Updated for 2024
If you are looking for FREE camping in Florida, a third option is Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEA).
In earlier articles, I wrote about National Forests (option 1) and Water Management Districts (option 2).
As always, free camping is available in all areas of the State; just don’t expect to camp for free in the Keys or near Disney World!
And, as usual, I must issue a warning; for the reasons described below, trouble-free camping on Wildlife Management Area land requires a good understanding of each area’s policies and regulations.
In this article, I cover Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEA). Please note that most sites are free but many must be pre-booked. Some free WMA’s charge a daily use fee ($6 per vehicle per day, etc).
Organization of Public Camping in Florida
As described in the first article of this series and the org chart above, the Wildlife Management Areas are part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
With some exceptions, camping is generally very primitive and seasonal. Camping seasons, rules, permits, and fees vary from site to site. Safety regulations during hunting season are of specific importance to campers.
At last check, I counted 21 vehicle-accessible sites available for camping. In 2020 as a result of COVID-19, booking options changed and online booking is the only method to reserve FREE sites for about half of the areas. The rest are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Challenge
There are fifteen WMA’s and WEA’s available for camping – each with its own set of rules and regulations! It takes time and effort to research each area if you plan to camp there!
But no worries – in the next section I describe each area and show you how to book.
Please know you will probably hear gunshots and observe hunting activities during your stay in a WMA. If hunting is not your thing, then do not camp in WMAs during hunting season!
When camping in hunting season, wear orange clothing while hiking and always be aware of your surroundings.
Camping Guide for each Wildlife Management Area
My summary table below will help you navigate the various rules and regulations before booking.
The headings are self-explanatory:
- Book – Free reservations required, no first-come, first-served sites
- Days – Maximum stay in nights
- Block – Closed during Hunting seasons
| Name | Equip | Toilets | Book | Nights | Block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apalachicola River WEA | All | no | yes | 7 plus | No |
| Babcock/Webb WMA | All | yes | yes | 2 (weekends only) | Yes |
| Dinner Island WMA | All | yes | yes | 14 | No |
| Hungryland WMA | Tents | No | yes | 14 | No |
| Fisheating Creek WMA | All | Yes | yes | 14 | No |
| Caravelle Ranch WMA | All | no | no | 14 | Yes |
| J.W. Corbett WMA | All | no | no | 3 plus | yes |
| Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA | All | no | no | 14 | yes |
| Rotenberger WMA | All | No | no | 3 plus | yes |
| Holey Land WMA | All | No | no | 3 plus | yes |
| Three Lakes WMA | All | No | no | 14 | yes |
| Triple N Ranch WMA | All | no | no | 14 | yes |
Here are a few general thoughts and observations:
- Do not expect much in terms of policing or rules enforcement! You are on your own and may have to leave if you are unhappy with something. Authorities generally do not care about loud parties, RVs setting up in tent-only sites, dumping trash, quiet hours, and even booking requirements should someone else illegally occupy your site when you arrive.
- Read your confirmation email very carefully. It has important information and camping rules which may surprise you. For example, generators are not allowed at some campgrounds.
- Be aware of road conditions and weather (rain and flooding especially). High-clearance vehicles are recommended. And please do not park a trailer or RV on tent-only sites.
- Most sites are free but bookings may be required. You cannot always drive up and grab a site without completing some paperwork online. Some areas charge a daily use fee.
- Maximum stay is generally 7 nights or 14 nights in a given month – every site is different. Permits may be obtained up to 14 days in advance (30 in some cases). No individual may hold more than one permit at a time.
- Some sites are walk-in (hike-in or paddle-in) and problematic if you sleep in your car or van. These sites require you to park some distance from your site and carry a tent to a fenced pad.
- Some sites are group sites with minimum requirements (for example 10 or more campers). Do not book these if you are alone!
- Sometimes you will have the whole area to yourself (single campsite) but most camping areas consist of several numbered sites. You pick a site when you book.
IMPORTANT TOOL – Locate all the campgrounds and sites on my interactive map shown at the end of this article!
Finding the WMAs and WEAs
Not every Wildlife Management Area allows camping. You will find camping areas (and pictures) on my interactive map below and you can get directions from my map, or you can use the official FWC map and website.
- Official entrance gates (with directions) are listed on an FWC map – FWC Entrances Map
- List of WMA and WEA sites that allow camping – Camping List
Information about each WMA and WEA
I am a visual person and prefer maps and photos or diagrams! Instead of typing a lot of information here about each area, I populated my map below with all the information you need!
Simply look for the green camp symbols or FWC campsites in the legend of my interactive map below. You will find photos and diagrams and a description of each campsite as well as hunting information. I also included links for reservations where needed.
Bookings or First-come, first-serve
Some Wildlife Management Areas must be pre-booked and others are first-come, first-serve. This Camping List will indicate which sites require pre-booking and will take you to the booking menu on the FWC website.
To book your FREE stay simply add your dates and personal information and you will receive a confirmation email shortly after.
The email has a confirmation code, campsite address, an FWC contact email, permit provisions, and directions (which don’t work most of the time – use my map below or the entrance map instead).
Reviews
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, FWC campsites (WMAs and WEAs) are shown in Green.
