Best Tent Camping near DeFuniak Springs, FL

Tent camping options in the northwest Florida panhandle near DeFuniak Springs include several primitive sites within state forest lands. Point Washington State Forest offers two tent campgrounds with Eastern Lake Campground 1 and Eastern Lake Campground 2, both providing access to lakeside camping approximately 30 minutes south of DeFuniak Springs. Additional primitive tent camping can be found in nearby Pine Log State Forest and Blackwater River State Forest, with multiple designated tent areas throughout these public lands.

Most tent sites feature gravel tent pads with limited amenities. Campers at Point Washington should note that forest roads may become difficult after rain, with numerous deep puddles making access challenging for low-clearance vehicles. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern poles, but lack running water and electrical hookups. Vault toilets or pit toilets are available at most locations, though no shower facilities exist at these primitive campgrounds. Reservations are required through Reserve America for Point Washington sites, which provide a gate code for access. Primitive camping in Blackwater River State Forest allows stays up to 14 days with a pack-in, pack-out policy.

Tent campers frequently comment on the privacy and natural settings these sites provide. Eastern Lake Campground offers both lakeside views and forest seclusion depending on which site you select. Campground 1 features more secluded sites with greater distance between neighbors but limited lake access, while Campground 2 provides better lake views but has some traffic noise. Many sites offer ample shade from pine trees and opportunities for hiking on nearby trail systems. A visitor commented that "The sites were spacious and grassy. Each site had a fire pit, a picnic table and shared a water spigot. Hurricane lake surrounds the campground so every camping spot has a view of the beautiful lake."

Best Tent Sites Near DeFuniak Springs, Florida (11)

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Tent Camping Reviews near DeFuniak Springs, FL

583 Reviews of 11 DeFuniak Springs Campgrounds


  • Elizabeth G.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Henderson Beach State Park Campground

    Quiet and secluded for the beach

    My family and I stayed here for one night in July 2020 as our midway point from GA to Texas. We stayed in site 44 and it was private and near the bathrooms. All the sites had gravel, a picnic table, and and a fire pit as well as a clothesline. There’s a path to the beach from the bathhouse. The bathhouse was very clean and there were men and women restrooms as well as private bathroom/showers.

    We fit 2 tents at our site. It was so humid and muggy I cowboy camped on the gravel with my picnic blanket and sleeping pad. Everyone else slept in the tents without the rain fly’s for some ventilation. It was a nice, clean, and quiet park and we felt very secluded in our site. There was WiFi and cell service (2 bars for Verizon).

    Each site has electric and water. There’s a dump station near the entrance/exit of the park. Overall, lovely experience and I would definitely stay here again.

  • Gregg G.
    Feb. 23, 2021

    Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping

    Small Camper/Truck Camper/Van

    Epic free spot just outside of the Black Water Forest State Park. Camp here for up to 14 days. The primitive area is really more geared for the tent camper with several nice flat spots to pitch a tent away from the parking area. However, there is room here for smaller rigs in the parking area. Please be respectful and don't hog the parking area so others can enjoy as well. We stayed here for 2 nights in late Febraury and were accompanied by a few others. I'd be willing to bet that this place would be heavily occupied by folks utilizing the boat ramp in the warmer months and wouldn't really be an option. This is boonedocking so no servics available. Pack it in and pack it out and be sure to leave no trace, so this can continue to be an option for be people to enjoy. On the edge of Verizon cell coverage service. Rigs over 40' not recommended.

  • Shea M.
    Apr. 1, 2020

    Eastern Lake Campground 1 — Point Washington State Forest

    Beach camping

    Nice primitive campground located near 30A beach. The road leading in is sandy and gravely. The site was for tent camping and offers a picnic table, grill, fire pit, food/lamp pole and a porta house (which was fairly clean, considering). There was also a pier close by. The bed was gravel and uncomfortable but they were actually repairing it while we were there, so it should be quite comfortable for your stay! No hookups or water. We stayed at campsite #1 which had plenty of trees for shade and was closest to the water, but they all looked nice. The beach is right across the bay so it's a short drive to the ocean. Quiet and clean, we stayed four days and had a neighbor for two of them. He seemed respectful to nature and gave us no issues. Overall would stay again, just remember there is no shower to get off all that sand and sunscreen!

  • Mary S.
    Oct. 24, 2018

    Blackwater River State Park Campground

    Canoe, kayak or float near this small, quiet campground

    This small, meticulously maintained campground has 30 full hook up sites split evenly between Magnolia Circle and Titi Circle. My only minor complaints are that the usable site space is all on gravel (very small pieces so it should still be comfortable for tents) and some sites are too close to each other. I prefer a grassy area (and some privacy) with my campsite, but the gravel is better for drainage when it rains. 

    Beautiful Setting With Nearby Trails

    There are a couple short trails and a swimming beach at Juniper Lake, but I can't get excited about swimming in an area that has alligator warning signs on the trail along a marshy area near the lake. The Florida Trail for long distance hikers is nearby. The Blackwater Heritage State Trail is a paved trail you can access near Milton for biking, skateboarding, etc. It's 8 miles and then there's a 1.5 mile Military Heritage Trail that continues to a Naval Air Station, but then you'll have to turn around and return the same way.

