After Three Years of Florida Camping, These Are My Thoughts

My son and I have been camping in our 28 foot long, Grand Design XLS 23LDE camper since 2022. Because we have two cats, and prefer to not have to take them camping, our camping trips are usually only two nights long. For that reason, all of our camping travels have been close to our home, which is on the central, east coast of Florida.

Our Travel and Camping Area

We have traveled south to Melbourne, west to Tampa, and north and northwest to the Ocala area. Usually we camp for the simple fun of it, and at other times we need to camp close to a certain location. My son attended a concert in Tampa and we camped over on the west coast (Hillsborough River Campground) for that. With an RV we have the freedom to do that.

Campsite Photos From the Past Two Years

Booking a Campsite Can Be a Challenge

Booking a campsite takes place through websites. If your only chance to camp is weekends, it can be tricky, as weekends book fast.

Many of the beautiful places to camp can be found in Florida’s state parks. It was a learning curve for me to navigate the Florida State Parks reservation system. Now, as a Floridian, I am able to book sites 11 months out (state parks only), which is one month more than out-of-staters. Unfortunately, my son is a firefighter and doesn’t know what days he is off that far in advance.

Camping is inexpensive, and even more so if you are over 65. There is a fee if you must cancel a reservation or make changes.

Florida state parks offer camping discounts for Senior Citizens.

A few of the parks we’ve stayed at were booked through Recreation.gov. Juniper Springs and Salt Springs are two that come to mind. Sometimes there will be a few photos of the actual campsite before you book, but sometimes not. I believe that sites can’t be booked more than 6 months out. If your campground choice is full, you can be asked to be notified of openings. They also list other campgrounds nearby in case you can’t find a reservation at the desired campground.

Other campgrounds have different rules. When booking our campground at Kelly Park near Orlando, we couldn’t choose our site until 45 days out.

Campsite Maps Are Elusive

I’m not sure why all the secrecy of the campground maps. The only ones I have seen are posted by campers. Usually you’ll be handed a campground map once you check in at the campground. One campground didn’t even do that. We could only take a photo of the map, once we arrived.

Sorry, but I am old school and like the paper map in my hand. I keep the ones we’ve camped at, and printout whatever I can find online. Maps are a good place to keep notes.

Here are a couple of maps of campgrounds we have yet to visit.

We’ve stayed in some of the worst (small, not level) campsites on our first visit to a campground. It is a chance to look around and then choose a better campsite for next time. The best way to find the perfect campsite is to see it in person, but there is another way. I read reviews (and have left a few) at RV life campground reviews, where people share their photos and opinions of campgrounds around the country.

It’s smart to NOT share a best campsite online, or it will always be booked next time you want it!

I quickly discovered that it’s tough to book a spot at campgrounds on any weekend. Fortunately we don’t have to camp then, but we like to meet up with friends who only have weekends available. Not only does Florida have locals who camp, but out-of-state campers are constant. As is true with all things Florida, there are too many people.

Sometimes online info will be out of date. Campground updates are usually done in the “off season” so Springs may be closed during the winter months. At one place kayak rentals were offered online, but when we arrived, they no longer did that (Gamble Rogers).

Coveted Beach Camping Locations

It seems that everyone yearns to camp on the beach. Most campgrounds with ocean front sites pack the campers in as much as possible. Beach camping also means there will be little, if any, shade. The windy conditions may keep your awning rolled up too. It will be sandy. There is no way around that, and the sand will be everywhere. In fact, if you camp anywhere in Florida, be ready for sand.

Making a reservation at any campground on the ocean will be tough, as you will be competing with all the other ocean-loving camping people trying to book those spots. For instance, good luck ever getting a campsite at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys!

We lucked out and got a spot at Gamble Rogers (FL state parks website), which has campsites right on the ocean. It was a fluke. I was looking at other campgrounds and one opening showed up at Gamble. It was not on the ocean, but on the river side.

After we arrived, I took a walk around the ocean campsites, I saw only a handful that actually had ocean views! The sites were very close together and sunny. We will probably never go back (or have the chance to), but it is nice to say we’ve been. It is a coveted ocean camping spot. Read more at my review page.

Everyone Comes to Florida

While camping in Melbourne at Long Point, my son and I drove to another campground to check it out. The Sebastian Inlet Campground sits along the inlet that leads to the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the campsites offer water views. The campground has a fishing pier. There might be water access right from the campground, but I am not sure. The ocean and beach is a short walk or ride down the park road. It’s a great location, and especially for saltwater fishermen.

I thought that this campground would be nice to visit in cooler months, so when I got back home, I checked for availability. There were no openings until the end of next May. So, from July 2024 until May 2025 the campground was full! I doubt we will ever have the opportunity to camp at Sebastian Inlet.

My Preferred Camping Trips Are in Forests

Personally, I prefer to camp among lots of green. I love a campsite that is spacious and has trees. Those type usually have lots of walking trails, bike trails and sometimes swimming and paddling. Florida’s natural springs are beautiful, and the swimming is done in crystal clear, cool, water.

Later this year we are planning a trip to Kelly Park and will hopefully (weather permitting) enjoy paddling the Emerald Cut.

What to Expect From Florida Campgrounds

We enjoy camping. You never really know if it’s for you until you get out there and do it. We love the state parks especially. Camping is affordable, and if you can get that senior citizen discount, it’s even cheaper. The parks are well-maintained and we’ve always been impressed with the cleanliness.

Hookups

Most campgrounds have an electric and water hookup. Rarely do we have a sewer connection right at the campsite. But all campgrounds, that we have been to, have dump stations. (Salt Springs has a sewer connection at each site, which is a rare thing, but camping is more pricey.)

Occasionally there will be a campground with no hookups at all. We dry camped at Juniper Springs in January! This meant running the generator during the day to charge the battery for heat overnight – and it was cold and rainy. This was a pretty awesome park, nonetheless. I plan to go back when the weather is hot to enjoy the springs. The campsites were very shaded and big.

Picnic Tables and Firepits

Park campgrounds have picnic tables – some nice, some not so nice – and a fire ring. Juniper had a bear container – that big green box in my photo. We bring our own wood, and have never been told not to. Most places also sell firewood.

Water Access Camping

I’ve talked about beach camping, but there is also river access camping. At Long Point in Melbourne many of the campsites are right on the water. The water is not really “nice” water, which ruins it for me.

Indian Mound RV and Fish Camp is right down the road from where I live, and I’d love to go and take our boat. Camping is expensive at this place – close to and over $100 a night. Campsites are close together, but you are right on the river.

Springs are one of Florida’s best water features if you ask me. Camping near the springs means having access after the crowds have gone home. I plan to camp more often near the springs.

Time of Year

Fewer northerners will be here in summer which opens up campsites for us Floridians. However, packing, unpacking at the campground, and packing up again, in the heat, is not a lot of fun. We also have the possibilities of hurricanes and severe thunderstorms during summer which can ruin camping plans. Also, local families and kids are out of school and heading to the beach, springs, etc. when the weather is hot, which contributes to overcrowding.

By October, the northern crowd is heading back down here and filling up the state, including campgrounds. So, when is the best time to camp in Florida? I’m not sure. Plan and book sites months out, and cancel if you have to – for a small fee. If you can camp during the week, as opposed to weekends, you have a much better chance of finding camping spots.

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