Tag: Florida State Parks

Ecstatic to Have Booked a Bahia Honda Waterfront Campsite!

Bahia Honda is a coveted State Park campground in the Florida Keys. I managed to snag a spot, but there are limitations.

If you know anything about camping in the Florida Keys, you may have heard of a campground named Bahia Honda. If you have camped there, kudos! And if you have camped in a waterfront site – wow, good for you!

After many tries, I now have booked a waterfront site for next May. But, it is not perfect for our needs.

About Bahia Honda

Bahia Honda Key is a small island just past Marathon Key heading south in the Florida Keys. It is part of the chain of islands off Florida’s southern tip, and is located at Mile Marker 37. The Bahia Honda State Park is where everyone wants to camp. And I mean everyone. I have not camped there yet, but soon.

Bahia Honda key in the Florida Kays with palm trees ocean and beaches.
Photo of Bahia Honda by Paulbr75 @ Pixabay

Camping Right on the Ocean

The big draw for campers who want to visit Bahia Honda is the waterfront sites. Not to mention you are in the Keys! Loop BTWC (Buttonwood Campground) is the main campground area. This area contains 13 campsites that sit at the edge of the Atlantic. Two of those are short – for 24 ft. campers – which leaves only 11 for me to choose from, with a 28 ft. travel trailer. You can camp here in a tent or a trailer, but check the size limitations for each site. Some are longer and accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.

I do not wish to travel all the way down to the Florida Keys only to stay in a normal site – I need to have a view! … and swim right from my site would be perfect. But, getting a spot in one of the Buttonwood sites is nearly impossible.

One morning I logged into the Florida State Parks website, ready once again to fight for a booking, and the site froze. Grabbing a campsite here is serious business. I read on a review page where someone suggested having two computers going and two people trying simultaneously to get one of the waterfront sites! It is a war I tell you.

It isn’t easy to get any sites, but the ones on the water are gems, and the most coveted. You may not care about a waterfront site, and that helps a little. After all, the Island has public beaches that look pristine.

Waterfront Camping at Sandspur

There is another section of the state park for camping. It is called Sandspur. Every site is right on the Atlantic Ocean, with a view and water access. These look like beautiful sites. However, there is a camper / trailer size restriction.

The sites are large, but apparently getting in and out of the sites is tight. RVs cannot be over 23 feet long. It specifically says,”trailers no more than 23 feet long, measured from hitch/bumper to bumper.” in the site description. This is to preserve natural growth. They don’t want campers pulled over vegetation, and the natural habitat destroyed. I applaud them for this.

My current travel trailer measures 28 feet and will not fit in the Sandspur sites. But, if we tent camp we can get a spot. So that is what I did.

I’m still looking occasionally, at the Buttonwood campground, to see if I might luck out and get a travel trailer site, but it seems highly unlikely. If that happens I will switch.

Tent Camping at Bahia Honda

If we do end up tent camping at Bahia Honda, in the Sandspur campground, it means we might be able to tow our boat with us. I do not like the idea of tent camping because I am old! But, if it means living for a few days with an ocean view and access to swimming, I think I can handle it.

The third section at Bahia Honda is rustic, with no hookups. It is specifically for only tents. There are also some cabins for rent in Bayside – they look like houses. However, be aware that you must pass under a low bridge that is 6’8″ high to reach this campground and cabin area. Read more, and see a map here.

Check out the Campsite Photos website and type in Bahia Honda to see a photo of every site in the campground. Next May we will be staying in Sandspur site 54, unless things change.

How to Bring a Boat to Bahia Honda?

Bahia Honda has a marina. They have a nice boat ramp to launch the boat too. Other than that, I have questions. Do I need a reservation? Is there an additional cost? I will have to call for information.

turquoise ocean water

If we do bring our boat, it means we could ride from our campsite down to the marina, hop into our boat and cruise around the keys. Sounds pretty awesome! We could not be able to do this if we towed our travel trailer.

  • Try for the off-season, meaning summertime here in Florida (May-Sept. – when the snowbirds have left.)
  • Camp smaller, or rustic – use a tent – this opens up many sites, at all times of the year.
  • Consider a non-waterfront site, but enjoy the beaches just the same.

I always knew that any camping on the water (specifically the ocean) is tough to book. We have stayed at Gamble Rogers, but never on the ocean. Any time you want to stay right on the beach in Florida, you quickly realize everyone else does as well. Usually I don’t care, but in the Keys, I want waterfront.

