We thoroughly appreciated the plethora of national, state and county parks in Florida. In our two and half months here, we visited at least 34 of them. Almost all were well-planned, roomy, and stunningly beautiful. Many were free. Below is a list of the parks we visited in the Sunshine State. It’s as inclusive as we could manage– though we are probably forgetting a few spots.
In Pinellas County, where we spent most of our time, we had a couple of go to breakfast parks. I’m not ashamed to say, we broke out the campstove and drip cone and made ourselves coffee on more than a few picnic tables. Milo enjoyed morning his walks along the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. He got to know the “herd of shelties” that trooped by each morning at R. E. Olds Park and the gopher tortoises that lived along the nature trail at Fred Howard Park. He even saw dolphins and manatees, though they didn’t look like much to him.
Florida’s in our rear view mirror now. We miss it already.. or at least some parts of it. It’s a tricky state for van living. But, sunshine state takes recreation seriously– really seriously. And, man, those parks are commmmfy.
Here’s a list of the spots we checked out. If you are roaming Florida and looking for camping– or just a spot to set down for an hour or two, we hope that our list (though it is far from inclusive) might help you find your own place in the sun… or under the live oaks, or among the palmettos and palm trees.
Florida’s National Parks, Forests and Preserves
Big Cypress National Preserve This lesser-visited park northwest of Everglades was exactly what we needed after a busy few weeks ago in crowded Pinellas County. We thoroughly enjoyed camping at the remote Bear Island Campground here– though there were no services but a pit toilet and no cell service. (If this spot, down miles of dirt roads, feels too remote, There are many other camping opportunities in the preserve.) At Bear Island, we walked the OHV trails (as much as we could in a swamp) and saw so many birds and alligators in the canals and marshes that we stopped remarking upon them. Expect mosquitos, gator, snakes, all that Florida stuff. But also: remarkable beauty in a much less crowded area.
Everglades National Park This park, on the southern tip of Florida, is famous for wildlife. And yes, we saw Manatees, alligators, crocodiles and countless birds in our day and a half here. It is beautiful and remote-feeling, especially the further you get from the main park road. There are many awesome spots to put in a kayak and some nature trails too. The dramatic “river of grass” and ragged beaches of Florida Bay are beautiful and unique. However, the campgrounds here are more “parking lot” than “camp”, even the “primitive” sites. Also, it is pricey to stay here and the Golden Age Pass gives only a 10% discount. Lastly, Everglades is NOT an easy place to have a dog. There are no pets allowed outside of the campground, and it’s (usually) too hot to leave them comfortably behind. Also, the mosquitos are pretty intense here, so be prepared for that.
Hopkins Prairie Campground A first come/first serve campground in the Ocala National Forest, this spot takes you off paved roads and down sandy forest service trails. (When we drove them, the roads were fine, but it might be best to check them out first.) The campground is on the Florida Trail— bonus! We LOVED this remote spot– hiked both north and south on the Florida trail, explored a giant sinkhole, even watched a rocket launch and some pretty amazing sunsets here. There is kayaking on the marshy part of the prairie too. This spot gets a lot of black bear activity and there are bear boxes to keep your food while you are here.
Juniper Springs Recreation Area is a national recreation area in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. It’s a great place to visit on a hot day. The springs are semi-developed and a startling, clear blue. The nature trail here was short but beautiful, with a view of the spot where the springs bubble forth from the earth. Swimming is great, especially on a Florida-hot day. The “tent”primitive” sites are in a deep, tropical forest with a primeval feel…. but they are close together. When the campground filled up, it felt more like a tent city here. We moved on after a day.
Salt Springs Recreation Area Another national recreation area in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. These springs are much bigger than those at Juniper, with an expansive shallow wading area as well as a deeper swimming area closer in to the springs. There are crabs and fish everywhere here. Also alligators. This is a great spot for canoeing, and the trails here are more extensive than those in many Florida parks. Though the sites with hook ups are crowded, we were able to get a “primitive” camping spot (#64) that was super secluded and beautiful.
St Marks National Wildlife Refuge An expansive wild place that felt like the end of the world with miles of marshes and beaches. This refuge is in Florida’s “Big Bend”. There is no campground here– and no boondocking permitted. But we caught an amazing sunset here and hope to return someday for a longer visit, maybe some kayaking too.
Florida State Parks and Forests
Florida has an amazing variety of state parks! They don’t come cheap; all have an entry fee. And camp sites are hard to come by. If you want to camp in Florida’s state parks, plan well ahead and utilize their online registration portal. Sites at these parks are typically reserved month in advance. If you are more of a spur-of-the-moment type, look for last minute cancellations (that’s what we did).
