The camping landscape around Bristol, Florida encompasses several distinct areas ranging from state parks to riverside retreats. Torreya State Park Campground offers well-maintained sites with both tent and RV options, as well as cabin and yurt accommodations, while Camel Lake Campground provides a more secluded experience with waterfront access. River Landing RV Park represents a newer addition to the region's camping options, situated along the Apalachicola River. Most campgrounds in the area feature mixed-use sites accommodating various camping styles, from basic tent pads to full-hookup RV sites.
Access roads to certain camping areas require careful navigation, particularly after rain events. A camper shared, "If your GPS sends you onto Forest Rd 121 or 105 find another route unless you are in 4WD." Weather patterns in this north Florida region bring mild winters and hot, humid summers, making spring and fall popular seasons for camping. Campgrounds near water features like Camel Lake and the Apalachicola River often require advance reservations during peak periods. Travelers should note that some primitive camping areas have limited cell coverage, while more developed sites typically provide basic amenities like restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings. Elevation changes are minimal compared to other camping regions, but the area does feature some distinctive terrain with bluffs overlooking rivers.
The region's campgrounds receive consistently positive reviews for cleanliness and natural beauty. According to one visitor, "Torreya State Park has a small campground. The bathroom and showers are impeccable. It's remote from any towns so bring some binoculars." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting sightings of gopher tortoises and various bird species. Several campgrounds provide swimming areas and fishing access, though visitors should be aware of alligators in some water bodies. Proximity to hiking trails represents another highlight, with Torreya State Park featuring challenging trails with significant elevation changes—unusual for Florida. Night skies in this less-developed region offer excellent stargazing opportunities, with limited light pollution compared to coastal camping areas. Campground hosts at several locations receive high marks from guests for their hospitality and local knowledge.
$16 - $50 / night
"Torreya State Park is tucked away by itself and has a smaller campground at only 29 sites, and it's part of what makes it a great place to get away. Small and remote means peace and quiet."
"Great trails in the mountains of Florida. Campsites are narrow but long we had enough space to set our screen room up behind camper. Hurricane michael did extensive damage to the area."
$20 - $30 / night
"The trails were nice and maintained. There is a swimming area and I was able to put my kayak in for a nice paddle. Will definitely return once the Florida sun gets tucked in for winter."
"It is very quiet, the beach is nice (there are 2 gators that live on the other side of the lake), the bathrooms are clean, the shower was decent & the host was great!"
$14 - $50 / night
"This is a great COE campground on Florida Georgia border. Everyone here was so friendly. Sites are large but very open. Three camping loops. We stayed in C 17."
"Get a lakeside site if you can for the most spectacular views. I thought I saw on their website that they had laundry facilities, but no, just a room with plumbing that should go to machines."
$60 / night
"Don't miss out and stop by if your ever in the Panhandle area of Florida. You will not be disappointed!"
"This place has not been on the map before it is new and it has only had about a month in operating at this location."
$16 - $65 / night
"A pleasant surprise when we arrived, after miles of rural driving! GPS took us the correct way, but seemed we were lost!"
"This is another example of why I just love our state parks here in Florida. Campground is set up on the river. Great small boat and kayak access right at the campgrounds."
"Gated RV park so only park guests are driving in. Manager, Stacey, cheerful and kind. Obviously enjoys her job."
"Remote campground that has fishing and off-roading opportunities. I like that it’s free, but they also have fire rings and tables unlike the hunt camps."
"You need to make reservations in advance with the Northwest Florida Water Management District."
$20 / night
"Really enjoyed getting into this Florida gem and enjoying surrounds. Great place for a stopover in this area of Florida. Even a little rain didn't stop the fun."
"My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at our stay at Florida Caverns State Park. Although not a huge cavern such as Carlsbad or Mammoth, Florida Caverns did not disappoint."
$20 - $195 / night
"Uncrowded lakeside camping. Great for swimming, boating, fishing, and kayaking. Very quiet and peaceful. Great camp hosts. Very clean bathrooms and showers."
