Florida Beach Tent Camping

Special Considerations

• While camping on the beach might sound idyllic, campers should still prepare carefully. According to the National Hurricane Center, the official hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30 of every year. Anyone camping on the beach during this time frame should be aware that hurricanes are a possibility and can cause evacuations. Campers should also make sure they bring sunscreen to protect against the sun's UV rays. Lastly, Florida has a damp, warm climate that's ideal for mosquitoes and other insects. Campers should consider bringing bug spray with them at all times.

Everglades National Park

• The Everglades encompasses a whopping 1.5 million acres that takes up the southern tip of Florida. Within the Everglades backcountry, campers have the ability to select sites that are on the beach; these sites are not car accessible, and they require hiking into the park. Backcountry permits also are mandatory and can be purchased for a nominal fee. Campers can also find water views at the Flamingo campground, which is accessible by car. The campground has hundreds of sites, and more than 60 are on the water.

  Everglades National Park
  40001 State Road 9336
  Homestead, FL 33034-6733
  305-242-7700
  nps.gov/ever

Canaveral National Seashore

• In addition to national parks like the Everglades, the National Park Service also protects the Canaveral National Seashore, located halfway down Florida's Atlantic coast. Adjacent to NASA's shuttle launch site at the Kennedy Space Center, the Canaveral National Shoreline can attract large crowds during rocket launches, but its miles of undeveloped shoreline make it an excellent destination for beach camping as well. Limited camping is available at two beach sites and on several small islands in the seashore's backcountry. Campers can reach these islands easily by canoe or kayak (which are available to rent nearby).

  Canaveral National Seashore
  212 S. Washington Ave.
  Titusville, FL 32796
  321-267-1110
  gov/cana

St. Andrew's

• Florida operates dozens of state parks, many of which are situated along the coast that offer opportunities for beach camping. Facilities at Florida state parks include a full range of campgrounds, group campgrounds and primitive sites. One such park offering opportunities to camp on the beach is St. Andrew's State Park. Situated in the Florida Panhandle, this park is known for its beautiful white sand. A campground with 176 spots is located facing the Grand Lagoon.

  St. Andrew's
  4607 State Park Lane
  Panama City, FL 32408
  850-233-5140
  floridastateparks.org/standrews

Fort De Soto

• Located outside of St. Petersburg, Florida, Fort De Soto is a county park with a beautiful beach on the Gulf of Mexico that has been named by TripAdvisor as the top beach in America for 2009. With more than 1,000 acres, five interconnected islands make up the park, which attracts nearly 2.7 million visitors per year. Campers can take advantage of more than 200 camping sites, and reservations can be made through the park's website.

  Fort De Soto Park
  3500 Pinellas Bayway S.,
  Tierra Verde, FL, 33715
  727-893-9185
  pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm