Florida is the perfect destination any time of year! The first thoughts that come to mind are sandy beaches and Mickey Mouse, but the state offers so much more including 3 national parks, crystal clear spring fed rivers, and a whole lot of history.
Just as the state has so many different activities, Florida also offers every type of campground you can imagine.
No matter what your preference, there is something for you from beautiful beachside resorts to rustic riverfront campgrounds – and yes of, course, there is Disney!
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Yes, you can camp at Disney, watch fireworks from the Fort’s beach, and enjoy evening with s’mores and a sing along with Chip and Dale.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness is my absolute favorite campground in Florida, and if money were no object I’d probably live there half the year! But don’t take just my word for it.
Margie of DQ Family Travel said, “We love the Fort Wilderness Campground in Walt Disney World Florida! The campground is filled with activities for all ages to enjoy. There are jogging trails, playgrounds, bike rentals, boat and canoe/kayak rentals, two pools with a waterslide and hot tubs, horseback riding, golf cart rentals, volleyball and basketball courts, and even an archery experience.
The campground has so many conveniences like two stores, an arcade, laundry facilities, and the cleanest bathrooms/showers of any campground I’ve ever stayed at. There are five dining options on site ranging from food trucks, quick service meals, casual restaurants, buffet options, a bar, and a musical dinner show.
At night, there is even a campfire sing-a-long with Chip and Dale where s’mores are available. If you’re considering doing Disney on a budget, then you may want to check out Fort Wilderness, and add a little bit of outdoor fun to your vacation.”
Watch our short video review of the campground below to see the layout of the resort.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Need to save a little money after your say at Fort Wilderness? Consider one of Florida’s 59 State Park campgrounds. One of our favorites is in Southeast Florida near the Atlantic Coast is Jonathan Dickinson State Park. There are actually two campgrounds here: one with full hook-ups and a smaller one near the river with partial hook-ups.
There are so many activities at this state park that you will never have to leave to go sight seeing. One of the highlights is the Loxahatchee River. The campground has a designated swimming area, marina, and even ranger led boat tour. In addition to 3 nature trails there are also paved multi-use trails, as well as the Camp Murphy Off-road Bicycle Trail System which is a nine-mile network of mountain bike trails.
Miami Everglades RV Resort
If you’re looking for a destination that will allow you to visit both Miami, as well as Everglades National Park, this resort has got you covered!
Alison of Our National Adventure and her family enjoyed this Thousand Trails / Encore park. “At only $20 per night with our Thousand Trails Membership the Miami Everglades RV Resort is a great deal for south Florida.
This park is big rig friendly with many pull throughs, huge green lawn, kids’ park, and swimming pool. This is a great place to stop and relax while you explore two of the three National parks in south Florida (Everglades and Biscayne) or drive out to explore Miami for the day.”
Dry Tortugas National Park
Speaking of national parks, have you heard about Dry Tortugas? An island around 70 miles southwest of Key West, it is considered one of the most remote National Parks in the United States.
The Round the World Guys recommend Dry Tortugas for its isolated, pristine location where visitors can find solitude and an unforgettable experience.
You can even camp at Dry Tortugas National Park (without your RV of course), but you’ll have to bring in everything you need: tent, fresh water, food, and other supplies. The campground fee is $15 per individual campsite and $30 for the group site, but don’t forget you have to pay for the ferry. It only transports 10 campers per day.
To see what the island is like watch the video below:
Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina
A visit to the Florida Keys has been on my bucket list for a while now. When I saw that our friends at 1stClass RV Adventures recently visited, I had to ask for their feedback.
Sandra said, “We loved staying at Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina in Big Pine Key, Florida so much that we ended up extending our stay. It was magical every time we looked out the windows or walked out our front door. The ocean surrounds the entire park and its location is perfect.
There is so much to do right in the park that it was hard to leave we hung out there almost every day. For all the fishermen out there this is the place to stay and fish.
We also loved the convenience of taking the bus right in front of the resort for only $4 per person into Key West instead of driving our truck. The location was perfect to say the least!”
Gulf Coast Campgrounds
I suppose if you’re a traveler, you’ll want to leave the Keys at some point. Let’s look at some campgrounds you’ll encounter making your way up the Gulf Coast, beginning with this review of Gulf Air Resort in Ft Meyers, Florida.
