig friendly sites give you easy access to all the fun next door at Lion Country Safari, plus the campground is located about halfway between West Palm Beach and the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee.

10. Fisherman's Cove , Tampa Bay

This RV resort backs up to paradise. Terra Ceia Bay is a playground for paddlers and anglers. Across the bay is Terra Ceia Preserve State Park and nearly 2,000 acres of mangroves, hiking trails, and waterways. Visitors can stay home and stay fit in the pool and on the pickle ball courts. Or, the day trip options are infinite. You are 25 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Anna Maria Island, and miles of Gulf-coast beaches.

For more information about RV camping in the Sunshine State, check out CampFlorida.com .

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15 Best Florida State Parks for RV Camping

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Florida is the ultimate winter RV camping destination. However, most RV parks in Florida are cramped and many lack shade trees. State parks generally have larger campsites with better views and access to nature. Here are the 15 best Florida State Parks for RV camping.

The only downside to camping in state parks is they limit stays to two weeks. If you are looking for a longer camping reservation in Florida, check out our lists of the top luxury RV resorts in Florida and the best Florida RV campgrounds for families with kids.

• 1.1 Bahia Honda State Park
• 1.2 Collier-Seminole State Park
• 1.3 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• 1.4 Jonathan Dickinson State Park
• 2.1 Colt Creek State Park
• 2.2 Little Manatee River State Park
• 2.3 Myakka River State Park
• 2.4 Rainbow Springs State Park
• 3.1 Florida Caverns State Park
• 3.2 Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
• 3.3 Grayton Beach State Park
• 4.1 Anastasia State Park
• 4.2 Faver-Dykes State Park
• 4.3 Fort Clinch State Park
• 4.4 Little Talbot Island State Park
• 5.1 Make Reservations Early
• 5.2 Check Length Restrictions

Best Southern Florida State Parks for RV Camping

Bahia honda state park.

Location: Big Pine Key, Florida

About the Park

For those looking to enjoy sun and sand, Bahia Honda State Park is an amazing destination. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda offers an array of water activities, including snorkeling, swimming and kayaking. Visitors can bring their own snorkel gear or rent some at the park, and enjoy snorkeling right from the park’s shore. More adventurous travelers can book a tour aboard the Coral Reef Park Company’s snorkel boat to visit the amazing Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, the most spectacular reef in the Florida Keys. Landlubbers will enjoy the largest natural sand beach in the Keys.

About the RV Campground

The Buttonwood campground at Bahia Honda State Park offers campsites for small and large RVs. These sites are the largest in the park and have gravel pads. All Buttonwood campsites have electric hookups, water, a picnic table and grill. There is also a bathhouse with restrooms and hot showers and a dump station. Sites 12 through 25 are waterfront, offering incredible views, but little shade. If you plan to book a waterfront campsite, check out our favorite RV shade solutions.

Collier-Seminole State Park

Location: Naples, Florida

Collier-Seminole State Park lies partly within the great mangrove swamp of South Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. A wide variety of wildlife, including black bear, alligators, ospreys and white ibis, inhabits this unusual blend of temperate and tropical native plant communities. The park has four nature trails for hikers, including two hikes through its unique cypress strand swamp. With the Blackwater River flowing through the park, there are also plenty of opportunities for paddlers to explore.

About the RV C ampground

The campground at Collier-Seminole State Park is considered a tropical outpost on the edge of the Everglades. All 105 sites have electricity, water, a grill and a picnic table. The campground also offers laundry facilities, bathhouses with hot showers and a dump station. There are also plenty of trees surrounding the RV sites, so campers can stay cool on warm days.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Location: Key Largo, Florida

Another awesome state park in the Florida Keys, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers amazing underwater experiences. Renowned for being the country’s first undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses an impressive 70 nautical square miles. While many visitors view the park’s colorful coral reefs and teeming marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour, one can get an even closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling.

Back on land, the campground has 42 campsites with full RV hookups, a picnic table and a grill. Most sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. The sites also offer level, gravel pads. A bathhouse is available for campers, and a short nature trail can be accessed directly from the campground.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Location: Hobe Sound, Florida

Located near the Atlantic coast, Jonathan Dickinson State Park features a variety of environments, including coastal sand hills, upland lakes, scrub forests and the Loxahatchee River. On land, the park has an extensive trail system for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Guided trail rides are available in the winter season, and allow campers to experience the park on horseback without bringing their own pony. For visitors who prefer the water, the Loxahatchee River is a beautiful river for canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Equipment rentals are available at the park.

Jonathan Dickinson actually has two RV-friendly campgrounds. The Pine Grove Campground, with 90 sites, is located near the ranger station on the east side of the park. The River Campground, with 52 sites, is about four miles from the park entrance, near the Loxahatchee River. Both campgrounds have bathhouses with hot showers and laundry facilities. All campsites include water, electricity, picnic table and a grill; sewer hookups are also included at all Pine Grove campsites.

Best Central Florida State Parks for RV Camping

Colt creek state park.

Location: Lakeland, Florida

Comprised of large strands of vulnerable longleaf pine flatwoods, lakes and winding creeks, thick cypress domes and open vistas, Colt Creek State Park is home to many species of plants and animals. Visitors can enjoy more than 15 miles of multi-use trails, shared by hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. Lakes within the park are a great place to bird or spot wildlife, and visitors can rent canoes and kayaks to get out on the lake.

About the Campground

The campground at Colt Creek offers 27 full hookup campsites for RVs. All of the RV sites have large pads and a gravel sitting area with a picnic table and fire ring. Most of these large sites have room for RVs and tow vehicles 60 feet or longer. A bathhouse and dump station are available to all campers. The park’s 2 accessible RV campsites have concrete pads with walkways to the bathhouse.

Little Manatee River State Park

Location: Wimauma, Florida

Within this state park, the Little Manatee River flows for 4.5 miles through 11 unique natural communities within the park. The park boasts one of the premier hiking trails of Florida, a 6.5-mile stacked loop located in the wilderness area in the north half of the park. Picnic pavilions along the river provide scenic spots to eat and relax. Campers can also paddle on the river’s designated paddling trails.

The loop campground contains 30 sites for tent or RV camping. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, water and electric hookups. A bathhouse with hot water showers and laundry facilities is located in the center of the camping loop. The largest campsite can accommodate vehicles up to 75 feet long. A dump station is also available to all campers.

Myakka River State Park

Location: Sarasota, Florida

The majestic Myakka River flows through its namesake state park, of one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks. The beautiful park also features arching palm trees and live oaks that sit above the winding tea-colored river. The Myakka is also home to several species of wildlife, include alligators, limpkins, osprey and turtles. Hikers will love this state park for its 38.9-mile hiking loop. The loop intersects several backcountry roads, allowing visitors to shorten the loop to their desired length. Campers can also rent canoes and kayaks to take paddling on the 14 miles of river that flow through the state park.

Myakka River is one of the best Florida State Parks for RV camping because it has three well-equipped campgrounds. The Palmetto Ridge campground is the top pick because there are laundry facilities and all of the campsites have gravel pads and full hookups. The Old Prairie and Big Flats campgrounds have dirt campsites with water and electric hookups. All of the campgrounds have bathhouses with hot showers.

Rainbow Springs State Park

Location: Dunnellon, Florida

Rainbow Springs State Park is built around the sapphire-blue waters of the Rainbow River headsprings. The springs provide activities for visitors of all ages. Many campers enjoy cooling off in the 72 degree natural swimming area. Further down the river, away from the headsprings, visitors can also rent tubes and enjoy a relaxing float. More active travelers can rent canoes or kayaks and explore the park by water. Back on land, the park offers easy trails through shady gardens with azaleas, oaks, magnolias and three man-made waterfalls.

Rainbow Springs State Park’s campground is located along the Rainbow River, at a separate facility a few miles from the main headspring and day use area. However, campers do not need to leave the campground to enjoy the water. The campground has direct access to the river where campers can fish, swim and snorkel. All of the campsites offer full hookups and some sites can accommodate RVs up to 103 feet long! Other amenities include a campground store, showers and restrooms, laundry and a playground.

Best Florida Panhandle State Parks for RV Camping

Florida caverns state park.

Location: Marianna, Florida

On our list of the best Florida State Parks for RV camping, Florida Caverns is one of the few parks not built around a water feature. Instead visitors to this park will head underground to explore stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones within the cave. Guided cavern tours are offered year-round. Tour tickets are first-come, first-served and can be purchased at the gift shop starting at 9am on the morning of the tour. In addition to the cave, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy multi-use hiking ang cycling trails.

The Blue Hole camping area at Florida Caverns offers 32 RV-friendly campsites with water, electric and sewer hookups. The sites also have picnic tables, in-ground grills and fire rings and can accommodate RVs up to 32 feet long. Bathhouses and a dump station are available for campers. The campground is shaded and is within walking distance to the park’s trail system.

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park

Location: Niceville, Florida

A former World War II gunnery and bombing practice range has been transformed into a stunning natural landscape shaded by longleaf pines, some over 300 years old. This beautiful park’s centerpiece is Rocky Bayou, the trailing arm of Choctowhatchee Bay and a prime spot for saltwater fishing. The park also offers three hiking trails, including the Red Cedar Trail which home to impressive red cedar trees along with many other varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the park, and paddlers often spot otters, dolphins and a variety of bird species.

The campground at Fred Gannon offers 42 spacious, clean and shady sites for RVs and tents. Each site has electric and water hookups, a picnic table and a fire ring. All campers have access to modern bathhouses and laundry facilities. Several of the campsites (sites 28 through 35) are directly across from the Bayou and offer water views. The campground also provides direct access to some of the park’s hiking trails.

Grayton Beach State Park

Location: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Grayton Beach State Park offers something for everyone. Grayton Beach consistently ranks among the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States. Further inland, the park’s Western Lake offers fishing and paddling. Those who want to explore on foot have 4 miles of trails to traverse through a coastal forest where scrub oaks and magnolias are bent and twisted by salt winds.

Grayton Beach campground has 59 camping sites and is one of the nicest state park campgrounds along the Gulf Coast. Each RV site comes with electricity and water and some sites also have sewer hookups. The maximum RV length at this state park is 40 feet. All of the RV sites have gravel pads, and the best sites back-up directly onto Western Lake.

Best Northeast Florida State Parks for RV Camping

Anastasia state park.

Location: St. Augustine, Florida

More than 1,600 acres of unspoiled beaches, tidal marshes, maritime hammocks and ancient sand dunes make Anastasia State Park a captivating destination for visitors. Visitors should plan to spend their days in or near the water. The white sand beaches provide great opportunities for shelling, walking and wildlife observation. For those who prefer to be in the water, the area offers four miles of beach break for surfing. There is also an estuarine tidal marsh where campers can enjoy cruising in rented kayaks or canoes. The Ancient Dunes Trail, the only hiking trail in the park, loops through a shaded maritime hammock and meanders through the ancient dunes.

The campground at Anastasia State Park is both big and beautiful. There are 139 campsites, all of which offer water and electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings. Campsites can accommodate RVs up to 38 feet long. Located within the maritime hammock, the campground is just a short bike ride or walk to the park’s beach. Anastasia also offers the Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library of picture books for campers ages 4 to 9. Campers cans stop at the ranger station to check out a book.

Faver-Dykes State Park

Half an hour south from Anastasia State Park is Faver-Dykes, another great Florida state park with RV camping. The park’s main attraction is Pellicer Creek, which lies along the park’s southern border. The creek offers opportunities for boating, paddling, birding and wildlife watching. It is also one of the most pristine estuarine tidal marshes on the east coast of Florida, with abundant salt and fresh water fish.

The park has 30 RV campsites, located in a shady hardwood hammock with natural vegetation buffers between most of the sites. All of the sites have electric and water hookups, a fire pit, a grill and a picnic table. These sites can only accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length. A bathhouse and dump station are available for all campers.

Fort clinch state park.

Location: Fernandina Beach, Florida

History meets nature at Fort Clinch State Park. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover or a bit of both, enjoy exploring the unique natural and historic resources of this pristine park. Fort Clinch is a preserved Civil War era fort that sits on the St. Mary’s river right across from the Georgia border ( click here to check out the best RV parks in Georgia to stay at on your drive south ) . Visitors can explore the fort’s many rooms, galleries and grounds, and learn about the life of a Union soldier through unparalleled living history programs. The historic fort is only one aspect of this diverse 1,400-acre park. Maritime hammocks with massive arching live oaks provide a striking backdrop for hiking and biking on the park’s many trails.

Fort Clinch State Park offers 63 RV-friendly campsites in two separate and unique campgrounds. The Amelia River campground offers 42 campsites surrounded by shady, Spanish moss-laden oak trees and breathtaking views of the river. Located just steps from the ocean, Atlantic Beach campground offers 21 sunny RV sites surrounded by snow white sand dunes. All sites have water and electric hookups, and both campgrounds have dump stations, laundry machines and bathhouses.

Little Talbot Island State Park

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Last but least on our list of the best Florida State Parks for RV camping is Little Talbot Island. The island is one of a handful of undeveloped barrier islands remaining in Northeast Florida. Boasting more than 5 miles of pristine beaches and 3 miles of bike trails, Little Talbot offers untouched natural beauty and diverse ecosystems for visitors to explore. In addition to the white sand and rolling surf typical of many beaches in the area, there are also eroding sun-bleached roots and fallen trunks of cedar and palm that create incredible natural sculptures. Visitors enjoy beachcombing, surfing, fishing, hiking, birdwatching and kayaking.

The campground at Little Talbot Island State Park offers 36 campsites with water and electric hookups, fire rings and picnic tables. The campground also offers a laundry facility, children’s playground and two bathhouses with hot showers. Winding tidal creeks border the western edge of the campground where a short dock and canoe and kayak launch is available to campers.

Florida State Park RV Camping Tips

As your can see from this list there are many amazing RV campgrounds within the Florida State Park system. However, booking RV campsites in Florida always requires planning and preparation.

Make Reservations Early

Reservations at Florida State Parks can be made online up to 11 months in advance. Most of the campgrounds on our list of the best Florida State Parks for RV camping are very popular and may book up the same day reservations are released. The earlier a reservation is made, the more likely you are to score a campsite with a great view. If you are booking last minute, consider camping on weeknights when more sites are likely to be available.

Check Length Restrictions

Most Florida State Parks have length restrictions on RVs. Some parks can only accommodate short RVs while others have big rig friendly campsites. Visit the park website to confirm the maximum RV length for each park. Also, check the maximum length for specific campsites when making your reservation. If you show up with an RV that is too big for the campsite, you will likely be turned away.

