Campgrounds in Florida
8 van-friendly campgrounds in Florida
View Florida Van Life Guide →Dry Tortugas NP Camping
Key West, FL
Seventy miles west of Key West, Fort Jefferson stands sentinel. Crystal-clear reef snorkeling.
St. George Island State Park
St. George Island, FL
Pristine Gulf Coast beaches with camping directly on the sand. Crystal-clear water.
Bahia Honda State Park
Big Pine Key, FL
Florida Keys beachfront camping on Bahia Honda Bay. Crystal waters and tropical sunsets.
Myakka River State Park
Sarasota, FL
Old Florida wilderness with canopy walks, airboat tours, and wildlife galore.
Fort DeSoto Park
St. Petersburg, FL
Tampa Bay island camping with pristine beaches. Kayaking, birding, and warm waters.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jupiter, FL
Coastal hammock camping near the Loxahatchee River. Manatee springs and maritime history.
Long Pine Key - Everglades NP
Homestead, FL
Everglades gateway camping. Dry season brings incredible birdwatching and gator spotting.
Lake Okeechobee Scenic Camping
Okeechobee, FL
Primitive camping areas around the lake and state forests in South Florida.
When people think of Florida, they think of theme parks and retirement communities. They don't think of van camping — which is honestly one of the most underrated van life destinations in the country. We've spent months camping across this state, and what keeps us coming back is the water. Freshwater springs with 72-degree water year-round, Gulf Coast beaches you can drive onto, and the Florida Keys where you're sleeping next to the ocean on islands that feel like the Caribbean. Florida camping has quirks — the humidity, the bugs, the hurricane season — but the payoff is a state where you can swim in a crystal-clear spring in the morning and watch a Gulf sunset from a beach campsite in the afternoon. This guide covers our favorite spots from the Panhandle down through the Keys.
Florida Van Life Overview
Florida is flat, hot, and wet — that's the honest version. The state sits barely above sea level, summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with extreme humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence from June through September. But the flip side is that Florida's water systems are extraordinary: the state has more springs than anywhere else in the country, the Gulf Coast has some of the best beach camping on the East Coast, and the Keys offer a tropical experience without a passport.
Best seasons: November through April is peak season. The weather is dry, the bugs are manageable, and temperatures are comfortable. May and October are transition months — still good, but warmer and wetter. June through October is hurricane season and genuinely uncomfortable for camping unless you love heat and humidity.
Key regulations: Florida State Parks are well-run and reasonably priced. The Florida Keys have strict rules about where you can and can't camp — boondocking in the Keys is basically illegal, so use campgrounds or BLM-adjacent options. National Forests (Ocala, Osceola, Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee) allow dispersed camping. Beach camping is allowed in specific areas only — never assume you can park and sleep on any beach.
Hurricane season: June 1 through November 30. If you're camping in Florida during this period, have an evacuation plan and monitor weather daily. Storms can develop quickly and Florida's flat terrain means flooding is a serious risk even with moderate rainfall.
Campgrounds by Region
Northern Florida (Panhandle, Gainesville, Ocala)
Northern Florida is where the state feels most like the rest of the South — pine forests, red clay in some areas, and a slower pace. The Panhandle has white sand beaches that rival anything in the Caribbean, and Ocala National Forest is a hidden gem for dispersed camping.
Ocala National Forest
- Location: Central FL (near Palatka)
- Type: National Forest
- Cost: Free (dispersed) / $14/night (developed)
- Highlights: The largest national forest in Florida, with sand pine scrub, freshwater springs, and genuine wilderness feel. Juniper Springs is the crown jewel — a spring-run creek where you can canoe through crystal-clear water surrounded by forest. Dispersed camping is available throughout.
St. George Island State Park
- Location: St. George Island, FL (Panhandle)
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $36/night
- Highlights: Drive-on beach camping on one of the best beaches in Florida. White sand, clear water, and you can park your van right next to the surf. This is our pick for beach camping in the Panhandle.
Suwannee River State Park
- Location: White Springs, FL
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $26/night
- Highlights: Where the Suwannee River meets the Alapaha River. The confluence is beautiful and the park connects to the Florida Trail. We love it for the river swimming and the old-fashioned small-town feel of White Springs.
Central Florida (Orlando, Tampa, Springs)
Central Florida is spring country. The area around Ocala, Gainesville, and the Orlando hinterlands has more freshwater springs per square mile than almost anywhere — and they're all swimmable. If you want to cool off during a hot summer day, these springs are the answer.
