Miami isn’t all sunshine and butterflies, sometimes you’ve got to get away. Folks to dent to think of Florida as the camping capital, but we’ve got a lot going for us. You don’t have to travel far from Miami to find some of the most unique camping experiences in the country. If you’re looking for something new, then look no further than these top 20 places to camp new Miami!
Miami is beautiful, but it can wear you down.
Biscayne National Park is a place unlike any other in the entire country. The first thing that should draw you in is how much of it is underwater. If you’re looking for a camping experience that will challenge and excite you, then coming to Biscayne National Park is a no-brainer. You’ll find sunken ruins, guided tours, cutting edge audio-visual ecosystem presentations, and sanctuaries for aquatic endangered wildlife. If you love the water and you love camping, then Biscayne will have something for you.
The best way to get around here is on a boat, so don’t forget your sea legs. You’ll be puttering around the sea and taking in some of the most breathtaking aquatic sights above and below the waves.
W.P. Franklin Campground is a gorgeous little facility right next to the Caloosahatchee River. If you find yourself making your way out here, you’ll find lots of fishing and boating. It’s a great place to get yourself some low-impact fun on the water. The campgrounds aren’t very far from Fort Myers, you’re looking at a brief 10-mile trek to the west.
This campsite is a relaxing countryside experience, but you’re not going to be out here without any amenities. Your recreation sites will come with standard electric hookups and moorings for your boats. Getting out on the water is easy as well with the boat ramps they have on-site. Boat slips are sprinkled around to make getting on and off of the water a breeze once your boat is situated. Make sure you hit up Telegraph Creek for some exciting backcountry canoeing and wildlife.
Camping in Florida’s Everglades National Park is a must for camping enthusiasts. This national park is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved wildlife landscapes. The Everglades National Park is home to a broad swath of rare and endangered species. If you’ve never seen a manatee or a Florida panther, the Everglades will present you with a safe and exciting opportunity that anybody with an affinity for the outdoors should be sure to take up.
The Everglades are incredibly accessible to anybody in South Florida, the three distinct entrances make approaching from any direction a simple affair. If you’re looking for wildlife, beautiful landscapes, or an easy trip, the Everglades are the spot for you.
If you’re the type to lie down under the stars after a long day out on the golf course, you’ll find the perfect weekend getaway in Greynolds Park.
The 9-hole 36-par course has been around since it’s inception in 1964. It was designed by Mark Mahannah, and it’s meant to take full advantage of the relatively limited amount of space it’s been allotted. It may be half the size of a championship regulation course, but if you’re looking for a course that will challenge you from beginning to end, then you’ll find one here. The course is managed by the Miami-Dade County Parks Recreation and Open Spaces department, so it’s affordable and accessible for anybody of any means.
After a long afternoon improving your stroke, you’ll want to settle in at their campground or take a late evening stroll on the winding walking paths that grant you a scenic view of the Oleta River.
Curry Hammock State Park is one of the last bastions of seclusion out here in the Keys. It’s 1000 acres of pure untouched land. If you’re sick of the ever-encroaching development around here and you just want to get away for a second, then Curry Hammock is exactly the campground you’ve been looking for.
This is the single largest untouched area of land out here, and it’s been set aside to allow folks to get back in touch with nature without the looming threat of having it bought out from under you and urbanized in the blink of an eye. Come for the protected mangrove swamp, and stay for the peace of mind you’ll get from knowing this slice of heaven has never and will never be disturbed.
This is the largest state park in Southeast Florida. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is the convergence point for about sixteen different natural communities. The tapestry of nature comes together here to create a robust and diverse area for campers. It’ll take you several dozen visits before you’ve even come close to exhausting this park of its deep pockets of surprise and wonder.
Biking out here in Jonathan Dickinson is one of the biggest reasons to make it out here. If you’re an avid pedal pumper, you’ll find the trails here are perfect for you and your two wheels. If you’re not a bike owner, but you want to see what it’s all about, the park provides single-speed cruisers to get your foot in the door with a reasonable rental.
Long Key State Park was once a place reserved only for the wealthiest campers, but now that it’s been opened to the public, anybody can take in the sights for themselves. This park is constantly showing off why it was once an area the rich and powerful kept for themselves. It’s beautiful and full of life, and camping here is a joy.
Bring your snorkels and your tackles so you can enjoy the plentiful flats fishing after a leisurely hike, or pack light with a pair of binoculars and take in the birds that abound here in Long Key. There’s life everywhere you look, and the water is refreshing. The primitive camping here is excellent, just bring along your essentials, and you can enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches on the walk-up beachside primitive camping spots.
Don’t forget to bring along a bike to save on bike rental fees.
If you’re looking to bring your RV along then Seminole Campground is the spot for you. This RV resort has been around for nearly fifty years, and it’s fully stocked. The full hookups for electricity and drinking water make this an easy trip, just pull up, hook up, and kick back.
This park is nestled away in the oaks, cypresses, and pines of Florida. For an RV park, it lends an excellent sense of privacy and seclusion. Popash Creek also cuts through this park, so you’ll have full access to the scenic views of more traditional camping.
Bahia Honda State Park is the kind of place that will stop you in your tracks. This park offers a clear view of the water, and the weather here is always perfect.
Once you’ve picked your jaw up off of the ground, and set up in the tent sites you can find a world of activities. You can rent kayaks and snorkeling gear on-site, and if you’re feeling brave you can take a boat trip out to the reefs for snorkeling excursions. When you’re worn out from all of the watersports you can wind down with some bird watching. Bahia is home to wading birds and shorebirds that will entertain you for hours.
Savannas Park is a great place to sit and watch the waters. The park covers 550 acres and encompasses five distinct biomes. When you’re out on the Savannas Park campgrounds you’ll be surrounded by the pine flatwoods, wet prairie, marsh, lake, and scrub habitats. The wide degree of variation here granted the Savannas received “Reserve” status by the Florida Legislature in 1978. This campground is easily the most unique wilderness area in Florida.
If you’re looking for a massive lake, but you’re not trying to make the trek up towards Canada, the Torry Island Campground is right on Lake Okeechobee, and it’s a sight to behold.
The campground and marina make for a weekend you’ll never forget. You’ll be a stone’s throw away from the bass fishing capital of the world. If you’re a bird watcher, you’re in luck. This massive freshwater lake is home to everything from bald eagles to roseate spoonbills. Bring the boats and the family, and get lost in the majesty of the water.
This KOA campground is just as well-stocked as any KOA worth its salt. You’ll find an oasis of comfort and joy. Any kind of camper will find a spot just for them. The pull-through RV spots are stocked with electrical hookups for 30 or 50 amp vehicles, and if you’re more partial to tent camping, they’ve got spots for you too.
This KOA is stuffed to the gills with amenities, you’ll have access to hot tubs, laundry facilities, dump stations, and playgrounds for the kids. If you’re stuck with a group with a variety of needs, and you’re having trouble deciding, then this KOA site will sort you all out.
Easterlin Park is one of the county’s earliest regional parks. It’s centrally located making it incredibly easy to find, and you don’t want to miss it. The 46.6-acre park includes ancient cypress trees that are all around 250 years old and 100 feet tall. If you’ve got your counting hat on, you’ll notice that means these trees have been around for most of the history of the United States. That amazing fact is enough to draw in campers on its own.
This park is an amazing place for sports, if you like to get your blood pumping while you’re outdoors, then you’ll be happy to learn they have accommodations for everything from basketball and disc golf to horseshoes and volleyball.
Taking up lighthouse spotting is a great way to add value to your trips.
Key Largo Kampground & Marina is situated on 40 acres of tropical wildlife right next to the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Stream provides warm waters that are perfect for coral reef snorkeling, scuba diving, and ocean fishing. Key Largo is the dive capital of Florida (if not the world), and Key Largo Kampground & Marina is the crown jewel on top of the glittering prestige that is Florida diving.
Their marina is spacious with around 15 or so slips docking your boats, and their campsites are great for RVs and tent campers alike. RV owners will find many of their sites include full hookup including 30/50/20 amp electric hookups and waterfront RV sites with the same
Their claim to fame is a good one: John Pennekamp is the country’s first undersea park. You owe it to yourself to get a look at the wonders they’ve been cultivating for visitors over aloof this time.
This undersea park encompasses 70 nautical square miles, and every single inch of it is teeming with something new. If you’re making it here for the first time, make sure to take a glass-bottom boat to get a clear view of the life under the sea, and the beautiful coral reefs.
Come in the RV or bring along the tent. The campsites come with electrical and water hookups, and if you’re looking to wash the day away there are showers on-site as well.
Lighthouse fans should make a note not to miss Bill Baggs Cape. This lighthouse will give you a view like no other. The wraparound balcony makes the winding 109 step staircase well worth the climb. The view you’ll have of the Atlantic is not to be missed. After you’ve taken in the sights, the beach down below is even more impressive up close.
Down on the ground, you’ll find a long trail that’s great for a relaxing stroll or a breezy bike ride. If you’re coming by sea, you’ll find plenty of space to drop anchor and join the fun. You can indulge in some excellent boat camping here, and a weekend on this beach is the perfect way to recharge.
Elliott Key is great for folks that aren’t quite ready to extend their sea legs and seafarers alike. If you’re looking to keep your boots on the ground, there’s a mile-long hiking loop that starts near the campgrounds, as well as “Spite Highway,” a six-mile strip that runs right down the middle of the island. You can even get your fishing done from the dock without having to dip a single toe in the water.
If you’re coming on the water there are plenty of slips for ships to sit once you’re ready to tuck yourself in for the night. Picnic tables and grills are scattered around the park, even in the marina so you never have to take yourself far from your ships.
The mangroves of the Oleta River are tranquil and tangled. The Oleta River State Park is massive. This urban park is the largest in the entire state of Florida. The river is flat and calm, if you make your way out here, make sure you bring a kayak. If you don’t have one of your own, Oleta provides rentals, this is the perfect place to try a standing paddleboat as well.
If you grow tired of the river life, Oleta is also home to ten miles of mountain biking trails of varying difficulties as well as hiking, fishing, and swimming.
This is another one for you lighthouse lovers out there. The lighthouse here at Boca Chita Key is a simple one, it’s sturdy and unassuming at first glance, but when you take the time to appreciate it for what it is you’ll quickly see that it’s an iconic piece of history that does its job well. This lighthouse is situated on one of the most visited islands in this park and it’s safe to say that maybe its simple yet individualistic design is responsible for some of that traffic.
The Larry and Penny Thompson Campground is right next to Zoo Miami. If you’re looking to see the wildest range of animals and settle down for a nice relaxing night under the stars, you could do a lot worse than a few days away at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park. Camping here is spacious and serviceable. This park is home to about 240 camping areas for RVs and tent campers alike. The sites have electricity and wifi if you’re antsy about taking yourself totally off the grid for a spell.
Biscayne National Park is too unique to come anywhere lower than a first place for us. The camping here is always comfortable, and you’ll be within shouting distance of some of the most thrilling undersea park experiences in the world. The hidden gems you’ll find scattered all around you just below the surface and the guided tours are fascinating. If you’re looking for the best place to have a new experience, it’s here in Biscayne National Park.
Bonus tip: This vlog is a great way to ratchet up the excitement for a boat camping trip!
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