Florida has so many beautiful natural places to explore. Staying at state parks allows visitors to truly enjoy the best parts of the Sunshine State. Which of the parks on our list of the best Florida State Parks for RV Camping is your favorite? Share your pick with us in the comments below.

For more winter RV destinations, check out our list of the best warm-weather winter RV road trips and our favorite Arizona RV parks.

Happy Camping!

Christina Pate is a seasoned full-time RVer who, along with her husband Justin, has journeyed across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Drawing from her extensive travels, RV repairs and RV renovations, she founded Travels with Ted to guide and inspire fellow RV enthusiasts. Christina is also the co-author of The Owner’s Guide to RV Maintenance and the creator of My RV Log Book .

The 10 Best RV Parks in Florida

Due to its pleasant weather, Florida is one of the most popular destinations for RVers, and it also has some of the best RV parks in the country to accommodate sunshine seekers.

If you’re looking for an exciting, adventurous RV destination, Florida has some of the best in the country. Here are five of the best RV parks and campgrounds in the state to check out on your next trip south.

Camp Gulf (Destin)

You’ve heard of beachside RV parks, but Camp Gulf is actually on the beach in scenic Destin . Open your front door every morning to sugar sand beaches and the emerald waters of the gulf coast. Destin is a paradise for those looking to kick back, relax, have a cocktail, and read a good book with their toes in the sand.

Relax all day on the beach, or venture into Destin for some fabulous shopping and delicious seafood. Camp Gulf is outfitted with all the amenities you will need, plus two heated pools, a spa, golf cart rental, and even soft serve ice cream.

Jetty Park Campground (Cape Canaveral)

Park your RV in the same place that men launched from to walk on the moon. The launches are still going on today with both NASA and the U.S. Air Force periodically launching vehicles into space, so you’ll have prime viewing from Jetty Park. Make sure to book ahead of time if you know a launch is imminent. 

There are more than rockets launching—you'll spot cruise ships, submarines, and a host of different marine life along the Atlantic coast. You also get all your creature comforts as well with full amenities, large pavilions, fire pits, and 24-hour gated security.

Nature’s Resort RV Park (Homosassa)

Come to play with the manatees at Nature's Resort RV Park located in historical Homosassa Florida. You are surrounded by 97 acres of freshwater streams, rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, and yes, you can even swim with the Homosassa manatees. Follow the Halls River where you can charter a boat for world-class offshore and deep-sea fishing.

On-site amenities include food, 30- and 50-amp hookups, laundry, clean showers, basketball, and volleyball courts. For those staying for an extended period, Nature’s Resort has bingo, dances, and potlucks so you can meet your fellow campers.

Orlando/Kissimmee KOA (Kissimmee)

Talk about location. There are several KOA campsites across Florida, but this one gets the nod due to its unique location. The Orlando/Kissimmee KOA is in the heart of central Florida, a hot spot for several attractions. You are right next to Disney World , Universal Studios , Legoland, and Sea World.

The park itself has many of the amenities that you would expect from a KOA, such as full hookups, 24-hour laundry, Wi-Fi, sauna, and even a private pool open year-round. This KOA is an excellent stop on the way to Disney and if you want a more affordable RV park to stay in the area.

Larry and Penny Thompson Park & Campground (Miami)

If you need a place to stay in Miami, consider Larry and Penny Thompson Park & Campground.  The Thompson Park campground is owned and operated by Miami-Dade County, and is close to plenty of South Florida action. The park is equipped with 240 full hookup sites and plenty of features. There are four bath and laundry facilities, camp store, picnic shelters, and more.

If you find yourself tired of exploring the heart of Miami or nearby Everglades National Park, there is plenty to do right at the 270-acre park including fishing or swimming in their pond, jogging or biking along the trails, or taking in a sunset. Leashed pets are allowed in the RV camping area. 

Pecan Park RV Resort (Jacksonville)

Both Flamingo Lake RV Resort and Pecan Park RV Resorts are great places to stay in Jacksonville, but Pecan Park RV Resort gets the nod due to asphalt RV spots compared to dirt at Flamingo.

Asphalt isn’t Pecan’s only feature. You can pull through the spacious full hook-up sites to enjoy your stay in Jacksonville and enjoy a lunch at your picnic table. There are gas refills, full laundry facilities, and on-site storage. For boredom, there’s a pool, clubhouse, outdoor games, planned activities, and even on-site fishing. Enjoy your time more in Jacksonville by spending your nights at Pecan Park RV Resort. 

Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort (Cortez)

If staying active while full-time RVing is essential to you, then Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort is your destination. This gorgeous resort is nestled into the sleepy town of Cortez, Florida on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Cortez offers a variety of activities that are sure to tug at the heart of any adventurer looking to do more than sitting on the shore after pulling up.

Take advantage of all the warm weather the gulf has to offer at Buttonwood with kayaking, fresh and saltwater fishing, or taking in the views with a pleasant stroll. If you’re feeling lazy, the resort has horseshoes, a picnic area, and even a library in the clubhouse. Buttonwood also has amenities, such as Wi-Fi, digital TV, full hookups, and is pet-friendly.

Lazydays RV Campground (Tampa)

If you’re enjoying the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, you can enjoy it around the clock when you choose Lazydays RV Park. Lazydays is both pet and kid-friendly with plenty of fun to keep both occupied. The park outfits you with full hookup sites to keep you powered up and since this is the same Lazydays as the dealership you know your ride will be well taken care of with on-site detailing and carpet-cleaning services, as well as on-site propane delivery.

They also take care of you with complimentary Wi-Fi, cable, coffee, and access to the amenities. There are laundry facilities, hot-shower bathrooms, and a long list of activities from basketball to doggie obstacle courses hosted by a full-time activities coordinator. There’s a lot to see in the Tampa Bay area, but you may not be able to leave the park when you stay at Lazydays. 

Bluewater Key RV Resort (Key West)

If you’re ready to take your RV trip as far south as possible, you can stay at welcoming Bluewater Key RV Resort. This is one of the most beautiful resorts on our list, as you’ll be stationed right on the deep blue water of the Keys . Every site is privately owned and landscaped with verdant tropical plants and other shading plants. The sites are large, outfitted with full hookups, and you can choose a spot on the Bay or a canal spot with its private dock.

The resort also comes with a pool, activities park, dog park, bright and clean laundry facilities, propane exchange, on-site trash collection, and much more. If you want to be pampered and genuinely enjoy your time in Key West, head straight to Bluewater Key RV Resort. 

St. George Island State Park (St. George Island)

St. George Island State Park is our most private RV park on the list, but that’s what you want when you visit the ‘Forgotten Coast’ of Florida. Though you’re isolated, you still have plenty of great amenities and features. The park features 60 RV sites with electrical and water hookups and a nearby dump station. The spaces themselves are surrounded by historical dunes that allow you to sit and admire the island’s beauty directly from your pad.

St. George is a State Park, so there’s plenty of great outdoor amenities including hiking and biking trails, exhibits, and all the on-the-water fun of the St. George Sound. You can’t technically call it a park amenity, but expect a nighttime sky ablaze with stars at this beautiful park.

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A Complete Guide to the Mississippi River Road Trip

7 of the Best RV Parks for Families

3 of the Best RV Park Review Sites

The 10 Best RV Parks in Arizona

Your Guide to RVing to Disney World

5 of the Best Michigan RV Parks

9 of the Best Ontario RV Parks

5 New Mexico RV Parks You Must Visit

The 10 Best Tennessee RV Parks

5 Ohio RV Parks You Must Visit

Essentials for Your Florida Keys Camping Trip

5 of the Best Vermont RV Parks

Top 5 RV Parks in Utah

10 of the Best Dog-Friendly RV Parks in America

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

25 Best Florida RV Parks For Camping

• Destinations
• Types of Travel
• United States

Florida’s state parks earn high rankings from camping experts. Cheapism.com ranks them number five, while lawnlove.com gives them four. Florida has 52 parks that offer RV camping. Popularity has downsides, it can be hard to book a site, and Florida isn’t the cheapest, but there are some discounts. Rates vary from $16–$42 per night. All Florida state parks have a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RVs.

Let’s explore these expertly picked RV campsites from every corner of Florida.

1. Bahia Honda

Florida keys.

Bahia Honda State Park is one of Florida’s most popular parks. It’s at mile markers 36–38 of the Florida Keys , the closest park with camping to Key West. It’s close to Big Pine Key with its adorable Key Deer. The Keys are a high-priority RVing area and the private parks’ rates average over $100 a night, so Bahia Honda is a bargain with a $36 base rate.

2. Curry Hammock State Park

There are two other state parks in the Keys with camping. Curry Hammock , near the middle of the Keys, offers more secluded sites but is about 20 miles farther from Key West.

3. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef in Key Largo is the country’s first undersea park but about 100 miles from Key West. Sites are small and lack privacy.

Pro Tip: There are some tricks to book at Keys parks and any of the busy Florida parks. Registration opens 11 months in advance at 8 a.m. Eastern. Be on your computer and ready to book precisely at that time. Within a few minutes, they’ll all be booked. Another trick is to keep checking often, and occasionally, someone cancels. Grab that spot fast; it won’t last long. There are websites like Wandering Labs that monitor campgrounds for cancelations. There’s a free version that searches three parks and emails you when sites open. The $30 paid option monitors more often and notifies with texts.

4. Anastasia State Park

St. augustine.

Anastasia State Park is the closest park to popular St. Augustine . You can see the historic lighthouse from the park. It’s a beautiful park with a beach on Salt Run. You can rent kayaks or canoes and watch for wildlife, including dolphins and water birds.

5. Faver Dykes State Park

If you want to visit St. Augustine, but Anastasia is booked, try Faver Dykes State Park . It’s just about a half-hour drive from the Historic District. You pay only $18 per night at Faver Dykes compared to $28 at Anastasia. You lose out on the beach with swimming and surfing, but Faver Dykes is quieter with more trees and larger sites.

6. Florida Caverns State Park

One of the most popular parks at the eastern edge of the Florida Panhandle is Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna . The base camping fee is $20 per night and the cave tour is spectacular.

7. Falling Waters State Park

If you can’t book Florida Caverns, Falling Waters State Park is a quieter park with more private sites, plus a beautiful waterfall and sinkhole. It’s about 25 miles away, so you can still book the cave tour.

8. Three Rivers State Park

Lake seminole.

Three Rivers sits near the Florida-Georgia border where the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers converge to form Lake Seminole — which has some of the best freshwater fishing.

9. Torreya State Park

Torreya is another good choice nearby. It’s named for the Torreya tree, a rare species that grows only on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River. This park is a big bird-watcher site and has a small boat launch. The park has the historic Gregory House you can visit.

10. Grayton Beach State Park

Santa rosa beach.

Towards the western end of the panhandle, Grayton Beach State Park is popular for its coastal dune lake, found in only a few locations worldwide and just two states in the U.S. Because it’s closer to the beach, it’s harder to snag and costs $30 per night.

11. Blackwater River State Park

Blackwater River State Park is another good choice for visiting the western panhandle. It’s about an hour’s drive from Pensacola or Fort Walton and only $20 per night. It’s one of the most beautiful Florida state parks thanks to the Blackwater River. It’s wonderful for kayaking or canoeing.

12. Silver Springs State Park

Central Florida is filled with natural springs. What better place to camp? If the springs, the wildlife, the museum, and the proximity to Ocala and the Ocala National Forest weren’t enough to make Silver Springs State Park a must, the glass-bottomed boat tours make it one of my favorite parks.

13. Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park , near DeLand , is a year-round home to some manatees, but in winter, they’re here in droves. I saw over 50 one day. The boat tour is fantastic. The captain identified countless wild birds and told me things I never knew, like how a blue heron is white in its first year. It’s a good base for visiting Daytona or DeLand.

14. Wekiwa Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park surprised me with many slots open since it’s just about 16 miles from Orlando . It offers swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife viewing. And don’t write off neighboring Seminole County’s fun attractions like the Sanford Ghost Tour and the many breweries. Its German restaurant, Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe, is the best ever.

15. Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs lives up to its name with the winter influx of manatees. Its 800-foot boardwalk engulfs you with cypress trees and opens on its first-magnitude springs. It’s about a half-hour drive to the gulf beaches. Sites are often available and it’s only $20 a night.

16. Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park was once a theme park. Its springs are crystal-clear and popular for swimming or kayaking. Its natural beauty and waterfalls draw the artists you see in the park painting.

17. Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

High springs.

Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park , Florida’s newest state park, has several springs. Swimming and snorkeling are popular in the crystal-clear water. Try paddling the 0.25-mile spring run to the Santa Fe River. The park is near Lake City and Gainesville.

18. Mike Roess Gold Head State Park

Keystone heights.

Sometimes lesser-known parks are real treasures. Mike Roess Gold Head State Park in Keystone Heights is about an hour’s drive to Jacksonville. It’s one of Florida’s oldest state parks. The bathhouse facing Lake Johnson was built by the CCC.

Pro Tip: There’s a hiking trail to an old mill site and the Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the park. I’ve seen rare Sherman fox squirrels here often.

19. O’Leno State Park

O’Leno State Park is another oldie-but-goodie a few miles from Lake City . It has a museum dedicated to the CCC workers who built the park and some of the original CCC buildings. The Nature Center has a small pen for turtles and lots of information inside. Check out the suspension bridge and paddle the Sante Fe River from the boat launch on site.

Pro Tip: It’s just a few miles from Ichetucknee Springs State Park for tubing fun.

20. Tomoka State Park

Daytona beach.

When visiting Daytona Beach , Tomoka State Park is nearby. It’s great for wildlife viewing. There have even been Florida panther sightings in the area and one confirmed in the park in 2008 .

21. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

The forgotten coast.

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is on a barrier island on “ The Forgotten Coast .” Your swimming choices are gulf waves or calm bay. Don’t miss the amazing driftwood along the beach.

Pro Tip: While on the island, visit the historic Cape St. George Lighthouse .

22. Fort Clinch State Park

Jacksonville.

History and nature combine at Fort Clinch State Park , a short distance from Jacksonville . They do re-enactments at the well-preserved Civil War fort. The wildlife and nature are fantastic as well.

23. Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River State Park is minutes from Tampa and a delightful refuge from traffic and crowds. Fort Foster State Historic Site, a reconstructed Seminole Wars fort, is part of the park and offers guided tours occasionally.

24. Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Jonathan Dickinson State Park is the perfect base to visit Palm Beach ; it’s about 15 miles away. You can see from Hobe Sound to the Atlantic from the park’s observation deck. The park offers a trip on the Loxahatchee Queen II to visit the preserved homesite of Trapper Nelson, the self-styled “Wild Man of the Loxahatchee.”

25. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Gainesville.

When visiting Gainesville , Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is the place to stay. It’s one of the few places you can see wild horses and bison.

Pro Tip: Florida residents over 65, those having a current Social Security disability award, or those having a 100 percent federal disability award get a 50 percent discount on the base camping fee.

Related Reading:

• Everything You Need To Know About RVing From An RV Expert
• One Key Way To Save Money On Your Summer Vacation — But You Need To Book Soon
• 5 Lessons We Learned Selling Everything And Hitting The Open Road In An RV

Kathleen Walls is a road trip enthusiast and the writer and publisher for American Roads and Global Highways . Additionally, she has authored numerous travel books including Georgia's Ghostly Getaways , Finding Florida's Phantoms , Hosts With Ghosts , and the Wild About Florida series. According to Kathleen "the only thing nearly as much fun as traveling to new places is telling everyone about those places with my writing."

Best Camping in Florida: 18 Idyllic Spots for RV & Tent Camping

Looking for the best camping in the Sunshine State? With 11 national parks and preserves, finding the best spot can be tough. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of our favorite RV parks, state parks, and dispersed sites in Florida.

When you think of Florida, you may think of Disney World or exclusive resorts on the beach. But have you ever heard of Dry Tortugas National Park? How about Anastasia State Park? Apalachicola National Forest? Bahia Honda State Park?

These are a mere few of the incredible destinations that await those who are willing to forego the fancy hotels and get back to nature with a few nights under the canvas or in their RV.

To help you find and make the most of the wilderness areas, national and state parks, and national scenic areas this one-of-a-kind state has to offer, we’ve compiled a list of the 18 best camping areas in Florida for tent and RV campers alike. 

Read on to find out more!

Table of Contents

1. Long Key State Park

2. myakka river state park, 3. fort de soto county park, 4. biscayne national park, 5. jonathan dickinson state park: pine grove campground and river campground, 6. anastasia state park, 7. rainbow springs state park, 8. blackwater river state park, 9. cayo costa state park, 10. fort pickens campground, 11. henderson beach state park, 12. bahia honda state park, big pine key, 13. dry tortugas national park, 14. curry hammock state park, 15. ocala national forest, ocala, 16. caladesi island state park, 17. lake kissimmee state park, kissimmee, 18. everglades national park, where can i tent camp for free in florida, what is the most popular campground in florida, is it safe to tent camp in florida, see ya in the sunshine state, our 18 favorite florida campgrounds.

• Type: Tent, walk-in
• Full RV hookups: No
• Nearest town: Layton, 1.2 miles

Once a luxury destination for the rich and famous, Long Key State Park is now a popular destination for those hoping to explore the natural flora and fauna of the Middle Keys and enjoy some of the best camping in Florida for land-lovers and ocean addicts alike.

The park, located where the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet, was damaged by Hurricane Irma and restoration efforts are still in progress. As such, the park currently offers only walk-in tent sites.

There’s plenty of exploring to be done on the whole island. You can rent a kayak from the ranger station or bring one yourself to delve into the wildlife in the mangroves and aquamarine shallow waters. 

There are also two hiking trails on the island for inland exploration. You can bring your binoculars and meander down the 1.5-mile Golden Orb Trail, which is known for hosting rare songbirds and the endangered white-crowned pigeons. 

RELATED READING: Find out more great ideas to get out into the great outdoors in Florida .

• Type: Tent, RV, cabins
• Full RV hookups: Yes
• Nearest town: Sarasota, 18.8 miles

As one of Florida’s oldest parks, Myakka River State Park is one of few places in the entire US that looks today as it would have done hundreds of years ago.

In this idyllic park, you’ll find thriving oak savannah and palm trees lining the banks of the Myakka River, Florida’s first state-designated ‘Wild and Scenic’ river. 

You can rent canoes and kayaks from the ranger station to explore the vibrant wetlands, or hire a bike to explore the many miles of hiking/nature trails and backroads inside the state park. With any luck, you might even see a few alligators and turtles basking in the sun. 

You’ll find plenty of amenities here: Full RV camping hookups, hot showers, laundry facilities, picnic tables, a dump station, and even Wifi. 

• Type: RV, tent
• Nearest town: Tierra Verde, 4.4 miles

Located near St. Petersburg with stunning ocean views, Fort De Soto Park is a beautiful area for exploring via kayak, bike, or on foot. 

The campground has 236 sites with full hookups, modern restrooms, showers, a dump station, boat ramp, dog park, picnic tables, and laundry facilities, and is perfect for RV camping. 

You can comb the beach to look for sand dollars, swim in the shallow waters, kayak, fish, hike, or mountain bike here. Fort De Soto Park is also a popular destination for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars for coveted glimpses of snowy egrets and tricolored herons. 

• Nearest town: Homestead, 9.2 miles

It will be hard to believe you’re within sight of Miami when camping at the ecological wonder that is Biscayne National Park . With aquamarine waters, green islands, and vibrant coral reefs, the park is a nature enthusiast’s heaven!

You can take a guided eco-adventure or just relax on the beach. For ocean lovers, rent a kayak or canoe to explore the mangroves, shipwrecks, and coral reefs. This 95%-water national park is also a popular spot for anglers. 

You’ll camp at either Elliott Key or Boca Chita Key, where you can have up to two tents and six people. You’ll need a boat to get to each island, so there is no RV camping available. It’s free to camp and dock here from May 1 to September 30. 

• Type: Tent, RV
• Nearest town: Jupiter, 8.5 miles

Named after a shipwrecked Quaker, Jonathan Dickinson State Park is chock full of historical significance and ecological wonders. 

You can drive into or pitch your tent in Pine Grove Campground , which boasts 90 tent and RV sites. 

And for fun? You can rent a kayak or canoe to explore the Loxahatchee River where you can explore Trapper Nelson’s homestead, named after the legendary Wild Man of the Loxahatchee. You also have the option of exploring this state park horseback riding or by bike, while anglers can get their fix of fishing from the riverbank or on a boat (rentals available). 

• Nearest town: St. Augustine, 2.7 miles

Located off the Atlantic Coast in North Florida, the 1600-acre Anastasia State Park is home to abundant wildlife and one of the best camping spots in Florida for beach lovers. The park is open for tent and RV camping, and has full electric and water hookups at all sites. 

The park has over 4 miles of white sandy beach and a thriving tidal marsh. You can also wander along a delightful nature trail to see ancient sand dunes and maritime hammocks. 

You can rent canoes and kayaks here for a day on the water, and beachcombing and birdwatching are virtually unavoidable – the park is home to over 195 species of birds and the park is renowned as a great place to find shells. 

• Nearest town: Dunnellon, 3.5 miles

Rainbow Springs State Park in Marion County is one of the most idyllic camping locations on our list. The park is famed for its artesian springs and their stunning turquoise waters, which are the focal point of everything you can do here and make for a unique natural swimming pool.  

You can take a stroll through the gardens and take a dip in the springs in between your kayaking or canoeing journeys, and also check out the cascading, man-made waterfalls in the gardens. 

The campground is just along the river and has modern restrooms, laundry, picnic tables, and full electrical hookups.

• Nearest town: Holt, 10.5 miles

You’ll find no shortage of things to do around the thriving waterway that gives Blackwater State Park its name.

The area is the largest contiguous longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem left on Earth, an ecosystem that is rarer than a tropical rainforest. 

The water itself is brownish against the white sandy beach, as it is stained by the tannins from roots, leaves, and trees of the shoreline flora, but this only adds to the uniqueness of its beauty. 

You can kayak and canoe along the waterway and check out the myriad wildlife this precious ecosystem holds. Swimming, hikes along the river banks, fishing, and cycling are other great ways to immerse yourself in the park’s lush environment.

The park’s campground boasts 30 sites with full electrical hookups and a playground for the kids. 

• Type: Tent, boat, cabins
• Nearest town: Bokeelia, accessed only by boat or helicopter

This white-sand-beach island is accessible only by boat or helicopter. It may take a bit of effort, but once you get there you’ll find many miles of pristine sandy beaches, pine forests, and flourishing mangrove swamps that make it all worthwhile. 

There are multiple camping options on Cayo Costa State Park : 30 primitive sites, rental cabins, and boat camping. There are modern restrooms with showers available as well. 

Explore the island via bike, kayak, or paddleboards, all of which you can rent from the ranger station. 

• Type: Tent, RV, walk-in
• Nearest town: Pensacola, 17.4 miles

Fort Pickens Campground in Gulf Islands National Seashore features full electrical hookups and quick access to the beach. The campground is a popular stopover point for those doing the 1500-mile Florida Trail, and is one of the busiest campgrounds in the whole of the US. To ensure you get a spot, then, it’s wise to book well in advance. 

The area boasts miles of white sandy beaches and emerald waters, and nature lovers will bask in the myriad interpretative nature trails and educational opportunities hosted by the park service. 

While wandering the beaches, be sure to keep an eye out for green turtles and olive-sided flycatchers. 

• Nearest town: Destin, 3.1 miles

Henderson Beach State Park is located just off the Emerald Coast Parkway and provides visitors the chance to enjoy miles of beautiful shoreline and Caribbean-like setting.

The highlights of the park are its fascinating shifting dunes (some up to 30 feet high!) and diverse ecosystem. While basking in the balmy, 75-degree water, you can look for tropical fish, dolphins, even sea turtles. 

The campground here has 60 campsites with water and full electrical hookups for RV campers. There are also air-conditioned bathhouses, a laundromat, picnic tables, and a dump station. 

• Nearest town: Marathon, 15.7 miles

You can get a perfect taste of the Florida Keys by heading to Bahia Honda State Park , one of Florida’s southernmost parks. 

You have two options for camping on this South Florida island: Buttonwood and Bayside. At Buttonwood, you’ll find waterfront RV sites and full electrical hookups as well as hot showers. Bayside is a bit more rustic with just eight sites that have potable water, fire rings, and grills but no electrical hookups.

Recreational opportunities abound here. You can rent kayaks to explore the shallow waters off the soft beaches or cruise around the island on a bike. You can also take a boat, snorkeling, or scuba diving tour. 

• Type: Primitive
• Nearest town: Key West, accessed only by boat or plane

If you’re passing near Key West, continue for 70 more miles to get to the remote, haven-like wonder that is Dry Tortugas National Park . The catch? This park’s seven picturesque islands are only accessible by boat or plane. 

History buffs can enjoy the imposing Fort Jefferson, a huge fort from the 1800s. You can also take a high-speed catamaran for day trips from the islands.

The best way to explore the island is by swimming and snorkeling as only 1% of the park is dry land. Keep an eye out for coral, jellyfish, and even debris from shipwrecks. 

Camping is only available on Garden Key, the same island as Fort Jefferson. Primitive sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The sites fit up to six people. Note that you must bring all your own supplies, including water, and take all trash with you upon departure. 

• Nearest town: Marathon, 4.7 miles

Noted for its rustic nature despite the surrounding developments, Curry Hammock State Park is the largest undeveloped piece of land between Big Pine Key and Key Largo. 

The park protects large swaths of habitat along both sides of US Highway 1 on Crawl Key and is visited by record numbers of peregrine falcons every fall, so be sure to keep an eye out or bring your binoculars. 

Popular outdoor recreation activities in the park include exploring the mangrove swamps and seagrass beds via kayak or even kiteboarding on windier days. You can also hike or bike along the 1.5-mile Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

The campground has 28 sites, all of which have electrical service, charcoal grills, picnic tables, and hammock camping posts. It also has bathrooms with composting toilets and solar-powered hot showers. 

• Full RV Hookups: Yes 
• Nearest town: Astor, 17.9 miles

If you’re anywhere near Orlando on your Florida vacation, you’ll want to check out the stunning Ocala National Forest . The area has more than 600 lakes and rivers in which you can swim, fish, canoe, and snorkel to your heart’s content. 

Known for its aquamarine freshwater springs and rare plants, Ocala is an international traveler’s dream destination. 

There are many options for camping here, but only the biggest campgrounds offer full or partial RV hookups. In this case, you’ll want to head to Alexander Springs, Big Bass, Big Scrub, Juniper Springs, or Salt Springs campgrounds. They’ll all be within a short jaunt of the springs and picnic pavilions. 

Ocala is a delight for nature lovers. It boasts the state’s largest population of Florida black bears. Birders can keep an eye out for red-cockaded woodpeckers. You’ll also find Sherman’s fox squirrel and Florida sand skinks. Wildlife not found in Florida’s more developed areas thrives in Ocala. 

• Nearest town: Dunedin, accessed by boat 

Caladesi Island State Park is one of the Gulf Coast’s last completely natural islands. While only accessible by boat, you’ll find it’s worth the extra effort when wandering through the peaceful oak forests or basking on the blissfully quiet beach enjoying the ocean breeze. 

Here you’ll find boat camping with full electrical hookups and a boat ramp for your craft. There’s also a snack bar, gift shop, and picnic area. 

Swimming and beachcombing are two other popular ways to explore and enjoy the island. You can also hike the Beach Loop or Hammock Loop to see the abundant flora and fauna. Neither is particularly strenuous as the terrain is mostly flat, if a bit sandy. 

Kayak rentals are also available and allow you to meander among the over three miles of majestic mangrove tunnels on Caladesi Island. You’ll spot plenty of birds and fish along the way! Do note, however, that parts of the tunnels may be difficult to access at extreme low tides. 

The ferry to access Caladesi Island State Park departs from Honeymoon Island State Park near the town of Dunedin. 

• Nearest town: Lake Wales, 18.7 miles 

History buff? If so, you will delight in Kissimmee State Park ’s living history demonstrations of Florida’s cowboy past. You can stroll down a short trail to the Cow Camp, where there’s a Florida cow hunter who will take you along his route on a cattle drive and share stories of his life in the 1800s. 

You definitely won’t be bored in this state park as there’s plenty to do for the whole family. 

Horse-lovers are in for a treat on the six miles of riding trails on Buster Island. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available at the park marina’s camp store. This area is known as the headwaters of the Everglades, so keep an eye out for birds and wildlife as you paddle along the 10-mile Buster Island Paddling Trail. 

At Lake Kissimmee campground there are 60 campsites with full electric and water hookups as well as two primitive youth tent-camping sites. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. 

• Type: RV, tent, backcountry
• Full RV Hookups: Yes
• Nearest town: Homestead, 25.2 miles

A Florida camping trip wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the internationally-renowned Everglades National Park . The park protects important habitats that are home to rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the mysterious Florida panther. 