"The hiking trail just reopened and was an easy 2 miles. Tons of animal tracks to look for and identify!"
TravelerDispersed camping in the Apalatchicola National Forest. Great place if you want to conoe, kayak or fish. There are also trails to explore. Onlt drawback would be the road that is very close. During the day you will hear the traffic. Night time is quiet. If I'm in the area I will definitley stay here again.
TravelerVery nice county park. I only stayed one night and it was very comfortable. I felt like I was out in the woods. Sites were not too close together. If i'm in the area I will stay their again.
TravelerThis small county primitive campground has 10 campsites plus a small group site. It is well maintained and has a friendly camp host. Most of the sites have a beautiful lake view. All sites have water spigots with drinkable water but no electricity.
This campground is worth overlooking the frustrating, glitchy registration process through the county.
ScoutNice small campground far from highway, very quiet
GuideThis was our first time at Ho Hum, and we weren’t sure what to expect. We’ve stayed at places with higher and lower end amenities. Ho Hum was at the middle-lower end of amenities, but everything they had was very nice. Pulling into the park, you could assume that it was aged and might not be a great place, and the many RV’s can look a bit haphazard. But once we were hear for a few days, you could see that people have created some great spaces for themselves. Several multi-family camping situations, and it was great to hear the children running around and playing.
We reserved a waterfront site for our Class Super-C. The site was nice and well cared for; freshly raked, no trash. Only suggestion I would give the owners is to enforce that all waterfront lots of forward pull-in only. We had two neighbors that backed in, with us being frontward facing; therefore, our two outside areas ended up being right next to each other with little privacy.
The waterfront was really nice. On some days, you could see fish jumping and we saw schools of dolphins moving fairly close to shore and along the horizon. On a different day, we saw a shark trolling the shore about 50 feet out.
The central area was always well groomed and freshly raked, and the staff were super nice. The restrooms, although a bit rustic and aged were always clean and welcoming.
We stayed over Easter weekend, and the staff did a small Easter egg hunt with prizes, candy and pastries.
This park is located about 4.5 miles away from Carrabelle, and you can get most of the groceries you need and some select dining. There was also a great fish market at Millinder’s. We got some red fish, snapper and shrimp there…delicious.
This was a really nice, relaxing place. The roads, during weekdays, weren’t terribly -bike/e-bike friendly, but on the weekend, I was able to ride up Morality Road toward the prison, turned right and came back through the forest road, which was easily passable on an e-bike with 2” tires.
ScoutSpaces are tight, all gravel and uneven
GuideThis campground has three camp stores, beaches, fishing, snorkeling, boat ramp, cafe and bike paths. All roads and bike paths are paved. Lots of wild life.
RangerSeminole State Park was completely renovated for 2026. We recently visited in February as they were preparing for the grand reopening.
This is a gorgeous park with lots of things to do; fishing, boating, a sandy beach, fishing pier, with boat ramps, and kayak and canoe rentals to name a few. Miniature golf is also available for a fee.
As well as a completely renovated campground with new bathhouses, there is also cabin rentals should that better serve your stay.
All located on Lake Seminole. We were truly impressed and making plans for an extended visit.
GuideHas a lake for swimming, small playground for kids, nice trails. Waterfall depends on rainfall however was a nice addition to the hike. Site 7 was close to site 8. We could hear them walking around the inside of their trailer. It was the only site close to another site. 7
Bristol, Florida camping encompasses an area with significant elevation changes uncommon for Florida, with bluffs rising 130 feet above the Apalachicola River. The region sits within the eastern edge of the Florida Panhandle where the terrain transitions from coastal flatlands to more varied topography. Campgrounds in this area often require reservations during spring and fall when temperatures are most moderate.
Hiking challenging trails: Torreya State Park offers unusually difficult hiking paths with steep elevation changes. One camper noted, "There's a hiking loop called the Great Challenge. It's so difficult, meandering up and down in elevation for 9 miles, that you may give up." The park's rare Torreya trees and diverse plant life make the effort worthwhile.
