State park
Bahia Honda SP (Keys)
Iconic Keys campground; books 11 months exact.
Per-state camping guide · cited .gov sources
Camping in Florida — Everglades, Keys, Springs Country
Florida camping spans Everglades wilderness, the Keys' Bahia Honda + Long Key, the springs country (Crystal River, Ichetucknee, Wakulla), and the Gulf Coast / panhandle beaches. Hurricane season (June-November) and alligator awareness frame every trip.
Best season
November through April (dry season, mild temps, no hurricanes); May-October hot, humid, hurricane risk.
Primary hazard
Hurricane (June-November) + extreme heat/humidity (May-October) + wildlife (alligators, snakes)
Permit complexity · 3/5
Moderate — plan key sites ahead
Florida has 6% state sales tax + 0.5-2.5% county discretionary surtax on lodging/camping.
Per-state regulations
Rules that shape your trip
Real rules with .gov source citations. Verify current status within 48 hours of departure.
Everglades NP wilderness camping requires advance permit (recreation.gov for some, walk-up for others).
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/wpermits.htmFlorida State Parks reservations 11 months ahead via FloridaStateParks.org.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/Bahia Honda State Park (Keys) is the most-coveted reservation in FL — books 11 months exact.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bahia-honda-state-parkAlligator distance rule: maintain 15+ feet; never feed; report nuisance alligators to FWC.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/
Where to camp
Top 5 camping destinations in Florida
Mix of NPS, state park, USFS, and BLM — with the insider angle per site.
NPS developed
Everglades NP (Long Pine Key, Flamingo)
Sawgrass + mangrove ecosystems; mosquito season Dec-Mar only.
State park
Anastasia SP (St. Augustine)
Atlantic beach + historic city; reservations 11 months.
State park
St. George Island SP (Panhandle)
Gulf Coast white-sand beaches; less crowded than Destin.
State park
Manatee Springs SP
Springs country; winter manatee viewing.
On the trail
Wildlife callouts
Real species, behaviors, and distance rules for Florida.
- 1Alligators in every fresh-water body in Florida — 15+ ft distance rule; never feed; never approach a nest.
- 2Cottonmouth (water moccasin), eastern diamondback, coral snake statewide.
- 3Manatees in springs country November-March; no touching, no swimming-toward.
- 4No-see-ums (biting midges) brutal at dawn and dusk in coastal + everglades areas June-October.
Editorial edge
What the state agency doesn't tell you
Hand-curated insider context for Florida — the kind that comes from real trip experience, not press releases.
- 1Florida State Parks reservations open 11 months exact at 8am EST — Bahia Honda is the single hardest reservation in the state.
- 2Hurricane-window cancellation: PickRV honors NHC tropical-storm watch issuance for full-refund cancellation.
- 3Everglades dry season (December-April) has minimal mosquitoes; wet season (May-November) is unbearable without a screen tent + DEET 30%+.
- 4Springs country water temp is a constant 72°F year-round — refreshing in summer, warmer than ocean in winter.
- 5Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail allows bike-camping along US-1 corridor with overnight options.
Official state authority
Questions
Florida camping FAQ
When is hurricane season?
June 1 through November 30. Peak: August-October. PickRV's camping reservations honor NHC tropical-storm watch for full-refund cancellation; the listing surfaces the policy at checkout.
How dangerous are Florida alligators?
Alligators are present in every fresh-water body in Florida. Attacks are rare with respectful distance. The rules: 15+ ft minimum distance, never feed (federal/state law), never swim in posted alligator areas, leash dogs near water (small dogs are at risk).
Florida rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
Nearby & related
Keep planning Florida
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of Florida trip planning.
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