Last Updated on February 23, 2024
Discover the prime spots for Florida camping. You’ll quickly find out Florida is way more than just a resort vacation destination.
The Sunshine State has always been a beloved beach vacation destination, but many people forget there’s more to Florida than theme parks and resorts.
Camping has been a huge travel trend since the pandemic, with first-time campers at an all-time high, according to the North American Camping Report.
Florida’s sunny weather and natural beauty make it the perfect destination for a camping adventure.
Holidu, the search engine for vacation rentals, helped us identify places in Florida that are the best for camping during the Fall season.
They evaluated 200+ Florida towns with a population above 20,000 using the average monthly searches on Google for these towns.
They used the terms ‘camping in’ and ‘campgrounds’, and factored in the average amount of sun hours during fall in those cities.
Here are their results:
Camping in Florida
If you want to get away this fall, why not visit one of these top-rated Florida camping areas?
These camping hotspots were found using the Google search volume and the historical weather data for each town. The data has highlighted that:
- Coastal camping reigns supreme: all cities in the top 10 are located on the coast
- Florida’s west coast is the most popular with campers
- Tampa Bay Area is the best place for camping, with 4 cities in the top 10
Top Rated: Key West | Camping Score: 10
Key West takes the cake in this ranking with a whopping 8,900 monthly searches for camping. That’s not too surprising, given that the Florida Keys are one of the most beloved destinations in the country.
They are also an area with immense natural beauty and the perfect destination for a camping getaway.
From the mangrove forests to the Dry Tortugas Natural Park, Key West offers plenty of ways to immerse yourself in nature.
Thanks to the 11.5 sun hours daily, even in the fall, you won’t need to give up all your favorite water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Key West:
- Explore the mangrove forests by kayak
- Discover the coral reefs while snorkeling
- Visit the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Well-Deserved Second Place: Clearwater | Camping score: 9.67
Coming in second place, the next camping hotspot in Florida is Clearwater.
Clearwater is located on the same peninsula as St. Petersburg, with the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Old Tampa Bay to the east.
This camping destination is a prime camping spot for any nature lover.
Clearwater is home to several nature parks and reserves, such as the Moccasin Lake Nature Park or the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve, a great place to start your tour of Tampa Bay.
Whether you go out on the water or hike along the shore, bird watchers and fishers will also love Clearwater for the diverse wildlife you can observe.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Clearwater:
- Discover Tampa Bay by kayak or boat
- Get to know Florida’s marine life at the Sand Key Park
- See birds of prey up close at the Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Close third: Naples | Camping score: 9.52
Beautiful Naples to the south takes third place! This town has the most sun hours of every place in the ranking, coming in at almost a full 12 hours of sun per day during the fall.
Combine this with its proximity to several big natural parks like the Everglades, and it’s no wonder why Naples is the third most popular camping spot.
Discover the unique ecosystem of Florida during your camping trip: manatees, dolphins, and several indigenous bird species are waiting for you!
The parks around Naples also offer many trails for hiking, biking, and even for BMX-ing and off-road driving for all ages and skill levels.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Naples:
- Get up close and personal with manatees
- Visit the magical Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- Explore the mangrove forests of Collier-Seminole State Park
Surprising Fourth: Miami | Camping score: 9.44
It might seem surprising to see a big city such as Miami in fourth place in this ranking, but the truth is that Miami is one of the best places for camping in the Sunshine State.
You only have to drive a couple of miles to the south, and you’re in the middle of the Everglades!
Other notable parks are the East Coast Buffer Preserve, the Biscayne National Park, and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area.
Take advantage of Miami’s 11.5 sun hours daily (in the Fall) to explore its beautiful parks.
Whether you love hiking, biking, horse riding, or kayaking, the parks around Miami have awesome trails to explore.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Miami:
- Discover the Everglades by airboat
- Go hummingbird spotting at the Castellow Hammock Preserve
- Explore the reef at the Biscayne National Park
Tampa | Camping Score: 9.44
The third most populated city in Florida, Tampa, is fifth on our list of camping hotspots.
While Tampa, just like Miami, might not be a place you’d associate with camping, there are plenty of campgrounds and recreational areas on the city’s outskirts.
The parks in and around Tampa, like the Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve, or the Morris Bridge Road Preserve, have trails for all levels, not just hiking and biking.
They also offer off-roading, horse riding, and more! Tampa is also a prime spot for canoeing and kayaking, with plenty of waterways and rivers to explore.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Tampa:
- Conquer the class II rapids at the Hillsborough River State Park
- Visit Morris Bridge Road Preserve for off-road biking and birdwatching
- Explore Tampa Bay’s waterways by kayak
Fort Myers | Camping Score: 9.43
In sixth place is Fort Myers, the City of Palms! While the city is a favorite in summer because of its great beaches, fall brings warm but milder temperatures that are perfect for camping.