Fishing in Lake Seminole: Seminole State Park Campground provides excellent access to lake fishing. "Great campground hosts. Beautiful lake with good fishing," reports one visitor. The lake remains popular year-round with less crowding during winter months.
Kayaking the Apalachicola River: River Landing RV Park offers direct river access. A camper shared, "The place is beautiful and clean and sits on the prettiest river the Apalachicola river." Paddlers can explore miles of riverfront with minimal boat traffic except on weekends.
Spacious waterfront sites: Eastbank campground features generous lakefront camping areas. "Due to the warm weather there were many sites available to us in early August. We were able to get a waterfront site with a long gravel drive, picnic table and fire pit," one visitor reported. Sites accommodate larger RVs and provide partial shade.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds throughout the Bristol area maintain well-kept restrooms and common areas. At Three Rivers State Park, campers noted "Very clean facilities. A pleasant surprise when we arrived, after miles of rural driving!" The park manages to keep amenities maintained despite its remote setting.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife unusual for more developed areas. At Torreya State Park, one camper shared, "Incredible. Park rangers were so nice. Beautiful scenery of the Apalachicola River. The steephead ravines are remarkable! Diverse flora. Rare animals seen: gopher tortoise, copperhead." Early morning offers best wildlife sighting opportunities.
Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads to certain camping areas require careful navigation. At Camel Lake Campground, a visitor warned, "If your GPS sends you onto Forest Rd 121 or 105 find another route unless you are in 4WD." Many forest roads become difficult or impassable after rain.
Remote location requires preparation: Most Bristol camping areas sit far from amenities. One camper at Florida River Island mentioned, "No cell signal, peaceful near the river." Bring all necessary supplies as the nearest full grocery stores are 30+ minutes away.
Seasonal insect challenges: Summer brings heavy insect activity. A camper at Eastbank reported, "I was battling them with our Repel insect spray. If you stay get a site with no trees and that's not near the water. The dragonflies at a certain time of day are outrageous too!" Spring and fall camping reduces this issue.
Swimming areas with safety considerations: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming spots with varying amenities. At Camel Lake, a visitor noted, "We stayed for 4 nights. It is very quiet, the beach is nice (there are 2 gators that live on the other side of the lake), the bathrooms are clean." Always supervise children near water.
Playground availability: Three Rivers State Park Campground offers play areas for younger children. A recent visitor mentioned, "The playground close to the camping loop is nearly complete and looks super fun for the Littles." These facilities provide activity options during hot afternoons.
Nature education opportunities: Many parks offer ranger-led programs that engage children. At Torreya State Park, "Tour the Gregory House - it's worth the couple bucks! 130 ft bluffs and great view of the Apalachicola River." These programs typically run weekends during peak season.
Limited full-hookup options: Most campgrounds offer electric and water only. At Florida Caverns State Park, a camper noted, "Nice full hookups campsites. A lot of nice hiking trails. The caverns tour is worth it." Reserve these limited sites well in advance during peak season.
Site selection considerations: RVers should carefully select sites based on access and level ground. At Seminole State Park, one visitor explained, "The waterfront sites are pullthroughs on a halfmoon loop. The sites are level gravel pads with a walkway that leads to a raised gravel sitting area for each site." Request specific site numbers when booking.
Generator restrictions: Many parks limit generator use to specific hours. A visitor to River Landing RV Park shared, "She figured out how to get water to us and welcomed us with food and music." Call ahead to confirm power options, especially during hurricane season when outages are possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bristol, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bristol, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 155 campgrounds and RV parks near Bristol, FL and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Bristol, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bristol, FL is Torreya State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bristol, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Bristol, FL.
What parks are near Bristol, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Bristol, FL that allow camping, notably Apalachicola National Forest and Lake Seminole.
Keep Exploring
