5 Reasons We RV at Florida State Parks
We love camping at Florida State Parks. They are our first choice when exploring Florida with the RV. We choose the parks because they are located throughout the state, offer many different types of adventures, give us the camping vibes we enjoy, provide good amenities, and the cost is low and within our budget. One of the great benefits of the state parks is the ability to explore within the park or to venture out in the surrounding area.
LOCATION
There are more than 50 Florida State Parks that allow camping for tents and RVs throughout the state. Wherever you want to visit in Florida, you will be able to find a campground nearby. Sometimes we want to enjoy the park itself and sometimes we visit to explore the surrounding area. We typically decide the area we want to visit and then start looking for a state park within a reasonable distance. It is a bonus for us if we are able to spend time exploring the park and the surrounding area. When we stayed at O’leno State Park, we explored the park along with day trips to Gilchrist Blue Springs, Itchetucknee Springs, and a couple of other local springs.
VARIETY
Visiting the different areas of Florida can feel like you are in a completely different state. We have white sand beaches, crystal clear springs, big cities, small towns, remote backwoods areas, historical sites, and of course The Florida Keys. The parks are great for exploring and for learning the history of that area in Florida. We have been surprised at how much we have learned about the state while visiting Florida State parks. One of our favorite parks is Anastasia State Park, which is located on the eastern coast in St Augustine. While at your campsite it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere camping while listening to the crashing of the ocean waves. All the while, historic St Augustine is just a short drive away and the location of some of the most fascinating historical events in Florida.
CAMPING VIBES
We like to feel like we are camping, not glamping even though we are fully aware of our glamping status. The state parks allow us to enjoy that camping vibe, while still staying in the RV. We enjoy the woodsy feel, campfires, outdoor activities, and semi privacy of the sites. There are many trips where we never leave the park. It is all about the food, the campfire, and exploring everything the park has to offer.
AMENITIES
The state parks offer water & electric at their RV sites, and some even offer sewer. When sewer is not available, the campground will have a dump station. Most of the parks have a campground store, campground restroom facilities, laundry, and an activities center. We have visited parks that have kayaking, swimming, biking, and even beaches. There is never a lack of activities or amenities needed for your stay.
COST
The costs vary, but all nightly costs are under $50. We spend less at state parks than we do at RV Resorts, excluding some of the membership and long term stay deals.
Of course, there are downsides to RVing at Florida State parks. Two downsides impact us – the popularity of the parks and the sometimes weak cell signal. Everyone loves RVing at Florida State Parks, so you must make your reservations far in advance. Although, it is possible to snag last minute reservations when others cancel, we typically book our reservations eleven months in advance. Another consideration for us, we have found that some of the more remote parks can have weak cell phone signal. We plan carefully if we think we will work remotely during our visit. A few other downsides for some RVers include, usually no sewer hookups, concrete pads are rare, limits on stays of 14 days, and lack of community & children’s activities that exist at the RV Resorts. For us, the advantages of the state parks outweigh the disadvantages.
Do Florida State Parks work for your family and travel style?
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