The Florida Panhandle stretches from Pensacola in the west to the Big Bend area east of Tallahassee. The area has long sandy white beaches, many on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which are a national park, the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Some of these have been hit by the 2010 oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon.
There are several campgrounds in the area, as well as state parks. There are camp sites with electric hookups in the Blackwater State Forest, a little inland from Pensacola. It is also possible to camp in the Gulf Islands national park, as well as the nearby Camping on the Gulf RV park, also situated on the barrier islands near the beach. It has both indoor and outdoor pools, hot tub, cable TV, electric and phone hookups.
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest forest in Florida, with 571,088 acres, including 2,735 acres of rivers and lakes. The nature is so close to the campsites that the rangers warn campers to be careful about bears.
There are five recreation areas with camping in the park. Camel Lake and Wright Lake have hookups, restrooms, and showers, while Whitehead Lake, Mack Landing, and Hickory Landing are somewhat more primitive. Camping is allowed anywhere in the park up to 14 days, except for the hunting season during Thanksgiving and from December to January, when it is only allowed in designated hunting camps.
The western coast of Florida--also called the Gulf Coast--is home to one of the major metropolitan areas in Florida, the Tampa Bay area, but most of the western coast of the state is less developed than the eastern coast and southern area.
Somewhat to the north of Tampa Bay are Withlacoochee State Forest, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, and Crystal River Preserve State Park. The Crystal River Preserve consists of hundreds of small islands an inlets along the coast, which offer spectacular sunset views--but no camping. That can be found in the nearby Withlacoochee State Forest, where there are areas with electric hookups, restrooms and dump stations.
Just to the south of Tampa is Venice, a small town in Italian style where the Camp Venice RV and camping site on the Myakka River has both full hookups for RVs and tent sites. The Myakka River is a designated Wild and Scenic River, and some distance inland is the Myakka River State Park, where visitors can see the wildlife both from a boardwalk across the lake and a treetop walk. The park has both full facility and primitive campsites.
The southwestern part of Florida is close to major natural reserves, including Everglades National Park at the southern tip of the state. There are several other natural reserves in the area.
Big Cypress National Reserve has two campsites, just off Route 75--also known as Alligator Alley. They do not accept reservations, however.
The Picayune Strand State Forest was home to the original "Florida Swamp" scam, when potential buyers for the land were flown in during the dry season, only to find it flooded upon their return. Now, campers can stay there, although there are no electric hookups in the park.
In the Everglades, camping is possible year round, but less comfortable during the wet season. There are two drive-in campgrounds, Long Pine Key Campground six miles from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center and Flamingo Campground is near the Flamingo Visitor Center on the shore of Florida Bay. Both can accommodate RVs as well as tents. Inside the park, only tent camping is possible, either on islands, beaches or raised platforms called chickees.
Florida has many state parks, both along the coastline and inland. The state parks have more than 50 family campgrounds. There are full-service RV sites with hookups for electricity and water, and the sites have grills and picnic tables. Tent campgrounds for those who want simpler camping are also available. Showers, restrooms and dump stations are centrally located. The RV length allowed varies with the park.
There are boat slips with water and electricity hookups in five of the Florida state parks. The boaters can use the amenities of the parks.
