Established Camping
Bissette Bay — Canaveral National Seashore
About
National Recreation Area
For visitors wishing to backcountry camp in the seashore, primitive camping is available on designated islands throughout the Intracoastal Waterway and Mosquito Lagoon. These campsites are available by reservation only and require a permit. You may reserve campsites for $20 per night and up to six months in advance. RV or vehicle camping is not permitted within the seashore.
The following conditions apply to all backcountry camping permittees: The permittee identified on this permit shall retain and present the permit upon request to the National Park staff.
Reservation Info
The permittee must maintain a presence at the designated campsite during the timeframe shown on the permit. If permittee intends to cancel a reservation prior to its scheduled expiration, permittee must notify Canaveral National Seashore Visitor Center by calling (386) 428-3384 ext. 0. Camping fees are nonrefundable.
Access to all areas of Canaveral National Seashore is contingent upon the availability of designated parking sites. Entrance fees are not included in this Backcountry Camping permit. A per vehicle entrance fee will be collected at the fee booth upon entering Canaveral National Seashore.
Access
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonAvailable
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Pets
- Fires
LegendPrimitive Intracoastal Experience
There's no direct access to reach this primitive campground here in Bissette Bay. But if you can manage to get here (it doesn't take much to get a local fisherman to take you to the western head of this little island), you will find uninhibited paradise that very few venture to.
I struck camp here late afternoon, having brokered a deal with a boat chocked full of gents from South Carolina who had come down for the long weekend. They dropped me off around 4pm, I set up camp near the water's edge, got a fire up and running and had my fishing line in the water by 5pm. By 6pm, I had 3 different fish being fired up on my campsite - red drum, silver mullet and spotted sea trout. After filleting the fish, I had smoked the meat for a good hour and then let the bounty lie across my grill for a good 12 minutes on both side after first bathing in olive oil and herbs d' Provence, finished off with a few lemons I had brought with me.
The greatest compliment was paid by the group of fisherman who had dropped me off at the site in the first place, who texted me that they hadn't caught anything of interest, but would like to stop by in to check on me (which I greatly appreciated). Upon arriving, they cracked open a bottle of rum (Zacapa, one of my favorites!), some tonic and asked if I had any limes (which I had a few) and sat down to tell me how their day went, when they looked upon my grilling feast and declared that I did in spades what the four of them had failed to do. I shared the bounty (while 2 of them split from the group to catch more fish) and we enjoyed quite an amazing meal underneath the twilight of a star-speckled sky with a half moon to boot.
I'd recommend this spot in spades - as long as you are OK with the primitive surroundings.
Happy Camping!
- (10) View All
GuidePrimitive island camping
Launch at river breeze park, book through Canavaral National Seashore. 20 bucks a night your own island. Can book for up to 15 people but I don't know where you would put enough tents. Got a 6 man and a 2 man set up and could get a 4 man as well but who actually puts that many people in a tent, lol.
Location
Bissette Bay — Canaveral National Seashore is located in Florida
Coordinates
28.89343408127335 N
80.84627061650822 W