Sebastian Inlet State Park
Exploring Florida One Campground at a Time
We headed out to Sebastian Inlet State Park with very few expectations. We had not heard a lot about this park, but we did know it was on the ocean at the inlet to the Indian River and a spectacular place for boating and fishing. We do not own a boat or jet skis, we do not typically spend all day at the beach, and we do not usually fish. The Reserve America site was full of warnings about biting midges, power fluctuations, and crowds. As it turns out, we were pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this park. I can only imagine that if your top interests include boating and fishing, this might be your favorite park ever!
Things to do in the Park
There is so much to do within this state park. The park area is split into the north and south side by the inlet. The south side has walkable access to the campground check in, boat access to the Indian River, the beach, fishing piers, museum, and of course the campgrounds. The North side has beach access, the tidal pool, fishing piers, restaurant, and the marina. The marina has a separate, third entrance on the north side. The north and south side are accessible to each other by car over the bridge. It is important to keep this in mind, because on a crowded day the North Side sometimes reaches capacity with day guests and the entrance will be closed to all guests including guests with campground registrations. Of course, campground guests will not be blocked out of the south side where the campground is located. We spent our time, walking along the beach of the tidal pool, walking on the beach, eating lunch at the Surfside Grill and Adventures, and sitting on the small beach along the riverside watching the boats and the jet skis. The museum was closed while we were visiting due to it being 2020, but I have heard that the small museum is worth the visit. If you love a good beach day, the tidal pool might be the perfect place to set up camp for the day and enjoy the calm safe waters. The more adventureous can head out oceanfront side for some rougher water and surfing. For all the fishermen out there, just search #sebastianinletstatepark to scroll through the amazing catches and this location will be on your must visit list in minutes. Even better, if part of your group does not enjoy fishing there is plenty for everyone to do enjoying the day in the water. If you own a boat or a jet ski, do not leave it at home. We did not kayak on this trip because the currents right off the inlet were too strong for us, but there are plenty of more protected areas to go for a paddle. If you are staying for a while, you are a quick drive to Vero or
Campground
The Campground is located on the south side of the inlet on the river side of the Indian River. The campground has 60 sites with water and electric hookups. The campground only has one dump station, which created a bit of a line the day we were leaving. There are 19 sites that sit along the water, and the rest are a short walk to the water. The sites on the water have a fabulous view, but are a little close together and have a road between the sites and the water. The best water view sites with a little more space are 52-56. The sites along the back of the loop do not have a water view, but they are larger and have a little more privacy. We stayed on the back of the loop and really enjoyed the quiet. Our dogs like to alert us to people walking by, so this worked out nicely for us. The campground is within walking distance to the beach, fishing piers, the museum, and the boat launch. The park is open 24 hours a day, so expect to see activity all through the evening. When we made our reservation, the park reminded us they were open 24 hours a day, the “Biting Midges” are the park mascot, and the electric power has experienced fluctuation issues. We brought bug spray and a fan to combat the midges. We suggest bringing a surge protector and monitor if you have pets, as we did lose power during our stay. We were glad that we were warned about these issues, so that we came prepared and they did not impact our stay.
Sebastian Inlet State Park is beautiful. Even though we were not originally sure if this park would be a “good fit” for our interests, we enjoyed it and will absolutely make plans to visit again. There is so much to do at this park. If you love the water, beach, boating, or fishing, you will feel like this park was made just for you! Or perhaps, like us, you mostly just want to relax, listen to the sound of the water, and take some beautiful pictures. If you go prepared, you can easily avoid the frustration of any of the “negatives”. Plan for the crowds and bring bug spray with you!
