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Florida Keys campgrounds are rather few and far between, but when you do find them, they are tropical treasures.  Here are a few of the Florida Keys camping options.

State Park Campground in the Upper Keys

Closest to the Florida mainland are the upper Keys, which includes Key Largo.  And speaking of Key Largo, you’ll find John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at MM (Mile Marker) 102.5, on the Atlantic side.

Pennekamp is especially known for its superb diving and snorkeling.  You can take a glass-bottom boat tour as well, if you’d rather not get wet.  There are also ranger programs and tours available, in the water and off.

The campgrounds at Pennekamp are gravel-based, so if you’re tent camping, bring padding.  There are 47 spaces available, all with electricity.

Camping in the Florida Middle Keys

If you’re planning a trip to the Florida Middle Keys, which includes Marathon, there’s a place you need to stay.  It’s the Long Key State Park campgrounds, at MM 67.5.

Now Long Key State Park has an unusual feature that’s highly desireable — all 60 of the camping spaces are facing the ocean!  This means ocean breezes, which also helps to keep the insects away.  Ahhh!

Tents and RVs are both welcome.  The ground here is sandy, so it’s softer to the body than Pennekamp.  All sites have electricity and water, and there are hot showers, restrooms and the like.

Florida Keys Campgounds – Lower Keys

There’s a jewel hidden in the Florida Lower Keys, and it’s called Bahia Honda State Park.  And what a tropical beauty it is — the kind that has to be experienced to be believed.

Picture crystal waters and one of the exceedingly rare natural sand beaches in the Keys.  Add in nature programs, hiking trails and snorkeling, and you have a recipe for a perfect trip.

RVs and tents are both welcome, but RV space is limited, due to a low bridge.  So if you have an RV, please keep that in mind — the clearance is 6 feet 8 inches.

Bahia Honda State Park also has camping cabins…that include air conditioning!  Maybe it seems a little like cheating, but you’ll glory in it in the heat of the summer.

Florida Keys Camping Summary

The absolute best Florida Keys campgounds are the Florida State Parks — hands down.  There is lots to do in the State Parks, and you’ll get to experience more of what you came to Florida for — the glorious outdoors.

Enjoy your wonderful vacation in the Florida Keys!

Florida Keys camping in the state and national parks can be awesome.  It can also be miserable.  What’s the difference between awesome and miserable?  It’s the time of year and place to camp.  Let’s take a look.

Best Time of Year for Florida Keys Camping

The most comfortable time of year, camping wise, is in the winter.  The days are generally balmy in the upper 60′s to mid 70′s.  The skies tend to be sunny (unless a front is coming through…and they don’t reach the Middle and Lower Keys that often).

Nights can be a little chilly at times, but not excessively so — upper 50′s.  Great sleeping weather!  Especially since there are no (or at worst a very, very few) flying insects to bother you.

Spring is the next best time of year, because it’s the tail end of the dry season, which again means fewer insects to “bug” you.  Weather is slightly warmer, with the days in the 70′s.  Can be a little cloudier, but usually the sun shines.

Fall can be a little iffy, depending on how wet it’s been during the summer.  Unless you’re at a campside on the water where you can get a sea breeze, you may be plagued by insects early in the fall.

Not-So-Great Time for Camping

Summer, hands down, is the worst time.  For campsites not on the water, the insects can be merciless.  And most campsites are not on the water.

Summer is also our rainy season, and while it may not rain every day, there’s a good chance of it most days.  And you really don’t want to be in a tent at least during a thunder and lightning storm.

Last but not least, Summer is our hurricane season.  Although the chance of a hurricane actually affecting Florida Keys camping is fairly low on any given week, it is a possibility.  Especially in light of recent years.

The Places for Camping

If Summer is your only option for Florida Keys camping, check out the water sites at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Lower Keys.  And if you don’t mind primitive camping, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas can be very interesting.

In general, camping in the Florida Keys parks that you can drive to are:

• Bahia Honda (Lower Keys)
• Long Key (Middle Keys)
• Pennekamp Coral Reef (Upper Keys)

Here’s more information on state parks in the Florida Keys and the camping opportunities.