State Camps on Florida’s East Coast

With all the attractions Florida has to offer, it sometimes becomes difficult to decide which one you want to do. If the beach is what you are looking for, I highly recommend camping at one of the state campgrounds listed below.

Gamble Rodgers Campground in Flagler Beach on A1A is a campground with only thirty-four lots. Twenty-four of these lots will accommodate caravans of any size, while the rest are more suitable for tents, pop-ups, and small caravans. Half of the lots go back to the Atlantic Ocean and most of them have a wonderful ocean view. On the north side of the camp there is a park with a public beach and a picnic area. The ranger station is located on the west side of A1A, where there is a picnic area, nature trails, and a boat ramp with access to the Intracoastal Waterway. There is nowhere to ride a bike except on the road. However, it is only three miles from Flagler Beach, which is a good but short bike ride. Gamble Rodgers is an excellent place for beach lovers; however, it can be difficult to get a reservation during beach time.

Sebastian Inlet State Park located in Melbourne on A1A is divided into two separate parts. South of the inlet is the campground that has over fifty lots that will accommodate most campers of any size. Fourteen of these sites have an excellent view of Sebastian Inlet. This campsite is excellent for both fishermen and beach lovers. The boat ramp allows easy access to the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing is allowed along the shores of the inlet, as well as in the small piers located along the inlet. A short walk east of the campground is the Atlantic Ocean with beautiful beaches for swimming, surfing and fishing. On the north side of the inlet there is a great place for younger children to swim in the inlet where there are no currents or surf and the water is shallow. On the ocean side, you’ll find a bait and tackle shop, a concession stand, a bathhouse, and a jetty for fishing.

Little Talbot Island State Park, north of Jacksonville, has one of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast of Florida. The camp is located on the west side of Heckscher Drive with thirty-six sites that are well shaded. Due to the large oak trees, this campground has a maximum of thirty feet for RV length. Across the road from the campground are five miles of undeveloped beaches, at low tide the sand is compact enough for bike rides along the shoreline. Also, there is a paved path along the island that is great for biking and skating. The nature trail winds through the forest and ends with a spectacular view of the ocean.

Fort Clinch State Park also located north of Jacksonville on Fernandina Beach has two campgrounds. The circle in the Atlantic Ocean has twenty sites and is not shaded, yet they are within walking distance of the beaches. The river circle has more than thirty lots, all under a canopy of oaks. The campground circles are a little over three miles apart and have a paved path connecting the two, which is great for biking or jogging. There are also several miles of beach that are ideal for biking at low tide.

We spend a week at Gamble Rodgers every year with our ocean view site. We enjoy walking on the beach as the sun rises over the ocean, what a spectacular sight. In the evening, with the sun sitting behind the trees, we enjoyed taking out our camping grill to cook and watching the rays of the afternoon sun flicker over the calm ocean waves.