Best Tent Camping near Chipley, FL
Tent camping options are limited but diverse around Chipley, Florida, with Pine Log State Forest offering primitive tent sites in a forested setting. Eastern Lake Campground in Point Washington State Forest provides tent-friendly camping on gravel pads within a short drive of Gulf Coast beaches. The natural, undeveloped camping areas offer visitors a break from the developed coastline accommodations, with most requiring reservations through Reserve America's reservation system.
Forest roads leading to tent campsites can be challenging after rain, particularly at Point Washington where deep puddles form on unpaved access roads. Most tent sites include basic amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern poles, though facilities are minimal. Pine Log State Forest primitive sites require permits and offer privacy in a backcountry setting. Point Washington's walk-in tent sites feature gravel tent pads approximately 12x20 feet and pit toilets nearby. Campers should be prepared for potential wildlife encounters, including bears, and must follow strict pack-in, pack-out protocols at these locations.
Eastern Lake Campground's tent sites sit near water access, making them popular with paddlers who bring canoes or kayaks. The campground divides into two areas—Area 1 with four sites that have more privacy and less highway noise, and Area 2 with superior lake views but traffic sounds from nearby Highway 98. Area 1 allows parking at your tent site while Area 2 requires a short walk from a parking area to reach walk-in tent locations. A visitor noted, "Sites 1 and 2 slope down to their campsite and would be difficult to sleep in your vehicle without balancers. Sites 3 and 4 are more flat." Hikers can access trail systems directly from the campgrounds, with Point Washington offering 3.5, 5, and 10-mile loop options on well-maintained paths through the forest.
