When planning a family beach camping trip in Florida, there is more to compare than which beach looks the most beautiful. Whether the tent site can accommodate a family’s camping gear, whether restrooms and hot showers are available, how easy it is to get from the campground to the beach, and what activities are available besides swimming can all affect the experience of staying for two or three nights.
For families bringing air mattresses, extra clothes, food, and beach gear, a well-equipped, established campground with convenient beach access is often a better choice than simply trying to camp as close to the water as possible. If ocean conditions are not suitable for swimming that day, or the kids do not want to spend all their time at the beach, nearby activities such as biking, kayaking, nature trails, or historic sites can also make a multi-day trip easier to plan.
The following six campgrounds all meet the basic needs of family tent camping while offering different coastal settings and activity options. You can choose based on where you are traveling from, how many nights you plan to stay, and the types of activities your family prefers.
1. Fort Clinch State Park
Location: Fernandina Beach | Base Camping Fee: $26 per night
Located at the northern end of Amelia Island, Fort Clinch State Park offers more than just the beach for a family camping trip. The park is home to Historic Fort Clinch, where visitors can step inside the fort and learn about 19th-century military history. Along the beach, families can walk the shoreline, collect shells, and search for fossilized shark teeth in areas known for them. For families staying several nights, beach time, history, and nature activities can be mixed throughout the trip without repeating the same kind of activity every day.
The park has two campgrounds with different settings. Atlantic Beach Campground is near the white sand dunes and the Atlantic Ocean, with 21 RV sites and six tent-only sites. Amelia River Campground has 42 campsites surrounded by oak trees and river views. Each campsite in both campgrounds includes potable water, a picnic table, a fire ring, and 30/50-amp electrical hookups. Both campground areas also have restrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station. Outdoor showers are available near the beach access at Atlantic Beach, where campers can rinse off sand and saltwater after returning from the beach.
Pets are allowed in both campgrounds and in some natural and hiking areas, but they are not allowed on the beach, boardwalk, or inside the Historic Fort Clinch buildings.
2. Anastasia State Park
Location: St. Augustine | Base Camping Fee: $28 per night
For families that do not want to spend their entire vacation at the beach, Anastasia State Park works well as a camping base for a trip to St. Augustine. The park has four miles of Atlantic coastline, with 139 tent and RV campsites tucked among maritime hammock vegetation. Families can walk or bike from the campground to the beach. Each campsite includes water, electricity, a picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring, while four bathhouses provide hot showers and laundry facilities.
Activities here are not limited to heading to the beach in the morning and returning to the tent in the evening. The park offers bicycle, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, along with three playgrounds. Outside the park, families can continue exploring St. Augustine. For a two- or three-night stay, beach time, water activities, and city sightseeing can be planned on separate days without having to change accommodations.
Pets are allowed in designated campground areas but are not permitted on the beach. Families traveling with a dog need to plan campground activities and family beach time separately.
3. Sebastian Inlet State Park
Location: Melbourne Beach | Base Camping Fee: $28 per night
What makes Sebastian Inlet State Park different is the two distinct waterfront experiences created by the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. On the Atlantic side, families can enjoy the ocean, collect shells, and fish, while the Indian River Lagoon side is suitable for activities such as kayaking. Beyond the waterfront, the park also has two museums covering local fishing history and the 1715 Spanish fleet, giving families staying several nights more activities beyond the beach.
The campground is near Sebastian Inlet and has 51 campsites. Each site includes water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring with a grill. Restrooms and shower facilities are also available in the campground area. The beach is not far from the campground, so families can spend most of the day by the water and return to a fully equipped camping area in the evening for cooking, showering, and organizing their gear.
Ocean conditions on the Atlantic side require extra attention. There are no lifeguards on the beach, so check the warning flags and posted conditions before entering the water. Pets are allowed in designated campground areas but are not permitted on the beach, so families traveling with a dog need to arrange pet care in advance during beach time.
4. Fort De Soto Park
Location: Tierra Verde | Base Camping Fee: From $40.50 per night
The strength of Fort De Soto Park is not any single attraction, but how well the park works for keeping several days of family camping in one place. Its 236 family campsites include water, electricity, a picnic table, and a grill. The campground also has modern restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a play area, and a camp store. Sites 1–85 are mainly designed for tents, vans, pop-up campers, and trailers under 16 feet long, giving tent campers a clearly designated area as well.
Once outside the tent, families have access to nearly three miles of white-sand beaches and seven miles of paved multi-use trails. North Beach, East Beach, the campground, and other areas are connected by the trail system. Families can bike to the beach one day, then visit the historic fort or spend time at a different beach the next day without having to drive out of the park each time.
