One of the most amazing ways to explore the uniqueness and beauty of this vast chain of islands is to go tent camping in the Florida Keys. Daytime exploration of the beaches, mangrove swamps, hammocks, and canals is followed by an evening of camping. Spend the night in campgrounds next to gorgeous turquoise seas while you cook meals and enjoy the glittering stars.
All year long, campgrounds at state parks in the Florida Keys are completely booked. There are no breaks for the seasons. Getting a site on short notice is not impossible. You’ll need to be very flexible with your dates.
We have put up a list of our top five sites for tent camping in the Florida Keys to help you choose the appropriate one for you if you have finally decided on your trip to the islands but are still having trouble selecting the campsite.
Bahia Honda State Park
The most picturesque stretch of sand and the greatest site for tent camping in the Florida Keys is at Bahia Honda State Park, a little island of 500 acres off the Overseas Highway near Mile Marker 37. The island’s beaches are well-known for their silky expanses of smooth, white sand and calm waves that lap against them.
There are 80 campsites available in the park’s three campgrounds, although sites 64 to 72 are the most coveted. There are restrooms, hot showers, and a concession kiosk among the amenities. Campgrounds in Bahia Honda can fill up to a year in advance, so make reservations early or be willing to check frequently for openings.
Watch this vlogger who tried camping alone at the Bahia Honda State Park among RVs and walked along the Old Bahia Honda Bridge near the Atlantic and Gulf Oceans.
Boyd's Key West Campground
This large, family-run campsite is a Key West institution situated at the water’s edge of the island. Boyd’s compensates for its lack of peace and quiet with a fantastic position just a few minutes from the famous Duval Street.
Boyd’s Key West Campground has welcomed tent and RV campers since the 1960s and now has an amazing variety of amenities, such as a heated pool, Wi-Fi, beach, and convenience store. It offers plenty of entertainment so that you won’t get bored there.
Boyd’s ice cream socials, movie nights, cookouts, and live music are available if you won’t be able to visit Duval Street for shopping, a bar crawl, or a sunset celebration.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
At John Pennekamp, in the middle of Key Largo, the northernmost of the Florida Keys, you’ll discover a haven for snorkelers and divers. The park has the only living coral reef in the United States and serves as the entrance to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (located a few miles offshore).
The campground is worth visiting even though it can get congested with RVs and groups, especially because you can book a diving or snorkeling tour through the park’s mangroves. Spend some time on the park’s little beach or hire a kayak and paddle around the Mangrove Trail if you have the time.
For tent and RV campers, Pennekamp offers 47 campsites. Every site features a picnic table, grill, restrooms, and hot showers.
Curry Hammock State Park
Nowadays, finding any undeveloped acreage in the Florida Keys is a little miracle. Amazingly, Curry Hammock is still one of the biggest areas of its sort. The peaceful setting of a mangrove swamp, rockland hammocks, and seagrass bed awaits campers; all are ideal for exploring by canoe, kayak, or foot.
A quiet, windy beach only enhances the Curry Hammock’s charm. The evening may bring a sensation of unmatched seclusion as the sun sets into the horizon and the daytime visitors depart.
There are only 28 sites in the campsite, each of which has a picnic table, charcoal grill, water, and 20/30/50-amp electricity service and is oceanfront. The primary restroom has solar-powered hot showers and composting toilets, and most sites have an adjacent sandy area for setting up a tent.
Leo's Campground
Over the course of its more than 40 years of operation, Leo’s Campground has always employed some of its nicest staff. It is situated at milepost 4.5, around 1000 feet from Key West. TripAdvisor says this campground gets a 4 out of 5-star rating and is the least expensive in Key West.
The campsite offers both tent camping and RV sites, so you can select whatever you choose. Tent rentals are available at the campground as well. There is a camp store, a front desk, a bathroom, laundry facilities, communal areas, a tanning bed, games, and free wi-fi on the property.
The Leo’s Campground is close to beaches, Duval Street, dive shops, restaurants, the airport, fishing charters, and many other places if you wish to see some of Key West’s historic areas.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Traveling to Dry Tortugas National Park by tour, private boat, or airplane is worthwhile. This national park, about 70 miles west of Key West, comprises seven small islands, including the well-known Fort Jefferson. On Garden Key, where camping is permitted, you can enjoy astronomy, wildlife, and water exploration.
