Can anyone recommend a great state park for tent campers?

[GEM]

Asking for a friend and her family. They are frequent tent campers, but have never camped in Florida. They are looking to try a few different state parks on a long trip next January. They have two sons - 10 and 12 and they would ideally like to stay maybe four nights or so in each place- so they are interested in places with lots of things to do, both activities and things to see/do inside the park and nearby (interesting towns, attractions, etc.) They aren't so much the kind who just like to sit around the campsite and "relax". Lol. But they definitely don't want some place "ugly" (where, in their words, they are camping in a "big gravel parking lot") or where they will be smooshed right up against other people in tiny little campsites with zero privacy. They really want so experience some of the "real" Florida, and I'd love to help them out. Figured you guys might know. We've done quite a lot of traveling around the state and have visited quite a few Florida state parks, but don't have much camping experience. Any suggestions for somewhere interesting and fun? They are open to pretty much any part of the state. They have a long trip planned with lots of flexibility, and they don't mind doing some extra driving to get to someplace really cool. Oh....and the boys want to see gators at some point.

Thanks!

 

[tiggerdad]

Fort Sumpter in Pensacola is one I might suggest. The kids could tour around the old fort and the beach. It is a lot of sand however. Very close by is the Aviation museum and lighthouse and if they check the schedule, the Blue Angels are based out of Pensacola and you can go watch their practices for free.

Just one suggestion

 

[bama_ed]

Be forewarned that January is prime snow bird when lots of retirees and full timers come to Florida for the comfortable weather from Jan 1 to at least April 1. So I would advise your friends make reservations as early as possible because demand is high during that time of year particularly below Ocala. The fact that your friends are tent campers is in their favor so they don't compete with rv's and trailers for those types of sites though.

On the west coast below Tampa I would recommend Fort Desoto (which is actually a county campground but has been voted among the best beaches in Florida. County residents get an earlier booking window/priority but it is worth it.

On the east coast just below Kennedy Space Center is Jetty Park Campground (no shade but it is on the channel where the Port Canaveral cruise ships go in/out fairly close to shore) plus KSC is worth a visit and maybe your visit will be during a launch. Jetty has a special for weekdays (5 for the price of 4 or 4 for the price of 3) on their website because weekends are busy.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

I would recommend that they start reserving especially for parks in the more southern end of the state.

We love Blue spring state park north of Orlando. In the summer, you can tube in the spring but in the winter, it's full of manatees. You can canoe, there's a great bike trail and the sites are private with a leafy tree canopy. They also built new bathrooms last year.

Hills borough river state park is also fun with hiking trails, not as leafy sites but not a parking lot in the least.

January is a great time to see alligators in the Everglades. The national park in Homestead is gorgeous and you can be up close and personal with gators on the anhinga trail. I'm not sure about camping here as we just spend the day there. Last year, we biked Shark Valley and it was a great experience with much alligator viewing.

In the Keys, we've done Curry Hammock SP and loved it with kayaking, beach time, and the Florida keys and all their quirky wonder. We are going to Long Key SP in a couple of months and are looking forward to beachfront camping. I know there are many private campgrounds in the keys, but they get booked quickly and you really can't beat the privacy that most state parks offer.

 

[mich1073]

Fort Desoto, as Ed already mentioned. Great beach, bring bikes, and get a site that backs up to water if you can. If not they do have pull thru sites in the middle of the road. They also always hold spots for hold back camping (as per website -
Attention Ft. De Soto Campers
The walk-in site practice is being revised.

The new camp office hours on Fridays will be from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Ft. De Soto campers no longer have to wait in line in front of the camp office to try and reserve a walk-in camp site. We are changing to a hold-back system where 10% of the campsites will become available every Friday morning at 7 a.m. Hold-back sites will be secured either online beginning at 7 a.m. or any remaining sites will be secured in person at the Camp Office after 9 a.m. Sites can be reserved up to seven (7) days.)

You can also do Shell Key but its primitive and I like my electricity and toilets

Both Shell Key and Fort Desoto are located here - http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/camping.htm#fortd

Turtle Beach in Sarasota is on my to do list - https://www.scgov.net/TurtleBeachCampground/Pages/default.aspx

There is also alot of free camping available through swift mud. Most require reservations but again are free. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/camping.php
http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/fabulous-free-camping-florida

 

[tltay2005]

We live here in Fl and have camped at a few of the State Parks. I agree with the statements above that you must reserve now for next year. You can make reservations 11 months out. Many have lakes or rivers for fishing and canoeing. Lake Kissimmee, Tomoka and Hillsborough river are a few. Almost all have hiking and bike trails. Highlands Hammock has some great hiking trails and boardwalks. Most rent canoes. Hillsborough River also rents bikes and golf carts. Need to go to the Fl State Parks website and do some research. It will tell you what each park has to offer, a layout of the campgrounds and photos.

 

[amcc]

The florida state park website is GREAT. It has tons of pictures of the parks and in the reservation area, you can plug in a date and it will tell you what is available. They also have pictures of many specific sites so you can have an idea before you book your site.

 

[Nan P]

I agree with Bama_Ed's nod for Fort DeSoto. That place is great no matter what the weather and lots to see and do in the area of St. Petersburg / Tampa. Tent sites there are pretty spacious too. An option on the east coast is Gamble Rogers State Park in Flagler Beach, FL. This one may be a little cool in January, since it is the northern part of Florida. Some sites overlook the ocean with dunes between site and the beach. Fishing, canoeing, turtle watch, walking trails, bike trails, nearby pier, and natural Florida all around. Nice day trips from Gamble Rogers: 30 minute drive south to famous Daytona Beach, Daytona Speedway tours, and a 50 minute drive north to the historic city of St. Augustine. As others have said, make plans as soon as you can, these county and state parks fill up way in advance.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

As far as Fort DeSoto State Park goes, what RV sites would you recommend if you can't get water? Waterfront sites totally booked when we are going but there are several non-water sites available. Is it worth going if you aren't on water?

 

[bama_ed]

tinkerdorabelle,

I would still go.

I posted a brief review of Fort Desoto in my trip report from last year. It starts at post #137 here with pix and the campground map handout.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ba...-report-added-ft-desoto-update.3363914/page-7

Note Area 1 is for tents and popups primarily.

Area 3 for trailers and RV's has some HUGE interior pull through sites. From about #175 and up, those interior sites have lots of space and are well canopied. Note there is a walkway about halfway up area 3 to get to and appreciate the water views. A site near the walkway like #181 or #182 would work.

Area 2 is the pet section and can handle rv's/trailers.

I would reiterate the need for a bug and sand plan. You would want to bring a screen room of some variety I would think depending on when you are going and be advised the interior roads and sites are all fine gray sand mixed with some dirt. Pavement ends just past the camp office. So an exterior mat outside the door and good brooms would do the trick.

Bama Ed

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Thanks Bama good info

 

[bama_ed]

I want to say that in Area 1 (the tent/popup loop at Ft Desoto) a number of the campsites, although they are on the outside of the circle facing the water, do not actually have a water view. That would not keep me from booking it though. Outside or inside, I'd like to try Ft Desoto someday in the Nov-Feb time period personally.

I think any site at Ft Desoto is a good site (sorta like Fort Wilderness).

Bama Ed