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Best Tent Camping near Gulf Breeze, FL

714 Reviews

Tent campsites around Gulf Breeze, Florida are primarily found within Blackwater River State Forest, offering a variety of primitive tent setup options. Sites like Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping provide a rustic outdoor experience with several flat tent spots away from parking areas. Hurricane Lake South Campground and Bluff Springs Campground offer additional tent camping areas within reasonable driving distance.

Most tent camping areas near Gulf Breeze have minimal amenities, with many sites featuring only basic facilities. Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping allows stays up to 14 days but provides no services, requiring campers to pack in and pack out all supplies. The primitive areas are more suited for tent campers than those with vehicles, with dedicated flat spots for pitching tents. Hurricane Lake South has spacious, grassy sites with fire pits, picnic tables, and shared water spigots, though no shower facilities are currently available. A review noted that "the sites were spacious and grassy, with every camping spot having a view of the beautiful lake."

Tent camping in this region offers peaceful natural surroundings with unique features depending on location. Areas within Blackwater River State Forest provide tall pines suitable for hammock camping and connect to Alabama's Conecuh National Forest for extended hiking opportunities. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "The tall pines were beautiful and great for hanging." Winter months from October through May offer the most comfortable camping experience, as late spring and summer bring increased insects and rainfall. Hurricane Lake South is particularly noted for its remote yet accessible location with good roads leading to the campground. Many sites border the lake, providing water views and fishing opportunities for tent campers willing to bring appropriate gear.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gulf Breeze, Florida (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gulf Breeze, FL

15 Photos of 10 Gulf Breeze Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gulf Breeze, FL

714 Reviews of 10 Gulf Breeze 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.

  • Sonyia W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Excellent as always

    This was my third trip to Pickens and it was amazing as always.

    *The camping store is closed until they can find someone to run it. Wood and ice can be bought at the Tom Thumb just outside the park or at Walmart/Publix in Gulf Breeze.

    *Battery Cooper Rd was closed so those two batteries are inaccessible.

    *Loops B/D no longer have electric or dedicated water (there is a water spigot every few sites). Tent sites D24, D25, B6 have the best shade and space.

    *We stayed at A15 (right next to walking trail entrance) and my best friend on A14. Other good shaded sites on this loop are A4 (grass not level enough for tents), A6, A12, A19, A21, A24, A26, A35 (next to dumpsters though), A36 (okay but not great).

    *You can no longer hang anything from trees or power poles (hammocks, clotheslines etc). You also cannot having a shower looking tent (we have one for a changing tent only—no toilet or shower—and they made us take it down). Max two tents or camper and one tent per site (awnings/pop up shelter over picnic table don’t count towards the two).

    *I didn’t peek into the restrooms in loops B-E. A-loop restrooms were a little dated but clean and functional. The laundry/dish washing station was stellar.

    *The price for getting into Gulf Island National Seashore is now $20 and it’s a 7 day pass.

    *The campground now gives out two slips at check-in. One is for your car and one is to keep with you after 8pm so you don’t get kicked out of the area after dark.

    Everyone was very nice and helpful.

  • Sonyia W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Excellent as always

    This was my third trip to Pickens and it was amazing as always.

    *The camping store is closed until they can find someone to run it. Wood and ice can be bought at the Tom Thumb just outside the park or at Walmart/Publix in Gulf Breeze.

    *Battery Cooper Rd was closed so those two batteries are inaccessible.

    *Loops B/D no longer have electric or dedicated water (there is a water spigot every few sites). Tent sites D24, D25, B6 have the best shade and space.

    *We stayed at A15 (right next to walking trail entrance) and my best friend on A14. Other good shaded sites on this loop are A4 (grass not level enough for tents), A6, A12, A19, A21, A24, A26, A35 (next to dumpsters though), A36 (okay but not great).

    *You can no longer hang anything from trees or power poles (hammocks, clotheslines etc). You also cannot having a shower looking tent (we have one for a changing tent only—no toilet or shower—and they made us take it down). Max two tents or camper and one tent per site (awnings/pop up shelter over picnic table don’t count towards the two).

    *I didn’t peek into the restrooms in loops B-E. A-loop restrooms were a little dated but clean and functional. The laundry/dish washing station was stellar.

    *There are dump stations (one in loop A and one for B-E) but no sewer hook ups per site.

    *The price for getting into Gulf Island National Seashore is now $20 and it’s a 7 day pass.

    *The campground now gives out two slips at check-in. One is for your car and one is to keep with you after 8pm so you don’t get kicked out of the area after dark.

    Everyone was very nice and helpful.

  • 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.

