The best private sites RV campgrounds near Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Florida’s panhandle is home to Fort Walton Beach, which is flanked by Santa Rosa Sound and Choctawhatchee Bay. Campers can swim, boat, fish, mountain bike, and explore one-of-a-kind natural occurrences close by—find cave systems, sinkholes, and stalactites at Florida Caverns State Park and a rare coastal dune lake in Deer Lake State Park. Camping options range from high-end RV resorts with all the amenities to primitive backcountry camping. Equestrian campers can also find access to designated trails and stables for their horses at Florida Caverns State Park. And furnished rental cabins await campers just across the Alabama state border in Little River State Forest.

99% (259)

Top-rated campgrounds

Florida’s panhandle is home to Fort Walton Beach, which is flanked by Santa Rosa Sound and Choctawhatchee Bay. Campers can swim, boat, fish, mountain bike, and explore one-of-a-kind natural occurrences close by—find cave systems, sinkholes, and stalactites at Florida Caverns State Park and a rare coastal dune lake in Deer Lake State Park. Camping options range from high-end RV resorts with all the amenities to primitive backcountry camping. Equestrian campers can also find access to designated trails and stables for their horses at Florida Caverns State Park. And furnished rental cabins await campers just across the Alabama state border in Little River State Forest.

99% (259)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. The Wandering Path

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(383)

36mi from Fort Walton Beach · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Milton, FL

Located 20 minutes north of downtown Milton, FL, The Wandering Path is a serene escape, offering a unique blend of untouched natural beauty and comfortable accommodations. With 2000 feet of waterfront along the picturesque Coldwater Creek, this nature retreat is a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, set within a sprawling 20-acre landscape. Accommodations at The Wandering Path are designed for those seeking a peaceful retreat. 4 glamping tents, equipped with real full-size beds, portable AC for summer, heaters for winter, and essential amenities, ensure a comfortable stay amidst nature. Each tent is adorned with solar string lights, and outdoor essentials like a picnic table, fire pit ring, small charcoal grill, and trash can are provided. There is 1 RV site with 30 amp electric and water. For those who prefer a more raw connection with nature, 4 primitive campsites are available, each equipped with solar string lights, a fire pit ring, and a trash can. Guests have access to a centrally located bathhouse with two full bathrooms, ensuring comfort and convenience. There is an outdoor kitchen for all guests to use. There is no cookware, silverware or dishes. There is a counter-top oven, toaster, 2 stove top burners, 1 flat top griddle, sink and keurig coffee maker. There are reusable k-cups for you to put your own coffee in, or your own k-cups. The property boasts 2000 feet of trails alongside the creek, perfect for hiking and exploring the natural surroundings. Kayak rentals are available for guests with appropriate vehicles, and fishing enthusiasts are welcome to cast their lines into the spring-fed creek. At The Wandering Path, nights come alive under a starlit sky, unblemished by city lights, making every evening perfect for a campfire. It’s more than just a stay; it’s an experience of tranquility, a chance to recharge amidst nature’s embrace. We look forward to becoming your go-to spot when you’re in need of recharging. We are less than 1 hour from Pensacola and Navarre beaches, 15-20 minutes to local grocery stores and restaurants. At this time, no pets or children under 12 are allowed in yurts. ***All pets do require prior approval to maintain the safety of other guests.

2. Gateway Trails

99%

(117)

24mi from Fort Walton Beach · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Holt, FL

