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Just a few minutes from Ormond Beach, Tomoka State Park invites boaters and birdwatchers alike. More than 160 species of birds call this park home, and, for the duration of your camping trip, so can you. Tomoka State Park campgrounds come with access to nature trails, picnic areas, and restrooms, making this sprawling park a one-stop shop for all of your camping whims.
After visiting Tomoka State Park, you may be tempted to stay put. However, if you head just slightly north, you’ll quickly reach Bulow Creek State Park, which warrants its own visit. The park actually harbors one of the South’s largest remaining live oak trees. Dubbed the “Fairchild Oak,” the tree has seen the area through the last 400 years. Take a seat at the park’s picnic area and soak up the oak.
Brush shoulders with Ormond Beach during the shoulder months. Fall and spring are ideal for a Florida camping getaway, as summer brings bugs to the area’s forests and parks. Likewise, August is the rainiest month, so come when the weather—and the mosquitoes—won’t work against you. As if you needed another incentive, the shoulder months also see bird migrations, so you’re likely to spot some of Florida’s most interesting species.