Updated for winter 2023/2024
Florida’s snowbird “season” starts in October and ends in April; finding free camping during these busy 6-7 months can be maddening!
In this guide, I summarize the options for free camping in Florida during snowbird season – which unfortunately coincides with the main hunting season! It is therefore extremely important for snowbirds to be aware of Florida’s hunting seasons and their impact on free camping choices. Camp safe!
Free Camping in Florida
Yes, Florida offers wonderful free camping opportunities for snowbirds.
No, free camping in Florida is not as simple as camping on BLM land out west. It takes a fair amount of planning and research to camp for free in Florida for several months in winter.
There are four entities offering free camping. I will discuss them in separate chapters below:
- Florida Counties and Cities – only a few unfortunately
- Florida Office of Water Policy – Five Water Management Districts
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – wildlife management areas
- National Forests in Florida – Apalachicola, Osceola, Ocala
Free Camping in Florida – Average Winter Temperature
Florida is a huge state and winter temperatures fluctuate greatly between the northern and southern parts of the state.
I strongly suggest you research the highs and lows in the areas you plan to visit. Do you want to camp in near-freezing conditions in the Florida Panhandle in January?
Knowing your tolerance for colder weather is an important first step in narrowing down your free camping options this winter. Unfortunately, there are fewer free campsites in the southern (warmer) part of Florida, and in areas near major attractions such as Disneyworld and the beaches. And NOTHING in the Florida Keys!
Free Camping versus Your Camping Style
Obviously, you have far fewer free camping choices when traveling in a 45′ Class A. But many free campsites have other restrictions that may surprise you. Tent-only sites are plenty and while some may tolerate vans and truck campers, many do not! Even small trailers and Class C campers are off-limits in several free camping areas!
Be mindful when booking tent sites if you plan to sleep in your vehicle. A good number of tent sites require one to park in one area and carry your camping gear to a site some distance away!
Access Roads to Free Camping Areas
Approach roads to most free campsites and dispersed camping areas are terrible! You need to watch for potholes, and overhanging branches and avoid getting stuck in wet swampland. The Florida wilderness has terrible cell service and you cannot depend on your phone for assistance in emergencies.
Finding dispersed campsites in Florida’s National Forests is more difficult than it seems due to the swampy terrain. Forest roads are built like levees to minimize flooding and there are very few dry places to pull over and camp.
In Florida National Forests, dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas or less than 100 feet from streams and other water sources (a challenge when water is everywhere!). You are expected to make your campsite less visible, so other visitors can experience a “wild” setting. Simply put – avoid camping in the middle of a clearing or meadow (very different from camping in the western USA!).
Your vehicle’s off-roading capability is an important consideration when looking for free campsites in Florida.
Dispersed Camping during Hunting Season
A general rule of thumb is to avoid dispersed camping in Florida during General Gun Hunting Season. Camp only at a designated campsite or campground.
This rule has a serious impact on snowbirds who prefer to disperse camp for free in National Forests. December and even January can be problematic for dispersed campers.
2023 season
- Apalachicola National Forest – General Gun Season is from December 9 to January 31.
- Osceola National Forest – General Gun Season is from November 11 to January 7.
- Ocala National Forest – General Gun Season is from November 11 to January 7 (Pipeline, Lake Delancy, and Hopkins Prairie units) and November 11 to December 3 (Church Lake Unit).
Free Camping Booking Windows and Stay Limits
Snowbirds face two additional challenges when competing for free campsites this winter! First-come, first-served campsites are available but the majority of the free campsites must be booked online.
- Stay Limits – with few exceptions you must vacate your campsite after 3 nights, 7 nights, or 14 nights depending on the area. And there are 30-day stay limits per year for some sites!
- Booking Windows – there is no standard date range! Some free sites can be booked as far as 11 months before arrival while others have a 14-day booking window before arrival! The better campsites get booked within minutes after the window opens! Timing is everything – know your booking windows!
These two factors require snowbirds to plan their Florida stay carefully! Those who procrastinate may get stranded with nowhere to go!
Free Camping in County or City Campgrounds
On the Map below you will find 4 sites marked in Yellow. These are the free County campgrounds I know about for the 2023/2024 winter season.
- Alafia River Nature Preserve in South West Florida (2 sites) – Booking Information
- Wilderness Landing Park in North West Florida – Booking Information
- Hatbill Park – in East Central Florida – is not recommended due to noise and unruly locals
Free Camping in Campgrounds of the Florida Office of Water Policy
There are five Water Management Districts each with its own website, camping rules, and booking procedures! This means you must learn to navigate 5 different websites and maintain different usernames and passwords if you plan to camp in each District!
That said, the 68 free campsites in these five districts are popular and in high demand every winter. They are shown in purple on the camping map below.
I published a separate article to cover camping in the Florida Water Management Districts. Read here: Florida Water Management District Camping for Snowbirds
Free Camping in Campgrounds of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEA) are part of the 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.
That said, the 36 free campsites in these wildlife areas are popular and in high demand every winter. They are shown in green on the camping map below.
I published a separate article to cover camping in the Florida Wildlife Management Areas. Read here: Florida WMA and WEA Camping for Snowbirds
Free Dispersed and Campground camping in the National Forests of Florida
As mentioned above, there are three National Forests in Florida offering a large variety of camping options.
Dispersed camping is available after the General Gun hunting season (mentioned above).
The 29 free campsites in these three National Forests are popular and in high demand every winter. They are shown in grey on the camping map below.
I published a separate article to cover camping in the National Forests of Florida. Read here: Florida National Forest Camping for Snowbirds
Snowbird Map of Free or Affordable Camping Locations in Florida
In my map below.
- The campgrounds or sites of each Entity are shown in different colors. Click on the Table of Contents icon (top-left) to see the Index.
- Camping rules and booking information are provided in most cases but this is a work in progress!
- If you find a missing campground please let me know!
- Only campgrounds accessible by vehicles are shown. Walk-in sites are not shown unless next to a parking area.
- RECOMMENDED – To open a FULL-SCREEN version of the map, simply click on the square in the top right.