Camping Florida for 1st time

Here's a big loop:
Fort Clinch, Anastasia, Gamble Rogers, Ft Wilderness, Ft Desoto, Rainbow Springs, Manatee Springs, Top Sail, Caverns. Several in between, but this is a taste of different beaches, springs, and Disney.

Yes its hot, but this is when the fishing is good.

Newbie here and just picked up my new class C. I'd like to go to Florida for the month, and know I need to make early reservations. I'm a little overwhelmed at the number of campground and hope I can get some suggestions. I've only been to southern Florida and don't really know much about northern Florida in the winter. I won't have a toad so I'd like to find a place where I can walk or bike to nearby attractions,beaches stores, restaurants and so on.

I love camping in Florida in the summer. We have some of the finest swimming holes, both freshwater and saltwater, of any place on the globe.

TragedyTrousers wrote:
I have to wonder why anyone would plan a summer trip to Florida. Its miserable this time of year.

It comes under different strokes of different folks. Everyone has their own tolerance to the heat. I certainly am not going to judge their decision.

When I moved permanently to Naples Florida at the tender age of 20, the heat never bothered me or the wife at all.

Now, 41 years later, we want to escape the heat and do so. Can't stand it.

For those that ask I tell them that from October to April, South Florida is paradise, weather wise.

From May to October....well that is a different story. It easy to compare it to where the devil lives.

I have to vote for Grayton Beach, although it sort of bothers me to boast about such a beautiful park that is already over used and hard to get into, but it is really ideal for us. We a B campers and the private spaces allotted to each site, especially in the older loop is fantastic. We are B campers without a TV, so we virtually fit most anywhere and TV reception is something we worry about when at home not camping. The town of Grayton Beach is worth exploring, as is the Red Bar. As earlier stated Seaside, which is unique, Detin, Panama City, are all close by. Grayton Beach offers you the opportunity to do tourist type stuff and then come back to camp and relax in the quiet of a peaceful sourrounding.

wbwood wrote:
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa beach (near Destin) is our favorite.

Absolutely the best...........

@wbwood my wife I stayed in site 28 the week of July 9. It has water and electric didn't have any problem with the ac. Your right the full hookups are on gravel sites with very little shade. The old part of the campground has plenty of shade and has water and electric hook ups. The bath house is also air conditioned which is a big plus. If we stay at a place longer than 4 days we try to get full hookup site, if we can't I have a tote and don't mind using it. The trick to getting a site in Florida is to try and get one that the front of your trailer is not facing west for the setting sun.

Florida State Parks require one to use Reserveamerica.com for reservations.
They charge $17 to cancel or change a reservation even if it's many months in advance.

Many popular state parks are booked 11 months in advance so you might have plan around availability.

I have to wonder why anyone would plan a summer trip to Florida. Its miserable this time of year.

Pine Barren wrote:
Like others have said Fla state parks are very nice. Check out their website to find the one you like. Those around the beaches need to be reserved as early as you can. You can make reservations 11 months ahead of time. My wife and really love Grayton Beach state park. We also like Big Laggon state park in Pensacola. Big Laggon is just a couple miles from the navy base which has a very nice museum that is free to tour and is the home of the Blue Angels. Grayton beach is a nice campground with secluded sites as well as full hookups. The beach is beautiful and only about half a mile drive or walk. Grayton beach is approx 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Panama City beach and Destin.

Grayton Beach is a toss up for us. We prefer and love the location as we love Seaside. What we don't like is that in order to get the full hook ups, you have to be in the un shaded gravel pits. The no hook up sites amongst the trees are nice, but then again, you have no hook ups. Might be ok during the more winter months when it's not as hot or humid, but anytime around spring break and afterwards, it a toss up and you will want that A/C. That's where Topsail comes in for us. Full hookups, cable tv (yes we do watch tv), free wifi (near pool), pool (have child that prefers a pool to the ocean), shuffle board, store and more. Plus it's mostly shaded.