Beach camping tops my bucket list of things I want to do on the bike. There is something about watching the sunset next to your fire and having nothing but glassy sea in front of you. (we’ll not mention waking up covered in a salty film, but I digress)
Some people have varying definitions of the word “beach”. For my purposes, a beach is sand that is touching the ocean. Not some lake or river. You get half credit if your beach is a lagoon that connects to the ocean. These desirable spots fill up fast – sometimes as fast as 12-months in advance.
So here is a list of places I plan on camping at some point. They were all chosen because of a combination of a handful of criteria.
- Their view of the water from the campsite
- Walking distance to the beach – not so long that you couldn’t walk out for a min and get back quick or have a short walk when coming back after sunset.
My top 5 6 choices to camp on the beach in Florida:
- Ft. Clinch State Park
This will probably be the first place I will be able to camp because the tent only spots don’t fill up as fast as the RV spots. It is over on the Atlantic coast almost over the Georgia/Florida border.- The tent spots are sandy and only come with access to potable water and a hint of beach view. The beach is a short walk and the bath house is just a little shorter of a walk.
- You have to make sure you don’t get the spot closest to the dump station – just to be on the safe smell side!
- Curry Hammock State Park/Long Key State Park/Bahia State Park
These three spots are all in the Florida Keys are, rightfully so, super desirable and difficult to schedule. Right now Long Key State Park is renovating the camp areas, so it is not a choice at the moment. Bahia State Park is perhaps the most popular spot and is almost always entirely booked. Curry hammock provides nearly identical experience, but doesn’t seem as slammed as Bahia.- It is designed for RV campers, so Lots are hard packed shell and provide little to no shade. (the booking website says “CAUTION: rough pea-gravel bed”)
- You do get electricity, water, and a picnic table, but no fire ring.
- Sebastian Inlet State Park
So this fails to meet the second standard of beach camping – it isn’t technically on the beach, not even walking distance. But you can camp directly on the water which bumps it up into the “top 5”.- Really beautiful views of both sunrise and sunset surrounded by water.
- Like Curry Hammock, shade is spotty on the campsites, but you do get a fire ring/grill in addition to table, electric and water.
- Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
This is a little park on the Atlantic, right on the A1A. It straddles the ocean and intercostal waterway and has campsites on both, but the ocean side is where you want to be. - Campsites are, again, set up for RVs and are hard and without shade. You are not going to have any soft ground to rest on – plan on packed crushed shell.
- The largest draw is that you are literally feet from the ocean. There are a couple viewing boardwalks in the lot that overlook the shoreline and other paths that have been forged through the plants to the beach, but it is really just steps away.
- At the same time the A1A is also steps from your door so expect road noise all night. Small price to pay for a great location.
- Turtle Beach Campground
The last is one that was suggested to me while I was visiting the beach down on the Gulf Coast. It is a Sarasota County campground about the size of a parking lot right on the gulf beach. - Like almost all of these sites, it is again crushed shell so bring a good sleeping matt for a softer slumber. Spaces are in two lines down the lot.
- Unlike the Atlantic side of the state, sunsets are amazing with the water right there in front of you.
- The campground is right beside the public beach parking (and playground!) so noise and traffic could be an issue. There is, however, a bar right across the street, so I suppose it all evens out.
- Henderson Beach State Park
This one almost didn’t make the list, but one is able to stay so close to the beach that it should at least be a consideration if you’re looking for a site to fit you calendar- There are large number of sites on a couple loops (that will fill up quick) that are just a boardwalk away from the open gulf and beautiful views.
- You are right next door to beach hotels and the park is right across the street from a home depot (and hooters?) amongst other civilization. You will not feel very removed from the world, but you are also just a short street-crossing drive from Walmart and an ABC liquor.
Honorable Mentions:
- St Joseph Peninsula State Park
- This is a great spot with sites walking distance to the ocean, but Hurricane Michael damaged the area and it sounds like it will take some time before the camping area is accessible and back up and running.
- St Andrews State Park
- There are some really great sites right on St. Andrews Bay, but they are currently being renovated and will not take reservations after Sept 2, 2019. You can walk up, but there is no guarantee of a site as they are first-come first-serve.
