Guidelines for tent camping in Florida

Bob's Blog, Camping, Featured Articles, Resources — By Bob Rountree on 10/27/2010 11:32 am

Tent camping in Florida is not much different than tent camping elsewhere, although there are a few unique needs, such as an oversized tent, that should be considered.
This checklist of gear targets “car campers” who park their vehicle at the site, as most families do. Experienced campers should compare notes. I don’t know about you, but I’m always forgetting something.

The Basics
I pack everything into three separate storage boxes: One for tent gear, one for kitchen, and one for toys, plus a cooler. This keeps everything organized and ready to go.
Plan to keep your cooler and food in your vehicle at all times. If you leave it outside, wrap it securely with bungee cords to keep out the critters. Never keep a cooler or food in your tent. Wild animals will rip through the tent to get at food.
I should note here that most state parks and even some county parks have cabins you can rent inexpensively. But you still need gear because they rarely have anything more than a bunk.
Here’s my checklist for tent camping in Florida, and I invite you to comment below about your own experiences and needs.

Tent Gear
Setting up your tent is the first thing you do when you arrive at your campsite, even if you arrive at midday. If you don’t set up, it will suddenly be dark, and working in the dark can be difficult.

The Tent – The rule of thumb for Florida tents is to get one at least twice the capacity you need. If you are a family of four, your tent should sleep eight. The reason? Air circulation. It’s hotter in Florida, so your body needs more breathing room while you sleep. I also recommend a tent with a fly that “floats” above a screened roof vent and plenty of windows to provide circulation.
If you have room, pack a second tent for the kids and make it their responsibility to set it up. It’s more fun for them to have their own, and they are participating in the camping experience.
Your Florida tent should be self-supporting (stakes not needed) because most campsites in the state have hard, crushed-shell surfaces, and very unfriendly for pounding in stakes.
It’s nice to have mesh pockets sewn into tent walls for storing loose change, cell phones, keys, wallets, etc. Otherwise, this stuff tends spread around the floor. Most tents come with this feature.
Many people get frustrated because they don’t know what they are doing when setting up the tent, but if you relax and do it one step at a time, it’s a cinch.
Poles – Don’t forget the poles! I did once on a wilderness trip. Not fun.
Stakes (and nylon cord) – Even with a self-supporting tent, bring stakes to tie off the tent in the event you find soft ground. In windy weather, especially on beaches, stakes allow you to better anchor the tent. For beach camping, you should have sand stakes.
Sleeping mat – For minimum setup, self-inflating mattresses such as Thermarest are best, but they are not as comfortable as inflatable mattresses. With an inflatable, you’ll need a battery-operated air pump (and test it before you leave for your trip).
Sleeping bag – Bags that zip together give you options, separate or together. On a chilly night, you can share body warmth. But don’t spend a lot of money on high-tech bags. We don’t have rapid temperature change that requires technology.
Battery lamp or flashlight – Don’t bring your propane-gas or liquid-fuel lamp inside the tent. Even with ventilation, carbon monoxide kills. And so can fire. A small, inexpensive battery lamp best serves the purpose. Keep it near the tent door for late-night journeys to the rest rooms. And put it back!

The Camp Kitchen
When assembling cooking gear, forget the conveniences of home. Your gear box should include only essential pots, plates and utensils. Use one storage container to combine dry food and kitchen gear.
For plates, pots and cups, enamel cookware is designed for camping, easy to clean with a swipe of a wet rag. Use your cup as a bowl.
Coordinate your fuel-driven accessories (stoves and lanterns) into either liquid fuel (Coleman gas) or propane, not both. I prefer propane canisters because they are secure and available everywhere, even the supermarket.
Do not bring glass. It’s dangerous in a campsite.

Camp stove – Most people go for the standard two-burner, liquid-fuel Coleman stove, but you can do better for just a few pennies more. I like the Coleman propane grill-stove, which has a burner on one side and a grill (or griddle) on the other. This stove allows you to grill your meat and steam your veggies at the same time, fry your eggs, bacon or griddle your pancakes without a pan. Also, there are often drought restrictions in Florida that prohibit open fires, including grill fires.
Coleman just came out with a new “All-In-One” camp stove that is outstanding. I just bought one for $99, and I love it! It is small enough to pack easily but large enough to cook a meal for many. It has a large burner, replaceable by either a grill or a griddle. All three stack nicely inside the stove for storage, and when not in use, the griddle top is a handy utility table to rest utensils and spices while cooking. (There is an optional stock pot for $49, but I use an inexpensive porcelain-coated pot on the burner.)
Backpackers use a small, lightweight one-burner stove. They are cool, but not practical for a family.
Plates, cups and utensils – Again, I prefer enamel-coated camping dishes because they are easy to clean. A large enamel camping cup can be used for stews, soups or chili, not to mention coffee and other drinks. Stainless steel knife, fork and spoon for each person.
Cooking utensils – Often, just a serving spoon will do if you stick to one-pot meals. I also carry a spatula and 8-inch kitchen tongs to flip steaks or fish a burger out of the fire.
Coffee pot – Again, enamel. Nothing tastes better on a camping trip than a fresh pot of perked coffee. Buy the “perk” blend of your favorite coffee. The ‘drip’ blends bleed grounds into the pot.
Pots and Pans – An enamel stock pot and a cast-iron (or stainless) frying pan are all you need.
Aluminum foil – The uses are too numerous to mention.
Dish soap – I always forget it, but my wife usually remembers. Enamel camping dishes and pots clean easily with a rag. A bar of biodegradable Ivory soap serves multiple uses, including showers, shaving and dishwashing.
Table cloth – A basic, inexpensive plastic-coated tablecloth will do. You don’t know who or what has been on that picnic table.

Food
Keep it simple. One-pot meals are the smart way to camp cooking: stews, soups, pastas and chili are nourishing and filling. Cook what you can ahead of time and freeze in containers. They double as ice in the cooler.
Pasta and jarred sauce are camping staples. You can screw the cap back on a bottled sauce, which you can’t do with a can.
A few snacks are good. I always bring a stick of pepperoni, crackers and cheese. Chips are good, but they tend to stay open on the picnic table and attract critters to your campsite or tent.
Speaking of critters, cook meals in daylight, never after dusk, because the raccoons and bears will come out of nowhere to join you for dinner. After you eat, wash dishes immediately and discard leftover food in trash bags that you store in your vehicle, or toss garbage in critter-proof receptacles provided by the campground. If you throw scraps of food in the woods, count on unwelcome visitors.
And pack light. There will usually be a grocery near your campground for fresh breads, meat and vegetables. Your cravings will change once you are in the woods.
Dry food – Pack dry foods, such as pastas, rice and cereals, in sealed storage containers and stash them in your kitchen box.
Perishable food – In the cooler, and secure the cooler inside your vehicle or wrap in bungee cords. Never keep your cooler in your tent.
Bottled water – Gallon jugs for drinking and cooking. The water from the spigot is sometimes good, sometimes not. Don’t trust it.

The Tool Bag
Pocket knife (and pliers) — Absolutely essential. I use my pocket knife constantly. I also carry a Leatherman multi-purpose tool, which includes a knife, pliers, can opener, file and screwdriver.
Bug spray – No-brainer for Florida campers. Heavy on the Deet, but you should only need to spray ankles and the back of the neck if you wear long pants. That should keep ‘em away.
Bear spray – Basically, a small can of pepper spray or Mace that will keep unwelcome bears at bay. Bears are not usually a problem, unless you are careless with your food.
Sunscreen — You are outdoors all the time when camping, and if you are paddling a canoe or kayak, the reflection off the water doubles your exposure to Florida’s intense sun. At least SPF 15 in winter and SPF 30 in summer is adequate for most people. Sensitive skin (you know who you are) require SPF 45 (and probably a long-sleeve shirt).
Seam sealer– Use a waterproof sealer along the seams of your tent every time you go camping. This is not a daily ritual. One seal per trip will suffice, but get all the seams.
Hatchet (or hammer) – For pounding stakes and splitting firewood, although I rarely use it. I carry a hammer. Hatchets can be dangerous around kids, as well.
Tarp (optional) – Often useful as temporary shelter in a sudden storm (a Florida certainty), a ground cover under your tent, a cover to keep gear dry. Pack it in your canoe so you can scoot under cover in the boat or on shore.
Short hose with nozzle (optional) – A short hose serves most needs. Buy a collapsible hose at garden centers or department stores. Good for controlling campfires.
Fire extinguisher (optional) – I keep one in my pickup truck in case of camp or car emergency.
Weather radio (optional) – I don’t see a major need for a weather radio unless you are going into the back country to a primitive site without outside communications.

