All Itineraries
7-Day Ultimate State Park Road Trip
Hit Florida's 7 best state park campgrounds in one epic week
7 Days
Statewide
Best: November – March
Moderate1
Topsail Hill Preserve — Hidden Panhandle Gem
Camp at: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
- Start your trip in the Destin/30A area
- Camp in the bungalow-style sites with full hookups
- Take the tram to the beach — 3 miles of untouched coast
- Spot rare coastal dune lakes along the nature trail
- Sunset over the Gulf from the private beach
💡 Tip: Topsail has RV bungalow sites and tent sites. The tram runs on a schedule — check times. The beach feels private despite being near Destin.
2
Anastasia State Park — St. Augustine
Camp at: Anastasia State Park
- Drive to St. Augustine (5 hrs but worth it)
- Set up camp in the maritime hammock forest
- Walk or bike to the beach — 1,600 acres of coastline
- Explore America's oldest city — the historic district is amazing
- Night tour of the Castillo de San Marcos (seasonal)
💡 Tip: Anastasia is the perfect combo of nature + culture. Bike into downtown St. Augustine to avoid parking hassles.
3
Ichetucknee Springs — The Float
- Drive inland to Ichetucknee Springs (2 hrs)
- Float the legendary 3-mile spring run
- Water is a constant 72°F — perfect any time of year
- Spot turtles, fish, and maybe a manatee
- Quiet evening at your wooded campsite
💡 Tip: Summer weekends hit capacity early — arrive before 9am. The full float takes 3 hours. No food or drink on the water.
4
Highlands Hammock — Ancient Oaks
Camp at: Highlands Hammock State Park
- Drive south to Sebring (3 hrs through rural Florida)
- One of Florida's original 4 state parks (est. 1931)
- Walk the Ancient Hammock Trail — 1,000-year-old oaks
- Bike the 3-mile loop road through the park
- Watch for Florida panthers at dusk (rare but possible)
💡 Tip: Highlands Hammock feels like stepping back in time. The CCC-built structures are gorgeous. Sites are spacious and shaded.
5
Jonathan Dickinson — River Paddling
Camp at: Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Drive to Stuart on the Treasure Coast (2.5 hrs)
- Rent a canoe and paddle the wild Loxahatchee River
- Visit Trapper Nelson's historic camp (boat access only)
- Hike the Kitching Creek trail through pine flatwoods
- Watch for gopher tortoises and scrub-jays
💡 Tip: The Loxahatchee is Florida's first National Wild & Scenic River. The canoe trip to Trapper Nelson's takes about 2 hours each way.
6
Bahia Honda — Keys Beach Paradise
- Drive south through the Keys to Bahia Honda (3 hrs)
- Camp on what many call Florida's most beautiful beach
- Snorkel the offshore reef right from the beach
- Walk the historic Bahia Honda Rail Bridge for views
- One of the best stargazing spots in South Florida
💡 Tip: If you booked 11 months ago — congrats! If not, check for cancellations daily. The waterfront Bayside sites are the most sought-after.
7
Everglades — Into the Wild
Camp at: Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park
- Drive to Everglades National Park (2.5 hrs from Keys)
- Walk the Anhinga Trail — gators and birds guaranteed
- Drive the 38-mile road to Flamingo
- Kayak at Nine Mile Pond or Eco Pond
- Farewell campfire under the darkest skies in South FL
💡 Tip: Long Pine Key is first-come, first-served and rarely fills in winter. Flamingo has more amenities. Both are buggy in summer — winter only!