Fort DeSoto Park
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
- Type: County Park
- Cost: $32/night
- Highlights: Our top pick for Tampa Bay area camping. The park sits on an island with Gulf of Mexico beaches on one side and Tampa Bay on the other. The campground is well-shaded, clean, and you're 20 minutes from St. Petersburg for supplies. The beach is spectacular.
Rainbow Springs State Park
- Location: Dunnellon, FL
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $26/night
- Highlights: One of the largest freshwater springs in Florida — the water is 72 degrees year-round and impossibly clear. Swimming here feels like floating in liquid glass. The campground is quiet and well-maintained. We come here every summer to escape the heat.
Silver Springs State Park
- Location: Ocala, FL
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $26/night
- Highlights: Glass-bottom boat rides over one of the largest artesian spring systems in the world. The surrounding forest has wild monkeys (yes, actually — rhesus macaques from a 1930s movie release). Kayaking the spring run is one of our favorite things to do in Florida.
Southern Florida (Keys, Everglades)
Southern Florida is a different world. The Everglades are vast, wild, and unlike anything else in North America. The Keys are tropical, expensive, and worth every penny. This is the Florida that most international visitors come for — and camping here puts you in the middle of it.
Bahia Honda State Park
- Location: Bahia Honda Key, FL
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $44/night
- Highlights: The most beautiful campground in the Keys, and possibly in all of Florida. The old railroad bridge towers over the park, the beaches are Caribbean-clear, and you're surrounded by turquoise water. Book months in advance — this place sells out.
Everglades National Park (Long Pine Key)
- Location: Homestead, FL
- Type: National Park
- Cost: $20/night (plus $35 park entry)
- Highlights: Camping inside the Everglades is a bucket-list experience. Long Pine Key is the drive-in campground, open dry season only (November through April). The Anhinga Trail at dusk — where you watch alligators slide into the twilight water — is unforgettable.
Gulf Coast (Naples, Fort Myers, Panhandle Beaches)
The Gulf Coast is where Florida camping really comes into its own. The water is calm and warm, the beaches are wide, and the sunsets face west over the Gulf of Mexico — which means some of the best sunset viewing in the country.
Myakka River State Park
- Location: Sarasota, FL
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $26/night
- Highlights: One of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida. The canopy walk gives you a bird's-eye view of the forest, and the upper Myakka Lake has alligators basking on logs everywhere. We love the backcountry camping option for a more remote experience.
Grayton Beach State Park
- Location: Santa Rosa Beach, FL (Panhandle)
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $36/night
- Highlights: Sugar-white sand beaches and rare coastal dune lakes (only found in a handful of places on Earth). The campground is shaded by pines and within walking distance of the beach. This is the Florida Panhandle at its best.
Long Key State Park
- Location: Long Key, FL (Keys)
- Type: State Park
- Cost: $44/night
- Highlights: A quieter alternative to Bahia Honda with excellent snorkeling right off the beach. The campground is right on the water and the kayaking through the mangroves is peaceful. Good option when Bahia Honda is booked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hurricane season a dealbreaker for Florida camping?
Not a dealbreaker, but you need to be prepared. June through November is hurricane season, and August through October sees the highest activity. Check forecasts daily, have an evacuation route planned, and avoid camping during any named storm. Outside of direct hurricane threats, the main issue is heat and humidity — plan activities for early morning and late afternoon.
Can I boondock in the Florida Keys?
Effectively no. The Keys are a string of small islands with very limited land area, and overnight parking outside designated campgrounds is illegal in most areas. Bahia Honda, Long Key, and private campgrounds are your options. Some people overnight at marinas with permission, but this is case-by-case.
Where can I camp on the beach in Florida?
Beach camping (parking your van on or next to the sand) is only allowed in specific designated areas. St. George Island State Park, Fort DeSoto Park, and Canaveral National Seashore all have beach-adjacent camping. Never assume you can park and sleep on any Florida beach — it's illegal in most places and enforced.
Are Florida's freshwater springs safe for swimming?
Yes, most springs are safe and wonderful for swimming. The water is typically 72 degrees year-round and comes from deep underground aquifers. Some springs occasionally experience algal blooms (particularly in summer), which are posted at the park. Stick to developed swimming areas and follow posted guidelines.