Discover the best waterside glamping in Florida

United States
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Florida

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3 top waterside glamping sites in Florida

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Bay Forest Retreat

7 sites · Lodging, Tents11 acres · Navarre, FL

Explore 11+ acres of rustic and untamed woods. We are two military veteran families who enjoy the land as a place for family and friends to explore, camp, and relax at the 250+ feet of the East Bay beach. Primitive camping is permitted at designated wooded high grounds in the middle of the property. It is a 5 and 10-minute rugged hike in to the middle ground and waterfront, respectively. The trail remains under development, so please bring close-toed shoes or boots for hiking throughout the property (depending on rainfall, there may be mud and water). Our Glamper is a 10x12 canvas furnished tent located a short but rugged 2-minute hike from parking. It provides the opportunity to go camping without having to pack all the gear. Our location is minutes from the Emerald Coast - 7 mins to Navarre Beach, - 30 mins to Pensacola Beach, - 15 mins to Naval Live Oaks, - 45 mins to Fort Pickens, - 50 mins to NAS Pensacola, - 45 mins to Santa Rosa Island, - 35 mins to Okaloosa Island, - 40 mins to Destin. Recommended local restaurants: St. Michael's Brewery which has rotating food trucks and is family friendly, Ye Olde Brothers Brewery, Dewey Destin’s, Windjammers, TC’s Front Porch, Deb’s Coffee, The Eatery food truck park, Top’s Burgers, and New York Pizza Depot. Other sightseeing in the area includes: Museums: National Naval Aviation Museum, Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Pickens, Indian Temple Mound Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Museum of Industry, and Destin History & Fishing Museum Additional activities include: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, HH Arts Gallery, Emerald Coast Science Center, Gulf Breeze Zoo, and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Hawthorne Backwoods Sanctuary

3 sites · Lodging, RVs13 acres · FL

The lovely open woodland of Hawthorne Backwoods Sanctuary was a pasture in the 1970's. Where there are large live oaks on the property, one can imagine those trees stood in the pastures of the 1970's and provided shade for the cattle there. By the time we purchased this property in 2017, it was a young regenerating hardwood forest. The previous owners did not inhabit or pollute this land. We have found very little trash or garbage here, only charred wood when we dig down several feet. You'll have to make up your own story about that. Our aim is to keep this forest healthy, and allow it to continue to provide shelter and food for the creatures that buzz, burrow, nest, forage, browse, hunt and pass through here regularly. Hawthorne Backwoods Sanctuary has been a healthy and regenerative place for us, and we feel honored to offer guests an opportunity to rest and to feel the generous forest energy that has settled us here. Learn more about this land: A hardwood forest with a few parking spots off of the driveway in wooded areas between our homesite and the access road County Road 2082. Armadillo, Deer, Turkey, Hawks, Crows and morning cacophony of songbirds on the property. Less than a mile from the Hawthorne Gainesville Bike Trail. Less than a mile from Magnesia Springs, near Newnan's Lake, Payne's Prairie Preserve, Sweetwater Preserve, Boulware Springs Park, Devil's Millhopper State Park, LaChua Hiking Trail. And, much more. 12 miles to Gainesville, 9 miles to scenic old town Micanopy. A good jumping off point to various springs, and parks.

Southern Comfort County by the Sea

2 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Edgewater, FL

Southern comfort is truly the country paradise next to the beach as we stated Southern comfort Country by the sea. We are located in amazing location. We are only 15 minutes from the beach 30 minutes to Daytona Beach, 45 minutes to Cocoa Beach/ Cape Canaveral. We’re an hour and a half from downtown Disney. We have a fire pit to relax by, a little pond to fission and Pass the time. And will have a variety of other games such as horseshoes, checkers and a few others shortly in the future. We are a work in progress but a beautiful place to relax

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

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Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Jupiter Island, Florida

Waterside glamping in Florida guide

Overview

Beautiful beaches, world-famous theme parks, and tropical islands—you probably think you know all there is to know about Florida. But the Sunshine State is also a five-star destination for outdoor adventurers with natural attractions to rival its theme parks. Campers can cruise wildlife-filled wetlands, snorkel coral reefs, hike through national forests, and explore historic forts. Some of the best RV camping is found in the 175 Florida state parks, and with balmy winter temperatures, tent camping is possible year-round. Avoid heart-of-summer camping if possible, though—the heat can be extreme, and it’s hurricane season along the coast.

