--- title: "13 of the Best Florida State Parks for RV Camping (and What It Costs to Stay)" url: "https://camperfaqs.com/best-florida-state-parks-for-rv-camping" author: "Tory Jon" published: "2026-11-05T14:47:19-06:00" modified: "2026-11-05T14:47:22-06:00" --- # 13 of the Best Florida State Parks for RV Camping (and What It Costs to Stay) You can camp on the water in the Florida Keys for $43 a night. At Blue Spring, $31 gets you a wooded campsite within walking distance of a spring where manatees gather on cold winter mornings. And near Gainesville, you can spend $25 to camp by a lake in a preserve where wild bison still roam. We picked these 13 Florida state parks for what you can do once you park the RV. In a few of them, the campground you choose matters as much as the park itself. At Fort Clinch, for instance, one loop puts you behind the Atlantic dunes and the other puts you under the oaks along the river. ## Florida RV campsites at a glance These nightly RV rates **include the $7 utility fee**. Add tax and one $6.70 fee per reservation. Rates were checked November 5, 2026. | State park | What to go for | RV rate per night | | --- | --- | --- | | [Bahia Honda](#bahia-honda) | Waterfront camping in the Keys | $43 | | [Blue Spring](#blue-spring) | Winter manatee viewing | $31 | | [Kissimmee Prairie Preserve](#kissimmee-prairie-preserve) | Dark skies and stargazing | $23 | | [Fort Clinch](#fort-clinch) | Atlantic beach or shaded river sites | $33 | | [Grayton Beach](#grayton-beach) | Gulf beaches and a coastal dune lake | $37 | | [Rainbow Springs](#rainbow-springs) | Paddling and swimming from camp | $37 | | [John Pennekamp Coral Reef](#john-pennekamp-coral-reef) | Snorkel and glass-bottom boat trips | $43 | | [Myakka River](#myakka-river) | Alligators and birdwatching | $33 | | [Silver Springs](#silver-springs) | Glass-bottom boats and longer RVs | $31 | | [Paynes Prairie Preserve](#paynes-prairie-preserve) | Wild bison and shaded campsites | $25 | | [St. Joseph Peninsula](#t-h-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula) | Gulf beaches and St. Joseph Bay | $31 | | [Florida Caverns](#florida-caverns) | Underground cave tours | $27 | | [Alafia River](#alafia-river) | Mountain biking | $29 | A three-night reservation at Bahia Honda works out to **$135.70 before tax**. Two of the rates above, Rainbow Springs and St. Joseph Peninsula, are based on individual RV site listings. Use the dates and campsite you want when checking the final price. ## 1. Bahia Honda State Park **Location:** Big Pine Key \| **RV rate:** $43 per night ![Aerial view of the old railroad bridge, sandy beach, and turquoise water at Bahia Honda State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/01-bahia-honda.jpg) The old Bahia Honda railroad bridge leads toward the beaches at the southwest end of the park. Photo by [U.S. Department of Transportation / National Archives](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Florida_Keys_Scenic_Highway_-_Bahia_Honda_State_Park_-_NARA_-_7718464.jpg) (public domain). Start with the Buttonwood campground if you want to watch boats from your campsite. **Sites 12 through 25 are on the water.** Numbers 12 and 13 overlook the campers’ marina, while site 14 faces the channel. Buttonwood has gravel pads, water and electric hookups, and a dump station. Trailer length matters here. Sandspur has a 23-foot limit, measured from hitch to bumper, because of the sharp turns in the loop. If you tow a 30-footer, check Buttonwood and the site dimensions before you reserve. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bahia-honda-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bahia-honda-state-park/hours-fees) ## 2. Blue Spring State Park **Location:** Orange City \| **RV rate:** $31 per night ![Manatees beneath clear water along a moss-draped bank at Blue Spring State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/02-blue-spring.jpg) Manatees gather in the spring run at Blue Spring during colder weather. Photo by [Bkamprath](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manatees_at_Blue_Spring_State_Park.jpg) (public domain). Blue Spring is the one I’d pick for a winter trip with someone who’s never seen a manatee. The campground is close enough to walk to the boardwalk, where you can follow the spring run and watch the animals come up for air. Cold weather brings them into the 72-degree water. The spring run closes to swimming and paddling during manatee season, roughly mid-November through March. Back at camp, all 51 sites have water and electric hookups, and the park takes RVs up to 40 feet. A dump station is available in the park. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park/hours-fees) ## 3. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park **Location:** Okeechobee \| **RV rate:** $23 per night ![A pale gravel road stretches across flat prairie beneath a cloud-filled Florida sky.