The 8 Best State Parks in Florida For RV Camping to Add to Your Bucket-List
From pristine beaches and serene lakes to mysterious caves and lush preserves, Florida’s state parks have it all. It’s no wonder that both locals and visitors love to spend their time outdoors in the Sunshine State. So I decided to put together an article about the best state parks in Florida for RV camping. Here are my top picks you should try!
Henderson Beach State Park
Henderson Beach State Park is a real paradise. No wonder it’s on the list of the best state parks in Florida for RV camping. A fantastic shoreline, 30-foot white sand dunes and perfect temperature gulf water are just a few things visitors love this place. But the park offers a lot more.
The Henderson Beach State Park is a great place for those who love outdoor activities. The park is popular for swimming, fishing, bicycling and hiking. It’s also great for gatherings or bigger family reunions. Some people even celebrate major events like weddings at the park.
Best RV camping in Henderson Beach State Park
- Henderson Beach State Park Campground offers 60 spots for RV or tent camping. All campsites have water, electric hookups (except campsites #28 and #29), grills, and picnic tables.
Max RV length – 60 ft.
Check reservations
- Other great options nearby:
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is another amazing destination for RV camping in Florida. The state park encompasses 70 nautical square miles and is America’s first underwater park. No wonder it’s also called one of the best underwater playgrounds in North America.
The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is perfect for those who love snorkelling and scuba diving. It’s also popular for boating, paddling, fishing and hiking. The park is a prime habitat for 600 species of fish, 70 species of coral, and many marine invertebrates, making it also ideal for wildlife watching.
Best RV camping in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground offers 42 spots for RV or tent camping. All campsites have water, electricity, and sewer hookups. Most campsites can accommodate RVs that are under 40 feet.
Max RV length – 40 ft.
Check reservations
- Other great options nearby:
Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park is one of the oldest original tourist attractions in Florida. Its beautiful gardens, clear spring waters and fascinating scenery attracted Northerners who visited this place on steamboats more than 140 years ago. That is also where the famous glass-bottom boat trips originated from and they are still one of the most popular activities here to this day.
The Silver Springs State Park is also one of the best state parks in Florida for RV camping due to the numerous outdoor activities it offers. Although swimming is not allowed in the park, there are enough water-based activities you can enjoy, such as kayaking, boating and the already mentioned glass-bottom boat tours. In addition to that, folks can go mountain biking, hiking, and horse riding. The park is also an amazing location for wildlife watching and birding, as it’s home to numerous species of animals, like alligators, gopher tortoises, black bears, bobcats, foxes and many more.
Best RV camping in Silver Springs State Park
- Silver Springs State Park Campground offers 59 spots for camping and can accommodate large recreational vehicles (50 feet). All campsites have water and electric hookups, as well as fire rings, grills, and picnic tables.
Max RV length – 50 ft.
Check reservations
- Other great options nearby:
Lovers Key State Park
Many thought that the area that we know now as Lovers Key State Park would become a site of luxury condominiums. Luckily, this area is now a protected habitat for many spectacular wildlife creatures like West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, gopher tortoise and numerous species of birds. And people are more than welcome to explore and enjoy this romantic destination as well.
Lovers Key State Park is known as one of the most romantic and picturesque destinations in Florida and many come here to host spectacular gulf-side weddings. But there are plenty of things to do for those who love the great outdoors as well. The park offers great water activities such as fishing, kayaking, boating and swimming. And it’s also a good place for those who like hiking cycling and wildlife viewing.
Best RV camping in Lovers Key State Park
- There are no RV camping options within the Lovers Key State Park. But here are some great options just outside of the park:
Myakka River State Park
Another park on the list of best state parks in Florida for RV camping is the Myakka River State Park. This is one of the oldest and biggest state parks in Florida and it’s famous for some of the best wildlife and bird watching opportunities in the state. This is a fascinating preserve that allows visitors to explore the stunning wetlands, prairies and pinelands, and allows them to peek into the past as much of the area still looks the same way it has for centuries.
Myakka River State Park is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers activities like hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and fishing. You can also go kayaking or take a boat tour to explore the river. And for those who love wildlife, the park offers some of the best opportunities to see alligators, spoonbills, wood stork and many other amazing animal species.
Best RV camping in Myakka River State Park
- Myakka River State Park offers 3 campgrounds with 90 spots for RV or tent camping – Old Prairie, Palmetto Ridge and Big Flats. All campsites have water, and electricity hookups. You can find a dump station near the Old Prairie Campground. And you can also find laundry services at Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All three campgrounds have restrooms with hot showers.
Max RV length – 35 ft.
Check reservations
- Other great options nearby:
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
A wonderful place to explore by land or water, the Jonathan Dickinson State Park is the largest state park in Southeast Florida. This park is a great combination for those who like history, nature and wildlife. The park is a well-known destination for outdoor lovers due to the number of activities it provides.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park has some amazing kayaking, swimming, and boating opportunities. For those who are not huge fans of the water, the park offers hiking, mountain biking and cycling trails. And those who love wildlife will have a perfect opportunity to spot alligators, tortoises, manatees as well as many species of birds. The park is also famous for its river tours and Trapper Nelson ranger-guided tours.
Best RV camping in Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park offers two campgrounds – Pine Grove (90 sites) and River (52 sites). All campsites have water, electric hookups, grills and picnic tables. Pine Grove Campgrouns also offers sewer hookups.
Max RV length – 40 ft. Pine Grove; 36 ft. River.
Check reservations
- Other great options:
Alafia River State Park
Alafia River State Park is known for its drastic elevation changes, compared to a relatively flat terrain you might be used to in Florida. This makes the state park one of the best destinations for mountain bikers.
In addition to mountain biking, Alafia River State Park is also a great place for those who enjoy horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, and hiking. Like many other natural areas in Florida, this state park is also a perfect destination for birdwatchers and animal lovers.
Best RV camping in Alafia River State Park
- Alafia River State Park Campground offers 30 spots for RV or tent camping. All campsites have water, and electric hookups. Another great perk this campground has is solar-heated showers.
Max RV length – 55 ft.
Check reservations
- Other great options:
Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock State Park is a remarkable region that is mostly known for its unique and fragile ecosystem. The park is home to Florida’s legendary panthers, as well as black bears, alligators, deer and numerous species of birds.
In addition to wildlife viewing, the park is also a good spot for cycling and hiking. For those who want to find out more about the history of this place, I recommend checking out the famous tram tours that run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the season.
Best RV camping in Highlands Hammock State Park
- Highlands Hammock State Park Campground offers nearly 200 sites for RV or tent camping. The campground offers water, electric hookups, access to showers, dump station, as well as a laundry room.
Max RV length – 50 ft
Check reservations
- Other great options:
These were the 8 best state parks in Florida for RV camping. I hope this list helped you find the campground for your next trip. Let me know in the comments below if you like the list, or if I should include any other state parks you love.