Where to go

Panhandle and Big Bend

White-sand beaches and laid-back beach towns fringe the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s north-western county. Panama City, Destin, and Pensacola are gateways to the Panhandle, where you can pitch your tent right on the beach along the Gulf Islands National Seashore or check into an RV resort at one of the seaside state parks. The Apalachicola National Forest, just outside Tallahassee, is another favorite for campers, with everything from primitive tent sites to RV sites with electric hookups.

North Florida

Most visitors to North Florida make a beeline for the Atlantic Ocean, where the hubs of Jacksonville, St Augustine, and Daytona Beach are dotted with sandy beaches and historic monuments. Campers looking to escape the beaten track can enjoy backcountry camping along the Canaveral National Seashore or park up by the beach in Anastasia State Park. Inland, the sprawling Lakelands of the Ocala National Forest are camping nirvana, surrounded by state parks and natural springs.

Central Florida

Fun-seeking families probably have Orlando’s theme parks at the top of their Central Florida to-do list, but there are plenty of ways to get back to nature too. There’s great hiking and primitive camping in Seminole State Forest and Kissimmee State Park, both just outside the city. Other popular camping spots include the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in West Palm Beach, Lake Okeechobee, and Cayo Costa State Park, just off the coast of Fort Myers.

South Florida

The vast Everglades National Park is the star attraction of the Gulf Coast, where boating, biking, and canoeing tours will take you through the UNESCO-listed wetlands. Look out for manatees and American alligators along the way. Over on the Atlantic Coast, the buzzing beach resorts of Miami and Fort Lauderdale draw sun-seekers year-round. Intrepid campers can escape the masses in the Biscayne National Park, where the tent camping sites are reachable only by boat or kayak.

Florida Keys

If kayaking around tropical islands, and snorkeling and scuba diving along remote coral cays sounds like your idea of fun, look no further than the Florida Keys. The Overseas Highway runs all the way to Key West, and campers will find RV sites and tent camping grounds peppered around the many islands. Campgrounds in Bahia Honda State Park have boat launches and hammock camping, while the remote Dry Tortugas National Park has backcountry camping far from the crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Camping in Florida

Can you camp on the beach in Florida?

Yes, you can go beach camping in Florida in certain areas, typically on some BLM land and in dozens of state parks including Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys, Grayton Beach State Park outside Destin, and eastern Florida’s Sebastian Inlet State Park. Campers in Florida are generally not allowed to camp in the sand unless expressly stated otherwise in the areas above. Most Florida beach campgrounds are set behind sand dunes with picnic tables, electric hookups, and toilet access. Remote, primitive, boat-in beach campsites can also be found on Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park. Find more beach camping in Florida.

Is primitive camping allowed in Florida?

Yes, primitive camping is allowed in Florida in some state parks, national forests, state forests, and on the US Forest Service’s Florida Trail, usually for a small fee. Primitive camping, typically described as dispersed camping away from designated campgrounds without facilities, is available for backpackers and campers at more than 25 Florida state parks, including Cayo Costa State Park near Fort Myers, Wekiwa Springs State Park outside Orlando, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park near West Palm Beach. BLM land does not exist in Florida, though you can find more private, secluded camping in Florida with Hipcamp.

Where can you camp for free in Florida?

You can find free camping in Florida in its national forests: Apalachicola National Forest, Osceola National Forest, and Ocala National Forest, each of which spans thousands of acres and is made up of diverse landscapes. These campsites are generally primitive and dispersed with no facilities, so you’ll need to come prepared.

How many state parks in Florida have RV camping?

Florida has an incredible number of state parks (190 and counting!) and about 52 state parks offering RV campgrounds and campervan campsites. Myakka River State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, Blue Springs State Park, and Silver Springs State Park are among Florida’s most popular state parks with RV camping. Find more Florida RV camping.

What is the best month to go camping in Florida?

The very best months to go camping in Florida are March and April, when the weather is best for tent camping and RV road trips with temperatures hovering between a low of 65°F and a high of 85°F. During these months, humidity is at its lowest, rain is unlikely, and ocean waters are warmest in south Florida’s Miami Beach and Key West. Hiking and backpacking are best suited for the cooler months of January and February. August, September, and October are the worst months to go camping in Florida thanks to wet weather, high humidity, and potential thunderstorms or hurricanes.