Florida has so many wonderful national and state parks so there are lots of options for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming and beach going. If you want to enjoy all that Florida has to offer by spending a few nights camping, here are 5 of the best places to camp in Florida this summer!
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1. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
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For a central location to all that Orlando has to offer, check out the Fort Wilderness Campground. The large, 750-acre campground has full hookup campsites with water/electric/sewage as well as some with just water/electric. The largest sites have a concrete pad that is 18 feet by 60 feet, so plenty of room. Even the tent sites are large at 10 feet by 25 feet and they are all nestled in among the pine and cypress forest. Keep your eye out for deer, rabbits and even armadillos that live in the park. The campground really is a resort with restaurants, pools, beaches and entertainment all available right in the park.
| Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | Just outside of Orlando |
| Nearest City | Lake Buena Vista, FL |
| RV/Tent Sites | 800 RV/Tent Sites |
| Cabins | 400 |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, hot showers, restaurants, stores, swimming pools, beaches |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Resort-like camping close to all that Orlando has to offer! |
2. Bahia Honda State Park RV Campground (Florida Keys)
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If you are looking for something a little more remote, try the palm tree lined beaches of Bahia Honda State Park. Bring your snorkeling gear because you can snorkel right off the beach. Be sure to hike to the top of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge where you can watch sea turtles and rays swimming below. There are three areas of the campground that include larger sites for RV’s with electric/water hookups and there is a more primitive area with 8 tent sites. All of the sites have picnic tables and grills.
| Bahia Honda State Park RV Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | On the Florida Keys |
| Nearest City | Key West, FL |
| Buttonwood Campground | 48 sites, accommodate large RV’s and tents, some waterfront sites, electric/water, picnic table, grill, restrooms, hot showers |
| Sandspur Campground | 24 sites, accommodates smaller RV’s (23 feet and less) tents, electric/water, picnic table, grill, restrooms, hot showers |
| Bayside Campground | 8 non-electric sites, picnic table, grill, water, restroom, ½ mile to nearest hot showers |
| Hammock Camping | 2 sites (Site 45 at Buttonwood and 73 at Bayside) |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Grill at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, hot showers |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Beachside camping in the Keys! |
3. Myakka River State Park
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The Myakka River was Florida’s first designated wild and scenic river, located SE of Sarasota, FL. The park includes a 100 foot long wildlife viewing bridge that gives you the feel of living in the tree tops of an oak/palm hammock. The Myakka Canopy Walkway is 25 feet off the ground and was built as a research project to improve the wildlife viewing including watching for eagles, vultures and hawks. Another area of the park has the Birdwalk which is a long boardwalk leading out to a deck for wildlife viewing around the lake. Watch for alligators, softshell turtles, herons, and osprey. There are three campgrounds to choose from as well as six primitive campgrounds along the hiking trails. The main campgrounds sites have electric and water with a few having sewer hookups as well. There are restrooms and hot showers available.
| Myakka River State Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | SW Florida, near Sarasota |
| Nearest City | Sarasota, FL |
| Old Prairie Campground | Located near the park entrance, playground, gift shop |
| Big Flats Campground | Located near the Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka Outpost, a fishing deck and Wi-Fi. |
| Palmetto Ridge | Located near the park entrance, playground, gift shop, RV sites have electric/water/sewer |
| Primitive Campsites | 6 different campgrounds with 3 sites each, fire pit and some have water but it is not potable |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, hot showers, laundry, playground, gift shop |
| Pet Friendly | Yes (not the Primitive Sites) |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Some of the best wildlife viewing in the state! |
4. Cayo Costa State Park
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Do you want to camp on a secluded island? For a peaceful adventure load up your kayak and head out to Cayo Costa State Park. This island is in the Gulf just east of the Fort Meyers area. You can only access the island by boat or kayak, or by taking one of the ferries. Once on the island, you can rent kayaks and bikes to get around the many trails. The campground is about a mile from the docks but there is a tram service to transport your camping gear from 10am-4pm. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit and access to water. There are restrooms with flush toilets and cold showers. Imagine waking up to have a cup of coffee right on the beach to watch manatee, porpoise and sea turtles. Now that is one of the best places to camp in Florida this summer!
| Cayo Costa State Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | An island off the west coast of Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Nearest City | Fort Meyers, FL |
| RV Sites | 0 |
| Tent Sites | 30 |
| Cabins | 12 (no electricity or water, three bunk beds, table, outdoor grill, 5 have a screened porch) |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, tram to the campground 10am-4pm |
| Pet Friendly | Pets are allowed, but not on the beach |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping on a secluded island with 9 miles of beach! |
5. Canaveral National Seashore
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If you want to camp on the Atlantic Ocean, right on the beach, then Canaveral National Seashore is the best place to camp in Florida this summer. There are two large sites on the beach and there are 14 backcountry sites on Mosquito Lagoon Island. The backcountry sites are all boat/kayak/canoe-in only. You can rent canoes to make the trip if you are staying at sites 1-5 on the island. Note that these sites are very primitive and do not have any facilities, including no toilets. The two main campsites do have restrooms and are walking distance from the parking lot. Bring your fishing pole because there is great fishing in the Atlantic and in the lagoon. Be ready to catch some good sized bluefish, pompano and whiting.
| Canaveral National Seashore | |
|---|---|
| Location | An hour east of Orlando, on the Atlantic Ocean |
| Nearest City | Cape Canaveral |
| Main Campsite | 2 sites, one for 6 max, one for 15 max |
| Mosquito Lagoon Backcountry Sites | 14 tent only, canoe/kayak/boat-in only |
| Picnic Table | No |
| Fire Pit at each site | No, fires in metal containers only |
| Amenities | Restrooms at the 2 main sites only |
| Pet Friendly | No, pets are not allowed in the park |
| Reservations | Yes, permits required |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping right on the sandy beach of the Atlantic Ocean! |
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