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We spent most of the winter exploring Florida. Between January and March, we stayed at 24 different campgrounds. We wanted to spend more time exploring public campgrounds, so 15 of those campgrounds were national, state, or county parks.
Our travels were not exactly organized this year. We had to plan around our annual fishing trip to the Florida Keys and a few commitments in Hilton Head. Instead of following one smooth route, we zigzagged back and forth across the state. Sometimes those unplanned detours end up creating the best memories.
Along the way, we watched six rocket launches, swam with manatees, went offshore fishing in the Keys, explored the Everglades, visited Dean, checked out the all-new Unity TBX at the Tampa RV Show, and discovered some hidden gems across the state. Florida has so much more to offer than beaches and theme parks.
Florida has an incredible collection of State Parks. There are 52 parks that offer RV camping. Some are primitive, and others have full hookups. The wildlife viewing opportunities are amazing. More than 550 species of birds either live in or migrate through Florida. The Everglades alone has over 360 documented bird species.
During our travels, we saw bears, armadillos, manatees, dolphins, sharks, turtles, alligators, tortoises, and plenty more wildlife. The fishing was just as impressive. We caught sailfish, mutton snapper, cobia, mahi, wahoo, grouper, yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper, snook, and peacock bass. Florida really has a little bit of everything. There are also more than 30 county campgrounds and 21 national forest campgrounds with RV sites spread throughout the state.
Here are a few of my favorite Public Campgrounds from this winter.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Hanna Park in Jacksonville is one of my favorite parks in Florida. Over the past two and a half years, I have stayed there more than ten times. It has a laid-back atmosphere, and there is plenty to do without ever leaving the park.
The park itself is massive. It is operated by the city of Jacksonville and includes much more than just the campground. There are over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 60-acre lake, playgrounds, splash parks, picnic areas, and 1.5 miles of beautiful sandy beach. The campground is tucked away behind a gate, so it feels separate from the busy day-use areas.
The RV sites are spacious and surrounded by live oaks and palmetto trees. Most sites have full hookups. The booking system is one of the best I have used. After entering your dates, you can view a color-coded map that shows site details, privacy levels, grading information, and even photos of each campsite.
There is direct access to the trails, and it is an easy walk to the beach. The campground also offers laundry facilities, bathhouses, a camp store, propane refills, and kayak and bike rentals. The lake has several family-friendly fishing spots, and the camp store even sells bait.
Most importantly, it is Kona-approved. There are plenty of places for her to walk, and she loves swimming at the beach. The lake is off limits because of the alligators. Hanna Park remains my go-to campground whenever I am in the Jacksonville area.
Manatee Hammock Campground
Another favorite is Manatee Hammock Campground in Titusville. The campground is operated by Brevard County, and it is hands down one of the best places in Florida to watch rocket launches. The campground sits directly across the water from Kennedy Space Center, so the views are incredible.
The campsites are a little tight, but the waterfront location makes up for it. The campground has full hookups, a swimming pool, bathhouses, a fishing pier, a huge waterfront dog park, and plenty of benches along the shoreline. Kona loved the open space and the long walks around the water.
The campground definitely lives up to its name. I have seen manatees from the fishing pier almost every time I have stayed there. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is only about a 15-minute drive away and is well worth visiting.
One of my favorite launch experiences happened at 1:45 in the morning. I set my alarm, walked a few hundred feet to the waterfront, and watched the flames explode out of the rocket during liftoff. Night launches are something special because you can really see the glow and power of the engines.
There are grocery stores nearby, along with plenty of restaurants on Route 1. If seeing a rocket launch is on your bucket list, Manatee Hammock is hard to beat.
Camel Lake Recreation Area
If you are looking for peace and quiet, Camel Lake in the Apalachicola National Forest is the perfect place. This campground might be one of the best-kept secrets in Florida.
The campground is located near Bristol and accessible via a five-mile dirt road. The road can be a little bumpy, but it is manageable for RVs. Once you arrive, you feel completely removed from the outside world.
The campground sits on a small, undeveloped lake in the middle of the forest. There are only ten campsites, and the entire area feels remote and quiet. Some sites are primitive while others have electric and water hookups. There is also a small bathhouse, a swimming area, hiking trails, and a boat launch for kayaks and paddle boards.
The fishing was excellent, and Kona was welcome on the trails. Several campsites have lake views, and the lack of light pollution makes it a great place for stargazing. We spent three peaceful days there, and it is already on the list for next winter.
Silver Springs State Park
If you want to kayak with manatees, Silver Springs State Park is the place to go. The park is huge, and the campground is on the opposite side from the springs area. The drive between the two sections takes about ten minutes.
The campground has 59 spacious sites spread across two loops. Some sites offer water and electric while others include full hookups. There are also hiking trails, equestrian trails, bike paths, playgrounds, museums, and educational exhibits throughout the park.
The springs area is where the real adventure begins. Visitors can rent clear kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. There are also glass-bottom boat tours and guided excursions available.
I rented a clear kayak and explored the Fort King Waterway on my own. The loop is around 2.5 miles long and winds through narrow creeks before opening into the Silver River. The water was crystal clear, and wildlife seemed to be everywhere. I saw birds, turtles, alligators, and several manatees swimming directly beneath the kayak. Watching them glide through the clear water was one of the coolest experiences of the winter.
The wind picked up on the return trip, so paddling back took a little effort. I stopped in a few quiet coves along the way and ended up spotting even more manatees before returning to the launch area. The entire loop took a little over two hours.
Silver Springs also offers longer one-way trips farther down the river with shuttle transportation back to the park. With more than 30 springs feeding into the Silver River, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. The clear kayak trip through the Fort King Waterway ended up being one of the highlights of our entire winter in Florida.
Florida gave us an incredible winter full of new adventures, great campgrounds, amazing wildlife, and many miles on the road. We explored springs, forests, beaches, fishing towns, and small hidden parks that reminded us why we love this lifestyle so much. Some of our favorite memories came from the simple moments like sitting by the water at camp, watching a rocket light up the night sky, or seeing manatees swim right under the kayak.
After wrapping up our time in Florida, we headed north to Vermont to visit family. From there, we are planning to explore more of New York before turning west toward the Midwest. We are excited to check a few more National Parks off our list, including Indiana Dunes National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and Isle Royale National Park. We are especially looking forward to exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the first time.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://leisurevans.com/blog/exploring-florida-this-winter/