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Camping at 14 awesome state parks in Florida’s Panhandle

The Florida Panhandle has 14 awesome state park campgrounds for tents and RVers, and most are off the radar for snowbirds who fly towards Central and South Florida destinations in winter.

Summer is a different story. Vacationers from Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi flock to the Panhandle’s glorious sugar-white sand paradise. From December until March, weather is unpredictable, and the mercury can dip as low as freezing on some days. But taking chances has its rewards when the sun is shining with temps in the 70s and nobody else is around.

Fall and spring may be the best time to go, when both the weather and tourism are moderate.

Fall brings a flood of seafood festivals to this region, starting with the Pensacola and Destin Seafood Festivals in late September and early October, peaking with the Florida Seafood Festival in oyster-rich Apalachicola in early November.

All of these campgrounds accommodate both RVs and tents. Rates listed do not include state and local taxes, a new $7 utilities fee per night, a $6.70 book fee per reservation.

Effective January 1, 2024, Florida residents will have a 30-day head start to book campsites at Florida State Parks, reducing the reservation window for non-residents to 10 months in advance. This new law does not apply to state forests, national parks, county or municipal campgrounds, which have their own rules.


Big Lagoon State Park: Big for birders

Florida Panhandle camping: Big Lagoon State Park
Florida Panhandle camping: Big Lagoon State Park

This beachside state park is popular with birders, especially in fall. This park is a rest stop for birds who migrate across the Gulf of Mexico, bound for the Caribbean and Latin America. There’s a mile-long boardwalk and 3.5-mile nature trail where you can get up close and personal with your feathered friends. The campground has 75 sites with water, electricity, picnic tables and fire rings. There are two sprawling, white-sand beaches and a boat ramp. Excellent for kayaks and canoes, as well as boats of all kinds. Crabbing in the shallow waters of the lagoon is a popular activity in this 655-acre park. Pets are welcome in the campground.  Maximum RV length is 45 feet.

Big Lagoon State Park. 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola. Park office:  850-492-1595

  • Activities: Beach, Bicycling, Birding, Boat Ramp ($12), Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Allowed in designated areas only. Escambia County prohibits pets on beaches and/or waterways.
  • Reservations: For campground reservations up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Rate: $20/night.

Blackwater River State Park: Paddler paradise

Milton is a top kayaking town and the sand-bottom Blackwater River is a big part of the reason. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The sandy shores of Blackwater River in Blackwater River State Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

A favorite destination for kayakers and canoeists, this campground is nestled under tall pines just a short walk from the river. Hikers can enjoy more than 600 acres of undisturbed natural environs.  Enjoy the magnificent cedar stands along the river, including one of the largest and oldest white cedars in the eastern half of the nation. There are 30 RV campsites, each with 20-30-50-amp service, water, sewer hookups, picnic table and a grill.  Pets are welcome, and the maximum RV length is 45 feet.

Here’s a Florida Rambler story on the Milton area, which includes Blackwater River State Park.

Blackwater River State Park, 7720 Deaton Bridge Road, Holt, FL. Park office:  850-983-5363

  • Activities: Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $20/night

Primitive camping: Want to really get away? There are two primitive camping sites you reach via a several mile hike. Primitive campsites are available for $5. To reserve a primitive campsite, call the park at 863-696-1112.


Falling Waters State Park: Highest waterfall in Florida

The falls at Florida's Falling Water State Park
The falls at Florida’s Falling Water State Park

Huge trees and fern-covered sinkholes line the trail to Florida’s highest waterfalls, a 73-foot cascade that drops to the bottom of a sinkhole.  The campground is on one of the highest hills in Florida, at 324 feet above sea level (and you thought we had mountains!)  This is a peaceful park with scenic nature trails and a two-acre lake with a white sand beach. There are 24 campsites, each with electric, water, picnic table and a ground grill. Pets are welcome, and the maximum RV length is 40 feet.

Falling Waters State Park, 1130 State Park Road, Chipley, FL. Park office:  850-638-6130

  • Activities: Birding, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: No.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations:  Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $18/night.

Florida Caverns State Park: Stalactite, stalagmite wonderland

Attention spelunkers!  Florida really does have caves with stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones and draperies, and you can explore these dazzling underground caverns on a guided tour.  The nearby Chipola River offers ample opportunity for kayaking and canoeing, as well as fishing, and the park even features a nine-hole golf course!  Multi-use trails accommodate bicycles, hikers and equestrians (bring your own horse).  The 1,319-acre park has 35 campsites with electric and water hookups, as well as stables for horses.  Pets are welcome, and maximum RV length is 40 feet.

