Camping on the beach is a bucket list activity many people want to experience, but it is not legal to camp on just any public beach in Florida. With over 1 200 miles of coastlines, there is an abundance of places to choose from where you can camp safely.
Camping on Florida beaches has never been easier. You can only camp at designated campsites, but it is easy to find safe locations to camp. There are 900 campgrounds with over 100 000 campsites to choose between, with the accommodations at the campsites ranging from basic to luxury.
Choosing where to camp depends on what amenities you would like access and your budget. There is no shortage of campgrounds where you can safely camp, but it is vital to only camp in designated areas to avoid fines and ensure that you are safe. Camping in undesignated areas could cause damage to the local wildlife.
Where Can You Camp On The Beach In Florida
While camping on the beach is not permitted for safety reasons and to protect the local wildlife, campsites are often located behind the dunes on Florida’s beaches, allowing you to be as close to the waves as you could possibly be while camping under the stars!
Florida State Park campgrounds cater to all campers, from RVs to basic tents. We have reviewed 6 of the best campgrounds:
Long Key State Park
Found in the south of Florida and Keys, Long Key State Park houses 60 campsites for hike-in tent-only campers to set up their equipment. You can access the beach within the park, and the waters are known to be calm, shallow, and safe to swim in.
You can enjoy an abundance of activities while staying here. Geo-seeking is a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS devices and encourages geography learning. There are two land-based hiking trails to choose from to explore the state park.
It costs $22.50 per night to camp, and each site has a picnic table, a hammock, and campers have access to restrooms and cold outdoor showers. No electricity or water hookups are available and trained; well-behaved pets are welcome.
Long Key State Park is an exceptional campsite to visit, and it is historically known as the park where the rich and famous stay.
Cayo Costa State Park
This secluded park is surrounded by water and can only be accessed by a private boat or the public ferry. Cayo Costa State Park has a luxury feel, and there are 9 miles of secluded beachfront for its guests to enjoy.
It costs $22 per night to camp in a tent in Cayo Costa State Park, and an additional non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee is charged. These fees include portable water at the restrooms. To stay in primitive cabins costs $40 per night and to camp in a boat costs $20 per night and the additional $6.70 reservation fee.
Thirty tent campsites come with a grill, picnic table, and access to potable water. There are flush toilets and cold showers available to all campers. There is a tram service available between 10 am and 4 pm to carry camper’s equipment which can be found one mile from the camping area.
North Beach Camp Resort
On the north end of Florida, the North Beach Camp Resort is a luxury resort and a favorite destination. It has both campsites and cabins available to rent. Rates are charged based on two people per site, and each area has access to electricity.
Costs are broken down as follows:
- $66 per night for a 20AMP tent hookup,
- $93.92 per night for a full hookup for 30AMP,
- $99.45 per night for a 50AMP hookup
- $121.55 per night for a riverfront campsite with a full hookup for 20/30/50AMP hookup.
North Beach Camp Resort allows leashed pets into each campsite, and the resort has access to free WIFI. Two restaurants are open to choose from, and guests can rent the resort’s golf carts.
A pool is available, dump stations, and restrooms available for guests.
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park
The Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park is a popular state park for campers, RVers, boaters, and tourists to visit. There are 68 campsites available, with 34 located by the sand dunes on the beach and 34 found by the riverside.
Dune walkovers provide access to the beach and ensure protected sand dunes. All campsites offer electricity, water, a fire ring, and a picnic table. There is a communal dump station as well.
It costs $28 per day for tented campsites plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. An additional $7 utility fee is charged to RV, cabin, boat, yurt, and bungalow units. This fee includes access to electricity, water, and sewer.
The utility fee is not charged to tented campsites.
Popular activities at the campground include bird watching, hiking, fishing, boating, geo-seeking, bicycling, and beach activities.
Curry Hammock State Park
Curry Hammock State Park is the largest area of undeveloped land between Big Pine Key and Key Largo. It houses several local and migrating wildlife species and is a popular park for wildlife lovers to visit.
There are 28 spacious campsites available, and each site has access to electricity hookups, water, picnic tables, hammock posts, and a charcoal grill. The campgrounds have a dump station available.
Pets are allowed, but they cannot go on the beach and must be on a leash at all times. You can enjoy activities like kayaking, paddling, hiking, picnicking facilities, snorkeling, and ranger-led tours.
It costs $36 per night for tented campsites, and an additional $6.70 non-refundable reservation fee is charged. For RVs, bungalows, boats, cabin, and yurt units, an additional $7 utility fee is charged.
Red Coconut RV Resort
The Red Coconut RV Resort is at Fort Meyers Beach, and it is a vintage-style resort. You can step out of your campsite and onto white sandy beaches. The resort has a clubhouse, free WIFI, on-suite laundry, and a full hook up to electricity and water.
Pets are allowed at an extra charge of $3 per pet. Rates are charged based on two people per site, and a maximum of 6 people can occupy each area. There are five rows to choose from, with various fees charged closer to the ocean.
The fees are broken down as follows:
In the summer:
- row 1 at $125 per day
- row 2 at $111 per day
- row 3 at $106
- row 4 at $1000
- parkside campsites at $79 per day.
In the winter:
- row 1 costs $132 per day
- row 2 costs $119 per day
- row 3 costs $109 per day
- row 4 costs $103 per day
- parkside camp spots cost $93 per day.
Additional people are charged $11.15 per person per day.
In Conclusion
You can camp on the beach in Florida in safe and designated campgrounds. It is illegal to camp in non-designated campsites for safety and wildlife protection. There are a variety of campgrounds to choose from, ranging from luxury amenities to basic campsites.
Camping on the beach is something everyone should experience. It is an affordable vacation, and Florida is well-known for its beautiful beaches.
