Florida Survivalist’s Guide: Top 30 Camping Spots for Preppers
As a seasoned survival prepper in Florida, I’ve learned that the key to thriving in the face of natural disasters lies in preparation—and that includes knowing the best camping spots across the state. Florida’s diverse ecosystems offer a plethora of opportunities for survival training, wilderness immersion, and emergency preparedness. Whether you’re seeking remote backcountry sites, coastal retreats, or freshwater havens, Florida has a camping spot tailored for every prepper’s needs.
1. Big Cypress National Preserve
A vast 729,000-acre preserve offering rugged terrain, swamps, and diverse wildlife. Ideal for backcountry camping and honing survival skills. Nature Sport Central
Home to clear springs, dense forests, and numerous trails, this forest provides both primitive and developed campsites.
3. Everglades National Park
Experience the “River of Grass” with chickee platforms and canoe-in campsites. Perfect for waterborne survival scenarios. Florida Trippers
4. Blackwater River State Park
Features one of the world’s rarest habitats, offering canoeing, hiking, and primitive camping opportunities.
5. Myakka River State Park
Spanning wetlands and forests, this park offers diverse terrains for hiking, canoeing, and wildlife observation. State Parks
6. Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail
A remote trail with river camps, ideal for canoeing and experiencing Florida’s natural beauty. Lonely Planet
7. Falling Waters State Park
Home to the state’s highest waterfall, this park offers hiking trails and a serene lake for swimming and fishing. Lonely Planet+2She Buys Travel+2State Parks+2
8. Florida Caverns State Park
Explore stunning underground formations and enjoy above-ground activities like hiking and canoeing. She Buys Travel
9. Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Accessible only by boat, this island park offers primitive beach camping and excellent fishing spots. State Parks+1VISIT FLORIDA+1
10. Cayo Costa State Park
A secluded island accessible by ferry or private boat, offering pristine beaches and primitive campsites. VISIT FLORIDA
11. Harney River Chickee
Located in the Everglades, this chickee platform provides a unique camping experience above the water. Florida Trippers
12. Wekiwa Springs State Park
Near Orlando, this park offers hiking, canoeing, and both primitive and developed campsites. State Parks+1Beyond The Tent+1
13. Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Known for its warm springs and canoeing opportunities, this area offers both primitive and developed campsites. VISIT FLORIDA+2Beyond The Tent+2State Parks+2
14. Salt Springs Recreation Area
Features a 72-degree spring, ideal for swimming and relaxing after a day of hiking or canoeing. VISIT FLORIDA
15. Hontoon Island State Park
Accessible by boat, this park offers primitive camping and a chance to explore Florida’s wild side. VISIT FLORIDA
16. Withlacoochee State Forest
Offers a variety of camping options, including electric and primitive sites, and numerous trails for hiking and biking. VISIT FLORIDA
17. Tomoka State Park
Located at the confluence of the Tomoka and Halifax rivers, this park offers canoeing and hiking opportunities. VISIT FLORIDA
18. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Florida’s first Dark Sky Park, offering stargazing, hiking, and birdwatching opportunities. Southern Living
19. Coldwater Gardens
A private nature retreat offering eco-friendly accommodations and access to diverse natural habitats. Southern Living+1Florida Hikes+1
20. Camp Chowenwaw Park
A former Girl Scout camp offering a unique camping experience in a deep forest setting. Florida Hikes
21. Bear Island Campground
Located in Big Cypress National Preserve, this campground offers a remote and rustic camping experience. Beyond The Tent+2activeweekender.com+2Nature Sport Central+2
22. Gator Head Campground
Also in Big Cypress National Preserve, this campground offers a primitive camping experience.
23. Pink Jeep Campground
Located in Big Cypress National Preserve, this campground offers a rustic camping experience.
24. Alexander Springs Recreation Area
Known for its crystal-clear spring, this area offers swimming, hiking, and camping opportunities.
25. Bahia Honda State Park
Located in the Florida Keys, this park offers camping with access to beautiful beaches and clear waters.
26. St. Andrews State Park
Located on Florida’s Panhandle, this park offers beautiful beachside camping, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking—great for coastal survival training.
27. Fort De Soto Park
Near St. Petersburg, this historic park has excellent facilities for tent camping and is perfect for testing your bug-out gear close to saltwater environments.
28. Lake Kissimmee State Park
This park offers both scenic and secluded campsites. The wooded terrain, wildlife, and proximity to water make it ideal for long-term survival prep testing.
29. Blue Spring State Park
Best known for manatee viewing, this park also offers great opportunities to practice wilderness navigation, fishing, and sustainable camping techniques.
30. Grayton Beach State Park
Located along the Gulf Coast, this is one of Florida’s most scenic spots. It’s ideal for saltwater fishing, beach survival exercises, and testing your shelter setup skills in sandy environments.
Why Florida Survival Preppers Need These Camping Sites
As a lifelong Floridian and survivalist, I’ve learned that the only way to truly be ready for what this state throws at you—be it hurricanes, flooding, power outages, or even civil unrest—is to get boots-on-the-ground experience. That means turning camping into a lifestyle, not a weekend getaway.
Camping isn’t just leisure—it’s field testing. These sites aren’t just pretty—they’re battlegrounds for your bug-out plan. Each one offers a different terrain, different climate pressures, different proximity to fresh water, and different logistical considerations. In the prepping world, we call that real-world training.
From the swampy lowlands of Big Cypress to the high canopies of Ocala National Forest, these sites challenge your gear, your mindset, and your ability to adapt.
What You Should Practice at These Sites
- Water Filtration – Test your LifeStraw, Berkey bottle, or Sawyer system. Florida’s humidity and flooding make clean water a top survival priority.
- Fire Starting – You need to be able to start a fire in wet conditions. Use ferro rods, flint kits, and test your tinder stash.
- Navigation – Bring your compass and topographic maps. Learn to navigate by landmarks, not GPS.
- Shelter Setup – Practice with tarps, tents, hammocks, and ponchos. Test insulation and waterproofing.
- First Aid – Take time to practice wound dressing, sprain management, and CPR with your group or family.
- Foraging & Fishing – Learn local edible plants, shellfish traps, and how to cook off-grid.
- Silent Movement – Learn to move quietly through brush and woods—handy for stealth or avoiding confrontation post-disaster.
How Camping Prepares You for Florida’s Real Threats
Let’s face it—Florida is a paradise with a temper. Here’s how your camping prep aligns with the realities of this state:
- Hurricanes – Coastal sites give you the ability to simulate evacuation, sheltering from high winds, and setting up without infrastructure.
- Floods – Camps near rivers and lowlands help you understand flood risks, water management, and gear waterproofing.
- Heat & Bugs – There’s no classroom like Florida summer. You’ll learn the importance of hydration, shade, and insect protection real fast.
- Looting & Chaos – If the grid goes down, knowing how to hide, blend in, and relocate matters. Remote camps teach that kind of discipline.
Final Word from a Florida Prepper
Living in Florida means prepping for paradise—and disaster. These 30 camping sites are more than scenic retreats. They’re proving grounds for your survival mindset. If you’re serious about prepping, don’t just build a bug-out bag—build your skills. Pack your gear, head into the wilderness, and make sure that when Florida roars, you’re not just surviving… you’re thriving.
And remember: the wild doesn’t lie. It’s the truest test of whether you’re ready for what’s coming.
TheDailyChristian 