Updated for 2024
In this article, I cover National Park Service camping in Florida. Please note – NPS camping is NOT FREE. It is NOT CHEAP either with rates up to $42 (electricity) per site but discounts are available!
National Parks campgrounds are very popular and for this reason, I decided to include them in this camping series.
(Feature Image – Flamingo Campground – Everglades National Park)
Organization of Public Camping in Florida
As described in the first article of this series and the org chart above, there are three National Parks in Florida with drive-up camping facilities.
Dispersed drive-up camping is NOT ALLOWED. You must camp in developed campgrounds as listed below:
Everglades National Park – Information and Booking
Here are the two best sources of information:
- Flamingo Adventures – the official booking site for the two drive-in locations Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park. Guest Services, Inc. is an authorized Concessioner of the National Park Service to provide retail, restaurant, lodging, campground, boat tours, boat rentals, kayak, and canoe rentals, and bike rentals.
- Everglades National Park – official website with detailed background information about the Park.
Big Cypress National Preserve – Information and Booking
Here are the two best sources of information:
- Recreation.gov – excellent website with detailed information about campgrounds in Big Cypress National Preserve including maps and photos. Official booking site for NPS campgrounds.
- Big Cypress National Preserve – official website with detailed background information about the Park.
Gulf Islands National Seashore – Information and Booking
Here are the two best sources of information:
- Recreation.gov – excellent website with detailed information about campgrounds in the Gulf Islands National Seashore including maps and photos. Official booking site for NPS campgrounds.
- Gulf Islands National Seashore – official website with detailed background information about the Park.
Recreation.gov
If you are unfamiliar with Recreation.gov, do spend some time exploring the site. It is the official portal for reservations, venue details, and descriptions of 12 Federal Participating Partners: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Federal Highway Administration, National Archives & Records Administration, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, Tennessee Valley Authority, Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers and US Forest Service.
Free or Cheap Camping Map of Florida
This map shows each of the campgrounds or areas, grouped by color. For example, State Park Campgrounds (fee required) are shown in Orange, and National Park Campgrounds (fee required) are shown in Red.
In Part 5, I write about National Forests in Florida and camping opportunities.
