Best Camping in Florida

By Nathan Swartz

Florida has long been a mainstay for RVers seeking that ideal camping location to wait out the winter months. Few other places in the United States remain as consistently warm as what you’ll find while camping in Florida, and the Sunshine State has an abundance of camping available, in a variety of forms.

See a map of all camping in Florida.

Florida RV Parks

Whether you've come this far south in search of decadent, resort-style RV parks or primitive camping amongst the palms, Florida certainly doesn't disappoint, Campendium's guide to Florida RV Parks will help you find exactly the experience you're after. Fishing meccas like Lake Okeechobee, the family affairs to be had in Orlando and historic sites in our nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, all let you define the perfect camping trip on your terms.

National Parks in Florida

In Southwest Florida, recreation areas like Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve keep the thermostat kicked up high enough to make any dad angry all year long. The Everglades are a birding paradise, where exotic creatures like alligators and even monkeys play in the cypress forests and swamps just outside of your RV site. Big Cypress is home to Florida’s remaining panther population, and along with two other national parks in Southern Florida, offer millions of acres to explore.

Florida National Forests

Respite from the relentless heat of the state’s southern tip can be found in Central Florida's Ocala National Forest, where in addition to a little shade from the forest canopy, one can find free tent camping and sites suitable for RVs as well. Along the panhandle, camping can be had along the Gulf of Mexico and in Apalachicola National Forest, where small towns and beach resorts alike await travelers from the world over.

Florida State Parks

Beyond the national forests and parks, Florida's various water management districts and wildlife management areas also offer camping opportunities, but the truest gem the state offers--its state park system--is coveted above all else. While they often require reservations placed months in advance, Florida's State Parks are exemplary, featuring unspoiled beachfront or natural springs to rest your weary rig awhile.

Free Camping in Florida

Where the state parks can be difficult to get into and private RV parks often dangle a pricey nightly rate, free camping across the state is luckily abundant. From complimentary overnight parking at local Walmarts, casinos and Interstate rest stops to free spots at county parks, fishing docks, and national forests, the thrifty RVer is never far from free camping in Florida.

For generations, travelers in search of a destination like no other in these United States have flocked to Florida, and the state’s economy and culture has risen up to meet their needs. From the Panhandle to the Keys, Florida promises a place to pull up next to a picnic table and a fire ring and call home.