There is both frontcountry and wilderness camping available in the park. For RVers, there’s camping at Long Pine Key and Flamingo campgrounds. Electrical hookups are only available at Flamingo. 

For backcountry travelers, there are ground sites, beach camping, and elevated camping platforms for tent campers and hammock campers located throughout the park. You can access these by canoe, kayak, or motorboat. Only a few are available to hikers. Note that a wilderness camping permit is required. 

There’s an overwhelming amount of recreation in Everglades National Park. You can explore the mangroves and teeming islands via kayak or canoe and camp on the elevated platforms scattered throughout the park. Three hundred species of birds inhabit the park, so be sure to bring your binoculars! 

There are also five mountain biking trails in the park. You can even rent a full-power e-bike for an easier cruise around the area. 

There are plenty of guided tours here as well. You can tour the park with rangers via tram, kayak, canoe, or airboat. For a spot of fishing, head north to Lake Okeechobee, a hotspot for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch.

Best Camping Sites in Florida: FAQS

In Florida, free camping is referred to as “ boondocking .” For a state that’s surrounded by ocean and covered in lakes, finding a place to pitch your tent without a boat can be a bit tricky. 

The area’s most accessible and popular free camping areas exist mostly inland away from the crowds of Miami and Orlando. You may want to check out beautiful places like Ocala National Forest (see more information above) and head to Davenport Landing at Salt Springs. You’ll love the rope swing into the spring!

You may also want to check out Hampton Tract Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve in Lakeland, Central Florida for some real Florida wilderness camping. However, this area is prone to flooding during the rainier summer months. 

Unfortunately, camping on the beach isn’t allowed in Florida. However, finding campsites within a short walk of the beach on public inland property is rarely difficult. 

Your best bet for primitive camping in Florida is in the Panhandle, namely Perdido Key. There’s no fee for camping, but there’s a $20 vehicle fee if you don’t arrive there on foot. 

All of the state parks listed above are popular for different reasons. However, Fort De Soto park campground and Myakka State Park are probably the busiest as regards Florida state parks camping. The most popular RV resort is probably Nature’s Resort Homosassa RV Resort. 

Many national and state parks allow you to make reservations up to 11 months ahead of time, so book early to secure your spot!

As with any other camping trip, it’s important to consider the weather when camping in Florida, particularly if you’re going to be near the beach. If you come in the summer months, you should expect rain and (potentially!) hurricanes. You may want to prioritize visiting in the winter months when Florida is dry and mild and sunny, but be prepared for the cooler nights. 

In the summer, moreover, temperatures rarely drop below 80 and the humidity may make it feel well over 100 degrees. 

Whenever you come, follow the Leave No Trace principles and keep your campsite clean of food and other smelly items that could be tempting for wildlife. In campsites where there are bears, you’ll probably find bear-proof boxes. If you’re backcountry camping, consider bringing a bear bag to hang your food and smellies out of reach. 

It depends on where in Florida you choose to camp, but you’ll probably run up against wildlife of some kind or another. You may see classic rabbits and squirrels and also more frightening animals like alligators. No matter what animal, they should be left alone. Give them a wide berth. 

It’s best to avoid snakes altogether, but it’s especially important to know which venomous snakes exist in whatever region of Florida you’re camping in. 

There are 44 species of snakes in Florida, only six of which are venomous. The eastern coral snake, the southern copperhead, the cottonmouth, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, and the dusky pygmy rattlesnake. Check here for more information on Florida’s snakes. 

It is unlikely you’ll see the rare Florida panther, but if you’re in a panther’s habitat you can take some precautions to keep it that way. Keep your pets safe and secure, and supervise children. Always be sure to hike with a friend and never approach a panther if you see one. 

If you’re headed to Florida, we recommend you ditch the expensive beachside resorts and explore some of the area’s beautiful national forests, seashores, and parks. You’ll find everything from full electrical hookups to primitive tent sites, so bring your sunscreen and be ready for adventure!

If you enjoyed our article or have any questions about Florida camping destinations, let us know in the comments box below. And if you’d like to share this post on Florida camping with your friends, share away! 

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Monica Nigon

Monica is a freelance writer, ski patroller, and raft guide based out of Colorado, and is passionate about mountain biking, rock climbing, and playing Irish music on her fiddle in her spare time. Growing up in rural Minnesota, she learned how to brave the cold in the pursuit of adventure from an early age.

In the winter you’ll find Monica skiing at her home resort of Wolf Creek, near Pagosa Springs, which she now calls home. In the summer, you’ll find her guiding the Class III-IV whitewater of the Arkansas River nearby. She’s also taught skiing, environmental education, kayaking, and canoeing. 

Her favorite adventures have involved backpacking the Rockies with her best friends and mountain biking the slick rock of the deserts of Utah. Even better are long meanders through the woods and mountains on her backcountry skis. She’s also done irresponsible things internationally like sledding down a volcano in Nicaragua and surfing off the northwest coast of Ireland. 

She holds certifications in avalanche rescue, professional ski instruction, and wilderness medicine. She enjoys reading and writing about all of the above.

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The 12 best places for camping in florida.

Camping in Florida comes with waterfront views, tropical foliage, paddling adventures and an abundance of wildlife.

The Best Places for Camping in Florida

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Escape to stunning beaches and quiet forests for your next camping adventure.

If the idea of falling asleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore under a sky scattered with stars, casting for fish in crystal-clear water while watching the sunrise or paddling through tranquil tropical forests teeming with wildlife sounds like a dream come true, you must give camping in Florida a try. This southeastern state is chock-full of national forests, state parks and wilderness areas that provide campgrounds with access to some of the region's most unique ecosystems and scenic natural landscapes. From primitive beach camping to established RV resorts, this guide gives you the lowdown on some of the best places to camp in Florida. With outdoor pursuits on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced reservations are highly recommended for campsites. Travelers can make a reservation online for a fee (campsites range in cost from $16 to $42 a night) up to 11 months in advance for all Florida State Park sites. Although camping in Florida does present some challenges like heat, humidity and bugs, it's nothing that a dip in the water can't fix.

Ocala National Forest

Journey down the 60-mile Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway through pine scrub forests towering over crystal-clear pools to reach this central Florida oasis, which features more than 600 lakes, hundreds of miles of trails and 14 developed campgrounds with designated campsites for both tents and RVs (full hookups are available at the Salt Springs Recreation Area only). The park, located about 70 miles north of Orlando , also manages two rustic rental cabins for groups of up to 12 people, one of which overlooks a private natural spring and provides canoes for guest use. Travelers applaud the cleanliness and scenic beauty of Ocala National Forest's camping amenities, which offer easy access to activities like swimming, paddling, wildlife photography and mountain biking. Backpackers can find dispersed campsites in the Alexander Springs and Juniper Prairie wilderness areas, among other regions, nestled alongside the Florida National Scenic Trail. This 1,500-mile trail was first constructed in 1966 near the park's Clearwater Lake Recreation Area and it's now home to a shady lakefront campground and a 1.3-mile loop trail, where nature lovers can keep their eyes peeled for signs of black bears and scrub-jays (Ocala National Forest harbors the state's largest population of these birds). Campsite fees start at $31 per night. While some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, visitors can make reservations in advance online at recreation.gov .

Read: The Best Camping Tents .

Bahia Honda State Park

Located about 130 miles south of Miami en route to Key West on the famous Overseas Highway, this park flaunts an idyllic tropical landscape with pristine white sand beaches , turquoise sea views and an abundance of birds and wildlife. Travelers say this park offers some of the best beaches in the Florida Keys with calm, clear water perfect for swimming, snorkeling and paddling. Daily snorkeling tours to offshore islands are provided by an on-site operator, which also offers kayak rentals and a snack bar, for an even closer look at some of the most magnificent coral reefs in the world. Three campgrounds with 80 campsites are available to overnight guests, as well as three fully stocked, waterfront rental cabins. Both the Buttonwood and Sandspur campgrounds offer electric hookups for RVs, plus access to a central bathrooms and dump sites. Located on the north side of the park, the more remote Bayside campground does not allow RVs, but does allow hammock camping. All sites provide picnic tables, grills and water. Campsites start at $36 per night, with additional fees for RV utilities and an $8 entry fee per vehicle. Additionally, boaters will find an on-site marina with 19 rental slips and two boat ramps to fit their needs.

Read: The Best Beaches in Florida .

Collier-Seminole State Park

For a fresh perspective of Florida, try spending a few nights in one of the world's largest mangrove swamps. You won't find sandy beaches or ocean views in this expansive, inland park, but instead can experience a taste of the Greater Everglades ecosystem, a region of subtropical wetlands unique to southern Florida where a dizzying array of wildlife reside, including many endangered species like the Florida panther, West Indian manatee and the wood stork. Take a hike or bike ride on one of Collier-Seminole State Park's four nature trails or paddle down the Blackwater River on a 13.5-mile canoe trail for a chance to spot some of these beauties. The park has one campground with 104 sites complete with electricity, water, grills and picnic tables (some sites are designated as tent-only and some allow hammock camping.) Also available on-site are a centralized shower facility, laundry room and dump station, which travelers applauded for being immaculate. The park – situated about 15 miles south of Naples – features additional activities like educational ranger-led programs, canoe rentals, historic landmarks and a children's playground. Fees include a vehicle pass starting at $5, and a nightly camping fee starting at $22 (additional utility fees apply for RV hookups).

Note: Collier-Seminole State Park is temporarily closed after sustaining damage during the 2022 hurricane season. Check the park website directly for its reopening status before planning a trip.

Faver-Dykes State Park

Courtesy of Florida State Parks

Pellicer Creek is the crowning geographical feature of this park – located on the former site of a Spanish-occupied plantation around 20 miles south of St. Augustine – where visitors can take an easy canoe or kayak trip on its 6.7-mile paddling trail through tidal marshes and estuaries or hike along paths through shady forests of hardwood hammock and saw palmetto. Though seemingly nondescript, the site is recognized as part of the Great Florida Birding Trail; it's also a Florida Designated Paddling Trail and part of the 1,500-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, known for its rugged, natural beauty. Faver-Dykes State Park's full-facility campground has 30 campsites with fire pits, picnic tables and RV hookups for water and electricity, plus a central bathroom with shower facilities and a dump station. Campers say the sites are spacious and secluded, but warn of ticks. A vehicle entry fee of $5 and camping fee of $18 per night apply (there is an additional fee for RV utility usage.)

Read: The Top Sleeping Bags .

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

This unique recreation area on Florida's Atlantic coast – located about 20 miles north of West Palm Beach – spans 10,000-plus acres of varied terrain divided into 16 zones, or "communities," like the sand pine scrub, the preferred habitat for scrub-jays, and the Loxahatchee River, the state's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Visitors can explore the river by renting a canoe or taking a 90-minute guided boat tour. Travelers can also enjoy the park's numerous hiking trails, from portions of the Florida Trail to the Hobe Mountain Trail, a short boardwalk trail with an observation tower. Overnight guests can choose between two campgrounds each with restrooms, hot showers and laundry facilities. All 52 sites at the Pine Grove Campground provide full RV hookups and access to a dump station. Primitive and equestrian campsites are also available, as well as 11 fully furnished rental cabins. The cabins are conveniently located near the visitor center and restaurant with a beer garden. Fees include a one-time $6 vehicle pass, plus $26 per night for campsites (additional fees apply for RV utilities.)

Rainbow Springs State Park

People have been seeking the refreshing, healing waters of the Rainbow River and its emerald headsprings for some 10,000 years. As one of the state's largest natural springs and an aquatic preserve, this north-central Florida state park (about 45 miles south of Gainesville) has developed attractions and activities like a river tubing trail, manmade waterfalls and hiking trails for the enjoyment of a plethora of annual visitors, who describe the park as "serene" and a "treasure." Grounds located near the river offer campsites starting at $30 per night with full hookups, restrooms, laundry facilities and a dump station. Resort-style amenities like a kayak storage rack, concession stand and camp store with equipment rentals are also available to overnight guests. However, travelers warn that the campground is located several miles away from the springs, and that some amenities, such as hot showers and electric hookups, can be hit or miss.

Everglades National Park

This internationally acclaimed subtropical wilderness preserve dubbed the "River of Grass" is one of the most unique places to camp in Florida. In addition to tent-only and RV sites fully equipped with hookups, solar showers and dump stations, it also provides rustic "chickees"– remote wooden platforms that can only be reached by boating or hiking. Beach camping is also available, but should only be utilized by those with advanced backcountry skills. While there are many trails, landmarks, fishing spots and wildlife viewing areas to explore on your own, several guided kayak, airboat or tram tours are also available. Some of these tours originate from the Flamingo Visitor Center, which also has waterfront camping spots (some of which are first-come, first-served), a marina store, and food and beverage vendors. Visitors mention that this is also a good place for seeing wildlife, especially manatees. It's important to note that the prime season for all park activities is during the winter months when there are fewer bugs and rain and more active wildlife. Drive-up camping reservations start at $30 per night, while wilderness permits start at $21 per night.

Read: The Best Everglades Airboat and Swamp Tours .

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Visitors gush about the pristine beauty of the natural beaches along this protected shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico near the Alabama border. Located 18 miles south of downtown Pensacola , the Fort Pickens campground has the only developed campsites on the Florida side of the park and is one of the busiest campgrounds in the entire National Park Service. The area is popular thanks to its direct access to Langdon Beach and as one of the main starting points for the Florida National Scenic Trail. The region is also steeped in history, and guests can explore the ruins of a Civil War-era fortress and battery, or the on-site discovery center. It's important to note that although there is a small camp store, campers should plan to bring all supplies with them. The 200 campsites at Fort Pickens (20 are tent-only) all have picnic tables, fire rings and electric hookups, plus access to bathrooms, hot showers, laundry, water and a dump station. The cost is $40 per night, in addition to a one-time $25 vehicle entry fee.

Read: The Best Beach Tents .