🌲 Gateway Trails – Wooded, Gated & Peaceful Getaway Welcome to Gateway Trails, a 14-acre gated and wooded campground bordering Blackwater River State Forest—your basecamp for North Florida’s best rivers, trails, and beaches. Whether you’re tent camping, van traveling, or bringing your RV, you’ll find spacious, private, and well-maintained sites surrounded by pines and native forest. 🦌 Enjoy both forest and coast — explore the creeks, canoe routes, and hiking trails of Blackwater River State Forest, or head 45 minutes south to the Emerald Coast beaches of Destin, Navarre, and Okaloosa Island. 🏕️ Campsites • 3 Full Hook-Up RV Sites – Water, electric & sewer (1 × 50 AMP, 2 × 30 AMP) • Water & Electric Site – Ideal for smaller RVs or vans • Tent/Car/Van Site – With water & electric hookup • Boondocking Site – Dry camping; dump station available ($10 fee) • Primitive Tent Site – Quiet, secluded forest spot 🚿 Amenities • 🧺 Washhouse – Full bathroom with shower, flush toilet & coin washer/dryer • 🚰 Dump Station – $10 use fee • 🚗 Secure Gated Entry for guest privacy • 🌐 Wi-Fi (spotty in some wooded areas) • 🐾 Pet Friendly – Off-leash time possible with host coordination • 🥾 ½-Mile Trail – On-site hiking & biking loop 📍 Location Highlights 3 mi → Baker or Holt for groceries & restaurants 7 min → I-10 Holt Exit 45 1.9 mi → Bone Creek Recreation Area 5 mi → Blackwater River access (via dirt road) 35–50 mi → Destin / Pensacola / Pensacola Beach Convenient stop for travelers from TX, LA, AL, or GA en route to Tampa or Walt Disney World! 🌿 Sounds of Nature Gateway Trails is a peaceful setting, but you may hear the friendly chorus of nearby farm life—donkeys braying, roosters crowing, cows mooing, or the occasional dog announcing deer in the forest. It’s all part of the charm of country camping! 🧺 Washhouse Courtesy & Cleanliness The washhouse is a shared courtesy space for all campers. Cleanliness and respect are mandatory. No one cleans up after you. Failure to follow rules may result in loss of access or removal without refund. Please ensure you’re aligned with our washhouse expectations before booking. 🌐 Find Us 📸 gatewaytrails850.com 📱 Instagram: @gatewaytrails850 💬 Facebook: Gateway Trails

3. The Liddell's Paradise

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(69)

46mi from Fort Walton Beach · 2 sites · RVs · Gonzalez, FL

Welcome to Liddell's Paradise! The perfect spot for full time or part time RVers to rest between places or to stop & explore our amazing town! We have a unique property (big rig friendly) and also have many amenities available to our guests. (Bathhouse, water & power hookups.) We are located in Beulah, FL and are known for our huge animated christmas light display during the christmas season. We are located about 30 mins from Pensacola Beach and nearby many local places to Eat. Publix & Walmart are about 3-5 min away. Our spot is the best of both worlds private and spacious but close to the amenities in town.

4. Lake City Campground

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(7)

46mi from Fort Walton Beach · 14 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Florala, AL

Just a 10-minute drive to Lake Jackson, Alabama’s only natural lake, this peaceful camping retreat is the perfect place for families to relax and enjoy nature. Positioned in the city of Florala, this campground is a combination of Florida Sunshine and Alabama heritage making it a valuable repository of outdoor activities and perfect for the history-seeking enthusiast. This veteran-owned and operated campground provides a place where family time is revisited with games and campfire stories. Memories can be made in only a short drive for shaded picnics on the beaches of Florala State Park, exploring the peaceful downtown antique shops, or just a shaded stroll through 21+ acres of nature located right outside your door. This location is also an affordable destination for visiting the beaches of Destin, Ft. Walton, or Navarre. Being just an hour drive away, you can spend time enjoying the refreshing salt air, and then return to the campground for some time to relax in the serenity of nature.

5. The Red Barn

96%

(28)

31mi from Fort Walton Beach · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Crestview, FL

Nestled on 3 acres right next to blackwater national forest & yellow river management area. Lots of swimming, kayaking, fishing, hunting! Hunters delight! Also less than a hour drive to local beaches! Pensacola, Navarre, Ft. Walton! We offer kayaks on site for a small fee! There’s also several swimming areas on Blackwater river close by as well!

Stories from the community

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Sara

1 week ago

13 ft pop-up camper

With pets

Weekend Trip to Gateway Trails

Really enjoyed our time at gateway trails. The host welcomed us when we got there. The property is beautiful and loved the walking trails. And the washhouse was well stocked and clean. Would definitely recommend.

Natalie

3 weeks ago

25 ft Class C

With pets

1 night at Gateway Trails

The site feels safe. Their trails are nice and shaded. It’s easily accessible, pet friendly and has FHU.