    Canoeing, Kayaking and Tubing

    Blackwater River is a popular location for these activities. We passed a rental place that had lots of rental equipment.

    Site Notes

    • See photos for site map as well as several site photos.

    • All sites are back in with gravel pads except for concrete on 5, 6 and 19.

    • All sites have a picnic table and fire ring on the gravel. There's green space/trees between most sites.

    • No separate tent pad but the gravel is small and should be ok for a tent if you have a sleeping pad.

    • Magnolia Circle: Sites 3 through 5 on Magnolia Circle back up to sites 16 and 17 on Titi Circle. That's a bit close for me, but no one was behind us. Sites 1/2 and 12/13 have no green space between them. I would avoid them unless you want to socialize with your neighbors.

    • Titi Circle: Just stay at 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27 or 29 on the outside of the circle of you want some privacy. The other sites are too close to neighbors for my comfort.

    • You're not allowed to tie anything to trees. That seems to rule out hammocks but there's a clothesline between 2 posts; I guess you could fit one hammock.

    Amenities

    • Full hookup, i.e. electricity, water and sewer hookup, at all sites. Our site had 20, 30 and 50 amp outlets.

    • Super clean restrooms/showers are located between the two loops. Showers had good water pressure and hot water. Even the sinks had hot water.

    • Dump station

    • Instead of trash dumpsters, you're supposed to put your trash by your site post between 8 and 11 am. And there's a recycling barrel for aluminum on the way to the restroom.

  • Dale W.
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Sand Pond Campground — Pine Log State Forest

    Quiet, secluded, and beautiful.

    I initially had a reservation at one of the primitive camp grounds, but my reservation was cancelled due to flooding that closed all three primitive camp grounds. Better yet, I got an RV spot on the day of arrival. Great pull-through sites with fire ring, picnic table, water, and electricity. Pitched my tent on the banks of Sand Pond.

    The two-mile Campground Trail, part of the Forest Service's Trailwalker Program, winds along the banks of Cyprus Pond, through the mixed hardwood/pine forest, and around Sand Pond. This is a nice and easy, well-maintained, level trail.

    Was lulled to sleep by the croaking of bull frogs while watching the moon rise from my sleeping bag. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.

  • lydia B.
    Mar. 19, 2022

    Henderson Beach State Park Campground

    Family Friendly

    We arrived at a very clean, gravel campsite with a picnic table, fire ring, water & electric access, as well as a clothes line. Because we were tent camping, the gravel made it difficult to pitch our tent on site. Luckily, we had enough space and privacy on our site to unload the car and sleep in the trunk of it. The bathrooms were kept very clean, and the showers were fantastic! The beach itself is kept extremely clean and is beautiful. The volunteers do a wonderful job around the campground. Here you will find a family friendly stay! I would for sure visit Henderson Beach again for the clean facilities, beautiful beach, and local attractions.

  • Maria E.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Grayton Beach State Park Campground

    Nice

    We were initially assigned to site number 10 which was small but fine because we were tent camping. After a quick set up we started walking around and found site number 16 open by the water with a breeze. We drove up to the front confirmed availability and moved camp. Keep in mind this is not the beach, it is a lake but also has a trail along side where we walked the dog which was nice.  Ground is gravel but not difficult to stake. Bathroom facilities were very well located in the middle of the inner loop. Our site was on the outer side of the loop but paths to the bathroom are easy to find because there are reflectors making it visible with a flashlight at night. We only stayed one night but would definitely come back and bring bikes so we can check out the cute little beach town nearby.

  • Beth B.
    Jun. 28, 2022

    Eastern Lake Campground 1 — Point Washington State Forest

    Forest Nights

    I liked this forest and thought it was very pretty. Good distance to beaches, although I didn’t see a way to walk to the beach - we drove. I would not chance the forest roads in a sedan. You might be okay if it stays dry but if it rains you will not be in good shape. Lots of roads and trails to explore.

    Pros and cons of each campground

    Campground 1 Pros: can park in your site, further apart, no highway noise Cons: only have access to a tiny part of the lake, breeze kind of blocked by trees

    Campground 2 Pros: beautiful lake view and easy access to water, prettier view, more breeze Cons: traffic noise, cannot park in your site

    Both campgrounds have a bathroom (I did not use so not sure of conditions). Every site has a fire pit, bbq pit, picnic table, and lantern pole.

    Would definitely camp here again.

  • Rachel G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 22, 2020

    Blackwater River State Park Campground

    Dark water white sand!

    We stayed is site number 28. The sites are rather small and are equipped with table, fire ring, separate grill, clothesline, and some have hammock posts. Sites are gravel. All are full hook up with water, electric, and sewer. Bathrooms were great well stocked and very clean, hot water. Trash gets picked up daily from your site. There are many many trails to walk in this area. The campground has a great boardwalk trail that goes down to a Beach area and the river. There is also a parking area and boardwalk and Beach for day-use visitors. The river is excellent here it is dark clear water with white sandy banks. This park was immaculate everyone was so friendly you can tell they took pride in this park. There was a lot of rain when we went so river levels went way up. We launched kayaks from campground beach but there is also a boat ramp not far. This park is relatively small compared to others. There is not much in area. 30-45 minutes to Pensacola. Dollar general and Piggly wiggly grocery not far from park. Outfitter close to rent kayaks and shuttle on river.