For families camping with a dog, Fort De Soto is noticeably different from the state parks above. Area 2 of the campground, covering sites 86–164, allows pets, and the park also has a designated dog park and dog beach. This means dogs can not only stay at the campground but also join the family at designated beach areas, making the trip more convenient for families who want to include their pets.
5. Bahia Honda State Park
Location: Big Pine Key | Base Camping Fee: $36 per night
At Bahia Honda State Park, camping itself becomes part of the Florida Keys experience. Families can plan beach time, kayaking, and snorkeling, but the different campgrounds can have a major effect on the stay.
Buttonwood sites 1–48 can accommodate everything from small tents to large RVs and include water, electricity, a picnic table, and a grill. Sites 12–25 are waterfront sites. Sandspur sites 49–72 also allow tents, but the roads and campsites are better suited to smaller camping setups. Bayside has only eight non-electric sites with more basic facilities, and campers need to travel half a mile to Buttonwood for hot showers.
For families, choosing Bahia Honda is not only about deciding whether to stay there, but also about choosing the type of Keys camping experience they want. For a multi-night stay with more luggage and electronic devices, access to water, electricity, and a bathhouse is more practical. Families who prefer a simpler camping setup can also consider the more basic campground areas.
Pets are allowed in designated campgrounds and some outdoor areas, but they are not permitted on the beach, in the water, or inside bathhouses. Families planning to swim, snorkel, or take part in other water activities need to make arrangements for their pets in advance.
6. Curry Hammock State Park
Location: Marathon | Base Camping Fee: $36 per night
Curry Hammock State Park is also in the Florida Keys, but it does not have the feel of a large campground. There are only 28 campsites, and all of them allow tent camping, with several offering separate tent pads. Some campsites have ocean views, and beach access is located between sites 13 and 15, so the distance from the tent to the water is part of the camping experience here. Campsites include water, electricity, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill, and the campground also has hot showers.
This is a good place to keep the day a little simpler. Kayaking and SUP can start near the campground or day-use area, and families who want a break from the water can access the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail for biking. The biggest difference between Curry Hammock and Bahia Honda is not which beach is more worth visiting, but that Curry Hammock brings the tent, beach, and paddling activities together within a more compact area.
Pets are allowed in designated campground areas but are not permitted on the beach or in the water. Since kayaking, SUP, and beach activities are all close to the campground, families traveling with a dog need to make separate arrangements for their pet during these water activities.
What Should You Know Before Booking a Florida Beach Campground?
Once you find a beach campground you like, do not book based only on whether it allows tent camping. For family camping, it is more important to check the size of the specific campsite, the ground conditions, and the parking setup. After setting up the tent, air mattresses, cooler, tables, chairs, and other gear, whether there is still enough room to move around often matters more than the total number of sites in the campground.
Beach distance should also be judged by the actual route, not just the name of the park. Some campgrounds are within walking distance of the beach, while others are better reached by bike or car. When making several trips a day with towels, drinking water, shade gear, and kids’ beach equipment, this difference directly affects convenience.
If you are bringing a pet, check the rules for both the campground and the beach separately. If pets are not allowed on the beach, plan for family members to take turns caring for them or use a compliant pet care service outside the campground. Pets should not be left alone in a tent, at a campsite, or in a vehicle.
Finally, confirm the total booking price and check the latest park alerts. In addition to the base camping fee at Florida State Parks, taxes and a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee are added when you book. Fort De Soto follows Pinellas County’s own rates and taxes. Coastal parks may temporarily close some campsites or public areas because of storm damage, facility maintenance, or other temporary conditions, so check the latest official updates before your trip.
Still deciding where to go? Use the ZONKOO Tent Camping Near Me page to find tent campgrounds near you.
Find the Right Campground for Your Next Florida Trip
These six campgrounds offer different types of family beach camping experiences. Fort Clinch State Park combines the beach with a historic fort and nature trails, making it better suited to families who want more opportunities to explore. Anastasia State Park works well for families who already have St. Augustine on their itinerary and want to combine beach time with city sightseeing. Sebastian Inlet State Park focuses more on fishing, kayaking, and Atlantic Coast activities, making it a better fit for families who prefer water-based experiences.
For families who care more about campground facilities and the convenience of staying several nights, and who want to include a pet throughout the camping trip, Fort De Soto Park offers more complete amenities. In the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park allows families to choose among campgrounds with different levels of facilities, while Curry Hammock State Park is smaller, with the beach, kayaking, and SUP activities all close to the campground, making it better suited to families who prefer a more compact camping environment.
