Florida Camping Guide

The public camping covered here is run by Florida state parks, the three national forests, Florida state forests, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the national parks, each with its own booking rules.

The Florida Park Service, which Florida DEP calls one of the largest in the country, has 175 state parks, trails and historic sites spanning more than 815,000 acres and 101 miles of beach (Florida DEP). The Division of Recreation and Parks is at 3900 Commonwealth Blvd, Tallahassee, phone 850-245-3029.

The National Forests in Florida manage the Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala national forests, which together span almost 1.2 million acres in north and central Florida, including about 500,000 acres of wetlands and more than 85,000 acres of designated federal wilderness (USDA Forest Service). More than 1,400 miles of trails and 118 developed recreation sites in the Florida forests host more than 1.1 million visitors every year.

Florida residents can reserve state park cabins and campsites up to 11 months in advance, and nonresidents up to 10 months in advance, under section 258.014, Florida Statutes.

The Florida statute covers state park cabins and campsites, including sites for RV, tent, boat and equestrian camping (s. 258.014, F.S.). A Florida resident who wants a site more than 10 months out must give a valid Florida driver license number or the number from a Florida identification card as proof of residency when booking.

Fees are set separately: the same statute gives the Division of Recreation and Parks the power to charge reasonable fees, rentals or charges for the use or operation of facilities and concessions in state parks, deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Park Trust Fund (s. 258.014, F.S.). Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the Online Sunshine (Florida Legislature) and Florida DEP websites.

In the Florida national forests campers may stay no more than 14 days in any 30 day period, and during the modern gun deer season camping is limited to developed sites and designated hunt camps.

Forest order 08-05-FL-13-01 prohibits camping or maintaining a campsite in the National Forests in Florida in excess of 14 days within any 30 day time period, unless a site is posted with a different limit (USDA Forest Service order). From one day before the state modern firearms deer season until the end of that season, camping is allowed only at developed recreation sites and designated hunt camps. Food, refuse and other bear attractants must be stored in a bear-resistant container, suspended at least ten feet clear of the ground and at least four feet from the supporting tree or pole, stored in a closed motor vehicle without a soft top, or be in use.

Dispersed camping, away from campgrounds and with few services, is allowed in the Florida forests with limits: it is not allowed near developed recreation areas or less than 100 feet from streams and other water sources, and campers must bury human and pet waste at least 6 inches deep and 100 feet from any water (USDA Forest Service).

Developed Florida forest campgrounds range widely. Clearwater Lake Campground has 42 lakefront spaces for trailers and tents with bathhouses and warm showers; Cobb Hunt Camp is a primitive camp under the pines of the Osceola National Forest; and Doe Lake Group Camp is built around a restored 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps dining hall (USDA Forest Service).

Free camping in Florida is offered on Southwest Florida Water Management District lands by free reservation and in the primitive zones and canoe camps of Withlacoochee State Forest.

On Southwest Florida Water Management District land, camping is allowed in designated campsites only and requires a free reservation and a Special Use Authorization, booked no later than the day before the stay (SWFWMD). Arrival is at 3 p.m. on the first day and departure by 11 a.m. on the last day, and camping is limited to no more than 7 consecutive days and 30 total days per calendar year. Only 2 camping reservations are allowed per family group at a time, campers are limited to 2 dogs on six-foot leashes, and quiet time runs from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The district's Land Use and Protection Section answers at 1-800-423-1476, toll-free in Florida only.

In Withlacoochee State Forest, primitive camping zones and canoe camps have no fee but require a State Forest Use Permit for groups of six people or more, and the Withlacoochee Visitors Center at (352) 797-4140 handles permit questions (Florida Forest Service). The forest's improved campgrounds, including Holder Mine, Silver Lake, Tillis Hill, Crooked River and Hog Island, require reservations through ReserveAmerica, 1-877-879-3859. Florida state forests charge a $2 day pass or a $45 annual pass that covers all state forests (Florida Forest Service).

Everglades National Park wilderness campsites are booked on Recreation.gov up to 90 days ahead, while the Garden Key campground at Dry Tortugas is first come, first served at $15 per night.

Everglades National Park runs frontcountry campgrounds at Flamingo and Long Pine Key and a backcountry of mostly boat-access sites (National Park Service). Starting January 2, 2023, all Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness campsites became advance reservations only on Recreation.gov, with no walk-up sites held, and campsites open for reservations 90 days in advance; rangers can still help campers book an unreserved site on the day of the trip. The Everglades Gulf Coast District answers at 305-242-7700.

At Dry Tortugas, camping on Garden Key costs $15 per night per individual site and $30 per night for the large group site, paid through Recreation.gov Scan and Pay (National Park Service). Regular sites, for up to 6 people, are first come, first served once campers arrive, and groups of 10 to 20 need an advance reservation with the park. Camping transportation is limited to private vessel, permitted tour guides or commercial ferry, campsite fees are not included in transportation fees, and reservations on the Yankee Freedom ferry are limited and sell out months in advance. Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the National Park Service website.

As of October 12, 2026, Tate's Hell State Forest closed all roads, primitive campsites and day use areas except three campgrounds after more than 14 inches of rain flooded the Florida forest.

The Florida Forest Service notice says all roads, primitive campsites and day use areas in Tate's Hell remain closed until further notice, except the Cash Creek, Rock Landing and Womack Creek recreation areas and campgrounds (Florida Forest Service). The forest received more than 14 inches of rain over 10 days, and flooding covered many forest roads and primitive campsites.

Tate's Hell is one continuous tract of over 212,000 acres near Carrabelle, and its office at 290 Airport Road, Carrabelle, answers at (850) 697-0010 (Florida Forest Service). For federal forest land, the National Forests in Florida post alerts and fire danger status on their camping page (USDA Forest Service).