Westgate River Ranch

For a change of scenery from gin-clear waters and white sand beaches, drive about 90 miles south of Orlando for a taste of "Old Florida" rustic heritage. With on-site activities like a weekly rodeo, horseback riding, trap shooting and a farm animal petting zoo, this dude ranch resort feels like it was transported from the Rocky Mountain West. The resort offers a wide variety of lodging options, including tent and RV sites (partial hookups and bathroom facilities provided) so you can sleep under the stars like the cowboys once did. For a truly unique experience, rent a glamping tent , luxury teepee or Conestoga wagon tucked into groves of swaying live oak trees, all of which feature full bathrooms, air conditioning and kitchenettes. Guests are delighted by special touches like the delivery of nightly s'mores kits, access to a community campfire and the use of a golf cart to get around the property, which made their visits even more comfortable and memorable. Rates vary, with tent sites starting at $45 per night. Additional fees apply for ranch activities.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Located in the Florida Panhandle region about 15 miles east of Destin , a popular family vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico, this state park is known for its unique sand dune formations, pristine beaches and top-notch campground amenities. Travelers rave about the park's shaded campsites, calm waters for prime paddling and convenient tram shuttle service to the beach. In addition to more than 3 miles of natural beaches and 15 miles of hiking trails to explore, the park also has three freshwater lakes and is recognized as a part of the Florida Birding Trail. Its campground has 156 RV sites and 22 tent-only spots with access to central restrooms, laundry facilities, a swimming pool and shuffleboard courts. Those looking for a higher level of comfort and convenience can book bohemian-inspired glamping tents (hosted by a local company called Fancy Camps), which include the use of bicycles, beach chairs and complimentary coffee shop treats. Cottages featuring full kitchens and air conditioning are also available for daily and weekly rentals. Guests can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, bicycles and beach umbrellas at an on-site camp store to help them enjoy the area's many recreational offerings. Camping fees start at $24 per night, plus a $6 per vehicle to enter the park.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Mark Ashman | Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Camping with kids? Look no further than this "woodsy-chic" campground resort just minutes from the famous Walt Disney World offering both cabin and campsite accommodations for theme park visitors (note that all overnight guests must have both a valid ticket or annual pass, and a theme park reservation to enter this campground). The resort offers a slew of amenities to make "roughing it" a little less rough. You can enjoy a swimming pool and waterslide, transportation services, grocery delivery, and on-site activities for all ages – including archery, paddle sports on a private lake and evening campfire entertainment. Don't miss a visit to the elegant Tri-Circle-D Ranch, which houses 90 horses of all sizes, breeds and colors for pony rides, carriage rides and trail rides throughout the wooded property. Ample themed dining options also abound, from a chuckwagon-style food truck and poolside snack bar to a rustic tavern and the full-service Trail's End Restaurant. Rates start around $100 per night and include picnic tables, grills and Wi-Fi as well as hookups for water, electric and cable (some also offer sewer). No tent? No problem. RV rentals can be arranged in advance.

Read: The Top Things to Do in Orlando With Kids .

DuPuis Management Area

For a free, no-frills camping experience, head to the 22,000-acre DuPuis Management Area located in a picturesque rural area between Lake Okeechobee and Palm Beach. Although overnight visitors do need to obtain a special-use permit from the South Florida Water Management District online ahead of time, there is no cost to enter, camp or enjoy recreational activities on the property. Travelers report that the campsites are well maintained with picnic tables, fire pits, hot showers and a dump station (although RVs are permitted, there are no hookups available). This natural area offers access to a wide variety of activities like hiking, biking and hunting, as well as several historic landmarks and archaeological sites. With 40 miles of bridle trails, the area also attracts a lot of equestrians, and a separate campground with special amenities is available for those traveling with horses. The nearby Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida, offers even more opportunities for fun activities like fishing, boating and hiking. Swimming here is not recommended, however, as the lake is home to some 30,000 alligators.

You might also be interested in:

• Sustainable Travel: How to Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler
• The Ultimate Camping Checklist
• The Top Romantic Getaways in Florida
• The Best Places to Visit in Florida

Tags: Travel , Florida Vacations , Southeast Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

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• Camping & Lodging

Florida's state parks have plenty of options for camping throughout the state. Full-facility campsites for tent campers and RVers include water, electricity, a grill and picnic table, along with centralized showers, restrooms and dump station. Maximum RV lengths vary by park.

For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.

View Camping Parks

10 Boondocking Locations and Free Campsites in Florida

Despite being one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, Florida doesn’t appear on many boondocking lists. Perhaps it's because so many travelers associate Florida with big cities like Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa. However, all of those urban areas are on the coast, leaving Florida’s interior mostly untouched and available for camping. The Sunshine State is also home to the third-largest national park in Lower 48, Everglades National Park . Much of the park is only accessible by boat—perfect for adventurous boondockers like yourself that want to go exploring off the beaten path.

Can I Go Boondocking in Florida?

Boondocking in Florida is somewhat more difficult than camping in the western states , where BLM and National Forest land are plentiful. A full 29% of the state is wetlands , which isn’t necessarily the best place for parking your RV. However, many of the best spots for boondocking Florida are in areas called Water District Management Areas, where you can camp for up to six nights. So don’t be discouraged, there are still quite a few places to set up camp and many of them are close to the Sunshine State’s best attractions.

Top Locations For Boondocking in Florida

Most people think of Florida as a beachy paradise, but your best dry camping options are found further inland, where lush forests and glistening lakes dominate. Explore awesome locations for boondocking in Florida below! 

Pine Creek Landing

This campground is less than an hour from Tallahassee, in the Florida Panhandle. Both developed and dispersed campsites are available and neither provide hookups.  Nearby Activities: Paddle the Ochlockonee River. A boat ramp is available at the campsite. More information: Pine Creek Landing

Mack Landing

Also near the Ochlockonee River, sites have no hookups but there is a vault toilet and the campground doesn’t get as many visitors as some of the other boondocking locations in the area. It’s very quiet and has excellent river access.  Nearby Activities: This is a popular place to camp during the hunting season and for those wanting to kayak on the Ochlockonee River. More Information: Mack Landing

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Less than an hour south of Orlando, Three Lakes WMA is a small, rustic campground with just a few sites for hunters and birdwatchers. There are several lakes close by, including Lake Kissimmee, Jackson, and Marian that are great for fishing. Nearby Activities: The WMA is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail , and is considered one of the best places for birdwatching in the state. More Information: Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Picayune Strand State Forest

This state forest is just minutes from the city of Naples and Big Cypress National Preserve. During the wet season, much of it can be underwater. Campsites have no hookups and no drinking water is available, so you’ll need to come prepared. There are picnic tables and fire rings though. Nearby Activities: Pack your hiking boots! There’s a 22-mile-long hike within the forest. After that,  you’re just a short drive from some great coastal kayaking. More Information: Picayune Strand State Forest

Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area

A little over an hour from Fort Myers between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, this campground is a great place to stay from November to April. During the wet season, the area can flood and become inaccessible.  Nearby Activities: Popular for deer, turkey, hog, and bird hunting. You can also hike along the unimproved roads that crisscross the region.  More Information: Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area

Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area

An hour and a half west of Miami, this beautiful wetlands habitat has room for a few intrepid campers. Most of the WMA is covered in swamp and is best traversed in a kayak, but a few levees of areas large enough to accommodate a smaller RV. While they are still two hours away, this is also one of the closest boondocking sites to the Florida Keys.  Nearby Activities: Big Cypress National Preserve is just south of the WMA and has more accessible hiking than the Everglades. Also, the clubs, beaches and restaurants of Miami are a short drive away. More Information: Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area

Boondocking Locations in the Florida Keys

Curry Hammock State Park

Located near Marathon, about halfway down the Overseas Highway between Key Largo and Key West, Curry Hammock State Park is one of your best options for boondocking on the islands. Sites have electrical hookups, but no water or sewer, which helps to keep its fee lower than most of the campgrounds on the Keys. Nearby Activities: There’s a sandy beach inside the park that’s popular with kitesurfers, along with a nature trail and a boat launch where you can start your exploration of the mangrove forests. More Information: Curry Hammock State Park

Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge

Big Pine is one of the Key’s nicer RV parks and it’s only thirty miles from Key West. However, those looking to boondock the Florida Keys can stay in the rustic camping area, which has no hookups, a picnic table and drinking water. Being such a developed RV park, it’s not the typical boondocking experience, but you can’t beat the price compared to some of the other island RV parks. Nearby Activities: Key West is only a little over half an hour away and is a snorkeler’s and diver’s paradise, with spectacular reefs and wildlife just steps from the beach. From Key West, you can also catch a ferry out to Dry Tortugas National Park.  More Information: Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge

Situated near the beginning of the Overseas Highway in Key Largo, this campground is perfect for RV travelers wanting to stick close to Miami. Sites have electrical, water, and sewer hookups and are priced far lower than most of the campgrounds on the Keys. Visit the website for information including rates, photos and amenities. Nearby Activities: Blackwater Sound has powerboat, jet skis and kayak rentals available. More Information: Kings Kamp

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Also in Key Largo, the state park covers almost twenty-five miles of coral reef and its visitors center features a massive aquarium filled with native aquatic life. Campsites have electrical, water and sewer hookups, but the rustic setting is still appealing for boondockers.  Nearby Activities: Snorkeling and scuba diving the nearby reef are the most popular activities, but you can also take a glass-bottom boat tour if you’d like to stay dry while exploring them. More Information: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

5 Tips RV Boondocking in Florida

• Check Your Park’s Age Restrictions. Florida has a large retired population and many of the parks require at least one camper in the group be over the age of 55.
• Reduce Waste. Florida gets more tourists than just about any other state. Don’t just pack out your trash, make less of it while boondocking in Florida.
• Prepare for Insects. Florida’s wetlands are the ideal habitat for all sorts of biting and stinging insects. Bring your repellant of choice and use it liberally.
• Explore the Outdoors. The state has some of the most unique outdoor spaces in the Lower 48 like the Everglades swamps, the thousand miles long Florida Trail or kayaking along the beaches of St. Petersburg. Florida is for adventure lovers .
• Carry a Detailed Map. Not all of the sites available for boondocking in Florida are well-marked. An accurate map is essential for keeping you within the boundaries of the Forest Service area or Water Management District.

Drink in the Sunshine State with a Cruise America RV Rental!

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15 Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds (Including Beachfront!)

Are you looking for the best florida beach rv campgrounds we've put together a complete list of the ones we like the most and can wholeheartedly recommend .

• 1 Are you looking for the Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds? We've put together a complete list of the ones we like the most and can wholeheartedly recommend!
• 2 Gamble Rogers State Park
• 3 Grayton Beach State Park
• 4 Henderson Beach State Park
• 5 Fort Pickens Campground
• 6.1 CLICK HERE to read our article about beach camping at Camp Gulf
• 7 Turtle Beach, Sarasota
• 8 Fort De Soto Park Campground
• 9 Key Largo Kampground & Marina
• 10 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• 11 Curry Hammock State Park
• 12 Grassy Key RV
• 13 Bahia Honda State Park
• 14 Boyd’s Key West Campground
• 15.1 CLICK HERE to read our account of camping at Jetty Park
• 16.1 CLICK HERE to read an article we wrote about Ho Hum
• 16.2 That's our list. But there is so much more! Our Facebook members chimed in on this one with loads of suggestions — see it here.
• 16.3 CLICK HERE for another one of our articles on other great RV campgrounds in Florida
• 17.1 Looking for other destinations? Check these articles:
• 18 RV Lifestyle officially recommends The Dyrt

Florida beaches make up some of the most unique and gorgeous beaches in the U.S., and friendly, accessible, and beautiful beach campgrounds for RVers abound.

We seek them out and return year after year.

With the breezy Florida vibes, the incredible beaches, views, and perhaps a margarita in your hand, Florida is very much a place to “get away from it all” all year round.

Ready? Here is our list of the Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds:

Gamble Rogers State Park

This is at the top of our list because it is probably our favorite beachfront RV park in Florida. Officially, it's known as the Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area. It has two loops. On the west side of US-1 is a riverside campground on the Intercoastal Waterway.

But our favorite is the loop on the east side of US-1, right on the ocean.

Gamble Rogers is on an area of the North Atlantic Coast known as the Historic Coast, and it has absolutely spectacular beachfront sites just a few steps from the beach. The photo above is of our site, taken a while ago.

Campsite prices vary from $16-$42. (Always check prices before you go, as these can change.)

Here is a video we did of the region with lots of video of Gamble Rogers:

Grayton Beach State Park

Grayton Beach is in the Panhandle west of Panama City and east of Destin.

Its beach has gorgeous clear water and fine white sand. Book in advance for this one! Well-maintained sites with concrete pads and zen-like raked gravel among diverse plants and trees. All sites have electric-water hookups, picnic tables, and grills.

*Speaking of grills, all this beach talk makes me hungry for our favorite Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Kabobs Recipe (w/ Easy Marinade) !*

The sites are not on the water, but the beach is a nice stroll or a short bike ride from your campsite.  There is potable water, flush toilets and showers, and a dump station. Nightly rates are $30, with a $5 fee to get into the park.

Always check those prices before you go, as they may change.

Henderson Beach State Park

Located right in the midst of Destin in the Panhandle and just a few miles west of Grayton Beach is Henderson Beach State Park. A magnificent 30-foot white sand dune separates the camping from the beach, but walkways make it easy to get to the water from the 60 campsites.

This typically books up a year in advance. That's what happens when you are one of the Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds!

Another huge plus of this beach is it is close to excellent dining and shopping in Destin but is protected on all sides from businesses.

Fort Pickens Campground

This is located near Pensacola in the panhandle, right near the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

The general consensus is that Loop A has more spacious sites if that’s what you’re looking for. Otherwise, this is a great campground, with nice trails for hiking and abundant wildlife, and the beach is easily accessible.

136 of the 200 sites have electric hookups, with picnic tables and grills. There’s potable water, flush toilets and showers, and a dump station.

Nightly rates run at $40 depending. Senior and Access pass holders are eligible for a 50% discount on nightly fees. Again, double-check those prices before you go.

The beach is a short walk from your campsite. That's why it is one of the Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds.

We are huge fans of Camp Gulf. It's a commercial park in the town of Miramar, a very desirable location along the Panhandle's Emerald Coast.

If you want to splurge on beach RV camping, this is the place to be!

What you’ll get at Camp Gulf, as one of the best Florida beach RV campgrounds, is crystal-clear ocean waters lapping up against white sugar sand. It is the full experience of living on one of the best beaches in Florida.

For this special access, be prepared to pay about $200 per night. For many, it’s worth it! It includes private restrooms and showers, a community room, two swimming pools, and a full-service camp store.

Note: they don’t allow pets.

CLICK HERE to read our article about beach camping at Camp Gulf

Turtle beach, sarasota.

This is a smaller but very cute campground with about 40 sites and beach access.

That means it is very hard to get in. But persistence pays off.

Located on the upscale and very beautiful Siesta Key, this is run by Sarasota County. A free trolley takes you into town if you can tear yourself away from the beach. Gorgeous sunsets here!

There are palm trees and shrubbery between the sites, providing some privacy and shade, and the grounds are well-kept. There is a restaurant across the way.