Guide to DeFuniak Springs

Tent camping options around DeFuniak Springs, Florida extend into several state forests covering the Florida panhandle. The area sits on the Gulf Coastal Plain with elevations ranging from 100-200 feet above sea level, creating a landscape of longleaf pine forests and natural lakes. Forest roads throughout these camping areas can become challenging after rain with standing water creating access issues for standard vehicles.

What to do

Paddling on Eastern Lake: Eastern Lake Campground 2 at Point Washington State Forest offers excellent water access with a small dock for launching watercraft. "Great place to launch a canoe or kayak. I didn't have either but now I have a kayak and I will definitely put it on the lake on my next visit," notes Dale W.

Hiking the trail network: The Eastern Lake bike/hike trail provides three loop options ranging from 3.5 to 10 miles. "Point Washington also offers three hiking trail options on the Eastern Lake bike/hike trial. The hiker or bicyclist can travel the 3.5-, 5- or 10-mile loop. This trail is part of the Florida Forest Service's Trailwalker Hiking Program," explains one camper.

Multi-state hiking adventure: For more ambitious hikers, Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping connects to Alabama's Conecuh National Forest. "This is all primitive camping so be sure to bring EVERYTHING you need to camp. Also it is connected to Alabama's Conecuh National Forest, so there's lots of ground to cover to get some miles in. My group of camping buddies and I decided we wanted to knock out two states in one weekend."

What campers like

Lakeside views: Campers appreciate that Hurricane Lake South Campground provides water views from every site. "The sites were spacious and grassy. Hurricane lake surrounds the campground so every camping spot has a view of the beautiful lake. I love that the tent campers are in a separate campground from RV campers. This makes for a more peaceful camping experience," writes Desiree K.

Privacy between sites: The tent-only areas in Point Washington State Forest provide good separation. "The site was pretty and felt nicely distanced from the other three sites in campground #1. We didn't use the gravel tent space, but hung up hammocks in the nearby trees," mentions H M.

Different environment from nearby beaches: While close to popular coastal areas, the best tent camping near DeFuniak Springs offers a forest experience. "Nice secluded little spot close to our home in Fort Walton but still manages to feel like you're far away. Would recommend for a local getaway!" shares one camper at Point Washington.

What you should know

Gate code requirements: Eastern Lake Campground 1 has security measures in place. "Camp site has locked gate, should receive gate code once reserve with reserveamerica. Also if very importance: you cannot get to site from 30A, google maps does not know if you link from this app - entrance is from hwy 98," warns Ty C.

Road conditions: After rain, forest access becomes challenging. "I came in a day after rain and there were numerous significant deep puddles to get through. I was grateful my Sprinter had knobby tires and was a little higher; even then at one point the puddle was so deep it covered my headlights! If it's been raining, small vehicles should think twice."

Campground positioning: Point Washington State Forest has two distinct camping areas with different advantages. "Campground 1 pros: can park in your site, further apart, no highway noise. Cons: only have access to a tiny part of the lake, breeze kind of blocked by trees. Campground 2 pros: beautiful lake view and easy access to water, prettier view, more breeze. Cons: traffic noise, cannot park in your site."

Tips for camping with families

Bring fishing gear: Pine Log State Forest Primitive Campsites offers fishing opportunities that kids enjoy. "Private maybe one person will drive down the road but they turn around pretty fast without a problem nice back country campground," notes Barb D.

Pack everything needed: With primitive camping being the norm, preparation is essential. "Black Water River State Forest is on the Florida and Alabama state line. This is all primitive camping so be sure to bring EVERYTHING you need to camp," emphasizes Wayne H.

Consider wildlife awareness: The forests have resident wildlife including alligators. "Many sites are on the lake edge but realize that there ARE gators in the lake and they have legs to crawl on land. I have been there maybe 50 times and have yet to see the first gator though."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations for vehicles: Most forest campgrounds have restrictions on vehicle size. "The primitive area is really more geared for the tent camper with several nice flat spots to pitch a tent away from the parking area. However, there is room here for smaller rigs in the parking area. Rigs over 40' not recommended," advises Gregg G. at Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping.

Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds have optimal seasons for RV use. "Beautiful place to stay in the Winter months October through May. Park open all year but late Spring and summer is insect and rainy season," notes a camper at Blackwater River State Forest.

Stay duration limits: Forest service lands typically have maximum stay restrictions. "I believe you can stay up to 14 days at a time before being required to pick up and move," mentions a reviewer at Hurricane Lake South Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near DeFuniak Springs, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near DeFuniak Springs, FL is Eastern Lake Campground 1 — Point Washington State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near DeFuniak Springs, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near DeFuniak Springs, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.