camping on the gulf

[magicforever]

My family is planning a trip to FL this summer. No FW this year. I have been looking at St. George State Park. Any suggestions from my fellow campers?

 

[wdwbound]

We just came back from going to Fort de Soto State Park...it is very nice there.

 

[AprilLizbeth]

I also say Ft. De Soto. My family has camped there many times. Its a very nice place and there are boat ramps (if you have one). The boating is great around there. You can ride out to some of the old Forts, both on the mainland and various islands around the area. Have a great trip.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

It really depends on what you are looking for.

St. George Island is beautiful, but the campground in the state park is very remote. There aren't a lot of choices on the island for restaurants and groceries, but the beach is great.

I like Grayton Beach state park. There is a lot to do around there, and tons of restaurants (even a Starbucks) within biking distance.

Ft. Desoto is a county park (Pinellas County). It is practically in my back yard, and we have camped there several times.

You didn't mention where you are coming from. Florida is a big state, so it is quite a drive from north Florida to St. Petersburg, which is where Ft. Desoto is.

TCD

 

[magicforever]

We are coming from east tn. We don't want to drive more that 8 hours. It takes 9.5 to get to FW. What is most important is beach time and fishing. My step dad and DH are fisherman. The rest of us want to hang on the beach. We probably wont spend much time in restaurants. We are broke this year. That is why we are not going to the Fort. Thanks for the help. Any more comments are welcomed.

 

[okeydokey]

We love St. George, and also St. Joesph Penninsula State Park.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Those already mentioned are great. Here's a couple more for you to consider - Henderson Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Both of these are in the Panhandle. They're near Destin/Ft. Walton Beach.

Happy Camping!

 

[ynottony99]

How about Anastasia State Park? It is at St. Augustine. Of course St. Augustine is pretty awesome, and the campground is right next to the beach. You can walk to it pretty easily, and hear the surf from at least part of the loop.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia/default.cfm

 

[magicforever]

Thanks for the responses. We are getting excited. Looks like St. Joseph. We will make our decision soon because the sites are booking up. Any suggestions on FL state park forums?

 

[stacktester]

RV.net seems to be a really good place. I live about in the middle of Hanna Park which is right next to Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville and Anastasia State Park. Both are really nice places. www.Floridastateparks.org will tell you more info of state parks as well. Another nice one I suggest is Gamble Rogers down north Of Ormond.

Good luck wherever you decide.

 

[okeydokey]

There are two campsites at St. Joseph. Shady Pines is much much more foliated, but a walk over the boardwalk to the beach. Gulf Breeze is very open between sites with little tree cover at all, but closer to the water. We prefer the shady campsite. The walk is actually quite short.

Also, you get a beautiful sunset at St. Joe because of the way the island is situated. Have a great time.

 

[stevenpensacola]

We camped at St Joseph Peninsula State Park back in March. Very beautiful place. We were in the loop near the Gulf...but after going through the wooded loop, would have preferred to stay there instead. Some of the sites on the beach loop are a little on the small side....

Be sure to take you some good sunscreen and insect repellent.

 

[Tigger1]

We love Henderson State Park in Destin. It is on the beach. This year we will try Grayton State Park. It is about 20 miles east of Destin. I have heard good things about Topsail also. It is about 10 miles from Destin. I find Florida State Parks are all real nice.

tigger

 

[stevenpensacola]

We love Henderson State Park in Destin. It is on the beach. This year we will try Grayton State Park. It is about 20 miles east of Destin. I have heard good things about Topsail also. It is about 10 miles from Destin. I find Florida State Parks are all real nice.
tigger

Grayton is very nice, as is Henderson....only bad thing about Henderson is that although it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere....you're actually very close to very heavily traveled Hwy 98, and its associated noise.

Topsail actually used to be a private, hoity-toity motorhome, oops, motorcoach only type camping resort. They would not even let us low-class pop-up camper types stay there...if you had a tent, I think they'd shoot you on the spot. It's actually a pretty good hike to the beach from the campground...not for the weak of heart. Nowhere near as close to the beach as your are at St Joe. Topsail used to remind me of a trailer park...but I think the trees are starting to grow in now.

If you like stargazing at night....St Joe in an incredible place to stay.

One thing I like about most of the Florida State Parks is that the land/wilderness comes first. Most of the campgrounds are actually pretty small (20-30 sites) and most of the parks are undeveloped.
Good example is St Joe, where I think the last 8 miles or so of the peninsula is nothing but beach...only accessible by hiking or boat.

 

[aLitlGoofy]

stevenpensacola,
Any word when Ft. Pickens will be ready for RV camping? I have stayed there several times over the years.

 

[magicforever]

We decided on Anastasia. I know it is not the gulf, but my mom over-ruled. Hopefully DH can still get some fishing in. I am excited about St. Augustine. I have never been there. Thanks for all you help!!

 

[stevenpensacola]

stevenpensacola,
Any word when Ft. Pickens will be ready for RV camping? I have stayed there several times over the years.

We're starting to wonder if it will ever happen. I've been camping out there too many times to count....this was one of my most favorite places to go.

The island is still too flat in places....heavy surf can still overwash the island. The National Park Service cannot make up their mind on how/when/where the road might be rebuilt. The NPS has always taken a "hands-off" approach to the beach here, in regards to beach renourishment/creating man made dunes, etc.

You can actually camp in the A Loop (this was the smaller of the two campgrounds), but you have to either hike/bike about 5 miles to get there, or you can go by boat. There is no electricity or hot water in the campground.
About two miles of your hike is through the sand...where the road is washed out.

from the park service website:
Fort Pickens "Loop A" Campground

The Fort Pickens Campground “Loop A” is open to backcountry camping by bike, boat, or foot. The campground is available on first-come-first-serve basis. The cost for a camp site is $10.00 per night with a 50% discount for Golden Age/Interagency Senior and Golden Access/Interagency Access Pass holders. Campers will have access to running water, grills, picnic tables, and bathrooms with cold showers.

Visitors will have to access “Loop A” of the campground by bike, hiking or personal boat. Boaters planning to camp can unload their passengers and gear near Battery Langdon located on the bayside of the island and west of the Ranger Station dock and hike on the bike path or Fort Pickens Road to “Loop A”.

Visitors planning to hike or cycle to the campground or to Fort Pickens should be physically prepared to walk or push their bikes with camping gear and/or supplies along unimproved roadway and areas of soft sand. The trip from the entrance of the Park to Fort Pickens is seven miles one-way. All visitors are reminded to stay in the designated travel corridor.

Historic Fort Pickens is open for self-guided tours during daylight hours only. The fishing pier is also open.

 

[magicforever]

Thanks to all that helped. We are leaving in an hour for Anastasia State Park. We are hoping to head to WDW for a day. We will see. I will let you all know how the state park is when we get back.

 

[ynottony99]

Thanks to all that helped. We are leaving in an hour for Anastasia State Park. We are hoping to head to WDW for a day. We will see. I will let you all know how the state park is when we get back.

I don't think you are going to come back disappointed!!

 

[AuntSusu]

When I saw this thread I thought you meant the actual campground Camping on the Gulf in Destin Florida. We love that campground. Very family oriented. Someday I want to obtain a site on the beach but the bigger motorhomes are always there but it might also be too windy for our camper. Anyway, we love it there too.