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Camping in Florida: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Florida starts in one of a few places: Florida State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Florida state park campgrounds are booked through Florida State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Florida

• Biscayne National Park
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Everglades National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Florida on the National Park Service Florida page ↗.

National forests and free camping

Florida's national forests include Apalachicola, Ocala, Osceola. Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Permits and lotteries

• Dry Tortugas camping is limited and reached only by ferry or seaplane; book transport early.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Florida are sold by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Florida. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Florida State Parks.

Best time to camp in Florida

Spring and fall are most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms; winter is mild in the south.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Southeast)