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Kyle

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Gateway Trails

We got to our campsite pretty late and after dark and it was very easy to find ! The welcome packet they provided was soo extremely helpful and we added on firewood to our booking and that made getting set up super easy. Having electric and water was also great ! The washhouse was incredibly clean and well stocked and I had a great shower with hot water. Would recommend to anyone who needs a safe, clean place to camp. There are donkeys and other wild life as well as fellow campers dogs that made sleeping a little tricky as it was a bit loud so i would recommend packing ear plugs if u are a restless sleeper.

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Shamus

October 2025

Tent

6 nights at Gateway Trails

Like the title says, this is a perfect place for a getaway or extended stay. I stayed in a tent during my stay & loved it. I picked this site for the electric & water hookups, which also makes ideal for anyone with a small camper. The (seemingly brand new) bathroom facilities are a 30 second walk away… which includes very well kept full bathroom, hot shower, & coin operated washing machine & dryer. They even have a soda/snacks pay-as-you-go honor system general store. I had access to WiFi from the site too. I spent most of my days relaxing by the fire in the comfy Adirondack chairs. The site is nestled in the back corner of the property, which gave me all the privacy I wanted, but close enough to all of the amenities that Jay & Suzette (owners) have to offer. Speaking of which, they are really lovely, down to earth people… they’ll make sure you get what you need with timely communication, yet they don’t intrude on your camping experience. All in all, the whole experience was great: peaceful, relaxing, & yet still had all the creature comforts of modern day living within reach if I wanted. Great spot, great owners, & an overall great trip.

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Jason

October 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Gateway Trails

Tent camp site was level and free of debris. The picnic table, fire pit, and Adirondack chairs were nice. This site is close to the laundry and bathhouse - which was super clean. Complimentary alarm clock: Awoke every morning to roosters crowing. Would recommend.

William

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Gateway Trails

Return visit to this amazing HipCamp space. Beyond the hosts being super amazing communicators, the bathroom is spotless…. And I loved being able to take a nice hot shower, in a super clean shower stall. On this trip, while driving over, some deer crossed my path about a mile out (3 babies with mom)… so be careful…. Deer in the area! I will absolutely be coming back, and I hope to stay a few days next time. Thank you Jay and Suzette!

At Tent Site 1, Great signage! They have lots of details like this addressed

William

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Gateway Trails

Jay and Suzette are amazing Hipcamp hosts! They did everything they could to ensure I had the best possible stay. When they heard about my particular camping rig setup (overlanding truck), they offered to move me to another location that they said I would enjoy even more. WOW! That was proactive on their part! They truly were attentive to my having a positive experience. It is very easy to find their location and they provide very detailed instructions on how to not only find your specific spot (with a detailed map!!), but also how everything works. They have laundry facilities on site (at a reasonable price I might add), and their shower space is fantastic! Very very clean with plenty of hot water. The lending library was great; the honor system based pantry was nice too. The other campers I encountered were all nice and everyone minded their own space. The camping spot was clean and level for me. It is tough identifying one amazing thing as there are so many great things to love about the experience. I will absolutely be back and I hope to stay more than one night next time. Thank you Jay and Suzette! You are Hipcamp hosts who do it right!! -Will

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Elizabeth

September 2025

17 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to The Wandering Path

The Rv site was perfect and the creek is such a nice spot to swim and relax. Amanda was friendly and kept the bath houses very well maintained.

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Chris

September 2025

12 ft pop-up camper

With pets

2 nights at The Wandering Path

Beautiful area. Very quiet and well maintained. Amanda is a great host, very accommodating.

C

Chris

September 2025

12 ft travel trailer

2 nights at The Wandering Path

Our stay was incredible. Beautiful site with great amenities and Amanda and Bella are great hosts. Best camping experience we have ever had. Thanks Amanda!

L

Leah

September 2025

Tent

With pets

2 nights at Gateway Trails

Beautiful, quiet, private property. Hosts are friendly and quick to reply. Bathroom/shower house is clean and spacious. Fire ring, picnic table, and chairs provided. Will definitely stay here again.

H

Heather

September 2025

6 ft pop-up camper

With pets

2 nights at The Wandering Path

I had a fantastic time! The camping sites have so much character! Amanda was super accommodating and sweet! Her dog. Bella was so adorable! I would totally go back again! It's so close to the water, cute hiking path, cute showers, and a sweet setup for cooking and having coffee in the morning.