All sites have full hookups. Amenities include WiFi, flush toilets and showers, laundry, a playground and picnic area with grills. Nightly rates are $50-$60 or more.

Fort De Soto Park Campground

This is a highly-rated campground close to St. Petersburg, with some waterfront sites, and all sites have electric-water hookups. Snowbirds consistently rate this as one of the best Florida beach RV campgrounds.

Kayak on the water, or rent a bike from the camp store. You will find picnic tables, grills, potable water, flush toilets and showers, laundry, and a playground. Nightly rates are $40-$50.

It is run by Pinellas County and is huge – consisting of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected keys. These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods, and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in preserving and protecting the natural environment.

The campground is right near the beach, and there are many places to fish. Over 328 species of birds can be found here.

Key Largo Kampground & Marina

Right of US-1, the route from Miami to Key West, Key Largo is considered the gateway to the Keys.

Since this one is located along the marina, there is ample opportunity for boating and even kayaking among the mangroves. Their 171 sites all have full hookups, and there are picnic tables, potable water, flush toilets and showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, cable TV, a pool and a dump station.

Nightly rates run at least $100-$130, depending on how close you are to the water.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp is the country’s first undersea park, encompassing 70 nautical square miles. While many visitors view the park’s colorful coral reefs and teeming marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour, one can get an even closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling.

Canoeing and kayaking through the park's waters are popular activities; fishing is permitted in designated areas.

There are two beaches accessible to the 42-site campground.

This park is easy driving distance to Biscayne National Park and the Everglades. There are great kayaking opportunities, and snorkeling is available when the weather is nice.

With 42 sites, all have electric-water hookups. Amenities include picnic tables, potable water, flush toilets and showers, a playground, laundry and a dump station.

Nightly rates run around $36, with an $8 fee to enter the park.

Curry Hammock State Park

Near Marathon, FL, the motto for this place is Unhurried, Untouched, and Unrivaled. That's why it is one of the best RV campgrounds in Florida.

It sits halfway between Key Largo and Key West and is 1,000-acres in size. It is the largest uninhabited parcel of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. 

This is a smaller campground, with 25 sites situated in a loop. But if you can get in, you are in paradise.

Pets are welcome at the campground but not on the beach. This park is a favorite for kayakers and paddleboarders.

All sites have electric-water hookups, and each has a picnic table and grill. There is potable water, flush toilets and showers, a playground for the kids, and a dump station.

Grassy Key RV  

While this park is a bit on the pricey side, the views you will get are well worth it at this well-kept and clean RV park. Look at the photo above. See why it's one of Florida's best RV beach camping spots?

It is really an RV resort and has been recently renovated. It's on the Gulf side of Highway 1. There are spots on the water and even one coveted campsite where you are on your own little peninsula!

All sites have full hookups with picnic tables. There’s potable water, laundry, a pool, WiFi and cable TV.

Nightly rates run at least $90 – $230, depending on the time of year and proximity to the water.

Bahia Honda State Park  

This is just a few miles north of Key West on US-1, the Overseas Highway,

If you get a spot along the water, you can rent a kayak and set off for a relaxing afternoon of rowing right from your campsite. The staff is welcoming and the campground is clean. You can also snorkel and swim.

It's known for its iconic Florida scenery — palm-lined beaches, gin-clear waters, and magnificent sunsets. Visitors to the park enjoy balmy sea breezes that caress the shores year-round. We warn you, if you stay, you will return.

Hookups are electric-water, with a picnic table and grills. Amenities include potable water, flush toilets and showers, and a dump station.

Nightly rates are at least $36, with $8 to get into the park. Always check those prices before you go.

Boyd’s Key West Campground

Boyd's easily makes our list because it's one of Florida's best beachfront RV parks. It's been around for decades, and there is an awesome ambiance there, as well as the proximity of the water. Some sites back right up on it.

Here's a video we did of our visit to Key West and our stay at Boyds that will give you a great idea of what it's like:

Like what you see in these videos?  We'd appreciate it if you would Subscribe to our YouTube Channel ( easy to do right here ) and consider “ringing the bell icon” to be notified of any new video from us. 🙂 Thanks!

Spend a few nights here, and you will get ALL your kinks out. The grounds are well-kept, and the staff is friendly!

Most of their sites have full hookups, with picnic tables and grills. Other amenities include potable water, flush toilets and showers, firewood, laundry, a pool, WiFi, cable TV and a dump station.

Nightly rates are going to be at least $115-$225 or more, depending on hookups and location to the water.

The Jetty Park Campground

Jetty Park Campground is located in Port Canaveral Florida, where giant cruise ships arrive and depart throughout the day. In addition, submarines can also be spotted docking there.

And from the park itself, rocket launches from the Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral Air Force Station can easily be seen.

The Jetty Park Campground has multiple site options ranging from $30 to $60, depending on hookups, slabs, and time of year.

There is a free dump station. Check those prices, as things may have changed.

Here's a video we did that shows Jetty Park and the things we did in the area.

CLICK HERE to read our account of camping at Jetty Park

With no reservations at the end of February, we were able to snag a Jetty Park Campground spot with water and electricity, a grill, and a very weathered wooden picnic table. There was plenty of room, and it was relatively flat. The beach (no dogs allowed) is gorgeous.

HoHum RV Park

This is a small campground in the Gulf of Mexico in the area of the Florida Gulf Coast known as “The Forgotten Coast.” This is Old Florida. No highrises. No traffic.

HoHum is located just a few miles east of the tiny fishing town of Carrabelle and smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico. We camp here every time we can.

It has awesome views of sunsets over the Gulf and thus qualifies as one of the Best Florida RV Beach Campgrounds. 

CLICK HERE to read an article we wrote about Ho Hum

It’s a delightful little park. Nothing fancy. But clean, neat, and far from the overdevelopment that characterizes the Sunshine State's coastline.

To the east, there were a couple of well-spaced beach houses. To the west, nothing but wild beach, bordered by scrub pine. 

The park boasts a lighted 250-foot long fishing pier and a narrow little beach.  Pets on a leash are welcome in the park, on the beach, and even on the pier. Kids, not so much. It’s billed as an “adult-only” park.

Prices start at $40 or $50 a night depending on proximity to water and time of year. Please double-check those prices.

That's our list. But there is so much more! Our Facebook members chimed in on this one with loads of suggestions — see it here.

Click here for another one of our articles on other great rv campgrounds in florida.

See a recent YouTube short — right here.

Things to Consider

One thing to note is that when going on an RV camping trip through Florida, many campgrounds are in state parks, which require a separate fee to enter. Rather than paying a separate fee for each, you may want to consider getting the following:

• Individual Annual Entrance Pass (for about $60)
• Family Annual Entrance Pass (for $120, includes up to 8 people in a group).

They can be purchased at any Florida state park or ranger station. For more info, visit the Florida State Park website.

The summertime in Florida is hot and very humid. Summer is also the rainy season. Still beautiful but unless you plan to run your RV AC 24×7,  it can get a bit uncomfortable. The exception is the panhandle and Northwest Florida. There, while still hot, the cooling breezes from the gulf make the beaches much more comfortable than either coast or the Keys in South Florida.

The best time to go in our books is October through the end of April.

And you can use our nifty interactive MAP to get instant information on all the campgrounds we mention in this post! Give it a try – just click on any of the location points and then click Details. You’ll see the address, the phone number, the website link, the Ratings, and more!

Looking for other destinations? Check these articles:

• The 10 Best Campgrounds in Colorado
• 5 Awesome destinations for fall travel
• 10 Spectacular Campgrounds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
• Choosing a campground: How to find a good one in 5 minutes
• 20 Delightful State Parks for RVing in the Fall

RV Lifestyle officially recommends The Dyrt

You can book campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping, or find free camping. The Dyrt has it all. And in case you didn't know, The Dyrt is the #1 camping app and website in the US, with over 8 million campsites, reviews, and tips — submitted by campers, for campers. And The Dyrt PRO version makes every camping trip easier. With offline map backups, offline search, exclusive discounts, and trip planning tools, PRO can improve any stage of camping.

The Dyrt app lets users with basic accounts search for camping and save favorites, completely for free. The Dyrt PRO is an upgrade that makes it easier to go camping. Try PRO for free today.

Use the code RVlifestyle for your 30-day free trial!

Published on 2024-02-21

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

13 Responses to “15 Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds (Including Beachfront!)”

December 19, 2023at9:19 pm , Larry Cox said:

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area will not be taking reservations after June 2024 due to road construction.

December 22, 2023at9:26 am , Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thanks for sharing this Larry! Team RV Lifestyle

December 19, 2023at9:06 am , Angela Stotz said:

You left out treasure by the sea. It was our maiden voyage and made us fall in love with camping. Right on the ocean. It was a little pricey but, the view was worth every penny. In Flagler beach just south of St Augustine. Lots to do. Gamble Rodger’s was full make planes ahead of time.

December 19, 2023at10:28 am , Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thank you so much for adding this to the list! Team RV Lifestyle

May 06, 2022at10:12 am , Pamela Penix said:

We stayed at Hanna Park in Jacksonville Beach Fl the month of February you need to add this park to your list great place nice campsites biking trails and hiking trails and beach access love it so much we are returning next February

May 07, 2022at5:13 pm , Team RV Lifestyle said:

Sounds like an amazing addition to the list! Thanks for sharing – Team RV Lifestyle

May 05, 2022at8:06 am , Carol Urban said:

I have to disagree with 2 of your picks. Grayton and Fort Pickens, although they have beautiful beaches, you can’t take your dogs on them and the campgrounds were not well maintained. Staff at Grayton were nice, but Pickens they were not.

March 06, 2021at5:54 pm , Best Florida RV Parks with Beaches for Boaters – The Boating Guy said:

[…] RV parks, the lakes and beaches are teeming with trout. Most of these parks encourage you to go fishing and catch species native to those waters in specified […]

October 23, 2020at4:28 pm , 15 of the Best Florida Beach RV Campgrounds - RVing Outdoors said:

[…] Source […]

September 08, 2020at8:05 pm , Jamie said:

Mike, Pets are allowed at Camp Gulf on all sites except direct beach front.

September 08, 2020at6:25 pm , Tom Moeller said:

You missed Navarre,Florida Santa Rosa rv resort and Emerald Beach rv resort. Navarre has beautiful white sand beaches.

September 08, 2020at12:31 pm , Carol Urban said:

I have to disagree with your choice of Fort Pickens Campground. We were there a couple years ago and it was awful. We arrived during spring break and that might have been the problem. Other campers were rude, but the camp hosts were nice. The rangers were as rude as the other campers, except for the one at the main gate.

September 08, 2020at8:34 am , Chip Birch said:

Mike and Jennifer,

We love your YouTube channel and subscribed almost immediately after watching the first one. This feature on Florida Beach camping struck a chord with us and know many on your list. We could not agree more!

Our family started RV’ing when our 5 kids were very young. We borrowed a friend’s pop-up camper first, Outgrew that and bought a 1971 VW Westfalia for transportation and camping. Covered the east coast with it and opened our kids to experience they would repeat with their families.

Later on we had an older Airstream and towed Florida to Colorado and Rocky Mountain adventures. One of our Florida in state vacations we stumbled upon Gamble Rogers State Park on Flagler Beach.Purely an accident as we drove the A1A Ocean Scenic route north and found an open space right on the beach, near where your photo was taken. Not only was this our kids favorite spot for the vacation, but it introduced us to the region.

Many years later after the kids grew up, married and moved on to their own adventures, Linda and I retired and left our home in Miami and set up now in a condo right off A1A in Flagler Beach! It still has the charm and beauty it held back decades ago.

Finding these unique places revealed in your travels and features can help RV’ers to life altering opportunities and we commend you for all the help your provide and the enjoyable format of presentation. We watch your videos weekly and learn as much as we can should our opportunity arise to get a B+ unit and revisit some of our past memories.

Thanks for all you both do, Chip and Linda Flagler Beach, Florida

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Camp on the Beach in Florida: 12 Beachfront Campgrounds in Florida

Who doesn’t love a campsite right on the beach? Luckily for RV owners, there are RV parks on the beach! You can camp on the beach in Florida at one of these 12 RV parks.

Check out these 12 beautiful campgrounds and RV parks where you can camp right on the beach in Florida in your motorhome, fifth wheel, trailer, or even tent.

Wake up to the sound and smell of the ocean every day right from your own beachfront campsite!

They exist all over the Florida coastline, but not everyone knows about them.

Using AllStays , I reviewed the RV campgrounds along the Florida coast to identify which ones will let you camp your camper right on the sand and let the lull of the waves put you to sleep.

Enjoy the fresh air and all that the beach has to offer.

These RV sites are not just waterfront, they are right on the sandy beach.

Florida has a ton of other, fabulous campgrounds that are bay front, marsh front, by the ocean, across the street, and other locations, but the ones selected here will let you build a sand castle right at your trailer’s door and then go surfing in the ocean waves within a few steps.

We also camped right on the beach in an RV on the Texas coast at Port Aransas. Camping on the beach at Port Aransas for SandFest was a blast!

If you know of others to add where you can camp on the beach in Florida, please add a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

Campsite Identification

I started with a large map of Florida RV campgrounds using AllStays :

From there, I reviewed all locations and added them to a Google map. 

This is a map of campgrounds in Florida that have RV campsites that are directly on the beach.

You can click to enlarge the map, navigate around it, and zoom in and out, just like as if you were using Google Maps.

You can click on the map to see the name of the location as well as the website for each campground.

If you don’t have your own RV, you can easily rent one from many private owners.

There are so many different options to choose from, including luxurious Class A motorhomes, smaller Class C motorhomes, and campervans that you can drive across Florida.

If you have a tow vehicle, you can also rent fifth wheel or travel trailers, or even cute little vintage campers that are small enough to be pulled by a regular sized passenger car. Check them out at RV Rental Tampa !

Starting in the northeastern part of Florida and moving clockwise around the Florida state peninsula, the full list of campgrounds where you can camp on the beach in Florida are:

Fort Clinch State Park (Fernandina Beach)

Fort Clinch State Park is located at Fernandina Beach on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

It is located right at the border with Georgia on Amelia Island.

The RV campground is a part of a larger 1,400 acre state park that includes an old fort – Fort Clinch – that guests can visit. Fort Clinch played an important part in the American Civil War.

RV campsites back right up to beach.

Huguenot Memorial Park (Jacksonville Beach)

Huguenot Memorial Park is a park run by the City of Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast in Florida.

