Monday, June 6, 2016

5 Terrierific Dog-Friendly Places to Camp in Florida

The month of June is National Camping Month. It is a time to adventure into the great outdoors and sleep under the stars. Whether your camping trip involves backpacking, RV-ing, driving to a secluded spot or just setting up a tent in the backyard, it is still a great opportunity to experience the tranquility of nature.


Though Florida’s weather is not ideal for tent camping year round due to the heat and humidity, it still offers some of the most diverse habitats for camping and exploring. Don’t believe us…just ask the 6 million people who camp in Florida each year.

5 Terrierific Dog-Friendly Places to Camp in Florida

Dog-Friendly Camping in Florida -5. Highlands Hammock State Park

One of Florida’s oldest State Parks, Highlands Hammock offers RV and family camping, primitive camping and soon, equestrian camping sites. We prefer the primitive sites here as the campground is less crowded and the sites are bigger. The park is host to the State of Florida Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, offers good opportunities for biking and some fun hiking trails where you can walk among wild-growing Florida oranges and grapefruits.

4. Silver Springs State Park

Dog-Friendly Camping in Florida - 4. Silver Springs State Park

Formerly Silver River State Park, Silver Springs State Park was a tourist area well before the park’s opening in 1987. The park has 59 spacious sites in two campgrounds all with water and electric hookups, a fire ring, barbecue grill and a picnic table. There are several hiking trails but the real fun is paddling the Silver River where you can see alligators, wild boar and remnants of Colonel Tooey’s old “Jungle Cruise” boat ride – families of Rhesus monkeys.

Dog-Friendly Camping in Florida - 4. formerly Silver River State Park

Its namesake, the Myakka River is designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River and it flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pinelands. The park is known for amazing canoeing and kayaking alongside water birds and all size alligators. It is also home of one of the very first Canopy Walks built in Florida with a 76 foot observation tower that provides a magnificent view of the park.

Dog-Friendly Camping in Florida - observation tower view of Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park features three campgrounds of 90 sites with water and electric hookup, a fire ring and picnic table with several sites offering hammock camping.

Anastasia is one of our all-time favorite parks to go camping. The beach, though not dog-friendly (as all beaches in Florida State Parks are protected), is comprised of the most pristine white sand you can imagine. Wildlife sightings can occur at any moment in the park – we have seen Gopher Tortoises running in the picnic area and we canoed with dolphins in the Salt Run.

Dog-Friendly Camping in Florida - historic St Augustine near Anastasia State Park

And, if you want to venture outside the park, historic St. Augustine and its restaurants are dog-friendly as are the grounds of historic Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

You can’t visit Florida without experiencing at least some part of the Everglades! Everglades National Park campgrounds are situated on the southernmost part of mainland Florida on the Florida Bay. The main campground is set back from the Bay with solar powered lightning and restrooms that are quite dim at night so you can see every star in the southern sky. When we last visited, the beach area campground was closed thanks to campers who did not follow the rules of parking in designated areas and actually drove on the beach. Truly a shame because those campsites, though very exposed to the sun, have an amazing view of the Bay.

Do you have a favorite dog-friendly camping spot?







18 comments:

  1. They ALL look stunning Oz, I do wishes I could visit all of them!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  2. I would love to see Silver Springs State Park ... the paddle boat tour there sounds interesting... monkeys, alligators and boars oh my!

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  3. The head peep hasn't been to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument for several years, but she didn't realize the grounds were dog friendly. That's a really cool place, and it's great that you can share it with your humans!

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  4. Momma says she doesn't camp. But she pawmises to take us hiking sometime soon!

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  5. We love your camping Cot with canopy. THAT is pawfect fur your Comfort when Camping.

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  6. You have found some fun-tastic camping spots in Florida. I'd love to go see the sites on Silver River. ☺

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  7. Mom won't do camping anywhere let alone Florida where there are lots of reptiles! We did see a super cool dog tent at our nose work trial on the weekend. Have you seen the Umbra pop up tent for dogs? It is really neat and would be huge, yet fun for you when you are camping.

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  8. Dad says he got enough "camping" in during his 28 years in the Army. Ha roo roo roo!!!! Needless to say, we don't go camping. :)
    Yours sincerely,
    Margaret Thatcher

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  9. What beautiful camp grounds. Mom needs another trip to Florida. Any gators around?
    Lily & Edward

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  10. They all look like fabulous to me.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

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  11. I am doing the closest thing I do to camping now Oz, staying in an air conditioned LQ. BOL!! Mama use to like camping when she was young (and living in NJ) and just loves all of the campgrounds you visit!

    Smileys!
    Dory

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  12. They all look like great places to visit. Have a great camping season.

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  13. We have been to Anastasia...but we usually go to Flamingo Lake RV Park in Jacksonville or Beverly Beach in Flagler. We didn't get to go this year and I missed it so very much! My husband wants to sell the RV, so unfortunately...it doesn't look like we will be doing much traveling. Unless I go by plane...and then I have to leave the girls home and that does not work out very well. They have only been able to make it a couple of days without me...and with my limited mobility...I don't travel often. You guys look like you have a BLAST!!

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  14. You are a lucky dog, Oz! Those are some fabulous camping spots!

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  15. Thanks for sharing your special spots with us, these are all beautiful!
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  16. Thanks for sharing your special spots with us, these are all beautiful!
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  17. Mom used to love the tent camping but wif her back now it has to be RVing all the way. She has been to some of those nice camp grounds you mentioned. Her favorite is Anastasia.

    xoxo,
    Matt & Matilda

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  18. We RV in Florida with two cats and a dog. We LOVE to canoe and kayak BUT BUT BUT not in Florida. Unfortunately, unless you are ALWAYS on guard, our sweet little Chihuahua could very well become an Alligator's hors d'oeuvre. It happens all too often in Florida. Be VERY careful with you furry loved ones!!!!!

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a pawprint. I enjoy reading each and every one!
Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier