Five Best Beaches to Camp

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Beautiful Bahia Honda State Park

Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Protection, Bahia Honda State Park

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Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Photo Credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Gamble Rogers Memorial Recreation Area

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Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Photo Credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Gamble Rogers Memorial Recreation Area

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St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Photo Credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

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Mother Nature provides a stunning show at Cayo Costa State Park

Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Protection, Cayo Costa State Park

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Snag a practically private beach getaway with a camping trip to Cayo Costa

Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Protection, Cayo Costa State Park

A beach camping trip provides a soul-soothing way to reconnect with family, friends and nature. Here are some of the sweetest Sunshine State shores to get some sand between your stakes.

Destinations are listed from north to south.

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Escape the crowds at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in northwest Florida. Located on Cape San Blas, this nature-lovers’ paradise features a secluded, award-winning, white-sand beach with clear, emerald-colored water, an abundance of wildlife and delightful dunes. Camping options run the gamut from primitive sites in its wilderness preserve to a campground that’s just a short stroll from the beach. The campground features electricity and running water but not sewage hookups; a dump station is available. Pampered princesses can opt for a fully furnished cabin complete with air conditioning.

Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park boasts the best beaches in The Florida Keys, superb snorkeling, bountiful shore and wading birds and a plentiful underwater population that will keep anglers smiling. In addition to vacation cabins, this popular scenic destination offers three campgrounds, which all have restrooms, one for tents only, one for tents, pop-ups or small trailers and one for RVs. You can even camp in your boat! Overnight slip rental includes water, electricity and full use of the park facilities (which include a bathhouse and showers).

A beach camping trip provides a soul-soothing way to reconnect with family, friends and nature. Here are some of the sweetest Sunshine State shores to get some sand between your stakes.

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach

Want the sound of the surf to soothe you to sleep? Splash over to Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic. Its campsites – which offer water and electric and a communal dump station – are snuggled against the dunes. Some feature stunning views of the sea and all have campfire rings. Unwind on the beach’s golden-brown coquina sand or indulge in an abundance of activities, including surfing, fishing, hiking the nature trail or canoeing.

Cayo Costa Island State Park

Paddle over to Cayo Costa Island State Park to snag a practically private beach getaway. Located west of Pine Island, this completely undeveloped barrier island park is accessible only by private boat or ferry. This park possesses more than seven miles of beautiful beaches, plus a plethora of pine flatwoods, oak-palm hammocks and mangrove swamps. Popular activities include biking, hiking and fishing. Besides boat camping, it offers primitive cabins and tent camping – just steps from the pristine Gulf beach, right behind the dunes. Restrooms, showers and drinking water are available. The park is only accessible by private boat or ferry. For reservations on the parks ferry, please contact Tropic Star.

Canaveral National Seashore

If you’re craving solitude and want to camp smack-dab on the beach, Canaveral National Seashore has your name on it. Situated on a barrier island south of Daytona Beach, it boasts 24 glorious miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach, dunes and a lagoon. Recreation options include fishing, boating, canoeing, surfing, swimming, and hiking on its nature and historical trails. The camping is primitive (no facilities) and is limited to designated sites on Apollo Beach from December through mid-April.

Clever Camper Tips:

• Happy campers are campers who make early reservations. It’s easy! To make a reservation in a Florida State Park, visit the State Park website at www.floridastateparks.org and click the “Book Campsite Now” icon. You can call Canaveral National Seashore at 386-428-3384, ext.10, for reservations.
• Don’t get in a "sticky" situation! Consider the season and your shelter – and whether it features air conditioning or heat – when planning your camping getaway.
• For more help, order VISIT FLORIDA’s great camping directory here: www.visitflorida.com/guides

If you go:

Bahia Honda State Park, 305-872-2353, 36850 Overseas Hwy., Big Pine Key, FL 33043, www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 850-227-1327, 8899 Cape San Blas Road., Port St. Joe, FL 32456, www.floridastateparks.org/STJOSEPH

Cayo Costa Island State Park, 941-964-0375, www.floridastateparks.org/cayocosta

Canaveral National Seashore, 321-267-1110 (mailing address – see website for directions), 212 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32796, www.nps.gov/cana

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, 386- 517-2086, 3100 S. Ocean Blvd., Flagler Beach, FL. 32136, www.floridastateparks.org/gamblerogers