Love those long, beautiful, sweaty Florida beach days that come every spring? Well, what if you kept the party going and took your beach nap to a whole new level? Florida is home to plenty of beach camping spots across the state, many within driving distance of Orlando. Some have a little more luxury (like bathrooms), some are really for those who want to rough it, all come with priceless breathtaking views and a true Florida experience.
So, pack plenty of sunscreen and maybe some bug spray, too. Here are 24 of Florida's best spots to camp on the beach.
Here are the 24 best beach camping spots across Florida
By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 10:21 am
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Grayton Beach State Park
357 Main Park Road, Santa Rosa Beach
Looking for somewhere to camp at night and paddleboard, canoe or kayak during the day? Grayton Beach State Park is nearly 2,000 acres and consists of 59 camping sites. Visitors can bring their RVs or tents, and campers have the option to stay overnight in modern cabins or full-facilities campgrounds.
Photo via Little Talbot Island State Park/Yelp
Little Talbot Island State Park
12157 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville
Located near Jacksonville, this island has 40 campsites that each have electricity, fresh water, a fire ring, laundry facility, and two bathhouses with hot showers. There is also a canoe and kayak launch, along with a bait cleaning station and short dock into Myrtle Creek. The campground is operating at reduced capacity due to site maintenance.
Photo via Turtle Beach/Facebook
Turtle Beach
8862 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota
f you’re looking for a campsite on Florida's west coast, Turtle Beach Campground is the place to go. This destination consists of 40 RV and tent sites, plus usually a ton of nesting sea turtles — so watch your step. The 14-acre campground features boat ramps, a canoe/kayak launch area, fishing, picnic area, playground and free WiFi.
Photo via Bahia Honda State Park/Yelp
Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key
Campers can visit Bahia Honda State Park for its award-winning beach and historic bridge. There are three camping areas, with a total of 80 campsites for both tent and RV campers. Visitors can also go kayaking, swimming, biking and fishing.
Photo via Anastasia State Park/Yelp
Anastasia State Park
300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine
With four miles of pristine beach and 139 available campsites, Anastasia State Park is ready and waiting to be explored. Each campsite comes equipped with electricity and water, a picnic table, an in-ground grill and a fire pit, so you don’t have to worry about resorting to primitive survival techniques. On Saturdays, there’s even a farmers market on the property, so you can enjoy your fresh fruits and veggies with a little extra sand and sunshine.
Photo via Sebastian Inlet State Park/Yelp
Sebastian Inlet State Park
9700 South Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach
Why wake up before the crack of dawn to fish at the Sebastian Inlet to fish when you can spend the night and beat the morning crowds? This three-mile beach is a favorite for the fish-obsessed, with plenty of snook, redfish and Spanish mackerel. So, bring a pole and reel in your dinner, which you can cook at one of the grills found at each campsite.
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach
At Gamble Rogers, campers can pick from 34 campsites located on the dunes of the the beach and 34 facing the salty river waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Either way, guests are waking up or turning in with an uninterrupted view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo via Dry Tortugas National Park/Facebook
Dry Tortugas National Park
Key West, FL
Need a vacation? One more than 70 miles away from civilization? We probably all do, and that's why camping at Dry Tortugas National Park is so coveted. Be sure to make a reservation before camping at Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park because the popular destination tends to fill up, and the campsites run on a first come, first served basis. Campsites range from $15 to $30, depending on the size of your group.
Photo via Big Lagoon State Park/Yelp
Big Lagoon State Park
12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
At Big Lagoon State Park, campers can fish, hike, canoe, kayak, fish, bird-watch or climb up the three-story observation tower for an unhindered view of the splendor of nature. Or, if that sounds like too much work, campers can also just spend the day at the beach, swimming in the warm, quiet waters of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Photo via Flamingo Campground/Facebook
Flamingo Campground
1 Flamingo Lodge Highway, Homestead
Camping at the southernmost tip of Everglades National Park may be an experience within itself, and is available all year round at Flamingo Campground. Bring some friends and choose among the hundreds of drive-in sites, 40 walk-up sites or 65 RV sites. Along with hiking and canoe trails, this site makes campers feel as comfortable as possible with solar-heated showers, picnic tables and grills.
