Pack your gear and discover Florida's ultimate outdoor adventure
June marks the celebration of both National Great Outdoors Month and National Camping Month, and Florida is rolling out the welcome mat for travelers to discover its extraordinary natural wonders and diverse outdoor adventures. Beyond the famous sunshine and beautiful beaches, the Sunshine State
offers unique outdoor and nature experiences that truly make it shine.
Florida provides an unmatched variety of outdoor activities for every type of traveler. From exhilarating paddleboarding and bioluminescent kayaking or swimming with manatees, to biking, horseback riding on the beach, and ziplining, there's an adventure waiting. Florida offers abundant opportunities to get up close with nature while still relaxing and recharging, such as glamping in premiere nature retreats or leisurely walks on hundreds of recreational trails.
Florida's pleasant year-round climate makes it an ideal destination for RV travel, ranking as one of the top three states for RV travel in the U.S. according to RVshare. RVshare insights show renters have already spent nearly 280,000 nights under Florida skies, solidifying its popularity. The state's 175 state parks, stretching from Pensacola to Key West, offer year-round outdoor activities for all ages across 800,000 acres, including hiking, wilderness, and equestrian trails. Water lovers can enjoy 100 miles of white sand beaches and many more miles of paddling trails within State parks. Furthermore, Florida State Parks feature over 50 campgrounds statewide for tents, campers, and RVs, allowing for true immersion in breathtaking natural landscapes.
Here are the top Florida outdoor destinations and adventures to visit in honor of National Camping Day:
Fort De Soto Park - St. Pete-Clearwater
Nature lovers can also explore the region's lush parks and preserves. Spanning five islands and 1,136 acres on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, Fort De Soto Park offers canoe or kayak rentals, top fishing spots and even campsites along the mangrove-lined islands–complete with water, electricity, charcoal
grills and picnic tables for a picturesque night under the stars.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park - Kissimmee
Recognized by DarkSky International for its night sky visibility, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve offers stellar night views with or without a telescope. The park is part of the Everglades headwaters and protects the largest remaining tract of Florida Dry prairie, home to many rare, threatened and endangered species.
Highlands Hammock State Park - Sebring
Highlands Hammock possesses a unique and richly divergent collection of life, with more rare and endemic species than any other Florida State Park. Along any of the park’s nine trails or cypress swamp, visitors may encounter a Florida black bear or panther beneath towering oaks. As one of the original four Florida State Parks, Highlands Hammock exemplifies The Real Florida.
Oscar Schere State Park - Osprey
For visitors seeking to camp in style, Oscar Scherer State park is a hidden oasis that provides refreshing solitude and spacious glamping tents. The three-acre Lake Osprey, brackish streams through mangrove forests and over 15 miles of hiking trails make Oscar Scherer a picture-perfect paddling, hiking, and camping destination.
Fort Pickens - Pensacola
Explore Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, one of the top ten busiest campgrounds of all national parks and sites, between the Gulf and Pensacola Bay in Pensacola Beach. This unique 200-site campground is dog friendly, features a historical fortress from the Civil War, access to pristine white-sand beaches, and is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Campers can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, and first exploration, with each site offering a fire pit, picnic table, and paved parking pad.
Coral Sands Inn & RV Resort - Ormond Beach
The only place in the Daytona Beach area where you can camp with your RV overlooking the Atlantic Ocean! The park has 33 RV sites in a variety of lengths to accommodate any size with full book-up suites with all the amenities of the hotel - oceanfront heated pool, laundry, facility and Wifi.