Clothing
Each to his own personal tastes, but keep in mind you are not going to the country club, so leave the fancy duds at home. OK, OK. Bring one polo shirt, just in case you want to look like a real person for shopping or going out to dinner one night.
Here are a few essentials:
Jeans – At least one pair per person, even in summer, for hiking, keeping bugs off you, etc.
Shorts – At least two pairs per person. This is Florida, and you are outdoors all the time.
Long-sleeve Ts – At least one per person for chilly or buggy nights. Long sleeves (and long pants) are better than Deet for bugs.
Short-sleeve Ts – Multiple, but don’t go crazy. This is the shirt of choice for camping in Florida, easily rinsed.
Underwear and socks – Extra is good when you need something dry, and you need it now.
Shoes and sandals – Flip-flops for the bathhouse to keep the cooties off your feet. I also bring sneakers and boat shoes, as well as water shoes for the kayak.
Hats and caps — Baseball caps for everyone, and paddlers should consider long-bill caps with neck shields, such as a Bahamas flats hat. Wide-brim straw hats are also good choices for hiking and paddling.

Personal items
Wash cloths and towels, of course, and bring a roll of TP. Most campgrounds are well-maintained, but the TP is sometimes forgotten or overlooked. Bring your own.
A bar or two of Ivory soap is ideal. Ivory is biodegradable and can be used for washing, shaving and you can even use it to wash dishes. You will need your own soap in the bathhouse.
Pack sampler tubes of toothpaste you get from the dentist. And use your multi-purpose porcelain cup to rinse!
And don’t forget the suncreen!

Camp Furniture
Almost all campgrounds have a picnic table, and that serves multiple purposes for cooking, eating, lounging, playing board games. But you also might consider:
Folding camp stool – For me, this stool is basic. A multi-purpose chair for sitting around the campfire and anywhere else.
Lounge chairs (optional) – Collapsible cloth chairs that pack in a bag, but they still take up space..
Hammocks (optional) – Most state and county parks discourage (or prohibit) hammocks because they damage trees. If you bring one, use non-binding tree straps. No hooks or nails. Even then, you are likely to be asked to take it down.

Firewood/Charcoal
Campfires are part of the camping experience, but you usually don’t have to carry firewood. You can almost always buy it near your campground. Stick with hardwood, such as oak. Soft wood, such as pine, is too smoky. Clean-burning Duraflame logs are best.
Do not chop down trees, but you usually will be allowed to pick up dead branches for kindling.
Charcoal takes up room, takes too long to light and requires attention. If you must use charcoal, don’t get the self-lighting kind. The lighter fluid is infused in the charcoal and lends a terrible taste to your food.

Toys

Give careful consideration to what you bring. The pile can grow fast.

Bicycles – I consider bicycles a necessity for any camping trip. There are always trails or campground roads, and they are handy if you have to travel a ways to the bathhouse or just exploring.
Kayaks and canoes (optional) – Almost every campground with a water feature has a concession or nearby outfitter that will rent kayaks and canoes at a reasonable price. If you bring your own, keep in mind you need gear: life vests, paddles, water shoes, paddling gloves.
Tubes (optional) – Florida is blessed with beautiful springs, and tubing is allowed at many of them. Most of these places have concessions where you can rent tubes .
Fishing Gear — Florida is blessed with fishing opportunities. A couple of lightweight spinning rods (for freshwater) or medium-weight (for saltwater) and a modest tackle box containing that basics — hooks, lines, sinkers and a couple of artificial lures — will usually suffice for most people. Don’t forget the license! You don’t need a license if you are a Florida resident under 16 or over 65. A saltwater ‘shoreline’ license is free for residents, but you still need one. Best of all, you can buy the license over the phone at 888-FISH-FLORIDA and start fishing right away!
Games and books – Packing your favorite board games and a deck of cards is a good idea. It keeps the kids and adults occupied during down time. And there’s nothing better than a good book to read in the woods.
Horseshoes – A great way to keep the family entertained, and you can set up the playing field almost anywhere. Many campgrounds have horseshoe pits, as well.

First Aid Kit
A first-aid kit is something many campers forget, but you really need one, especially with kids. It’s easy to get banged up while camping, so it’s essential to have bandages, antiseptic wipes and all the other goodies that are packed in prepackaged kits available in most department stores and outdoor shops. Remember that tent camping takes you out into the woods, and medical assistance is never as quick as you like when you need it.

Your should include a bee-sting kit and snake-bite kits, just in case. And keep a backup tube of sunscreen in the first-aid kit just in case you run out.

Pets
Check with your campground in advance. Most state parks now allow household pets in camping areas, but they have to be constantly attended and on a 6-foot leash. Many county parks I’ve visited prohibit pets, even in camping areas.

Alcohol
Most county and state parks prohibit alcoholic beverages, although some state parks allow alcohol in camping areas only. Alcohol is generally allowed in federal parks and lands, unless otherwise posted.
The key here is discretion. Nobody is going to give you a hard time about having a glass of wine with dinner. But be discrete. (Use your all-purpose porcelain cup!) Some public campgrounds reserve the right to inspect your cooler.