St. Marks River and Ochlockonee Bay frame Carrabelle, creating diverse camping environments from coastal to forest settings. Elevations range from sea level to only 25 feet across the region, with summer humidity levels reaching 85-90%. The area offers both primitive camping on high bluffs and luxury accommodations with Gulf views within 30 miles of downtown Carrabelle.
What to do
Fishing from piers: At High Bluff Campground, visitors can fish directly from the dedicated fishing pier. "Caught a beautiful sunset over the lake and saw a massive gator hanging out by the fishing pier. The gator was back in the morning as I was enjoying my cup of coffee out on the pier!" notes Tucker B.
Boat launching: Newport Park Campground provides direct river access. "The campground was nice and quiet. A little traffic noise but not too bad. It had a boat dock and pier to observe the St. Marks River," reports Della S. Boat ramps make it easy to explore waterways with minimal portage.
Wildlife viewing: The region's diverse ecosystems support extensive wildlife. Sebastian L. describes camping at High Bluff: "You have to love the loneliness here. On the weekend there have been three other parties with tents. From Sunday to Monday we have been the only ones. Then it becomes really lonely, dark and quiet out here."
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: At Tate's Hell State Forest, primitive campsites offer true isolation. Laura M. shares, "There are 3 separate High Bluff Primitive campsites, one at Dry Bridge, one at Rake Creek and one at Pidcock Road. Each spot is so far away from each other that you feel completely secluded, which is nice."
Dark night skies: The low light pollution creates exceptional stargazing opportunities. "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: Despite the remote locations, many campgrounds maintain good facilities. At Gulf View Campground, Rhonda S. notes, "Easy to navigate, super clean and well maintained. Bathrooms are laid out super nice, clean and comfortable."
What you should know
Primitive sites require preparation: Many High Bluff sites have no utilities. Sebastian L. advises, "No power, no water, no WiFi, no store. T-Mobile was very good with 300+ Mbps. The last 3 miles are dirt road, but in good condition as long as you can stay in the middle without traffic."
Road conditions vary: Forest roads can be challenging. For Tate's Hell campsites, Laura M. warns, "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. There was no cell service on the roads once we entered the dense forest."
Wildlife precautions: Alligators frequent many waterways. "Caught a beautiful sunset over the lake and saw a massive gator hanging out by the fishing pier," reports Tucker B. about High Bluff, while Laura M. notes at Tate's Hell, "Even though nobody was around we still kept the dogs on leash because the spot is surrounded by water on 3 sides, and we didn't want to risk any alligator attacks."
Tips for camping with families
Pet-friendly options: Many sites welcome four-legged family members. At Indian Pass Campground, September H. reports, "They are also extremely dog friendly which is a huge plus for us because our pup loves to swim. No playground but there's a park along the beach nearby in Port St Joe."
Animal interaction opportunities: For families with children, some properties offer unique experiences. The Goat House Farm provides a distinctive camping experience where Abby explains, "Where you literally camp with goats. The male goats hang out right beside you and your tents. (Be sure to keep your tents closed or they will sleep with you too, ha!) The kids absolutely loved it."
Beach access options: Waterfront camping provides built-in entertainment. Nicole C. describes Indian Pass: "Lots of regular campers that seem to know each other, all very friendly and chatty. Lots of very squirrels, they beg for food (so cute). The beach is just a few steps away."
Tips from RVers
Site sizing considerations: At T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Colin R. notes, "Florida State Parks did a great job redoing this campground after Hurricane Michael in 2018. Brand new facilities, excellent camping pads, and good beach access."
Hook-up availability: Many sites offer limited utilities. Ray & Terri F. describe their experience at Tate's Hell: "Most of the sites are water only, but there are a handful of them that also have 50A service. The roads and sites are sandy gravel. Our site had a little bit of slope side to side, but not too bad."
Connectivity concerns: Cell service varies widely. Ray & Terri F. report, "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."
