The beaches of Florida offer a vacation paradise for recreational vehicle camping. From the emerald-green waters of the Panhandle to the quirky ambiance of the Keys, there are plenty of places for RV beach camping in Florida.
Read on for a look at some of the best places to enjoy RV beach camping in Florida. As you look, though, be aware that not all campsites will have beach frontage. If you want a beachfront site, make your reservations early.
Best RV Beach Camping in Florida — Panhandle
Florida’s Panhandle is famed for sugar-white beaches and the emerald color of the Gulf of Mexico. But there are lots more reasons to visit the Panhandle, including some of the best RV beach camping in Florida. Read on to learn about a few places you can park your RV on the Gulf of Mexico or along a nearby sound.
1. Pensacola Beach RV Resort
With 17 of its 72 sites on Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Beach RV Resort is a perfect way to enjoy RV beach camping in Florida.
Things to do
It’s also a great way to see the daring flights of the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. Based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Blue Angels practice extensively. As a result, visitors often get a chance to see the precision flight team for free.
Also nearby is Admiral Fetterman Field, where the Blue Wahoos, a minor-league affiliate of the Miami Marlins baseball team, play their games.
Campground amenities
Every Pensacola Beach RV Resort site has water, sewer, electric, cable TV, and wifi hookups. There’s a pier for fishing and watching sunsets, and the Gulf of Mexico is just steps away. And there’s a tiki bar, often a feature of RV beach camping in Florida.
2. Emerald Beach RV Park
Located east of Pensacola, Navarre Beach is home to the Emerald Beach RV Park, a perfect spot to enjoy RV beach camping in Florida. Situated on Santa Rosa Sound, the park has more than 60 campsites just a short walk from the beach. Six sites with decks are located on Santa Rosa Sound.
Things to do
Emerald Beach RV Park is close enough to Pensacola to enjoy a day trip to the historic city, one of the first settlements in America. There are also plenty of places nearby to enjoy the unspoiled Gulf Islands National Seashore as part of RV beach camping in Florida.
Park amenities
Emerald Beach RV Park has a fishing pier, or you can take a dip in the park pool. Each campsite has a full array of utility hookups, and basic wifi services are available at no extra charge.
3. Camping on the Gulf
Camping on the Gulf in Miramar Beach places visitors directly on the Gulf of Mexico. That’s an amazing part of experiencing RV beach camping in Florida.
Located between Destin and Seaside, Camping on the Gulf (also referred to as Camp Gulf), has 16 RV campsites on the Gulf of Mexico.
Beachfront sites can’t be reserved online, though – you’ll have to call the park at 1-850-502-5282 to get one. In all, Camping on the Gulf has 215 campsites, 20 cabins, and some glamping tents. All RV sites offer full utility hookups, a great feature for RV beach camping in Florida.
Things to do
If you head to the beach to get your fill of fresh seafood, Camping on the Gulf is perfectly located. It’s close to the many restaurants of Destin, and for high-end dining, it’s also close to upscale Highway 30A.
Also, you can shop at the Silver Sands Premium Outlet mall, located across U.S. Highway 98 from Camping on the Gulf. Silver Sands has dozens of clothing, accessory, and shoe stores.
Park amenities
You’ll find stores, snack shops, pools, a spa, and a water slide at Camping on the Gulf to enhance your RV beach camping in Florida.
Best RV Beach Camping in Florida — North
Like the Florida Panhandle, northern Florida, stretching from the Georgia state line to Orlando, is an easy RV drive from much of the United States.
Attractions in this part of the state include the historic city of St. Augustine. But there are many other reasons to visit, including the chance to find an RV camping spot on the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.
4. Coastline RV Resort
Located just outside the eastern edge of the Florida Panhandle near Eastpoint, Coastline RV Resort offers a dozen RV campsites directly across U.S. Highway 98 from St. George Sound.
Those dozen campsites are among the 92 resort sites that can accommodate RVs and fifth-wheel trailers up to 45 feet in length. Coastline RV Resort also has 14 long-term RV sites for those who want to extend their RV beach camping in Florida.
Things to do
Coastline RV Resort is the perfect base of operations for discovering “old Florida,” places that recall the state’s character before it became a massively popular tourist destination. It is located just 7 miles from Apalachicola, a picturesque old town where streets are lined with boutiques, museums, and restaurants.
Carabellle is another nearby town also infused with the spirit of “old Florida.” And you’ll also be close to St. George Island and its pristine, uncrowded beaches.
Resort amenities
Coastline RV Resort is actually two resorts in one for RV beach camping in Florida. There’s the upscale and quiet East Park with 30 RV sites and the family-friendly West Park with 62 sites.
East Park includes a clubhouse, a fishing pier, and a chairlift-equipped pool. West Park includes a barbecue restaurant, pool, pickleball court, and picnic pavilion.
5. Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, offers 68 RV-compatible campsites.
Seventeen sites are on the Atlantic Ocean, with an additional ten on the Intracoastal Waterway. All 27 sites can accommodate RVs up to 47 feet long.
Given the limited number of RV sites, reserving a place is a good idea. You can do just that up to 11 months before your planned trip.
Things to do
Named for the late Florida folk singer and storyteller Gamble Rogers and for early railroad entrepreneur Henry Flagler, the park offers great bird-watching and fishing opportunities. The Intracoastal Waterway is perfect for canoeing and kayaking, with rentals available at the park.
In addition, the half-mile of beach frontage at the park is a great place for finding beautiful and interesting seashells. And you can always take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean to cool off during your adventure in RV beach camping in Florida.
Park amenities
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is a great place for RVers with handicaps to fully experience nature. There’s a beach wheelchair available for easy access to the beach, along with accessible boardwalks, picnic tables and picnic pavilions.
6. Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort
Also in Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort features more than 60 campsites on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the perfect spot for making a visit to the nearby Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area.
Things to do
If you’d like a day trip from Beverly Beach Camptown Resort, the historic city of St. Augustine is just 30 miles to the north. Thirty miles to the south is Daytona Beach, which hosts a variety of fun festivals throughout the year. Daytona Beach is also great for golfing and other leisure activities as part of RV beach camping in Florida.
Resort amenities
All of the campsites at Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort have full utility hook-ups, including water, sewer, electric, cable TV and wifi. A clubhouse, store, and laundromat round out the resort’s on-site amenities.
Best RV Beach Camping in Florida — Central
While the central part of Florida is known for Orlando’s Walt Disney World and other theme parks, there are plenty more reasons to visit. And if you’re traveling by RV, there are plenty of places for you to stay.
7. Fort DeSoto Park
Covering five islands align Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico just south of St. Petersburg, Fort DeSoto Park is a popular Pinellas County facility. Covering more than 1,000 acres, the park offers a number of RV campsites along either the Gulf of Mexico or Tampa Bay.
As with all of Florida’s beachfront parks, whether state- or county-operated or privately run, waterfront campsites are at a premium. For your best shot at a beachfront campsite at Fort DeSoto Park, make a reservation. You can reserve a spot at the park up to six months before your planned trip to experience RV beach camping in Florida.
Things to do
In addition to the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, Fort DeSoto Park offers a chance to learn about Florida history at its namesake fort. Construction of the fort began in the late 1800s, during the Spanish-American War era.
The fort never saw action and was sold back to Pinellas County in 1948 after serving as a test bombing range during World War II.
Today, the fort and its surroundings are a haven for bicycling, walking, and running. The park’s North Beach is particularly renowned as a family-friendly location.
Park amenities
Among the amenities at Fort DeSoto Park are the Dog Beach and Paw Playground, where your dog can play off-leash by the water. There’s a fishing pier near the dog beach, and the park has its own bait and tackle shop.
8. Coral Sands Resort
In Ormond Beach, located on the Atlantic Ocean in the northernmost reaches of central Florida, you’ll find the Coral Sands Resort. Accommodations at the inn include 33 RV camping sites, all located on the Atlantic Ocean.
The RV sites, with the full range of utility hook-ups, are sized for a variety of RVs. To ensure you can get a site compatible with your vehicle, it’s best to make a reservation.
Things to do
One of the more interesting things to do while at the Coral Sands Resort is to visit The Casements, a mansion in nearby Ormond Beach. Famous as the winter residence of the late oil baron John D. Rockefeller, The Casements is now a city-owned cultural center and park.
Park amenities
As part of the Coral Sands Resort, guests in the RV park have amenities, including a pool, laundry facilities, and a full range of guest services
Best RV Beach Camping in Florida — South
The natural beauty of southern Florida makes it a favorite among RV campers. And, just like the rest of the state, there are opportunities to park your RV alongside the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.
9. Bahia Honda State Park
For an up-close experience of the Florida Keys, RV campers should stay at Bahia Honda State Park. Within two campgrounds, the park offers spaces for a variety of RVs to camp alongside the Gulf of Mexico.
The Buttonwood Campground has 13 waterfront sites that can handle a full range of RVs. Sandspur Campground sites are limited to RVs of 23 feet or less. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.
Things to do
Bahia Honda State Park boasts three beaches, two along the Gulf of Mexico and one on Florida Bay. Calusa Beach on Florida Bay hosts two picnic pavilions, and the shallow water off of Loggerhead Beach on the Atlantic Ocean makes it attractive for wading.
Otherwise, visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and sandcastle-building on the three beaches.
It’s also easy to enjoy shallow-water snorkeling at Bahia Honda State Park. And with no interference from urban lights, Bahia Honda State Park is a perfect place for stargazing.
Park amenities
In addition to picnic pavilions, amenities at Bahia Honda include a concession area and a number of restrooms and bathhouses. A beach wheelchair is available for people with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis.
10. Curry Hammock State Park
Located between Key Largo and Big Pine Key, Curry Hammock State Park is another place for RV campers to experience the Florida Keys. It is an environmental treasure, providing habitat for migrating birds and hosting the mangroves and seagrass that are key to Florida’s natural wonders.
As an added bonus, about half of the park’s 28 campsites are on the water, making those RV campers’ experience of the Florida Keys even more special.
Things to do
Obviously, the main attraction of a venue like Curry Hammock State Park is the opportunity to experience nature. Activities at the park include hiking through its hardwood forest, as well as kayaking and paddleboarding.
Also, subject to state regulation on fishing, the park offers opportunities to catch species, including snapper, snook, and even sharks. Snorkeling, swimming, and stargazing also are popular at Curry Hammock State Park.
Park amenities
A centerpiece of Curry Hammock State Park is its 1,200-foot beach, where beachcombing to see what the tides bring in is a popular pastime. On the practical side, the park’s amenities include a dump station for emptying RV waste tanks and a handicapped-accessible bathhouse with hot showers.
Wrapping up the Best RV Beach Camping in Florida
Now that you’ve learned about RV beach camping in Florida, you’re ready to start planning a trip!
Beyond The Tent has more information on camping in Florida, from beaches to state parks to glamping options.
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Jim Thompson grew up tent camping with his family, and was introduced to backpacking with the Boy Scouts. He attended a military college, where he was introduced to rappelling, an outdoor activity which he has not pursued.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, and spent 35 years as a newspaper writer and editor before become a writer for Apple Pie Media.
Jim can be reached at jimt3rd@yahoo.com