Southern FL tent camping

Everglades National Park has some great tent sites close to Florida Bay at the tip of south Florida and has a lot of activities like kayaking, boat tours, wildlife hikes, ranger talks etc. But no beach.

I have not heard of any free beach camping opportunities in the Keys, and to my knowledge it is actively discouraged along with boondocking.

He might get lucky with a last minute paid tent site though. Some great places, like Long Key State Park have tent camping ($40 a night.) Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge, private campground, has tent sites but not on the beach or low in cost, further south en route to Key West.

Sorry to say, but you probably already realize cheap camping is hard to find in South Florida, whether in an RV or a tent, but especially on a beach.

If he can forgo the beach, I would second the Everglades National Park.
The Southern end has Long Pine Campground with no hook ups and then in Flamingo he can camp right on the grass along a rocky beach plus they also have a campground.
At Flamingo he can rent kayaks and canoes, and there are good hiking trails.
If he goes there tell him to bring a Thermacell or plenty of DEET

It has been very hot here in the Everglades and the Keys. (83 yesterday)

Jack L

On our very first camping trip (with a borrowed tent) we made our way all along the Florida west coast from Pensacola down to the Everglades--moving almost every day (we didn't know better and were young). We enjoyed staying in the Everglades National Park. We had to eat in the tent because of the mosquitoes.

On the other hand, we found few places to pitch a tent for a few nights after that and had to check into some inexpensive motels until we got a ways up the Atlantic coast.

But that was over 50 years ago! So please attribute this mostly unhelpful post to a sentimental journey of an older man who is still traveling.

St. Andrews State Park in Panama City would be my choice. Large campground might have a spot available. If not, could probably show up and share site expense with another youthful camper.

Highlands Hammock SP near Sebring is usually not too bad at this time of year. I tent camped there in March, a few decades ago.