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park This more developed park south of Tallahassee in the panhandle, has no campground. But you can book a night in a historic hotel instead. The main attraction, however, is the largest spring in Florida. We hiked several miles here and climbed the observation platform to see manatees beside the spring. This place is a terrific spot to cool down on a hot day, with a swimming beach and concession stand.
Lake Kissimmee State Park This south central Florida park is humongous and remote (no cell service here). But there are miles and miles of trails, historical reenactments, Florida’s second largest lake for boating. Also, there are more campground critters than you can shake a stick at! (Believe me, we tried to shake a stick at them.) It was here that we put down Milo’s water bowl and an armadillo came darting out of the palmetto thickets expecting to catch a quick meal. Instead, Milo almost ended up with the quick meal 🙂
Manatee Springs State Park We love this wild spot! It has been on our radar since our kids were little, and we’d swim here on our marathon drives from Massachusetts. But this was the first time we camped at the springs. We rented Kayaks and explored the spring run and the Suwanee River. The forest here feels wild and primeval, cypress knees peeking up from the much. One of the best parts of our time here was hanging out with other campers. We made some new friends and enjoyed a few nights making music under the stars. Also, Milo stumbled out of the van in the middle of the night and took off into the woods here. For a terrifying hour, we thought we’d lost him. So this park is extra memorable.
Myakka River State Park This large park in Southwest Florida, was severely affected by Hurricane Ian. We saw many downed trees and closed trails here, also lots of folks out exploring this beautiful area. But it is an immense and wild place. We didn’t camp here, but we hiked several miles and picnicked beside a wild creek.
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest: Panther Pond On a remote, wild tract of land in of Southwest Florida, this state forest feels wild and a bit inaccessible. The Panther Pond Campground seems designed mostly for hunters. It is down a dirt road in thick palmetto brush. We walked the dirt road and a few overgrown trails while here. Beautiful, remote “real Florida” for sure.
St George Island State Park This park is on the eastern end of a barrier island in Florida’s Panhandle. We didn’t camp here but enjoyed a beachy lunch on a windy, late winter day, along with a mile long nature trail. In addition to the designated trails, there are miles of remote, beautiful beach walking here. The campground is pretty packed, but it gives you access to those amazing white sand beaches.
Skyway Fishing Pier We spent a night here while coming and going from Pinellas County. A part of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge that collapsed in the 80’s, the pier juts out into the mouth of Tampa bay and there are views all around! Also, fishing. All night long.
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park No camping here, but the kayaking is phenomenal! Mangrove tunnels, wide and wild canals full of fish, and open gulf islands all accessible from the put in spot here– just a touch west of busy US 19. We kayaked here on previous visits. But this winter, we hiked the nature trails and picnicked instead.
Withlacoochie State Forest We stayed at the Crooked River primitive campground, the quietest and least developed of the three managed by this state forest here. It nestles up along the river and I (Perri) kayaked this river run twice! In addition to kayaking/canoeing, there’s an old fashioned swimming beach and many forest trails to explore here.
Water & Wildlife Management Areas
Florida’s water management areas could be a post all to themselves. The state allows free camping on many of them. You just need to register with them and reserve on line. The are challenges with the reservation system. Many people reserve free spots and then don’t use them, leaving the land booked AND vacant, which is a bummer for those looking to stay. Anyway, these spots have few amenities but are in interesting, less crowded parts of the state and… freeeee. The Wildlife Management Areas are similar
Babcock Webb Campground To tell you the truth, this wasn’t our favorite place. There was a shooting range close by and we could hear the peeuuu peeuuu across the lake all day long. Also, it was close to the highway, only open on weekdays and there was more trash than trees.
Dinner Island Ranch This south central Florida spot has two sections: an large open field and a “hammock” that fits less than 10 campers. The Hammock section is cozy and wild. There isn’t a lot to do here; we hung out at camp, walked the road and followed some half-hearted hiking paths until they ran out. Hog hunters were out hunting, as were nature photographers. The heat (in February) was intense! But at night, a group of owls had a conversation above our van, which was pretty wonderful. Also, there are cows here. It is a “ranch” after all.
Dupuis Campground This is the creme de la creme of Florida’s WMA Campgrounds. Located near Lake Okeechobee, this spot has designated sites, trails and is beautiful and wild feeling. Definitely a slice of old Florida. There are helpful and friendly campground hosts here, and flush toilets too.
Hagen’s Cove Park In Florida’s armpit er– the “Big Bend Area”, Hagen’s Cove is a lovely spot to spend the day. There are marshes and beaches and an observation tower. We checked out the fidler crabs, horseshoe crabs and bald eagles here. This is great place for kayaking, so spot is remote and wild. No Camping allowed, but we enjoyed a quiet morning here just the same.