Florida Caverns State Park, 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, FL.  Park office: 850-482-9598

  • Activities: Bicycling, Boating, Camping, Cave Tours, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: No.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $20/night.

Grayton Beach State Park – Beautiful beach

best small beach towns in florida: grayton beach
Best small beach towns in Florida: Grayton Beach. (Photo by Ryan Murphy)

This 2,000-acre park embraces one of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., a sugar-sand paradise that stretches for a mile along a peninsula between Destin and Panama City Beach. The park features a 4.5 mile trail for hiking and biking, and there’s a boat ramp where you can launch your canoe or kayak for paddling Western Lake.  A new campground loop has added 24 new sites with water, 50-amp electric and sewer hookups, bringing the total number of sites to 52. Both camping loops have restrooms with hot showers, although the restrooms in the old loop are closed until the end of the year for renovations.  The park also has 30 2 BR, 1 Bath duplex cabins that accommodate up to six people each, so invite your friends to spend a week or a weekend when you’re here.  Pets are welcome in the campground, and the maximum RV length is 40 feet.

Here’s a Florida Rambler story about visiting Grayton Beach State Park.

Grayton Beach State Park, 357 Main Park Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.  Park office: 850-267-8300

  • Activities: Beach, Bicycling, Birding, Boat Ramp, Camping, Cabins, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $24-$30/night.
  • Cabins: $110-$130/night plus tax and a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee..

Henderson Beach State Park – Big dunes, white sand near Destin

RV campsite at Florida's Henderson Beach State Park.
RV campsite at Florida’s Henderson Beach State Park.

The sugar-white sand beach and convenient location near Destin shopping make this popular beachfront campground an attractive destination for RVers.  A nature trail winds through the rolling dune system.  Surf fishing is popular here, and the catch includes pompano, red fish, flounder, catfish, whiting and the occasional cobia. The campground has 60 sites with a mix of back-in and pull-through sites.  All sites have water and electric (some 50-amp), picnic tables, ground grills and clothesline posts.  The restrooms with showers have heating and AC, and coin-operated washers and dryers are available to campers.  Pets are welcome, and maximum RV length is 45 feet.

Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL. Park office:  850-837-7550

  • Activities: Beach, Bicycling, Birding, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including the beach.
  • Pets: Yes
  • Reservations:  Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $30/night.

Ochlockonee River State Park – Great for paddlers, wildlife

Boat launch at Florida's Ochlockonee River State Park
Boat launch at Florida’s Ochlockonee River State Park

South of Tallahassee, this park is at the junction of the Ochlockonee and Dead Rivers, just a short distance from where they dump into Ochlockonee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, making this an excellent paddling destination.  A boat ramp provides easy access to the river, and you have access to both fresh and saltwater fishing.  Wildlife is abundant, and you’ll find rare snow-white squirrels, as well as the rare Sherman’s Fox Squirrel throughout the park.  The park’s 30 campsites are nestled in a shady, wooded forest, and each site has water and electric hookups (30 amp), as well as fire ring, picnic table and clothesline. Restroom with hot showers and outside sink for washing dishes. One site (#14) is available for hammock camping. Nature trails run along the river.  Pets are welcome in the campground, and the maximum RV length is 40 feet.

Ochlockonee River State Park, 429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy, FL. Park office: 850-962-2771

  • Activities: Bicycling, Birding, Boat Ramp, Boating, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $18/night. Primitive Group Camping area available for youth groups. Call ranger office for information.


Rocky Bayou State Park – Down on the bayou (and the bay)

Boat launch at Florida's Rocky Bayou State Park
Boat launch at Florida’s Rocky Bayou State Park

Access to Choctawhatchee Bay and saltwater fishing make this park attractive to boaters and paddlers who want to explore the bayou.  Kayak rentals are available in the park. The campground is located near three beautiful nature trails, each taking you into a different community of plants and wildlife.  A fitness trail is also onsite. There are 42 spacious, shady sites with water and electric, picnic table, and some have water views.  A modern bathhouse is both heated in winter and cooled in summer.  A laundry and vending machines are also located in the campground near four ADA-accessible camp sites. Pets are welcome, and the maximum RV length is 50 feet.