As Floridians, we are competing with all the northern folks who flood the state to go camping, especially in the winter months. This is why I suggest you try for an off-season booking, meaning summer.

It is hard to compete with the rest of the country, but the snowbirds generally leave by the end of April. I was able to book my Bahia Honda site for the end of next May (2027). As Floridians, we have the nice option to book 11 months in advance (at State Parks), while the out-of-staters have only 10 months. But, all camping Floridians are still competing for a handful of sites on one tiny island.

Personally, I would not want to camp in the Keys in summer. June and July might be okay, but after that, the hurricane threat increases. When you are on the Keys, there is only one way out – Rt.1 north – for everyone. Then again, it could be that you have less competition in snatching up a site, and take your chances with the weather.

If you have a smaller size camper, or you are willing to camp in a tent, consider the Sandspur campground. Camper size (max 23 feet) cuts out many of the people looking to book. I found that it was a little easier to get a spot.

Don’t care about a water view? Your chances also are better at getting a Bahia Honda site. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a competition.

Other Florida Keys Campgrounds

Bahia Honda is not the only campground in the Florida Keys. Curry Hammock is another state park campground. I don’t think they have water access sites. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is in Key Largo at the top of the Keys. It’s draw is the coral reef.

I considered both of these state park campground, but neither one has sites on the water. They also don’t seem to have swimming beaches – Curry Hammock might. The Florida Keys are uniquely beautiful, and the water is the big reason to go. If I can’t go swimming where I camp, I might as well stay home!

Besides the three state park campgrounds, there are other campgrounds in the Keys. They will cost a lot more (usually over $100 a night – I paid just a bit over that for my entire 5 night stay!). State Parks are trying to preserve Florida nature. Private campgrounds are simply trying to make money. But, I do understand that with only three state parks, camping options are limited.

Please leave a comment if you have been to, or are trying to get a spot at Bahia Honda. What are your Keys camping stories?

Tent Camping in Florida

If you like to camp in a tent in Florida, we’ve seen some nice spots at campgrounds we visit. Here is a short list of what we’ve found for shaded, tent camping.

First of all, I do not tent camp. But I camp in Florida in my trailer and do check out the tent camping areas whenever we stay at a campground.

If you want to camp in a tent in Florida, I’ll say that you will find some pretty nice spots. Often the tent camping areas at campgrounds tend to be shaded.

Tent camping site with picnic table and lots of overhanging trees.
Tent camping site at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch campground. We love this section of the campground for all the privacy and shade.

Sites That Accommodate RVs or Tents

Many campgrounds will make all their sites available for either RVs or tents. There is a separate section for only tents because tent camping is usually cheaper. RV sites have hookups of electric and water, and rarely sewer. If you camp in a tent but want to have your own electric and water, choose a normal site. Tent camping areas have water spigots for drinking in various spots, but not at each site – *Sometimes they do. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch has water spigots at every tent site, and possibly electric.

Tent site at Mike Roess

Campgrounds With Shaded Tent Camping

Here is a list of the nice tent areas we’ve seen at campgrounds we have visited. The list is short and there are most likely many more. We camp mostly at Florida State Parks and the links go to my blog page about each visit.

  • Gamble Rogers, state park – ocean or riverside camping. The tent camping sites are on the river side, not ocean, and there are only a few spots. They are very shaded, whereas most every other type of site is all sun.
  • Mike Roess Gold Head Branch – state park. Big loop for tents under the trees. Looks like a beautiful place to tent camp, with spacious sites.
  • Juniper Springs – not a state park. Love the sites here, but there are no hookups for RVs. There is a separate area for tents, which is in the woods. Take trails to the springs and cool off!
  • Salt Springs – not a state park. We love to camp here because they have full hookups and a nice, clear spring for swimming. The tent area is very close to the springs, and it contains lots of trees and shade.
  • Silver Springs – state park, no separate tent area, and all sites are very nice, but have hard packed ground – not well suited to tents. Their cabins look great as well. No spring here to swim in, but the Silver Springs park is just up the road, with paddling on the Silver River (gator filled!).
  • Rodman Campground – state park, with separate, very shaded area for tents.
  • Payne’s Prairie – state park, has a fairly small area for tent campers. Park along the campground loop road and walk back to set up your tent. Sites seemed less private and closer together, but in the shade.

Many campgrounds will say that all sites can be used for either a RV or tent, but be careful. Sometimes campsites are not suited for putting up a tent. When the ground is hard-packed sand or gravel, putting in tent stakes will be difficult. We have noticed this at two campgrounds we visited. Usually there are rules about where tents can go, or if the site is small, the tent will have to be on the hard area.