Continuing up the coast, be sure to stop and enjoy Sarasota, Florida and nearby Myakka River State Park.
Lazy Days RV Resort
We love everything about Tampa Bay! Whether you are looking for theme parks or some of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast, Tampa Bay has something for you. When visiting Tampa, we love the Lazy Days RV Resort in Seffner, Florida.
This terrific campground has 300 full hook-up RV sites with beautiful landscaping, an amazing pool area, restaurant, Wi-Fi, cable TV, newspaper delivery, and trash pick-up.
Watch our short video below to see more of what we love about this amazing RV resort!
Sanlan RV Resort
If you’d prefer a nice, quiet location a bit farther inland consider Lakeland, Florida. As the name implies, there are several lakes with wonderful nature trails all around the city. When in Lakeland, our friend Mary Ottenwess recommends the Sanlan RV Resort.
She said, “It’s a large, mainly 55+, park with both full time residents and RVers. There is an exercise equipment room and several recreational buildings for activities such as exercise classes, card games, and darts as well as courts for pickle ball, horse shoes, shuffleboard, and other games. They also have two heated pools and many small lakes with fishing opportunities. Wildlife viewing abounds as the park has several trails for walking/biking/golf carts that meander through the woods past the lakes, streams and ponds. If you prefer to ride you can rent golf carts at the office during your stay.
There is also a 27 hole golf course for those that enjoy golfing and the clubhouse provides lessons during the season. The park in close to Lakeland with shopping, sports stadiums, universities/colleges and other amenities. A short bike or car ride away is Circle B Nature reserve which also provides several trails for wildlife viewing and where you can see some of the largest alligators found in Florida. You can stay for a night, a month, a season or longer. It’s a very nice RV community and we’ve definitely built some lifelong friendships.”
Camping on Florida’s Spring-Fed Rivers
No discussion of Florida would be complete without highlighting the crystal clear spring-fed rivers found near the Nature Coast.
My personal favorite is Rainbow Springs State Park. This state park campground has huge sites with full hook-ups and access to the crystal clear river. The water is so clear, it looks like a swimming pool.
Watch this short video to see all the Rainbow Springs has to offer including a sneak peek at the campground.
If a private RV resort is more your style, consider Belle Parc RV Resort in Brooksville, Florida. Our friends Nick & Julie said, “Belle Parc RV Resort was great! It’s in a beautiful country setting with newly renovated level sites. It has a heated pool & hot tub along with a café serving terrific home cooked food.”
While there be sure to pay a visit to both Homosassa Springs and Weeki Wachee Sprngs. Both have their own unique attractions including a wildlife center, manatees, kayaking, mermaids, and more! Read about our visit and suggested activities here.
Bayside Campground, Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area
Many RVers who travel to the sunshine state are concerned that it will be too expensive. I hope this article has provided several options that can appeal to any budget. If you’re still not sure, consider some dry camping. There are several locations throughout the state that offer low cost and even free camping.
Family RV Travelers Exploring the Local Life shared this suggestion. Bayside Campground (also known as Grassy Point) is a free no hook-up campground located in the wilderness to the west of Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle. It has just 12 campsites and a whole lot of wilderness.
Jessica said, “Out of all the places we have RV camped in Florida, the Bayside Campground is our absolute favorite. It is off-the-beaten-path, free, and beautiful. You can park your RV right there on the water and watch the sunset right over Blackwater bay. You can swim, fish, hike, or just relax on the shore.”
Military Campgrounds in Florida
A final option we’d like to share for those who have access to military bases, are their campgrounds. There are several options throughout the state managed by various branches of the service. Some of our favorites include:
Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area – Pensacola, Florida
MacDill Air Force Base – Tampa, Florida
Patrick Air Force Base – Cocoa Beach, Florida
If you’re interested in learning more about military campgrounds and eligibility, be sure to read our Guide to Using Military Campgrounds.
What Did We Miss?
Florida is a large, diverse state so even though we tried, we know we couldn’t capture it all.
Please share your recommendations with us in the comments below.
And don’t forget to save this image to Pinterest for future reference!
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