Florida Camping

Where: St. Augustine, FL

Located on a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Florida, Anastasia State Park offers 1,600 acres of white sandy beaches, diverse plant and animal life, a tidal marsh, ancient sand dunes, and miles of nature trails. There are 139 campsites available, including a picnic area with grills. Activities include camping, biking and mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, and birdwatching. The park allows equipment rentals for the watersports mentioned and biking.

When To Visit
This park is open year-round and is a viable camping destination any time of year granted you plan for low or high temperatures. Temperature highs range between 67 in winter months to 91 in summer months - highest being in July. Lows are as low as 46 in January. June - September show the highest rainfall with 9 - 10 days out of the month with rain compared to 5 - 6 days most other months.

Book a Campsite:
Anastasia State Park, FL

Where: The Florida Keys (Bahia Honda Key, south of Marathon)

Located in the lower Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park has camping for tents and RVs - some sites with beautiful ocean views. Activities include camping, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and bicycling. The park has a gift shop and snack bar. Three camping areas within the park provide a total of 80 campsites for both tent and RV campers. Rest rooms and hot showers are easily accessible. Snorkeling is a popular activity here and guests can reserve snorkeling tours to visit local reefs by boat.

When To Visit
For most, though, the really good times for visiting the Florida Keys are in late April to early June and November to mid-December. Hurricane chances are low, the sun is not as blazing as mid-summer months, and it's not the peak time for tourists.

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Bahia Honda State Park, FL

Where: 1 hour north of Orlando

Blue Spring State Park is best known for its aquatic wildlife, namely manatees, which frequent the spring run. Fish, wading birds, ospreys, eagles, and kingfishers are also native. The spring is the largest on the St. Johns River and with a relatively warm temperature of 73 °F (23 °C), the spring attracts many Florida manatees during the winter months. Campsites have water and electricity. Activities in addition to camping include canoeing, SCUBA diving, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife watching, and swimming.

When To Visit
If your intention is to see manatees, which for many it is, winter is the best time to visit since the manatees swarm to the warm waters of the spring when the surrounding temperature is colder. The park is open year-round so outside of manatee season, time to visit is up to your preferences, with hot and humid summer months and milder days but colder evenings (upper 40's) in winter months.

Book a Campsite:
Blue Springs State Park, FL

Where: South of St. Petersburg, about 40 minutes from Tampa

Fort De Soto County Park is 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys) located off the coast of St Petersburg where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf. The park has 238 camping sites, 7 miles of waterfront, nearly 3 miles of white-sand beaches, 2 fishing piers, a 2.25-mile canoe trail, and a dog park. Campsites feature modern facilities that include restrooms, showers, and laundry. Campsites include picnic tables, grills, water, and electric. Dump stations are available.
For birdwatchers the park features more than 328 species of birds. This park also accommodates aquatic activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding, in addition to camping, biking, and hiking. At the heart of the park where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay, you'll find the historic fort and Fort De Soto Batteries that give the park its name.

When To Visit
Even in winter the lowest nightly lows are mid to high fifties, so any time of year can produce a great stay at this park. Note that June to September yield 10 - 13 days of rain each month, while other months average 2 - 4 rainy days.

Camp on the nearby barrier island of Caladesi:
Caladesi State Park, FL

Where: The Panhandle, between Panama City and Pensacola

Located in Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, Grayton Beach consistently ranks among the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States - no doubt a reason why this is one of the most popular parks in the state. Grayton Beach State Park campground has 59 campsites and has been rated as one of the nicest camping areas along the Gulf Coast. Each campsite has electricity, water, a table, fire ring, and a grill. Some campsite have sewer hookups. You can also find cabins for rent in the park.
Activities include bicycling, birding, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, canoeing & kayaking, swimming, and wildlife viewing.

When To Visit
June is the most popular by volume of tourists, making April and May the best months to visit since it's not as busy and humidity is at a more reasonable level than peak summer months.

Book a Campsite:
Grayton Beach State Park, FL

Where: Near Ocala National Forest, or 1 hour and a half from Orlando

The crystal blue waters of Rainbow Springs State Park lure visitors for some unique activities, including snorkeling and tube rentals for river floating. You can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore the river. Swimming in the springs is also a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether or not you believe in the spring's fable �healing powers.� it's still a must-have experience during your visit.

When To Visit
We recommend visiting in early Spring to catch beautiful azalea blooms and other flora. The weather is also more mild this time of year, making it a great time to visit.

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Rainbow Springs State Park, FL