Lower Hillsboro River Preserve A big open area down a dirt road. A few trails. We really loved the social aspect of this spot when we were there, made some lasting friendships. But not much else going on here. The pit toilet was the pits here: you have been warned.
Town and County Parks
We spent an inordinate time in these smaller parks while in Florida. Few offer camping, but they are a respite from the crowded, traffic-strewn streets of this wild and crazy state. We had breakfast in one of these parks almost every morning– often lunch too. And Dan spent many hours working under the shady ramadas provided.
A. L. Anderson Park This park, just off the mess that is US-19, is on a freshwater lake. Lake Tarpon, to be exact. There are acres of green grass, a fenced dog park, a boat ramp, and shady ramadas beside the lake. A refreshing spot for sure.
Crystal Beach Park and Pier This tiny park beside the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t even have a website. It’s just a small pier, some benches and picnic tables and a slew of beautiful live oak trees. A great sunset spot– and open til 10 PM which is good to know when everything else closes at sundown.
Dunedin Causeway The beachiest spot we frequented, this park includes a spur of the Pinellas County Trail that runs along the beach. There are kayak rentals, concession stands and what not here. People park, set up their hammocks and spend the day watching the waves.
Fort Desoto Park This park is basically a whole barrier island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Camping is available here. It is pricey, super luxe… and hard to come by (for those of us who don’t tend plan months in advance). We snagged a couple cancellations and enjoyed this beautiful, spot more than once. Water views everywhere! Also, there is a dog beach, access to two fishing piers, kayak trails, bike paths, and white sandy beaches… so many white sandy beaches.
Fred Howard Park In the quirky town of Tarpon Springs on the central West Coast of Florida, this park is a “twofer”, with a grassy, nature-y section and a full-on sandy beach. We spent many hours here– making our morning coffee, checking out the gopher tortoises on the nature trail, watching dolphins and fish on the causeway section and even working. We also did some kayaking on the flat warm waters here– lovely.
Hammock Park This small Dunedin neighborhood park is mostly walking trails through a lush remnant of old Florida forest, with a few picnic tables, a bathroom and playground. There is also a shallow creek that could be kayaked. The ramada has power outlets, which was a welcome feature for us van campers.
Hardee Lakes County Park This park is in southcentral Florida. We camped here twice(!) partly because the “primitive area” was pretty well always available, even when nothing else was, and partly because we had space to ourselves, lake views, lovely walking trails and showers. We spotted many armadillos here and birds galore. It isn’t glitzy or knock-your-socks off amazing, but it’s peaceful… and available. And the primitive area was in our general price range.
Newport Campground On Florida’s panhandle, this small campground/boat ramp offers travelers a relatively cheap spot to set up near St Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge, Wakulla Springs, and Tallahassee. If you plan to canoe or kayak the St Mark’s River, this is a perfect spot. There are flush toilets and hot showers and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Ozello Community Park Located just South of Crystal River on the north west coast of Florida, this teeny park allows camping (for free!) It is mostly a wayside and boat ramp, but we loved the low key out of the way feel of this place, the marshes and quiet. Great place for a kayak!
Philippe Park On the west coast of Florida in the town of Safety Harbor, this park is built around a historic shell mound. The grassy hill that remains is the highest point for miles around. The live oaks are intense here, and beautiful. We spotted dolphin and manatees from the seawall. There’s a bike path/dog walk along the shore of Tampa Bay that goes all the way to the also awesome Safety Harbor Pier. A GREAT place for a picnic lunch… or breakfast.
R. E. Olds and Mobbly Beach, In Oldsmar, at the north end of Tampa Bay, these lovely little parks provided us a little respite after nights of stealthing around the busier parts of town. They aren’t fancy– just picnic tables, a shore or pier, but they are lovely and laid back. Watch out for the squirrels though, Oldsmar squirrels are BOLD.
Shell Mound Campground This small campground, is nestled beside an amazing archaeological feature: a historic shell mound. It also has a boat ramp, walking trails and a fishing pier. The price is reasonable (for Florida camping) and it is first-come/first serve rather than reservation based, which works great for us. The marshes are beautiful, the quaint, delicious town of Cedar Key is not far away. The campground itself tends more toward “parking lot” with little space between sites. Also, no see ums are a thing here, a serious thing.
Wall Springs and Wall Springs Annex, In Palm Harbor, this park, built around a historic springs is chock full of native fish! You can see them because the water is super clear and there is an observation platform and bridge. Sandy nature trails bring you down to the gulf, and shady picnic spots provide a cool place to relax. On the annex section, a bike path leads past gopher tortoise burrows to an observation area and pier. This park has everything… except camping.
Parks, Parks and More Parks!
Alrighty then! I hope this rundown of a few great Florida parks helps you on your own journeys! I’m filing it under “Places” so it will be easy to locate if you want to check back when planning your own tropical getaways.