D

Danielle

September 2025

16 ft car

1 night at Gateway Trails

Beautiful property. Wonderful hosts. Bath house was clean.

D

Dreamweaver

August 2025

15 ft campervan

With pets

5 nights at The Wandering Path

Beautiful well kept site, I loved being near water, and its always nice to have a bathroom and shower.

T

Tabitha

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Gateway Trails

We had fun. Nice spot! We blew a breaker by accident and Jay came right out to fix it. He was nice and even fixed the wires on the light that caused it. 10 out of 10

J

Joseph S

July 2025

14 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Wandering Path

We had a great time at The Wandering Path. The RV set up offered some nice shade and close proximity to the amenities. Coldwater Creek was amazing and super refreshing. Great place for my dog too. Amanda is a gracious host and the property is very well maintained. We shall return!!

Kimberly

July 2025

17 ft travel trailer

4 nights at Lake City Campground

Lake City Campground is somewhat remote & quiet - just what my husband & I were looking for. The common area bathrooms & kitchen were clean & convenient. The proximity to Lake Jackson & a few other nearby areas of interest such as Finks Mill and Andalusia were an added bonus for this location. If you’re looking for no crowds but nearby activities, then this is an ideal campground.

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Trachelle

July 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Gateway Trails

Approximately ten minutes from I-10, it is very quiet and private. Owner met me inside the gate with additional information and directions. Pretty setting, and excellent price. I highly recommend this stay to anyone looking to stay in this area. Probably the nicest Hipcamp stay of all for me.

Darla

July 2025

22 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Wandering Path

This was our 4th time of staying at The Wandering Path over the last years. As usual we had a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing weekend. The RV campsite and bathhouse are always very clean. And the Path to walk down to the river was well maintained. In fact whole place is well maintained and beautiful. Amanda has always been an exceptional host and always has a smile and a wave when she passes through checking the guest and property.

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Kristi

June 2025

18 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to The Wandering Path

Such a relaxing space. Quiet and peaceful, Owner, Amanda is kind, responsive and on sight if anything is needed. Outdoor kitchen was handy (we forgot dish soap!). Creek beach is huge and plenty of space to find shade if you need it. Saw witch Hazel, wild okra and many other cool plants too!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best private sites RV camping near Fort Walton Beach guide

Where to go

Florida Caverns State Park

About 100 miles northeast of Fort Walton Beach, rainwater eroded bedrock for eons, creating the limestone cave system of Florida Caverns State Park. Open year-round (but closing each day at sunset), the park offers guided cave tours among sinkholes, stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones—just show up early, since tour tickets are first-come, first-served and sell out fast. Hipcampers can also enjoy bicycling, hiking, and boating on Chipola River. Stay nearby at pet-friendly tent and RV campsites with 50-amp hookups.

Little River State Forest, AL

Northwest of Fort Walton Beach, just across the border to Alabama, sits Little River State Forest. Hipcampers will find 2,100 acres of longleaf pine and a man-made dam and spillway that created Little River Lake—perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating (rentals available in the park). Little River State Forest has RV and tent campsites with electric and water hookups and primitive, backcountry camping anywhere in the park. Ride a horse through gorgeous pine forests, slide down the spillway, or look for quail and bobcats during the day, then retire to a furnished cabin at night.

Deer Lake State Park

Deer Lake is a rare landscape formation of coastal dune lakes. In Deer Lake State Park, campers explore growths of Gulf Coast lupine, spoonflower, and pitcher plants all while witnessing the migration of birds and butterflies. Three dollars per vehicle in the honor box allows campers to stroll the boardwalk across the dunes to find the perfect picnic, swimming, or fishing spot in warm Gulf waters. There’s no camping in the park, but campsite options nearby include pet-friendly RV campsites with potable water on pull-in and back-in concrete pads, dirt pads, and grassy fields.

When to go

Summers at Fort Walton Beach last from May to the end of September, with the temperature averaging 85°F. Expect cloudy skies, increased rainfall, and high humidity. During spring and fall, temperatures usually stay around 65°F and drop no lower than 45°F. Many campers may prefer to camp from September to October or April to May to avoid the humidity, but lots of campsites and resorts are open year-round.