Newport Park Campground sits on the St. Marks River in Wakulla County, where the terrain shifts from coastal marshlands to pine forests. Located near Crawfordville, Florida, the area maintains average temperatures between 50-90°F depending on season, with summer humidity often exceeding 80%. Primitive camping areas throughout the region provide options for visitors seeking a more rustic camping experience.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Cash Creek in Tate's Hell State Forest High Bluff Primitive Campsites offers kayaking access with minimal crowds. "We stayed at Cash Creek boat launch, both clean and scenic. The boat ramp gets some use (4 kayaks total for the day) but otherwise it's very quiet," notes one reviewer.
Hiking trails: The Challenge Trail at Torreya State Park Campground offers a strenuous 9-mile route with significant elevation changes. A camper reports, "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. Camping is grand—so much wildlife."
Wildlife viewing: Lake Talquin provides opportunities to spot alligators from designated viewing areas. "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 a visitor to High Bluff Campground.
What campers like
River access: Newport Park Campground provides direct access to the St. Marks River with boat facilities. According to a camper, "Called ahead and booked a tent site at this county campground. Nice bathroom facilities gave me the chance to clean up. There's a boat ramp within walking distance if you've got one!"
Scenic views: Gulf View Campground offers waterfront camping with unobstructed coastal vistas. One visitor remarked, "Coastline is a Preston's campground. It's peaceful with beautiful views of the water. Highly recommend!" Another added, "The view is spectacular. Bathrooms are laid out super nice, clean and comfortable."
Secluded spots: High Bluff Campground provides quiet camping away from crowds, particularly on weekdays. "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," shares one camper.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Many primitive sites lack facilities entirely. At Tate's Hell, "No toilet or garbage facilities so please pack out your waste." Established campgrounds generally offer better amenities, with Gulf View noted for "bathrooms that are laid out super nice, clean and comfortable."
Wildlife precautions: Multiple campgrounds report alligator sightings. "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!" reports a High Bluff visitor.
Reservation requirements: Holiday Campground on Ochlockonee Bay requires advance booking for waterfront sites. "Nice little CG on the bay with a good number of direct bayfront sites. Some with pine trees for shade. Clean bathrooms. Swimming pool," notes a camper.
Tips for camping with families
Animal interaction experiences: Goat House Farm offers unique farm-based camping. "We had such a fun time camping at the goat farm. 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!)," shares one family.
Yurt camping options: Crawfordville, Florida area offers several yurt camping options with Newport Park and Torreya State Park both featuring climate-controlled yurts. Torreya State Park visitor notes, "The Cracker Cabin is great as is the Yurt - both are booked often and must be reserved in advance."
Swimming areas: Holiday Campground includes a swimming pool suitable for families 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," reports a recent visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site size considerations: High Bluff Campground lots require careful positioning. "Our lot #5 was pretty even. The last 3 miles are dirt road, but in good condition as long as you can stay in the middle without traffic," notes one RV camper with a 36-foot Class A.
Connectivity information: Cell service varies significantly throughout the area. At Tate's Hell, "There was no cell service on the roads once we entered the dense forest but the spot itself was cleared of trees enough that we got service on ATT and Verizon." Another RVer at High Bluff reported, "AT&T coverage was pretty dismal, with 1 bar of 5GE service and speeds only up to 0.9 MB/s."
Hookup availability: Newport Park offers full hookups for extended stays. One reviewer noted, "This is the area where Tarzan was filmed and located across the street from St Marks State Park and on the St Marks RV with boat ramp. Sites run around $17 and there is centrally located bathroom and shower facilities."
