What makes Faver-Dykes State Park Campground simply outstanding, apart from ticking all of these boxes, is that it is perhaps one of the best maintained campgrounds in a public state park that I have ever seen (and I’ve seen quite a few). First, after taking exit 298 off I95, you’ll cross the threshold of Faver-Dykes in under 10 minutes and immediately be swallowed up by Longleaf Pines and Saw Palmettos. Here, you’ll have countless opportunities to put out the perfect picnic spread on any number of brand new picnic tables, whether creek-side or under a sheltering pavilion (there’s a handful and available on first-come, first-served basis otherwise, you can rent them in advance. 

Looking to launch a boat, kayak or canoe? Not a problem – while there’s two points to drop light watercraft, there’s a single boat launch. Don’t have a canoe or kayak? Not a problem, call this state park ahead of time at+1.904.794.0997 and they’ll rent you one of theirs (check out details on the pics I share in this review). Once in the perfect blue water of the Pellicer Creek (average depth of 2 to 6 feet), you’ll find yourself effortlessly meandering with the current of this aquatic reserve, where there are so many outlets to explore and simply endless opportunities to drop anchor and cast a line. 

If you’re looking for a campground with great hiking, then here too, you’ve struck the gold mine! While there’s the nature trails in the picnic and campground nature areas, these are pretty basic and short. If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, then check out the Pine Loop Trail (basically, a triangle trail that will take you into the thick off the woods, with many grasses, wildflowers and even some blueberries, when in season) or Hiram Faver Nature Trail (2.6 miles that is mostly shaded with scattered benches and ends with a fantastic view of Pellicer Flats), which are both much longer as well as much more challenging as they’ll both put you in the thick of this state park’s brush. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) For those that take to the water and are brave (and strong) enough to make it far east to where the Pellicer Creek opens up, point your watercraft south where you’ll encounter Princess Place Preserve – and if you don’t know anything about this amazing place, check out my review on The Dyrt for yet another simply priceless camping and nature outing; (2) While the main campground here at Faver-Dykes is a popular one and books up, if you do reach out to book a campsite and they are filled up, consider asking about their second (mostly unknown) Youth Campground, which the park uses for overflow and while basic and not terribly well-groomed, still offers you a nice patch of secluded flat land to call 'home' for the night (or several); (3) Pellicer Creek joins up with Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, which offers even more outstanding nature exploration on one of the most prized bodies of water here in these parts. Out here you can encounter the Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Great & Snowy Egret, Belted Kingfisher, Manatee, River Otter, Bottle-Nose Dolphin and many other animal surprises. 

Happy Camping!