Central Florida campgrounds have dual benefits: they allow you to see the state's natural beauty while offering you less expensive alternatives to hotels. Central Florida's mild climate means that even tent campers can camp most of the year, and central Florida has campgrounds that cater to all walks of life, from primitive camp sites on deserted islands to cabins equipped with coffee makers.
Island Camping
Island camping in central Florida comes in several varieties: primitive, boat an cabin. Primitive camping, like on Shell Key Preserve, is for campers who don't mind really roughing it--islands like Shell Key have no facilities and don't allow open flames. Boat camping, available at Caladesi Island, offers power, water and pumpout facilities. Cabin camping at a state park like the Myakka River State Park offers campers amenities like coffee makers, fireplaces and microwaves.
State Parks
Florida state parks are broken into five districts, and the state park web site allows you to search for parks by district. Although the state labels on of the districts "central Florida," state parks in the southwest district also fall into the central area of the state, and more of the parks in the southwest district will offer camping close to the beach.
In state parks, "full facility camping" means that RVs have water and electric hookups as well as access to at least one dump station.
Privately-Run Park or Publicly Managed Parks
Privately run parks, such as KOA campsites, may have fewer rules than publicly managed parks like a state park or county preserve. However, if you're looking for opportunities to stay active during your vacation, remember that most state and county parks have paddling, cycling and hiking trails inside the park boundaries, an amenity not always offered at privately-owned campgrounds. State park rates are usually less than privately-run campgrounds.
Beaches
Some campgrounds, like the one at Fort DeSoto, are part of a larger park that includes a beach. That does not necessarily mean that your camp site will be on the beach; in central Florida, only Shell Key Preserve allows camping of any sort on the beach. However, campgrounds such as Fort DeSoto put campers closer to beaches may be protected as part of a city, county or state preserve.
Beach wildlife
If you're camping near a beach, expect critters. Some, like raccoons, are mostly harmless nuisances except for a few exceptions. Others, like stingrays, can hurt you if you don't know how to protect yourself. Shuffling your feet in the water will alert stingrays to your presence so they can swim away. Likewise, you may see snakes. In central Florida's coastal areas, the main venomous snakes are rattlesnakes and pygmy rattlesnakes as well as a few coral snakes. Know how to identify these animals and where you might find them. If you are bitten, call 911 immediately. In all, camping by the beaches of central Florida is a safe, sunny experience. Taking simple precautions will help keep it that way.
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