Dry Tortugas is ideal for tent campers in the Florida Keys, as with most national parks. Reservations are not allowed for any 6-person campsites; they are all first come, first served. You should be prepared for basic camping in this rural area, which is only a short distance from Fort Jefferson’s public pier. Any unoccupied campsites are available to you; each has a grill and table.
Campers should bring their equipment, including food, fuel (such as charcoal), and waste bags. Composting restrooms are available. However, they are shut down from 10 am to 3 pm. Instead, use the commercial ferry during this period. Showers, wifi, an electric hookup, or cellular reception are unavailable.
Lazy Lakes RV Resort
Sugarloaf Key, located about 15 minutes north of Key West, is ideal for camping. The 28-acre Lazy Lakes RV campground is a tropical haven with a saltwater lake on site! Additionally, the bus stop is just outside the resort on US1 for visitors without cars.
There is a pool, laundry, port for fishing, clubhouse with pool table, wifi, and other amenities. Among the 99 RV campsites, select a premium site with 50 amp service, a full lakefront hookup with 30 or 50 amp, electric, sewer, and water, or a premium site close to the peninsula. There is a beach nearby that you can visit even if it is not oceanfront.
Big Pine Key Resort
If you’re interested in camping on Big Pine Key, you should check out Big Pine Key Resort, also known as Big Pine Fishing Lodge or BPKFL, located at milepost 33. It is situated in the Middle Keys, making it the ideal starting point for exploring the lower and upper keys. You have various options, including RV sites, a motel, and basic tent camping, just as with many other resorts in the Florida Keys that provide camping.
Big Pine Key Resort provides a heated pool, a store with snacks and sundries, shuffleboard and pool, nature paths, a boat ramp, and a fish cleaning station to highlight the outdoor leisure in the Florida Keys. Additionally, they provide activities for visitors, including fishing competitions, game nights, and beach bonfires.
Key Largo Kampground and Marina
One of the camping alternatives in Key Largo is the Key Largo Kampground and Marina. Located in the dive capital of the world on 40 acres of tropical paradise by the Atlantic Ocean! At milepost 101.5, there is a private boat dock as well as full hookup 20, 30, or 50 amp service and camping sites with electricity.
The conventional and the deluxe extra-large tent-sized sites have both electricity and gravel; some are partially or fully covered, all come with a grill, and some have water views. A full hookup with a boat slip is also available. The RV full hookup sites include a maximum length of 40 feet, a picnic table, and cable TV for extended leases.
You can feel secure while at Key Largo Kampground and Marina because of the 24-hour security gate, Wi-Fi, two bathhouses, laundry facilities, a playground, a boat ramp with 14 slips, and an ice maker for those going out fishing or filling coolers. They also have a clubhouse with activities and a general store, and it is only one block from a grocery store and shopping center.
Bluewater Key RV Resort
If you want to experience premium camping in the Florida Keys, go to Bluewater Key RV Resort. This great RV park in the Florida Keys is located just north of Key West and offers amenities, including a heated pool, a tropical oasis with a tiki hut, big private sites, a clubhouse, a dog park, free public showers, a park, and more.
The sites range in size from 35 feet to 80 feet and are manicured with tropical plants and trees, including 30 or 50-amp service, Wi-Fi, sewer, and cable, as well as private tiki huts and outdoor furniture. If you select a bayfront or canal location, private docks are also available.
As the name implies, this is an RV-only park, and Class A, B, C, or 5th wheels and travel trailers must be 24 feet or longer.
Fiesta Key RV Resort and Marina
The Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina in the Florida Keys is a popular destination for vacationers worldwide. You can check into one of the available accommodations, connect up your RV, or build your tent. You can take advantage of many amenities, including free WiFi, a spa, a restaurant, a pool, a beach bar, and many more.
Go to the Long Key State Park, Bud ‘N Mary’s Fishing Marina, and the Dolphin Research Center if you want to explore the neighborhood.
Long Key State Park
The Golden Orb, which is 1.1 miles long, and the Layton Trail, a fantastic access point for bayside waters, are two nature paths that may be hiked in this park. It has 60 full-service campsites, picnic spots, and two hiking routes.
