Florida might be the easiest state in America to justify doing by RV: 1,350 miles of coastline, spring-fed rivers, subtropical forest, and campgrounds that range from $24-a-night state parks to Disney-run resorts. A new ranking from Islands has pulled together the 10 most popular RV campsites in the state, judged on user ratings from Campendium and The Dyrt (nothing below 4 stars made the cut), plus industry recognition and facilities. Even the "worst" entry is a solid pick.
The list leans heavily on Florida's state parks, which offer remarkable value. Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys, home to the first Florida beach ever named America's best by Dr. Beach (1992), ranks fourth, with genuine sandy beaches — a rarity in the Keys — and Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary 12 miles offshore for snorkeling among 150-plus fish species. Grayton Beach in the Panhandle, Dr. Beach's 2020 number one, comes fifth with full hookups at $30 a night and rare coastal dune lakes good for kayaking.
Silver Springs State Park near Ocala scores a perfect 5.0 on both rating platforms, thanks to its famous glass-bottom boats, manatees, and the odd sight of rhesus monkeys in the forest. St. George Island State Park — America's best beach of 2023 — offers 9 miles of undeveloped shoreline, sea turtle nesting in summer, and some of the darkest night skies in the Panhandle for just $24 a night. Henderson Beach in Destin and Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest round out the state park picks, the latter with a 7-mile canoe run through alligator territory.
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, at number six, is the wildcard: 799 paved full-hookup sites inside Walt Disney World, a mile from Magic Kingdom by free ferry, with campfire sing-alongs, horseback riding, and fireworks visible from the beach. Expect $125 to $350 a night — the priciest on the list by far.
Two practical notes for anyone booking: several of these parks don't take reservations over the phone for peak windows, and the Florida state park system opens sites up to 11 months ahead, so popular winter dates go fast. Also check rig length limits — Grayton Beach caps at 40 feet, Juniper Springs at 45 — and note that some sites only offer water and electric, with a shared dump station instead of sewer.
Who is this for? Road-trippers with their own rig or a rental, snowbirds heading south for winter, and families who want beach camping without resort prices. Even if you don't own an RV, several of these parks rent cabins, and the beaches alone justify the trip.