Guests in RVs can camp directly facing the beach in the RV campground area. This is a beautiful spot to camp on the beach in Florida.

The park features 71 primitive campsites. There are restrooms, showers, a dump station, and other facilities available for guests to use.

Flagler-by-the-Sea Campground (Flagler Beach)

Flagler-By-The-Sea Campground is located in Flagler Beach on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.

It is an economical, no frills campground that has daily and monthly rates. All sites have full hookups.

The Ocean Front Elite campsites are directly fronting the ocean so you can wake up to ocean breezes every morning.

Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort (Flagler Beach)

Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort in Flagler Beach is located on the Atlantic coast about 30 miles south of St. Augustine and about 30 miles north of Daytona Beach.

It features 1,500 linear feet of Atlantic Ocean beachfront directly along the seawall along the beach.

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area (Flagler Beach)

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is a 144 acre Florida state park located in Flagler Beach on the Atlantic Coast.

It is about 18 miles north of Daytona Beach and 18 miles south of St. Augustine.

RV’ers can park their motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, or other campers right across the beach from the sand dunes.

We stayed at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area in 2018. See our post about our visit to this beautiful state campground.

Coral Sands Oceanfront RV Resort (Ormond Beach)

Coral Sands Oceanfront RV Resort is located in the town of Ormond Beach.

It is located just north of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic Coast.

The Coral Sands Oceanfront RV Resort is a part of a larger resort that includes a hotel.

RV guests are able to use all the amenities of the hotel while enjoying their full hookup camping sites located along the beach.

Melbourne Beach Mobile Park (Melbourne Beach)

Melbourne Beach Mobile Park is an adults 55+ community.

It mostly long-term residents on one side of the street, but they also rent campsites on a nightly basis.

On the other side of the street, there’s a nice oceanfront section for campers that you can rent by the night.

Their campsites have full hookups so you can camp on the beach in Florida in comfort.

Long Key State Park (Florida Keys)

Long Key State Park is a 965 acre state run park in the Florida Keys.

It is located on Long Key at mile marker 67.5 on the Overseas Highway located in between Miami and Key West.

All of the campsites are waterfront. Guests have access to bathrooms with showers and amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Red Coconut RV Park (Fort Myers)

Red Coconut RV Park in Fort Myers has direct beach access with 450 feet of beautiful beachfront property.

All sites come with full hookups, even those campsites directly on the beach sand.

The RV park is centrally located in Fort Myers so you can bike to all the restaurants, bars, and other town amenities directly from the campground.

Turtle Beach Campground (Sarasota)

Turtle Beach Campground is owned and operated by Sarasota County.

This beachfront campground is located on Siesta Key in the Gulf of Mexico.

All campsites come with full hookups.

As an added bonus, guests can experience the sight of loggerhead and green turtle nests on the shores of Turtle Beach during May through October of each year.

There’s a direct path to the beach from the campground.

Camp Gulf RV Park (Destin)

Camp Gulf RV Park is located in the heart of Miramar Beach, just minutes from Destin, Florida.

RVs can camp right on the white sandy beach of the Florida gulf coast.

The RV park also has cabins, a pool, and many other recreational activities for guests to enjoy.

Pensacola Beach RV Resort

Pensacola Beach RV Resort is located on the strip of land that makes up part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

If you upgrade to a premium campsite, you get to camp right next to the sand on the beach on the Santa Rosa Sound.

The RV resort is centrally located in Pensacola so you can walk or ride to restaurants and the amenities that the beach town offers.

Final Thoughts about How to Camp on the Beach in Florida

I hope you’re able to find a fabulous spot to enjoy the Florida sun and ocean. Many of these spots book up quickly so it’s important to plan ahead!

There are many other waterfront sites perfect for your motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or other camper that are not directly on the beach as well. Enjoy your visit to one or more RV parks on the beach!

(Hint: Check out Fort de Soto Park Campground near St. Petersburg and Bluewater Key RV Resort in Key West. If you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation, you won’t be disappointed!)

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10 comments.

Pensacola Beach RV Resort doesn’t look like this anymore. “Premium” sites on the beach are extremely close and not well maintained. The beach does have a Tiki Bar with live music & very nice seating now, but the other seating on the beach is worn and in need of maintenance. The view is spectacular, but they have crammed so much into a small area that it is literally over run. If you aren’t lucky enough to get a beach front site, be careful. You will pay a high price and be jammed into some sites that there isn’t even enough room to open your awnings. When we originally started to go to this resort, it was like your photo, but not any more, I am sorry to say. It’s location is prime, within walking distance to shops, restaurants. The ocean is across the street (behind the high rise hotels, and it’s a beautiful beach for sure.

Wow! It sounds like it has changed a lot. Thank you for providing this input!

Any other recommended RV resorts on the Keys? The one you suggested (Long Key) is closed for construction. Thanks!

There are quite a few RV resorts that come recommended for the Florida Keys, although RV Hive does not have personal experience with all of them. We stayed at Bluewater Key RV Park (see our post at https://rvhive.com/bluewater-key-rv-resort/ ) and it was amazing. It’s pricey, but worth it. Other suggestions include the Jolly Roger RV Resort, Bahia Honda State Park Campground, Curry Hammond State Park Campground, Sugarloaf Key – Key West KOA, and Leo’s Campground.

I wonder if there are any seasonal sites near the beach?

Yes, I believe there are many seasonal RV sites near the beach, but they go very quickly with so many people wanting to be in Florida for the winter.

Thank you for making this and sharing.

You’re welcome! We hope you had a great beach trip with your RV!

Thank rvhive for sharing such beautiful multiple options to choose from. I recently booked 60 North RV Park for my upcoming trip. I wish I would have seen this blog before.

We hope you had a great trip!

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7 Best Places to Go Glamping in Florida — From Tiny Cabins to Floating Houseboats

From houseboat rentals to tree houses, these are the best glamping spots in Florida.

Thanks to Florida’s year-round warm weather and wide range of alternative accommodations that include tree houses, houseboats, and tiny homes, the state is a dream destination for glamping. In fact, glamping has become so popular that the state has added glampsites to 10 state parks, including three tents at Manatee Springs State Park, one of the best places in Florida for manatee sightings. But beyond the state park offerings, which tend to be a tad less glamorous, the state is home to a selection of private glamping resorts.

Here are 7 of the top places to go glamping in Florida.

Coldwater Gardens, Milton

Coldwater Gardens is an eco-resort north of Pensacola with 385 acres of gardens, orchards, and wetlands set along a creek. Each piece of planted flora is selected to support local and migratory butterflies, so it's truly a nature lover's paradise. Fruits and vegetables are grown on-site, and there’s a bee apiary and chicken coop.

For lodging, Coldwater has it all, from luxe climate-controlled cabins, cabanas, and tiny houses to stilted, above-ground canopy cottages and a modern tree house. An above-ground stargazer platform for tent campers rounds out the offerings. 

Live Oak Landing, Freeport

Live Oak Landing is the ultimate Gulf Coast getaway. It’s set on a creek, just a short drive from a renowned string of Emerald Coast beaches. There’s an outdoor pool, a playground, and boat rentals for visitors who want to get out on the water. While technically an RV resort, Live Oak Landing has over 30 glamping cottages, most of which are set right on the water. Each cottage is fully furnished with a kitchen (or kitchenette in the smaller units), linens, and an outdoor fire ring. The one-bedroom cottages also have a private bathroom plus a washer and dryer. 

Related: 20 Best Beaches in Florida

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, River Ranch

At first glance, the Westgate River Ranch looks like something you’d find in Wyoming, but this proud Florida dude ranch promises a “not-so-touristy adventure experience” with safari tents set beneath an oak tree canopy, cottages and cabins, and a lineup of covered wagons. 

The popular glamping property is set on one of the few untouched pieces of Florida wilderness. It boasts endless outdoor fun — including a ropes course, a zip line, and a rock climbing wall. A mechanical bull, horseback riding, and a petting farm bring a taste of the West — complemented by a weekly rodeo with bull riding, calf roping, and barrel racing in a 1,200-seat arena.

Island Oaks RV Resort, Glen St. Mary

It’s all about the water at Island Oaks RV Resort in Glen St. Mary. There are plenty of lakes, ponds, and pools for cooling off, as well as mini golf, sports courts, and a fitness center. As its name suggests, there are many RV sites at this resort, but glampers will want to turn their attention to the tiny house rentals, which are clean and modern with covered terraces, outdoor picnic tables, and fire rings.

It’s worth noting that Island Oaks was one of the top trending private campgrounds in a 2023 report by Campspot , a booking engine for glampsites.

The Crystalmarine Houseboat Suite, Key West

Spend a night out at sea in what is arguably the most romantic suite in all of Florida. This houseboat is anchored around five minutes from shore, providing complete privacy. And while you may be sleeping on a boat, luxury abounds in The Crystalmarine Suite . The main room has floor-to-ceiling windows providing endless ocean views, and the glampspot has a kitchenette and a full en-suite bath with a rainfall shower. There’s a sandbar and a tiny island nearby, and a kayak, hammocks, and snorkel gear are provided.

Related: T+L's Guide to the Florida Keys

Blue Ocean Yacht Charters, Key West 

Boat camping isn't the most obvious form of glamping, but it’s a must-try in Florida, the land of clear water and sandy shores. Pretend, even just for a night, that you live aboard a yacht that’s anchored in the Caribbean. The folks at Blue Ocean Yacht Charters rent their boats out overnight, so you can “camp” on the water. The views — both of the night sky above and the surrounding sea — are impossible to replicate on land. 

Treehouse Cabin Retreat, Old Town

This tiny property has just two offerings — a tree house and a cabin — yet it is a favorite on the Hipcamp booking site with a 98 percent approval rating from past guests. The property is located a few minutes from the Suwannee River with freshwater springs that are perfect for swimming and paddling. The property boasts an outdoor shower, a campfire ring, and a hammock that’s positioned for stargazing.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

RV park could be coming to the Ag Reserve near West Delray Regional Park

This is just the first step in what could take a year before final approval is granted for an rv park in the ag reserve..

A recreational vehicle park could soon be coming to the Ag Reserve.

Plans are for a park that would accommodate 121 RVs adjacent to West Delray Regional Park . The development would be on the north side of Atlantic Avenue, approximately a half mile west of State Road 7.

If it does happen, county planners say don't expect more RV parks in the Ag Reserve. The requested zoning change would only allow for a campground if it were adjacent to West Delray Regional Park, located at the western end of Atlantic Avenue in an unincorporated area of the county.

And the only parcel that meets the criteria is the 10-acre one owned by the applicants, Roger and Karen Fina. They are long-time residents of the Ag Reserve who have been blocked for years from building anything there.

MORE: : Critics say GL Home's sweeteners not enough for land swap deal

The Ag Reserve is a section of the county with special zoning designed to limit density and protect farming. The Ag Reserve consists of approximately 22,000 acres in the southern part of the county between Florida’s Turnpike and the Arthur R. Marshall National Wildlife Refuge.

Plans call for a paved site, and amenities will include a clubhouse and a pool. State law bars a patron from staying at an RV park for more than 180 days per calendar year.

MORE: Is the end to 50 years of protected land on the horizon in Palm Beach County?

Strong demand for RV parks justifies project, applicant says

The Finas’ agent, Lauren McClellan, said there is a strong demand for another RV park in the county. The three campground sites operated by the county are often sold out. According to Rvshare.com, an RV rental company, renters utilizing their platform spent over 277,000 nights in an RV in Florida in 2023.

The project would support the West Delray Regional Park and Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge by providing lodging to those enthusiasts who frequent the park and the refuge. West Delray Regional Park, owned by the county, draws large crowds for those who use its radio-controlled airplane and helicopter fields. There is also a radio-controlled boat lake field and car track. In addition, there are equestrian trails, a bike path, freshwater fishing and picnic areas.

The Planning Commission March 8 recommended initiation of a text amendment (the zoning code) to allow the project to move forward. It is the first step in a process that could take as long as a year before the Finas could obtain final approval.

County commissioners will act on the Planning Commission recommendation May 1. Should the commission support the recommendation, a decision will be made in November whether to submit the plans for state review.

MORE: 'Line in the sand': Why COBWRA opposes project to build apartment complex west of Lake Worth Beach

The Alliance of Delray Residential Associations is supporting the project, but the support is based on the Finas hooking into the county’s sewer system. The Alliance does not want the RV park to rely on a septic system.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at  [email protected] . Help support local journalism.  Subscribe today.

How animal rescue star Lee Asher lives his best pack life, and why he eyes Florida sanctuary

The reality tv series profiling asher and the now estimated 200 animals at three privately-run asher house sanctuaries is but one chapter in a unique life lived with rescue dogs..

As he longs to expand his reach to Florida, renowned animal rescuer Lee Asher preaches kindness, spotlights the animals he knows inspire good people to aspire to be better and, maybe, even revolutionizes the concept of an animal sanctuary.

"We should have respect and compassion for all living things. All living things have a soul and a personality," said Asher, who grew up in South Florida and gained fame as the human star of Animal Planet's "My Pack Life" show that he parlayed into millions of followers on social media. "Hate, aggression, is never the answer, not toward animals, not toward people. There is no success reached that way."

Expert tips from Lee Asher: Animal rescue icon Lee Asher offers advice for people wanting to adopt a shelter dog

The reality TV series profiling Asher and the (now) estimated 200 dogs, cats, horses, llamas and other animals at three privately-run Asher House sanctuaries is but one chapter. His narrative is a quilt of vignettes from Asher's own past told in evocative, emotion-packed videos accessed by 6.3 million people on Facebook, 1.6 million followers each on Instagram and TikTok plus 593,000 subscribers on YouTube.

The story is rooted in a Broward County animal shelter where Asher, as a troubled youth, found solace. It includes five years' worth of road trips in a recreational vehicle from which he launched his campaign to rescue animals from unnecessary euthanasia. And now it plays out in three Pacific Northwest sanctuaries where a land-based Noah's Ark's worth of domestic but discarded pets live their lives in peace with freedom to roam — and provide rescuers and others a potential blueprint on how to do the same.

That's how, perhaps, the world sees it. Asher, 35, looks at it in simpler terms: He lives a life accompanied by the animals he loves.

"Most people that run a sanctuary, or a rescue, do it for similar reasons," he said. "The difference is that I live with all the animals. I spend every single day with them. Even when I am out of town I bring them along. There's nowhere that I go where it's just me."

Lee Asher: Animal rescue icon plans to expand his sanctuary concept across the U.S.