Many campgrounds are located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, where you can enjoy activities like fishing in a beautiful natural setting.
Trail lovers can get their fix at one of the many forests and nature preserves nearby, where they can hike, bike, and go off-roading.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Fort Myers:
- Visit the Manatee Park for a day of fun
- Discover the river’s ecosystem at the Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
- Enjoy the trails at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Dunedin | Camping Score: 9.42
Dunedin is the next on our list, coming in seventh place! This coastal town consists of two areas: the Florida peninsula’s main city and several islands comprising two state parks.
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island state parks are two must-visit places in Dunedin.
Take advantage of the warm weather and 11.6 sun hours in fall to enjoy a day full of fishing, hiking, biking, and boating in Dunedin and around the islands.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Dunedin:
- Explore the natural beauty of Caladesi Island
- Enjoy a bike ride along the Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island
- Discover native Florida plants in Hammock Park
Tarpon Springs | Camping Score: 9.42
Tarpon Springs is in eighth place. This town is the perfect camping destination for everyone who loves to get out or close to the water.
With the Gulf of Mexico on the west, Lake Tarpon on the east, and many waterways crisscrossing the city, there is no shortage of places to fish, sail, and kayak.
You can also explore the bayous on foot or by bike, thanks to the beautiful North Anclote River Nature Park trails.
Off the coast of Tarpon Springs, you will also find the Anclote Key Preserve State Park, a picturesque island with plenty of camping opportunities and awesome hiking trails.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Tarpon Springs:
- Enjoy freshwater fishing and boating on Lake Tarpon
- Explore the Tarpon Springs Bayous
- Learn about the Florida ecosystem at the Brooker Creek Preserve
Venice | Camping Score: 9.41
While Venice is most famous for Venice Beach, it is surrounded by several state parks and nature preserves that make campers absolutely love this city.
The campsites in the outskirts of Venice are the gateway to impressive parks and preserves like the Myakka River State Park and the Oscar Scherer State Park.
A short drive will take you to the biggest hot springs in the world at Warm Mineral Springs Park: enjoy 85ºF water all year round!
At only 25 minutes from Venice, this unique park is an experience you can’t miss. Relax your muscles in the therapeutic waters and recover from hiking and biking.
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Venice:
- Explore the canals of Venice by kayak
- Wander through forests and wetlands in the Myakka River State Park
- Take a dive in the warm waters of the sinkhole at Warm Mineral Springs Park
Cape Coral | Camping Score: 9.40
We close the ranking with Cape Coral, another one of those popular beach destinations with hidden gems for camping.
To the north of the town lie Yucca Pens Unit State Wildlife Management Area and the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, two amazing areas for hiking, fishing, off-roading, and much more.
Cape Coral also boasts access to maritime reserves like the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, a protected channel between the city and Pine Island.
Campers will be able to enjoy the very best of Florida’s wildlife, but make sure you pay attention to the sifnss
Top 3 things campers can’t miss when camping in Cape Coral:
- Spot dolphin and manatee in the Matlacha Pass
- Enjoy a relaxing day on the water in the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve
- Explore all the trails in the Charlotte Harbor Preserve
Methodology
Over 200 Florida towns and cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants were considered for this study.
The starting point of the ranking was the average number of monthly searches on Google for the terms “camping in [town]” and “campgrounds [town]”.
After gathering that data, the average amount of sun hours in the fall months (September-November) was calculated using historical weather data from World Weather Online.
These two data points were normalized (adjusted to a common scale) to determine which destinations were the best places for camping.
In case of a tie, the search volume of the respective destinations decided which town was ranked higher.
About Holidu
Holidu’s mission is to make the search and booking of vacation rentals easy finally. Its search engine for vacation rentals allows travelers to book the ideal accommodation for the lowest price.
The company also helps vacation rental owners multiply their bookings with less work through its software and service solution under the Bookiply brand.
Brothers Johannes and Michael Siebers founded Holidu in 2014. The high-growth startup is headquartered in Munich and has local offices in the most attractive travel destinations in Europe and the US.
For more information, see https://www.holidu.com and https://www.bookiply.com.
Looking for other places to stay in Florida? Check out:
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- Uncovering 12 of Florida’s Quirky Accommodations
- Silver Glen Springs + Nearby Places to Eat, Stay, & Shop
- Salt Springs + Nearby Places to Eat, Stay, & Shop
- Alexander Springs + Nearby Places to Eat, Stay, & Shop
- 13 Unique Airbnb’s Not To Be Missed in Florida
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