Camping in Florida

Camping rules worth knowing in Florida

Dispersed camping: 100 feet from water, and previously used ground

On the national forests in Florida the stay limit is generally 14 days a month. Dispersed camping is not allowed less than 100 feet from streams and other water sources, nor in the vicinity of developed recreation areas, and during general gun season camping is allowed only at designated campsites. The forests ask that you pick a site someone has used before, because plants, soil and wildlife pay for a new one, and that human and pet waste is buried at least six inches down and 100 feet from water. A party of more than 75 needs a special use permit from the nearest forest office. Source 25

Tate’s Hell is 212,645 acres with camping on the riverbanks

The forest lies in Franklin County between the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers, reaching into southeast Liberty County, south of the Apalachicola National Forest and a mile and a half northwest of Carrabelle. Primitive campsites are dispersed through it, most on riverbanks with paddle access. A day pass is two dollars and an annual pass 45, with the OHV trail system charging 15 a day or 80 a year. Day use runs sunrise to sunset. Source 38

Camping in Big Cypress: 14 days, 30 days, 120 days

Frontcountry camping is at designated sites only, with check-in after 1 p.m., check-out before noon, quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., six people per site, one RV and one tent or two tents, and two vehicles; off-road vehicles are not counted as vehicles for that limit. RV camping is allowed at Bear Island, Monument Lake, Burns Lake, Midway, Mitchell’s Landing and Pinecrest Group. ORV use inside frontcountry campgrounds is prohibited except at Bear Island and Burns Lake to reach the trailheads. No party may camp anywhere in the preserve for more than 120 days in a calendar year, more than 14 consecutive days in a designated campground, or, outside hunting seasons, more than 14 days in 30 in the backcountry. Source 6

Corps of Engineers water: three campgrounds and one 14-day clock

The Jacksonville District runs one campground each at the Ortona, St. Lucie and W.P. Franklin lock recreation areas on the Okeechobee Waterway. Ortona South has 51 sites with electric and water, St. Lucie South has 9 RV and tent sites plus 8 boat-in and 3 tent sites, and W.P. Franklin North has 30 RV and tent sites plus 8 boat-in. Camping is permitted in designated areas only, sites are $30 a night for the hookup sites, and camping is limited to 14 days within a 30-day period. Ortona South and St. Lucie South belong to the same water resource project, so the 14 days cover both: a camper cannot run 14 days at one and move straight to the other without 16 days elsewhere in between. Source 52

The full guide to overlanding Florida