Silver Springs campground is really nice. We almost had to tent camp here when our trailer was in the shop – until the last minute! Once we pulled into the site and set up the camper, we saw how difficult it would have been to set up a tent.

Another park that has a similar problem is Sebastian Inlet. My son camped in a tent and had trouble because of the hard packed ground. They do not offer a separate tent area.

I personally appreciate the hardness when camping in our trailer. Florida is mostly made up of sand, and it gets everywhere. Many campsites are mostly sand. We make use of our rugs always, but a hard ground helps.

Silver Springs campground campsite #52
Large, pull thru site with hard packed gravel at Silver Springs Campground

What to Expect

Many families choose to tent camp. I’ve noticed lots of kids, and younger families, which makes sense. Younger people have the energy to weather the elements of heat and cold. They want an inexpensive way to have family time together. Expect the tent area to be bustling with noise and people hanging around outside. This can be true for the RV section as well, but I tend to see more older couples there. And because they have an RV, often they will be inside for at least part of the time.

Most campgrounds allow animals, and nearly everyone brings a dog. We camp with two cats, and have only once seen a dog running off his leash. Be prepared for sharing space with dogs. Most campgrounds won’t put up with noise and barking.

Every state park site has a picnic table and burn ring. They may also provide a stationery, metal grill. Usually a bath house is nearby, but it could be a bit of a walk. Some tent areas contain their own bath house. Or, the bath house / bathroom is shared with everyone and not just tent campers.

Trail into the tent camping area.
Trail to tent camping area at Payne’s Prairie
Salt Springs – tent camping
dirt road in campground
The road in Fern Loop, Juniper Springs
Tent camping site Juniper Springs
Campsite for tents @ Juniper Springs

Always check with the campground online before you go. Sometimes trails will be closed or walkways in repair. Whole tent camping areas can be closed. We just traveled to Mike Roess Gold Head and this was the case. No one was in the tent loop.

If you tent camp and have any recommendations for fellow campers who may read this page, please leave a comment.

More Camping Stories

March Camping Trip to North Florida

A longer camping trip to north Florida near Gainesville. We brought our two cats along.

When we pack up our camper we often head north. From our home in Edgewater to the Ocala National Forest area, travel time is about two hours. Some of our favorite camping spots are in that area.

We have camped at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch, in Keystone Heights, a few times before. It is northeast of Gainesville but close enough to attend events in the city. This time, my son was going to the Gator Nationals drag races.

This time we took our two cats with us. They were able to enjoy some outdoor time inside their crates. Skittle enjoyed being outside more than Fontana. She preferred to be indoors and sleep peacefully.

We were in campsite #2 this time. It is on the outside of the Sand (Sandhill) Loop. Each site backs up to a sparse pine forest and grass. The sites are spacious, but without a lot of shade – at this time of year anyway. The sites on the inside of the loop have more trees, but are smaller.

Camping campsite Florida
Site #2
Camping trailer truck and screen house
Black cats in crates on picnic table
sunny campsite picnic table screen house
Upward to sky through tall Florida pines

Our site was very sunny, but thankfully the weather was not hot. We were there in March. I did spend some time inside the screen house, but it’s warm inside.

Two tall oak trees were just beginning to get their leaves. Once that happens, there may be more shade in this campsite.

Campsite seen from woodland trail
Our site from the trail
tall trees gray sky at campsite
Black cat inside Gazelle screen house.
Skittle inside the screen house
Dead tree in pine forest
Burned tree
charred tree stump
Charred stump
RV camping north Florida

We had a good stay, without much to complain about. One couple did walk through with their dog running loose through all the sites! I was inside the camper, and so were my cats, thankfully. I thought the dog had gotten loose because they were calling and calling for it. But once the dog appeared they just scratched his head and off he ran. My cats would have been terrified if that dog ran up to them.

black cat in crate outside
Black cat in crate outside on picnic table
black cats in crates on picnic table

The cats had just been on a trip with us in January. They seem to have adjusted to camping life! I won’t say they love it, but seem content enough.

We have really enjoyed the nature that can be found at our Florida State Park campgrounds. With my senior citizens discount it only costs around $22 a night (total with charges).

Our next camping trip will be to a new spot – for us. It is a unique park known for its abundant wildlife, wild horses and bison. I will be sure to write all about our trip to Paynes Prairie near Gainesville.

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