Rocky Bayou State Park, 4281 State Road 20, Niceville, FL 850-833-9144

  • Activities: Bicycling, Boat Ramp, Boating, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations:  Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $16/night.

St. Andrews State Park – Beautiful beach, large campground

Aerial view of Florida's St. Andrews State Park.
Aerial view of Florida’s St. Andrews State Park.

With its proximity to Panama City, you can just imagine how crowded this beachfront park can get in summer. But the rest of the year it is all yours to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing. There are two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp.  Two nature trails offer opportunities for birding, especially in spring and fall. There are 176 sites on two campground loops, each with water and electric, picnic tables and grills. There are five restrooms with showers, and a laundry facility is available in the campground. Pets are welcome at campsites, and the maximum RV length is 45 feet.

St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL. 850-233-5140

  • Activities: Bicycling, Boat Ramp, Boating, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $28/night.
  • Primitive Group Camping: Youth camping for scouts, faith-based groups and other small non-profit organized groups. The campground accommodates up to 25 people and includes picnic tables, fire ring, a portable toilet and an outside shower. Pets are not allowed. Call the park office for more information.

St. George Island State Park – All beach, and lotsa oysters

Picnic pavilion at St. George Island State Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Picnic pavilion at St. George Island State Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

One of my favorite state parks in the Panhandle, St. George Island State Park is on the east end of the barrier island that frames Apalachicola Bay, one of the most productive oyster beds in the world.  Miles of pristine, white-sand beaches await your for swimming, sunbathing, shelling and beach combing. Two boat ramps on the bay side offer access for canoes, kayaks and small boats. And you are close enough to the commercial fishing port of Apalachicola to enjoy fresh fish, especially oysters, at any time of the year.  Each of the 60 campsites has electric and water hookups with a dump station nearby.  Six sites have concrete pads, and the rest are hard-pack sand. The campground is tucked behind rolling dunes, less than a quarter mile from the beach. Two primitive campsites can be accessed by a 2.5-mile trail or by canoe or kayak. There are two restrooms with hot showers, and nature trails meander through nearby pine forests and coastal scrub. Pets are welcome in the campground, but not the sprawling beach, and the maximum RV length is 43 feet.

Here’s a Florida Rambler story about Apalachicola and St. George Island State Park

St. George Island State Park, 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island. (Near Apalachicola) Park office: 850-927-2111

  • Activities: Beach, Bicycling,  Birding, Boat Ramp, Boating, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs and a floating mobi-chair.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations:  Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $24/night.
  • Primitive Group Camping: Group tent camping is available for organized groups of adults or youths up to 25 or a minimum of six people. Chaperones must remain with the group at all times. Restrooms, cold water showers, picnic tables and a campfire circle are available. Pets are not permitted. Call the park office for more information.

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park – Best beaches!

The shoreline along St. Joseph Bay at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
The shoreline along St. Joseph Bay at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

Oh, my!  These beaches are unbelievable, and they consistently rank among the best in the nation.  The park offers 10 miles of white-sand beach and some of the tallest sand dunes in the state.  You can launch your kayaks and canoes from the beach, or from the boat ramp on the bayside.  There are three hiking trails, including the 6-mile Wilderness Preserve Trail that meanders through 1750 acres of an unspoiled coastal eco-system that is bustling with wildlife.  Swim in the Gulf or the bay. There are two campgrounds with a total of 119 sites, each with 30-amp electric, water, a picnic table and fire ring, and all are just a short walk to the beach.  The Shady Pines campground has more shade.  Pets are welcome in the campground, but not on the beach or other day-use areas.  Some sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, but most are much smaller with individual limits. Eight cabins are available for $100 a night overlooking St. Joseph’s Bay.

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, FL  Park office: 850-227-1327

  • Activities: Beach, Bicycling,  Birding, Boat Ramp, Boating, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Scuba Diving, Shelling, Snorkeling, Swimming.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $24/night.
  • Cabins: $100/night plust tax and a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.
  • Primitive Camping: Primitive camping is allowed in the Wilderness Preserve for a maximum of 14 nights at $5.00/ person/night. No facilities are available. Campers must bring their own supplies. Call the park office for more information.
  • Youth Camping: The youth camping area is available to organized youth groups of up to 30. Adult supervisors must remain with the youth at all times. $5 per person. Call the park office.

Three Rivers State Park – Fish, paddle, hike

The campground at Florida's Three Rivers State Park.
The campground at Florida’s Three Rivers State Park.