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/03-kissimmee-prairie-preserve.jpg) Peavine Road crosses the open grassland at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve. Photo by [Daniel Di Palma](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kissimmee_Prairie_Preserve_State_Park_Florida_-_Peavine_Road.jpg) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)). At $23 a night, the least expensive campground on this list has one of the best reasons to stay up late. Kissimmee Prairie became Florida’s first designated Dark Sky Park in 2016. On a clear, moonless night, you can see the Milky Way without a telescope. Book a regular family campsite if you just want to pull out a chair and look up. Those sites have water and electricity, and the park lists a maximum RV length of 65 feet. Dedicated astronomy pads have [stricter rules](https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/dark-sky-designation). You have to arrive before sunset, use red lights after dark, and leave the campfire for another trip. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/kissimmee-prairie-preserve-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/kissimmee-prairie-preserve-state-park/hours-fees) ## 4. Fort Clinch State Park **Location:** Fernandina Beach \| **RV rate:** $33 per night ![Historic cannons stand on the grass and brick ramparts of Fort Clinch.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/04-fort-clinch.jpg) Cannons overlook the grounds at Fort Clinch on Amelia Island. Photo by [Jud McCranie (Bubba73)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Clinch,_Florida,_U.S._-_Cannons.jpg) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)). At Fort Clinch, I’d choose the campground before I chose the site. **Atlantic Beach** has sunny sites tucked behind the dunes, just steps from the ocean. **Amelia River** sits under big oaks draped in Spanish moss. Both have water and electric hookups, showers, laundry, and a dump station. Either campground puts you inside the park for a visit to the Civil War fort. Leave time to walk the beach, too. The shore along Cumberland Sound is a good place to [look for fossilized shark teeth](https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/shark-tooth-hunting). [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-clinch-state-park/experiences-amenities-0) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-clinch-state-park/hours-fees) ## 5. Grayton Beach State Park **Location:** Santa Rosa Beach \| **RV rate:** $37 per night ![White sand borders the blue water of Western Lake at Grayton Beach State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/05-grayton-beach.jpg) Western Lake lies behind the Gulf dunes at Grayton Beach State Park. Photo by [The Bushranger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Lake_at_Grayton_Beach_State_Park.jpg) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)). Bring the kayak and beach chairs. Grayton’s campground sits beside [Western Lake](https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/paddle-western-lake), a 100-acre coastal dune lake. You can paddle the lake in the morning and spend the afternoon on the Gulf beach. If a site description mentions a water view, the water beside the campground is the lake. All 59 campsites have water, electricity, and sewer. Grayton lists a 40-foot RV limit. When the park reaches capacity on a busy beach day, [registered campers can still get in](https://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach). [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/grayton-beach-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/grayton-beach-state-park/hours-fees) ## 6. Rainbow Springs State Park **Location:** Dunnellon \| **RV rate:** $37 per night ![Clear blue-green water surrounded by trees at Rainbow Springs State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/06-rainbow-springs.jpg) Clear spring water at Rainbow Springs near Dunnellon. [Rainbow spgs florida](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_spgs_florida.JPG) by Sphanyx ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)). Rainbow Springs is the one to book if you want to use your kayak every day. Registered campers have their own access to the Rainbow River for paddling, fishing and swimming. You can rent a canoe or kayak at the campground store, and the RV sites have full hookups. Put the [campground entrance](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/rainbow-springs-state-park/entrances-park) into your GPS when you’re towing. The headsprings, gardens, and main swimming area are a few miles away at the day-use entrance. Florida State Parks lists a 103-foot maximum for the campground, but go by the length shown for the site you pick. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/rainbow-springs-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [RV site rate](https://campflare.com/campground/rainbow-springs-state-park-campground-floridastateparks-149/campsite/d447de56-917f-4485-b369-6f610f1f8ddf) ## 7. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park **Location:** Key Largo \| **RV rate:** $43 per night ![Underwater view of sea fans and coral off Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/07-john-pennekamp-coral-reef.jpg) A view of the reef off Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in 2007. [Pennekamp Coral](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pennekamp_Coral.jpg) by Todd Murray ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)). Bahia Honda is the Keys' pick for a waterfront campsite. At John Pennekamp, the draw is farther offshore. Snorkel boats leave from the park docks, and a glass-bottom boat gives anyone who’d rather stay dry a way to see the reef. Tours cost extra and depend on the weather. All 42 campsites have water, sewer, and electricity, including 30- and 50-amp service. Most fit RVs up to 40 feet, and a few take slightly longer campers. Bringing your own boat? Check the [marina construction update](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park) first. One of the two ramps is closed, and trailer parking is limited. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park/hours-fees) ## 8. Myakka River State Park **Location:** Sarasota \| **RV rate:** $33 per night ![Several alligators are visible near the grassy bank of the Myakka River.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/08-myakka-river.jpg) Alligators in the Myakka River, photographed from the Park Road bridge. Photo by [Mx. Granger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alligators_in_Myakka_River_State_Park.jpg) ([CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)). Watch the riverbanks from the bridge on Park Road. Alligators often bask along the Myakka, and the park’s [Birdwalk](https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/birdwalk-myakka) is another good stop if you brought binoculars. For a site near Upper Myakka Lake, book Big Flats. If you want a sewer connection, choose Palmetto Ridge. One detail changes what you need to bring. As of November 2026, the park’s [drinking-water notice](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/myakka-river-state-park) tells campers to bring their own drinking water. Free bottled water is available at the ranger station during the day. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/myakka-river-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/myakka-river-state-park/hours-fees) ## 9. Silver Springs State Park **Location:** Ocala \| **RV rate:** $31 per night ![The white, covered Chief Yoholo glass-bottom boat beside the wooded shore at Silver Springs.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/09-silver-springs.jpg) The Chief Yoholo is one of the glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs. Photo by [Michael Rivera](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silver_Springs_State_Park,_Chief_Yoholo_glass_bottom_boat.jpg) ([CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)). Silver Springs is a good fit if you travel with a longer fifth-wheel or motorhome. Its two campground loops can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet. Every site has water and electricity, but only some have sewer. Look for an asterisk on the [campground map](https://www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Campground%20Map%20%26%20Rules%20full%20color%20updated%20June%202024.pdf) if you want all three. For a walk on the camping side of the park, the one-mile River Loop starts near the Silver River Museum. The glass-bottom boats depart from the [main entrance](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/silver-springs-state-park/entrances) on Silver Springs Boulevard. Use that entrance if you’ve booked a boat ride. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/silver-springs-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/silver-springs-state-park/hours-fees) ## 10. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park **Location:** Micanopy \| **RV rate:** $25 per night ![A tree-shaded road leads into Puc Puggy Campground at Paynes Prairie Preserve.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/10-paynes-prairie-preserve.jpg) Trees shade the entrance to Puc Puggy Campground at Paynes Prairie. Photo by [Michael Rivera](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paynes_Prairie_State_Preserve_Puc_Puggy_Campground.jpg) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)). Wild bison and horses roam this prairie south of Gainesville. A good place to look for them is the 50-foot observation tower near the visitor center. Bring binoculars. From up there, you’re looking across open grassland, and the herd may be a long way off. You’ll camp in the shade near Lake Wauburg. The RV sites are back-ins, with a park maximum of 58 feet. Most have 30-amp service, and only a few have 50 amps, so check the amperage and pad length before booking. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/paynes-prairie-preserve-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/paynes-prairie-preserve-state-park/hours-fees) ## 11. T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park **Location:** Port St. Joe \| **RV rate:** $31 per night ![White coastal dunes and a sandy Gulf shoreline at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/11-t-h-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula.jpg) The Gulf beach at St. Joseph Peninsula, looking south in 2010. [St Joseph Peninsula FL SP beach south01](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Joseph_Peninsula_FL_SP_beach_south01.jpg) by Ebyabe ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)). This narrow peninsula gives you two shorelines to choose from. Walk the Gulf side for white sand, shells, and sunset views, or take a fishing rod over to [Eagle Harbor on the bay side](https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/beaches-st-joseph). Shady Pines is the campground to book. Its 36 standard sites have water, electricity, and sewer, and another 10 sites are set aside for tents. Don’t count on the name Shady Pines when choosing your site. Hurricane Michael took down much of the campground’s [tree canopy](https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/St.%20Joseph%20Peninsula_Post-Hurricane%20Redevelopment_Summary%20Report_February%202022.pdf), and [recent campers report limited shade](https://thedyrt.com/camping/florida/st-joseph-peninsula-state-park). It’s worth checking the site photos if you like to sit outside in the afternoon. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/th-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [RV site rate](https://campflare.com/campground/t-h-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula-state-park-campground-floridastateparks-177/campsite/a3179330-0e47-46c9-b6e8-9d335ab5299c) ## 12. Florida Caverns State Park **Location:** Marianna \| **RV rate:** $27 per night ![Light illuminates hanging limestone formations and a broad column inside Florida Caverns.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/12-florida-caverns.jpg) Limestone formations inside Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna. Photo by [Tim Ross](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FLCaverns-Jan2007.jpg) (public domain). Some of the most interesting scenery in the Panhandle is underground. At Florida Caverns, you can spend the night at Blue Hole and take a guided walk past limestone columns and formations hanging from the cave ceiling. The 32 RV and tent sites at Blue Hole have full hookups, but **the campground has a 32-foot RV limit**. You’ll need a separate ticket for the [cave tour](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/florida-caverns-state-park/cavern-tour-schedule). A limited number can be reserved online, and the gift shop sells same-day tickets starting at 9 a.m. Central. Check the tour calendar before you book the campsite, since the cave closes for scheduled maintenance on certain dates. [Campground details](https://floridacaverns.com/experiences/camping/) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/florida-caverns-state-park/hours-fees) ## 13. Alafia River State Park **Location:** Lithia \| **RV rate:** $29 per night ![A narrow sandy trail winds between palmettos and trees at Alafia River State Park.](https://camperfaqs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/13-alafia-river.jpg) A sandy path through palmettos at Alafia River State Park. [Alafia River SP path02](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alafia_River_SP_path02.JPG) by Ebyabe ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)). Alafia makes a good case for hauling mountain bikes to Florida. Phosphate mining left ridges and steep drops in what would otherwise be fairly flat country. The [bike trail map](https://www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Double%20Sided%20Park%20Map.pdf) marks everything from easy trails to expert runs like Moonscape, so family members can pick different routes. Use the **County Road 39 entrance** when towing. Some mapping apps send drivers to Jameson Road, but County Road 39 takes you to the ranger station and family campground. The 30 sites have water and electricity, and equestrian campers can reserve one of 12 sites with horse tie-outs. [Campground details](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/alafia-river-state-park/experiences-amenities) · [Park fees](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/alafia-river-state-park/hours-fees) ## When can you reserve a Florida state park campsite? Florida residents can book 11 months before their arrival date. For out-of-state campers, the window opens at 10 months. New dates become available at **8 a.m. Eastern**. If the waterfront site you want is taken, check again between release dates. Canceled reservations go back into the system when they’re canceled. Florida residents age 65 or older qualify for a 50% discount on the base campsite fee. At Bahia Honda, that brings the $36 base rate down to $18. Add the $7 utility fee, and the discounted rate is **$25 per night**, plus tax and the one-time reservation fee. [Check campsite availability at Florida State Parks](https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/).