A troubled childhood, soothed by kinship with shelter animals

Asher struggled with severe attention deficit disorder as a youth. The inability to focus on lessons in textbooks and classroom lectures led to struggles in school, even in special-education classes, and isolated him socially.

During a recent appearance at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Asher spoke of desperation "to fit in" and feeling "very different" from his peers whom he watched succeed and thrive. The struggles worsened, and after a serious bullying incident, Asher was forced to change schools.

Around the age of 12, he said, he began visiting a Broward County animal shelter where he found consolation, and kinship, with the dogs and cats in the kennels.

"When I was able to be with the dogs, and they would go from being scared in a corner to tail wagging and me petting them through the kennel and I could see them happy; seeing them happy just completely took all my pain away," Asher recalled.

Asher began writing notes to the dogs and cats awaiting adoption or euthanasia, promising to one day provide them a home and secure future.

"These dogs had done nothing wrong. They were just unwanted," Asher said. "It was a huge eye-opener to me how many of these amazing, beautiful dogs exude love like this — that could be the best dog you could ever have — how many of them are going to be euthanized if we don't do something about it."

The realization generated a heightened level of empathy for animals and humans alike suffering from feelings of degradation, he recalled. And it sparked in him a sense of purpose and life focus.

He was suffering and could see the dogs were too. The remedy became obvious.

"If you're suffering, instead of moping around, instead of thinking how can I feel better, what can I do to feel better?, if you make other lives feel better when you are suffering, nothing will heal you faster," he said. "Nothing will make you feel better than by taking away someone's pain. Nothing."

Pet of the Week: After owner was arrested for abusing her, this pet of the week needs a loving home.

A life-changing cross-continental RV trip for Lee Asher

Despite the bonds with shelter animals in his adolescence, by 2017 Asher was trying to make a go of a career in financial lending in Southern California. But the pull "to live this life with animals" grew too strong to ignore.

Asher sold his belongings, bought an RV and began a two-year odyssey in which he visited animal shelters with his own pack of nearly a dozen dogs.

The 24-month road trip was then followed by another three years of intermittent travel that, all told, took him to 49 mainland U.S. states and large swaths of Canada. It also attracted Animal Planet producers — and the six-episode reality show "My Pack Life" aired in 2022.

The program spotlighted Asher's effervescent, energetic and ebullient personality. But the stars were the dogs who best spoke to the mission: Adopt those loving but discarded and abandoned pets on animal death row.

One of them was a caramel-colored pit bull, Stella, whom Asher adopted the very day she was to be euthanized.

"Those 11 dogs get to go in an RV on a trip around the U.S. and Canada and then those 11 dogs inspire more people to rescue than I could ever do," he said. "This is a beautiful, beautiful story of the impact these animals have."

By the time the show's run concluded, Asher had built up a social media following in the millions. And he turned to Instagram and YouTube to air his ongoing campaign for abandoned or stranded animals.

One of those he has featured is Matilda, a pit bull with a neurological disorder that makes her wobble as she walks. Despite the condition, which has markedly improved, Matilda has found acceptance at Asher's sanctuary and is another example that imperfection is no obstacle to love or happiness.

Lee Asher's tips on adopting a shelter dog or cat

The crusader has a simple message — adopt without fear but armed with knowledge and compassion.

The vast majority of animals in shelters, Asher insists, are not traumatized, starved or suffering extreme anxiety like the ones millions of Americans glimpse in television fundraising commercials aired by worthy animal rescues.

"That's the challenge," he said. "People think if they are going to go to a shelter they're only going to see the dogs you see on TV that are psychologically and physically damaged and too much to handle."

They're not, he insists. They are "amazing" and largely "perfectly healthy, housebroken and trained" animals that were quite expensive when first sold, he said, but for a multitude of reasons, were given up.

"People have to see that this dog they are seeing in a shelter largely came from a breeder," he said. "It's not like this dog was born in a shelter. This dog was thousands of dollars at one point."

What each animal does have, he said, is a distinct personality, its own idiosyncrasies and ability to return love — and he counsels people looking for a pet to invest their time before they spend their money.

"I think when you really want a dog, let that energy calm down a little bit," he said. "There should be a conversation about a timeline about how long you're willing to search for a dog at a shelter or through rescue before calling a breeder."

Visit shelters and scour rescue teams' websites and social media accounts for at least a month or, better, 90 days, and Asher almost guarantees a prospective owner will find an animal in the breed they are looking for. Once they do, step 2 is to take time to connect with the animal.

"I cannot stress this enough," he said. "People often say when you get a rescue dog you don't know what you're getting. With all due respect, when you get any dog you don't know what you're getting. You're getting a dog, You're not getting a robot. It's not like you're getting this thing with this automatic system in place."

His method is to be silent and spend "actual quality time" with the animal by observing them, seeing what triggers them, what they love, what they avoid and what they seek out. And to build the trust that allows him to train the animal and "influence them for a positive attitude."

"I just want that dog to know I'm not going to hurt you, I'm not going to give up on you, I'm here for you no matter what," he said. "And once that dog truly understands that, that's when that beautiful bond starts to happen."

Patience and effort sometimes needed with rescued pets

There is Lucy, a scarred golden retriever that was abused and abandoned, and Rain, the Dalmatian, who initially tried to bite Asher in a sensitive spot for men, and the four French bulldogs that he fervently negotiated away from a breeder intent on selling them. And scores and scores of others.

All have since thrived in Asher's sanctuary, and whose stories he has told on social media as examples of what is possible when you "lead with love."

There are videos of the iconic "pack walks," where he is a Pied Piper followed by an array of his rescues. He brings his four-legged and online followers on journeys through the wooded Oregon properties — with their idyllic streams and waterways — and running along the sand on Pacific Northwest beaches.

Each of Asher's posts presents a short story imbued with joy and resilience and glued together by hope.

But in an interview, Asher spoke of painful "darkness" that at times he concedes envelops his life's mission. Part of it is the conflicting emotions in the rescue process itself.

Asher's videos of initial encounters with the animals are celebratory and he bubbles with excitement and sports a broad grin. Not revealed, he said, is the darker side, such as his contempt for those he knows are lying to him about their treatment of the animal they are abandoning.

"It's really difficult to just kind of stand there waiting for it to be over and be able to bring the dog to safety," he said. "It's often quite emotional and it's really sad to know that people would do that to an animal that they are claiming they love."

Most often, Asher said, a pet is given up by an owner due to some unforeseen or unavoidable life circumstance. That realization is even more painful — the separation of a family from a pet they have loved.

"I am very happy to be saving them," he said. "But often I will break down and cry shortly thereafter. I don't show that part because I don't want the owners, the people who relinquished their dogs, their pets, to me to feel even worse about it. I don't want my videos to ever stop someone from doing that."

Pain of losing them can lead to self-questioning

Also not always shown, is the "long road to recovery" for the more afflicted animals, Asher said, adding solemnly that "they don't always make it."

The worst of the darkness, he said, is the next separation — when an animal he's come to love passes away.

Arguably the most traumatic was the loss of Janey, a German shepherd, with whom Asher said he "looked forward to a long life with." Janey suffered from a neurological malady that impaired her ability to walk but was otherwise functional and thriving. One night, she awoke Asher with startling and haunting noises.

"It was very gory was she was doing. It was out of horror scene," Asher recalled sullenly how Janey was smashing her head against a wall, blood spurting from her head.

"She was making these sounds that you can't even make up, these terrible sounds," he said. "You could hear the pain but you couldn't control it. I couldn't stop her. I had to put her down then and there."

The loss of Janey, and others, fuels self-questioning but never doubt about his passion.

"I really don't know sometimes if what I'm doing is good for me. It's just complicated," he conceded. "I feel like I'm really hurting myself mentally by seeing what I love most in my life, every two months basically, die. And sometimes in a really tragic, terrible way like Janey did ... but I don't regret the life I have."

And then there was Lilly, a St. Bernard that Asher said became his "rock" — the emotional ballast that kept him level at the most painful times.

He called her "a major light" who was an always-present reminder of why he chose this path, and continues on it.

"She had such a way of bringing out the best in me, really bringing out the little kid in me, the joy in me," he said. "She would make me laugh every day."

Lilly died this past Christmas — and as with the caramel pit bull Stella, who died four years ago, the losses left gaping voids but also generated important reflection.

"That truly made me realize you don't know what's going to happen," he said. "Don't waste a second, don't waste a day. That gave me this new type of energy, this new type motivation to bring out the best of myself."

Starting with the capacity to embrace again. The very day he lost Lilly, Asher rescued another St. Bernard, a 2-month-old puppy named Ranger.

There lies Asher's axiom about his life with the pack.

"None of us is in this world forever. The question is, how much good can you do in the time you are allotted?" he said. "As I get older, I wonder how come more people are not doing this; it's just this awesome gift, to be saving dogs and cats, and saving other animals."

A Florida Asher House sanctuary on Lee Asher's bucket list, but still years away

Living in Oregon, Asher still calls Florida home and plans an Asher House sanctuary here.

"I was raised in Florida. Florida is my home, and it was so good to be home," he said in a recent interview about his late November stay. "I would love nothing more, nothing more, than to open up a sanctuary there tomorrow."

But at the moment, his focus is on the success of a third location not far from his base in the Salem region.

Asher's goal is to continue to develop his Asher House sanctuary model. Rather than a warehouse, Asher Houses are homes on expansive estates with fenced-in ranges where animals are allowed freedom of movement.

The latest location in Portland — 140 acres in size, the second-largest to-date — Asher said is a prototype for how he would roll out a national network of Asher Houses by working out key challenges.

He is learning how to best manage spin-off locations from a distance. The Portland site is run by the founders of an animal shelter that he has known and collaborated with for the past three years, a milestone in the expansion vision.

"I trust them just as much as I trust the closest person in my life," he said.

For a site in Florida, Asher said he would need equally trustworthy individuals with a track record of success and then cultivate a bond over a years-long span of time, as he did with the Oregon site.

"That would be the next step, over the next couple of years, finding some people that we really like partnering with out of Florida and that we really trust," he said.

Besides the partnership, Asher said he is "extremely grateful" for the kinship with the community of people in animal rescuing, fostering and sheltering. And for the life he has.

"My home is the sanctuary. But it's not my home because it really does belong to the animals," he said. "And it's beautiful because I get to live this life with animals."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at  [email protected] .  Help support our journalism. Subscribe today .

Politics | Florida Supreme Court OKs abortion amendment…

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Politics | solar eclipse in orlando: how to watch the celestial event, politics | supreme court puts florida abortion amendment on ballot, justices in a separate case also approved a new abortion ban at 6 weeks to begin in 30 days..

TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters will decide in November whether abortion rights should be guaranteed in the constitution, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Monday, but the court also approved a new abortion ban at 6 weeks that will begin in 30 days in a separate case.

The second abortion ruling, which wasn’t expected Monday, upheld the 15-week ban already in place and will allow the 6-week ban approved in 2023 by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Legislature to take effect in 30 days. The 6-1 decision overturned a long-standing precedent by the Florida Supreme Court that the right to an abortion was enshrined in the constitution’s privacy clause.

Editorial: Court ruling gives voters the chance to speak out on abortion

“The decision is an affront to this state’s tradition of embracing a broad scope of the right of privacy,” said Justice Jorge LaBarga, who cast the sole dissenting vote.

The seemingly contradictory rulings put Florida for now into the realm of other Deep South states that have largely banned almost all abortions.

The Florida ballot amendment, approved by a 4-3 vote, would change that if it gets at least 60% of the vote. It calls for access to abortions up to the viability of the fetus, which scientists and the medical community have long placed at about 24 weeks, near the end of the second trimester.

The amendment summary, in part, states, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Read the ruling: Florida Supreme Court decision on abortion amendment

Florida currently allows women to get abortions past 15 weeks only in instances of rape, incest, life-threatening conditions and fatal fetal abnormalities. Medical professionals have previously told the Orlando Sentinel that the law is difficult to interpret, and there have been instances where women were denied abortions despite threats to their health.

Lauren Brenzel, director of the Yes On 4 campaign to get abortion on the ballot, cheered the court’s decision to allow the amendment during a Monday press conference.

“Today the Florida Supreme Court confirmed what we’ve known all along. Amendment four clearly satisfies the requirements for placement on the ballot,” Brenzel said. “We will be using every moment that we can to make sure the Floridians know that they have the chance to vote yes on 4 and a chance to stop the harmful policies that have been enacted in Tallahassee.”

Brenzel decried the 6-week ban, saying it would have ripple effects across the entire Southeast. Once Florida’s ban takes effect, North Carolina will be the closest state that offers abortions past 6 weeks.

“This is the largest single loss of care that we’ve seen since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and we can’t fully understand what the impact will be yet,” Brenzel said. “[Florida is] surrounded by states that already have total or near total bans in effect, meaning that even for patients who need to access medically necessary abortion, the road to do so will be hard.”

Mat Staver, head of the anti-abortion Liberty Counsel, claimed if passed the amendment would “wipe out every law regulating abortion. Other than parental notification, no law will survive, not even health and safety regulations. We must mobilize Floridians to vote ‘No’ on this deceptive amendment.”

The Supreme Court’s only role on the abortion amendment initiative was to decide if the wording was clear and unambiguous.

Attorney General Ashley Moody argued that the wording was too vague for voters to understand what they are voting on. Supporters of the amendment said the language was clear.

Floridians Protecting Freedom submitted nearly 1 million signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.

The court’s opinion could drive turnout in both parties, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida.

“It’s expected to increase turnout among Democrats,” Jewett said. “Polls show a strong majority of Floridians feel very passionately about the issue and want the opportunity to vote on it. Republicans have a tendency to show up either way.”

Given the conservative makeup of the Supreme Court, Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, said he was “stunned they allowed the abortion amendment to go on the ballot.”

Five of the seven justices were appointed by DeSantis.

The decision paves the way for voters to make abortion a right in Florida, which “literally undoes all the work the Supreme Court did in their opinion in the Planned Parenthood case,” which upheld the current 15-week ban and let the 6-week ban take effect.

If voters approve the amendment, it will negate the state law the courts just upheld, he said.

“If voters want to undo this law, it’s their right,” Jarvis said. “It’s a good day for democracy because voters should have the final say.”

Florida has long had among the laxest abortion restrictions in the Southeast, a status solidified since the Roe ruling. As a result, Florida has become a destination for women seeking to end their pregnancies. Of 78,250 recorded abortions last year, over 7,000 were for out-of-state residents. In 2020, about 4,000 patients were from out-of-state.

Voters in seven states — California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont — have sided with abortion rights supporters on ballot measures, according to the Associated Press.

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