No trip to north Florida is complete without a visit to Jacksonville. Home to beautiful sandy beaches, popular fishing sites, and abundant wildlife, Jacksonville has much to offer. Jacksonville is surrounded by state parks and national forests that retain the beauty of the Florida of old. Instead of only taking a day trip to Jacksonville, why not bring along your tent or RV and experience what camping in Jacksonville has to offer?
Whether you want to primitive camp or glamp in style, Jacksonville has it all. Decide between camping with sand between your toes or surrounded by an old oak forest. Pick between someplace where you can pitch a tent and cast a line or go birding for rare feathered friends. The hardest part of visiting Jacksonville is deciding where to go first! I have compiled a list of the best campgrounds around Jacksonville to make choosing one a breeze!
Hanna Park Campground
Hanna Park is open year-round and has one of the premier spots for surfing in Northeast Florida, The Poles. Located in a wooded area along the Atlantic Ocean, the campground has almost 300 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. The campsites have electric and water hooks, restrooms with showers and flush toilets, 24-hour security, and a camp store.
The nearby shoreline has one and a half miles of sandy beach perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming, and beach combing. Hanna Park also has a 60-acre freshwater lake that’s open to fishing, kayaking, and canoeing; although swimming is not allowed. Mountain bike rentals are also available within the park to explore more than 20 miles of trails. If you prefer two feet instead of two wheels, the park also has more than four miles of hiking trails that wind their way through the scenic live oaks draped in Spanish moss. The campground also has a kids splash park, zipline, shuffleboard, and snack bar! This is definitely one campground that you could not be bored with, even if you tried!
Huguenot Memorial Park Campground
Offering visitors a pick between 71 waterfront campsites, Huguenot Memorial Park Campground follows the shoreline of Fort George Inlet. Outdoor showers, restrooms, and picnic areas are located within a short walk of the camping area. The one-mile long sandy beach in front of the campground is a great way to entertain yourself with swimming, fishing, or surfing.
Driving onto the beach to access the campsites can require driving through extremely soft sand. If you do not have a 4-wheel drive vehicle the best option is to park in the designated parking areas. Just keep an eye on the tides and you will experience breathtaking views of some of North Florida`s few remaining natural areas!
Little Talbot Island Campgrounds
Little Talbot Island is one of only a few undeveloped barrier islands left in Northeast Florida. The park has more than five miles of white sand beaches and majestic old oaks. The natural beauty of Little Talbot leads to a one-of-a-kind camping in Jacksonville experience. The campground is located on the west side of the island and runs along Myrtle Creek. Each of its 40 campsites has water and electricity hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. In addition to being only a quarter-mile from the beach, most campsites are shaded by huge Live Oak trees and dense palmetto growth. Flush toilets and hot water showers are provided for guests in two bathhouses in the campground.
Visitors can access more than 3 miles of hiking trails or a paved path for rollerblading or bicycling. A canoe/kayak launch is available on the western edge of the campground to explore the park by the water. Keep an eye out for river otters, bobcats, gopher tortoises, wading birds, and marsh rabbits while exploring! Anglers will find the island a surf fishing paradise!
Amelia Island State Park Camping
Protecting more than 230 acres of wilderness along the southern tip of Amelia Island, this state park has no official campgrounds within its boundaries. Instead, the state park is one of the few places left where you can tent camp right on the beach, possibly even for free.
Permits are available for purchase from the nearby Flash Foods, but if you are camping during the off-season, check in with any sheriff patrolling the beach and they usually let you camp for free. Just park your vehicle in the free parking lot and follow a trail over the dunes to pick out your perfect spot. Make sure not to choose a site on one of Fernandina’s City Beaches. I suggest picking a camping spot near Peter’s Point to pitch your tent as it has toilets, showers, and a covered picnic area. As you will be camping outside any designated campground ensure that you bring all the correct gear for this adventure.
Check out our ultimate beach camping list here.
The park itself has 2 miles of continuously changing shoreline. With strong waves, winds, and tides, sand is removed and deposited in an endless cycle that ensures that the beach is never the same for each visit. While fishing may be excellent within the park, swimming is not recommended due to dangerous currents. Instead, travel up the road to Nassau County or Fernandina Beach to take a dip. The park is also home to critically endangered shorebird nesting areas and is designated as a “Critical Wildlife Area”. Amelia Island State Park is also the only state park in Florida that offers horseback riding on the beach!
Cary State Forest Camping
Cary State Forest has over 13,000 acres of land that include woodlands, basin marsh, and cypress domes. This vast area of land offers visitors many hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, and camping opportunities. The campground has six total sites, three of which are primitive campsites. Flushable toilets and shower facilities are located only a short walk from each campsite.
Although not located directly on the shoreline, Cary State Forest contains a wide variety of wildlife habitat. The woodlands surrounding the campground are dominated by slash pine flatwoods which can be viewed up close on a 1.25-mile Nature Trail. Be sure to keep your eyes open for white-tailed deer, bobcats, hogs, turkeys, and maybe even an alligator. Cary State Forest also has two popular horseback riding trails (Fireline Trail and Red Root Trail) which also cater to hiking and biking.
Dutton Island Preserve camping
Dutton Island Preserve is located in a salt marsh ecosystem in the San Pablo River estuary. The island preserves are actually made up of two seperate parks: Dutton Island I and Dutton Island II. Five primitive campsites (tent-only, no electricity) are located on Dutton Island I. A fishing pier is also located at its north end and a canoe/kayak launch is located at its south end. A covered picnic area and restrooms are also centrally located on Dutton Island I. Do not rely on the water fountain located near the restrooms as it may or may not be working when you decide to camp. Dutton Island II has several gorgeous marsh overlooks, two picnic areas, and its own kayak landing.
More than 3 miles of hiking trails through tall, skinny slash pines are available to hikers. This short hike will make it easy to see why this island was once called Pine Island. The many tidal creeks surrounding the island are a popular attraction, though be sure of tides as many of the creeks can go dry at low tide.
Fort Clinch State Park
Fort Clinch State Park is situated at Florida’s most northerly tip and is one of Florida’s oldest state parks. It is also home to one of the most well-preserved Civil War forts in the entire country. It was garrisoned during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars, although it did not see any action. Visitors to the park can explore many of the buildings, rooms, and galleries or watch a re-enactment on the grounds. You can find out more about it by viewing this video.
Fort Clinch State Park also has two separate and unique campgrounds, Amelia River campground and Atlantic Beach campground, with a total of 69 campsites. Both campgrounds have potable water, electric hookups, and dump stations. Laundry machines, and bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers are also available in the campground. This means you can either go camping in Jacksonville in luxury near the beach or under a moss-covered canopy of trees. Campers will not be bored with access to miles of hiking and biking trails within the 1400-acre park. Swimming, kayaking, fishing, and beach combing are also popular activities within the park.
Amelia River Campground
Located at the north end of the park, the Amelia River campground is situated in a canopy of old oak trees. All 42 of its campsites are back-in sites and have ample shade. Beautiful views of the Amelia River can be seen from many of the campsites. Two popular fishing locations are along the finger jetties of Cumberland Sound and on the nearby half-mile pier. Free-standing grills are located in the picnic area, which is surrounded by relic dunes and oak trees.
Atlantic Beach Campground
East of Amelia River Campground, across the northern tip of the park, lies the Atlantic Beach Campground. Just steps from the ocean, the campground has 21 RV-capable campsites which are surrounded by some of the largest dunes in the state. The campground also has six primitive, tent-only campsites that are easily accessible down a short trail. Swimming is also available south of the jetty, but swim at your own risk. The surf fishing on this side of the park is also very popular year-round.
Navy Getaways at Naval Station Mayport
If you are Active Duty, Retired or a DoD Active Employee you can do your camping in Jacksonville at the Mayport Naval Station. The base has two campgrounds which are Pelican Roost RV Park and Osprey Cove RV Park. Regardless of which RV park you choose, visitors will find access to fishing, boating, and manatee watching. The base also has a full-service marina with boat rentals. A nearby 27-hole golf course is a visitor favorite.
Visitors to these RV parks will typically pay less per night than competitors. This site fee includes all planned activities, laundry, camp WiFi, cable TV, ice, and access to the Roost Clubhouse. All visitors on base also have access to a bowling alley, archery/skeet ranges, tennis courts, and a fitness center.
Pelican Roost RV Park
The Pelican Roost RV Park is open year-round and has 47 sites that overlook the jetties at the mouth of St. Johns River. Of the two RV parks on base, Pelican Roost is the short-term option allowing stays of up to 14 days for waterfront sites and 30 days for back-in campsites. The RV park welcomes both tent camping and recreational vehicles in its park and can accommodate RVs up to a maximum length of 40 feet. Pelican Roost sites have electric and sewer hook-ups and access to restrooms and shower facilities. The added perk of being located on a military base is that the beach, which is only half a mile away, is secluded and semi-private. Just remember, all reservations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis and are without regard to rank or rate.
Osprey Cove RV Park
Tucked away behind the base housing, the Osprey Cove RV Park is set up amongst a grove of live oak trees. Unlike Pelican Roost, this RV park caters more to long-term visitors with a minimum stay of at least 30 days but no longer than 180 days. Open year-round, its 47 full-service sites have electric and sewer hook-ups and access to restrooms and shower facilities. Each of these sites is only available to RVs and can accommodate lengths up to 45 feet. Osprey Cove also has a small number of vacation rental cabins available to guests.
Conclusion
Jacksonville has something for every outdoor enthusiast. Whether you are attracted by some of the best fishing in the state, the wildlife, or the beautiful beaches, you won’t be disappointed. Instead of a quick trip, stay for a week! Just be sure to check out what camping in Jacksonville has to offer. There is a perfect campsite out there for everyone. Happy camping!