Photo via Gulf Islands National Seashore/Yelp
Gulf Islands National Seashore
1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze
The Gulf Islands Seashore campground is located on a barrier island, with white beaches, coastal marshes and groves of oak trees to provide campers with plenty of relief from the sun. The campground gets its name from historic Fort Pickens, located just a mile from the campsites, one of the only four forts in the South never occupied by the Confederates during the Civil War.
Photo via St. Joseph Peninsula State Park/Yelp
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe
Across the bay from Port St. Joe is a 9.5-mile stretch of white sand and clear waters. Visitors are welcome to enjoy 119 campsites that include water, electricity, picnic tables and grills. If you want to explore a bit more at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, you can hike, kayak, fish, snorkel or bird-watch.
Photo via Long Key State Park/Yelp
Long Key State Park
67400 Overseas Highway, Layton
With 60 oceanfront campsites that overlook the Atlantic Ocean, Long Key State Park allows campers to spend the night and fish its famous flats at the full-service campground. Visitors are also welcome to hike, kayak, swim, snorkel, bird-watch or picnic in the area. And if you don’t want to leave your furry friend behind, well-behaved pets are welcome in the campground.
Photo via Curry Hammock State Park/Yelp
Curry Hammock State Park
56200 Overseas Highway, Marathon
The shallow, protected waters make Curry Hammock State Park an ideal place to bring the entire family on a camping getaway. Set up your tent along the oceanfront in one of 28 campsites, grab your kayak or canoe and launch your boat right from your front lawn. You can even bring along your furry family members, as long as they remain leashed or under your control at all times.
Photo via St. Andrews State Park/Facebook
St. Andrews State Park
4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach
St. Andrews State Park has a campground for both RVs and tents, where visitors can rest after swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking or canoeing. There are a lot of activities available at this campsite, along with two fishing piers and two nature trails.
Photo via Emerald Beach RV Park/Yelp
Emerald Beach RV Park
8885 Navarre Parkway, Navarre
The cost of setting up your very own vacay at Emerald Beach RV Park varies from $40 to $695, depending on the site and time of stay.
Photo via Biscayne National Park/Yelp
Biscayne National Park
9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead
Camping in Biscayne means a boat ride to one of two Keys located off the coast. At Boca Chita Key, campers can set up on an open, grassy site on the water’s edge. This island doesn’t have any running water available, so you’ll have to bring your own. At Elliot Key, campers can pick between a forest site or one along the beach, and restrooms and showers are both readily available. But make sure you come early, no matter which island you choose — this park doesn’t take reservations, so it’s first come, first serve.
Photo via Canaveral National Seashore/Facebook
Canaveral National Seashore
212 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
The beachside campsites at Canaveral National Seashore may not have the luxuries — like a toilet — that you might be used to. But if you can stand roughing it for a few days, not many other campgrounds have experiences with these views on offer. Not only do you get a chance to rent out some gnarly beachfront property, you also might get the opportunity to see a rocket launched into space from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Station.
Photo via Fort Clinch State Park/Yelp
Fort Clinch State Park
2601 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach
Set up camp on a plot of more than 1,400 acres at one of the 70 campsites in two separate campgrounds at Fort Clinch State Park. Visitors are able to swim, fish and view wildlife at the park’s three-mile shoreline and half-mile-long fishing pier. You will even have the opportunity to go shark-tooth hunting near the pier and along the St. Mary’s Inlet — and you can bring your pets.
Photo via Fort De Soto Park/Yelp
Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde
Fort De Soto Park is the largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, consisting of 1,136 acres of land. Surrounded by mangroves, wetlands and palm hammocks, this area has 238 campsites for visitors, and there are special campsites fit for your furry friends.
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