The Apalachicola area spans across Florida's Forgotten Coast with subtropical weather patterns allowing year-round camping opportunities. Summer temperatures often reach the high 90s with humidity levels exceeding 80%, while winter brings mild conditions with occasional cold fronts. Camping options range from primitive forest sites to developed beachfront locations with varying levels of access to water features.
What to do
Beach exploration and shelling: Walk the white sand beaches at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Campground, where campers report excellent shelling opportunities. "This place has miles of gorgeous large white sand beaches, clear water, excellent sunsets, decent fishing, bird watching, kyaking and sea turtle conservation," notes reviewer Tyler M.
Wildlife viewing: Visit Tate's Hell State Forest where you can observe diverse coastal and forest wildlife. "Grand Seclusion, quiet land. creek separating some sites," reports camper über G. The forest offers opportunities to spot wading birds, small mammals, and reptiles in their natural habitat.
Fishing: Cast your line from multiple locations including Indian Pass Campground where water access is convenient. "We had a bit of weather to deal with on our first night but it only got better from there. Our tent site was right on the water and was great for putting our small boat out when we wanted," shares reviewer GoWhereYouAreDraw N.
Water activities: Rent kayaks or bring your own to explore coastal waters. "Loved this oasis outside of Port St. Joe! Tent camping limited but the 5 tent sites are ON THE WATER and the fishing is spectacular!" says Shea A. about Indian Pass Campground.
What campers like
Quiet coastal locations: Many visitors appreciate the lack of crowds at Tate's Hell State Forest High Bluff Primitive Campsites. "We stayed at pidcock 49 and it was lovely. Beautiful sunset. Grill, table and just the sights!" writes Caitlin R.
Pet-friendly options: Dog owners value campgrounds that welcome their pets. "We loved this campground! It's a bit crowded but there's plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs being that it's steps away from the beach. They are also extremely dog friendly which is a huge plus for us because our pup loves to swim," notes September H.
Dark night skies: The relative isolation of some glamping areas near Apalachicola offers excellent stargazing. "We camped at Pidcock Road Campsite #49 during the 2020 Leonid meteor shower. Nice place for dogs (req'd on leash) as no other campsites nearby. Very quiet, no water or electricity," reports Vince F.
Clean facilities: El Governor Motel & RV Park maintains well-kept amenities according to visitors. "This campground is amazing. You can walk across the street to the beach. The sunsets are beautiful! The bath house and laundry room is always spotless," shares Lori P.
What you should know
Hurricane recovery: Several campgrounds continue rebuilding after major storms. "Hurricane Michael beat this park down. They'll be working a few more years before they're back in operation for camping. The south part of the park is currently open for day use only," noted Denise K. about St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Reservation reliability: Some campers report issues with bookings at certain times. "A reservation means nothing. No matter how long you have booked in advance be prepared to have your trip canceled by management so the snowbirds can stay as long as they want," cautions Adam T. about Indian Pass.
Road conditions: Access to more remote glamping sites near Apalachicola requires careful driving. "Road in was bumpy with some huge pits but easily navigable even in our 26ft class c, just watch the road and take it slow," advises Laura M. about Tate's Hell.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across camping areas. "AT&T coverage was pretty dismal, with 1 bar of 5GE service and speeds only up to 0.9 MB/s. The CG has a lot of trees, but the pines only have top foliage, so access and coverage for DISH and Starlink was really good," notes Ray & Terri F. about Holiday Campground on Ochlockonee Bay.
Tips for camping with families
Campground selection: Choose sites with amenities appropriate for children. "Medium size campground with clean facilities and showers. The campground is located in an area with a lot of mosquitoes and raccoons that steal stuff as soon as you walk away, so bring tons of bug spray and put your food away," advises Tyler M.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for local wildlife encounters including squirrels and raccoons. "Lots of regular campers that seem to know eachother, all very friendly and chatty. Lots of very squirrels, they beg for food (so cute)," mentions Nicole C. from Indian Pass Campground.
Beach safety: Monitor tides and currents when swimming with children. "Nice little CG on the bay with a good number of direct bayfront sites. Some with pine trees for shade. Clean bathrooms. Swimming pool. Small market/general store within walking distance," shares Greg Z. about Holiday Campground.
Food planning: Limited grocery options require advance meal planning. "The beach is just a few steps away. Bathrooms, laundry, a general store about 3 miles away and a wonderful little town (St. Joe) about 10 miles away," notes Nicole C.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose appropriately sized spaces for your vehicle at Mexico Beach RV Resort. "Office staff were very helpful and WiFi worked great. Also short drive to the beach. Bath house needs lots of work but is functional. Campground has small mobile home lot at back of property," reports Matt H.
Leveling preparations: Bring adequate leveling equipment for uneven sites. "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 64 for 4 days in mid April. This is a relatively small CG, with~15 wooded sites that are reasonably spaced. Our site had a little bit of slope side to side, but not too bad," shares Ray & Terri F.
Military options: Active military and veterans can access specialized camping options. "The campground doesn't have as much shade or as many trees as it had before the hurricane in 2018, but it is back open for business and is a great place for military and veterans to park their campers short or long term," notes Mark J. about Raptor Ranch at Tyndall AFB.
Water access considerations: Select sites with good access to water features if fishing or boating. "Nice spot in Mexico Beach literally across the road from the beach. We were a little concerned as our lot backed up to the road and there was no security we could see. Gates open 24-7, but had no issues," reports Brian about El Governor RV Park.