The campground features a sandy surface with some grass for comfort and a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, it provides campers with access to a wide variety of activities. Kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and snorkeling are all fantastic activities you may enjoy in the shallow waters around the state park.
Fishing is permitted for campers, although a license is needed. There are a ton of picnic tables and grills along the waterfront for both campers and guests.
Sugarloaf Key West Koa
Everyone in the family will find something to do in this coastal location, which offers everything from peaceful fishing to gorgeous sunset excursions. There is a waterfront veranda where you can unwind and enjoy your time, just like a holiday should be!
If you wish to leave the campground life and explore the city, the “Conch Republic” in Key West is only a short shuttle ride away. There is also a swimming pool area, rentals for bikes and boats, and an on-site bar that seems very popular with the guests.
Tent campers pay $60 per night. There are great amenities, including showers, washers, dryers, and sinks for washing dishes and clothes. Sugarloaf Key West KOA has a reputation for being one of the Florida Keys’ cleanest campgrounds. The staff also appears to be very attentive and helpful.
Jolly Roger RV Resort
In Marathon, Florida, Jolly Roger RV Resort is renowned as the place to camp for excitement and pleasure. Marathon is conveniently situated and a great choice for camping in the Florida Keys.
Over 160 spacious full-service, most shady and grassy campsites are available at this family-run campground, which is situated on 11 acres. Internet and cable are included in every RV park and 50-amp service.
Choose from luxury harborside oceanfront sites, interior or tent sites towards the back of the park, seawall sites, or interior sites. Two efficiencies can be rented for people who desire the camping experience with the conveniences of home – a two-bedroom apartment downstairs and a one-bedroom apartment upstairs. These include air conditioning, a microwave, a two-burner stove, kitchenware, and a TV.
There are boat ramps, tiki bars, laundry facilities, dog parks, heated pools with covered pavilions, fishing piers, and a roped-off swimming and snorkeling area.
Biscayne National Park
As a national park, camping spaces are very cheap and come with boat docking. So go to Biscayne National Park if you seek free camping in the Florida Keys. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations permitted, and tents may only be erected in specific areas.
Sunshine Key RV Resort
One of the nicest places to camp in Big Pine Key is Sunshine Key RV Resort. This 75-acre island on Ohio Key is the place to go if you’re seeking camping in the Florida Keys that provides access to a tropical playground. They have everything you might want, whether you just want to unwind at the RV resort, go fishing, or explore Big Pine Key.
Sunshine Key RV Park has thought of everything, from fishing charters to sunset cruises over the Gulf of Mexico to renting kayaks, SUPs, motorcycles, and other watercraft. There includes a game room, laundry facilities, internet access, a playground for kids, tennis and volleyball courts, and a swimming pool.
In the Florida Keys, anyone can camp in a manner that meets their needs. From basic tent camping to basic RV camping to fully-equipped luxury resorts and glamping, you can choose from a variety of accommodations.
Consider waterfront dining establishments, heated swimming pools, boat docks, and more. Be sure to check out our campground listings for the Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and Lower Keys if you’re planning a road trip through the Florida Keys.
Tent Camping In The Florida Keys FAQs
Rates may vary depending on the campsite. Public campgrounds in the state parks may cost from $6 to $40. Even for tent campers, private campgrounds in the Florida Keys are becoming prohibitively costly, with sites costing upwards of $65 per night to more than $100.
Bahia Honda State Parks offers special discounts for Florida residents at times.
The Florida Keys do not offer free camping, but because it is such a beautiful location, it is worthwhile to spend money on an RV park or state park campground.
All year long, campgrounds at state parks in the Florida Keys are completely booked. There are no breaks for the seasons. Getting a site on short notice is not impossible. You’ll need to be very flexible with your dates.
Each site for tent camping in the Florida Keys has its own amazing spots to pitch for. For example, if you choose to go camping at Curry Hammock State Park, it is not recommended in sites 3, 10–19, 21, 26, and 28. Sites 6–9 and 22–25 on the beach are the ideal spots for tents.
There are no areas in the Florida Keys, particularly in Key West, where you may pitch a tent or leave a regular automobile parked overnight without the authorities becoming involved. Only designated campgrounds are permitted for camping.
There’s a good reason why individuals stand in line for years to spend a vast amount of money for a small plot of property in an RV park.