The convergence of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers forms Lake Seminole, the setting for this quiet park on the Florida-Georgia border renowned for its fishing.  Shallow-water boats are smartest because the lake is, well, mostly shallow.  Enjoy five miles of nature trails, and more than seven miles of trails and paved roads for bicycles in semi-rough terrain and moderate elevation changes.  Just north of Interstate 10, the park is easily accessible for RVers, and at $16 a night, it’s bargain-priced.  There are 30 shaded, fairly private campsites on the bank of the lake, each with water, electric, a picnic table and grill ring. Restrooms and a dump station nearby.  The campground includes a small boat ramp and large fishing pier. The park has a singled one-bedroom cabin with A/C, heat and a wood-burning fireplace. Pets are welcome, and the maximum RV length is 50 feet.

Three Rivers State Park, 7908 Three Rivers Road, Sneads, FL.  Park office: 850-482-9006

  • Activities: Bicycling, Birding, Boat Ramp, Boating, Cabins, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Tours.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $16/night. 
  • Cabin Rental: $65 per night plus tax and non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.

Topsail Hill Preserve – Beautiful beaches, resort-style campground

RV site at Florida's Topsail Hill State State Park
RV site at Florida’s Topsail Hill State State Park

Towering sand dunes surround more than three miles of pristine white-sand beach and encompass two freshwater lakes at this sprawling 1,600-acre state park on a barrier island west of Panama City Beach.  

Although boats are not permitted in the dune lakes, you can fish from shore for bass, bream, panfish and catfish. A tram service will carry you between the beach and the campground, which has a swimming pool and shuffleboard courts.

There’s even a campground store and a cable TV connection at each site!  

Each of the 156 campsites has water, 30 and 50-amp electric, cable and sewer hookups. Restrooms with showers have both heat and AC, and laundry facilities are available to campers. There’s also a tent area with 22 sites on elevated pads with a fire ring, water and electric. The park also has 30 bungalows and cabins.  Pets are welcome, as are big rigs up to 45 feet in length.

Glamping at Topsail Hill: The company that has the camp store and kayak concession at Topsail Hill also operates Fancy Camps where, for $130 a night, you can stay in a fully outfitted tent with a queen bed, linens, rugs, lamps  and even portable air conditioners or heaters.

Here’s a Florida Rambler story about Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, 7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Park office:  850-267-8330

  • Activities: BeachBicycling, Birding, Cabins, Camping, Canoe/Kayak, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming, Tours.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $42/night for RV sites, $24 per night for tent sites.
  • Bungalow and cabin rentals: $100-$145/night, depending on season, plus tax and non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Weekly rates available.

Torreya State Park – Fall color, high river bluffs

Fall colors can be seen at Florida's Torreya State Park
Fall colors can be seen at Florida’s Torreya State Park

One of the state’s most scenic parks, this state park sits on high bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River (which starts out as the Chattahoochee River in Georgia).  Hardwood forests make this Florida’s prime destination for fall color, and nature trails will take you deep into the forests or along the river bluffs, which are as high as 150 feet above water level.  One trail loop is seven miles long and takes you through all of the park’s eco-systems.  The park’s 29 shaded campsites have water and electric hookups, and there’s a free-standing YURT that accommodates five.  Primitive camping is also available at three locations. Pets are welcome in the campground, and the maximum RV length is 60 feet.

Torreya State Park, 2576 NW Torreya Park Road, Bristol FL. Park office: 850-643-2674

  • Activities: Birding, Boat Ramp, Cabins, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Site, Picnicking.
  • Wheelchair Accessible: No.
  • Pets: Yes.
  • Reservations: Up to 11 months in advance, call (800) 326-3521.
  • Base Camping Fee:  $16/night.
  • Yurt Camping: The only Yurt in Florida’s state park system, this one is heated and air conditioned as well as being fully furnished. Sleeps five. $40/night.
  • Cabin camping: A single cracker cabin sleeps six, four bunks and a queen, A/C, heating. No pets. $50/night.
  • Primitive Camping: Torreya had three back pack primitive camps. Each camp is divided into four different small sites.  $5 per person. Call park for details.
  • Primitive Group Camping: Torreya has two large Youth Group Camp Sites. $5 per adult and $1 per child. Call for details.


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Wright

Thursday 2nd of May 2019

Good grief! Are there ANY rv parks that are NOT pet friendly? Believe it or not folks, there are people out there who prefer not to have pets... imagine that!

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