  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2017

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    Educational Trails

    The park is set up on a historic site where they have several trails set up talking about civil war battles that occurred there. They have two separate areas for camping where one is for RVs and tents and the other is the more basic tent only sites. I visited the tent only area which had many many sites and most had a nice amount of space with a good bit of privacy. I was there in June though and it gets really hot during the day and night and also very buggy. If you were here in the fall or winter it could be a great place to camp though. The bathrooms were nice but nothing special. There is a single bathroom for all of the tent sites so if you are far you could have a pretty long walk. The sites are pretty cool to see so if you are a civil war buff it might be worth checking out. The camping is expensive though at $20 a night for the tent sites and $30 for an RV site. People were friendly though and it was one of the nicest places in the area.

  • 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.

  • Karen L.
    May. 17, 2018

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    Very large park, hiking, camping, battlegrounds

    Blakely State Park is a very large State Park, with different choices for camping. There are larger primitive tent sites, smaller tent sites with power/water hookups, RV sites, two primitive cabins and 2 newer cabins which are very nice. There's TONS of hiking, a battleground for history buffs, a playground, a boatdock, lots of hiking, horseback riding etc.

    I stayed in one of the two Squirrels Nest, which are primitive cabins. Basically open air cabins. 2 walls, a roof and 2 walls of screens. There are two wooden platforms for beds. A twin and a queen, and barstools to sit inside and look out into the woods, over the hill in which they are nestled. There's a sink (but no water) and a cabinet, and outside a large deck with bench seating. Below is a fire pit and picnic table. There is a shared porta potty outside of the two cabins. These cabins are a bit of a drive out in the woods, so make sure your vehicle is up to it. It's very peaceful out there. My cabin was inhabited by mice at night, so I kept my food in airtight plastic paint bucket containers & my belongings covered by garbage bags on one of the platforms and had my air mattress inside a pop-up mosquito tent, so the mice did not bother me. I was after all in their house. I sprinkled peppermint oil around my gear & my bed platform to keep the mice away. Next time I will have my food in a large cooler so that the wildlife is not attracted.

    There are hiking trails by these sites, as well as, steps down the hill, leading off into another trail.

    i would stay there again. Great place to get away.

  • 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 Gulf Breeze

Tent camping around Gulf Breeze, Florida provides visitors access to several natural areas within a 30-mile radius. The region features sandy coastal soil and pine forests typical of the Florida Panhandle, with elevations rarely exceeding 100 feet above sea level. Most primitive camping options cluster around the Blackwater River system, where campers can experience typical Gulf Coast conditions with hot, humid summers and mild winters.

What to do

Fishing from shorelines: Hurricane Lake South Campground offers excellent bank fishing opportunities where campers can catch bass and bream. "Remote but good roads all the way to it. Boats and fishing allowed but no gas motors only trolling motors," notes Bruce M., adding that despite the lake having alligators, "I have been there maybe 50 times and have yet to see the first gator."

Explore multiple states: Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping connects to Alabama's Conecuh National Forest, allowing for multi-state hiking trips. Wayne H. shares, "My group of camping buddies and I decided we wanted to knock out two states in one weekend. It was perfect for that! There is an old lodging road that separate the two states."

Water activities: Becks Camp provides waterfront camping with easy boat access. Paul G. mentions, "Definitely a bit out of the way but very pretty! Bring some bug spray, a boat, and some fishing gear! Has spots right on the water to camp!"

What campers like

Lake views: The layout at Hurricane Lake South ensures scenic water views from nearly every site. Desiree K. explains, "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."

Peaceful atmosphere: Bluff Springs Campground spans over 500 acres, offering seclusion from crowded areas. "The more than 500 acres provides a secluded peaceful place to unplug from the fast-paced world and reconnect with nature," says Valeria B., who appreciated both the swimming lake and cabin options.

Accessible primitive camping: Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping appeals to those seeking basic accommodations with reasonable access. Loesje B. reports, "Amazing spot! Just a few people there. Beautiful views! Right by the state park, no toilets and showers here."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: The best time for tent camping near Gulf Breeze is during cooler months. Ray N.P. advises about Black Water River State Forest: "Beautifull place to stay in the Winter months October through May. Park open all year but late Sping and summer is insect and rainy season."

Tent-specific areas: Many campgrounds separate tent and RV camping sections. Hurricane Lake South Campground has designated tent-only areas with basic amenities. Desiree K. notes, "Each site had a fire pit, a picnic table and shared a water spigot... There are bathroom facilities although, no showers."

Limited facilities: Sunny Days Finca provides a flat grassy area for camping but with minimal amenities. Ashley F. highlights its convenient location: "Pull your RV into this flat, grassy area that's close to: East Bay Boat Ramp- 4.1 miles, Navarre Beach- 6.8 miles, Blackwater River- 20 miles."

Tips for camping with families

Farm and nature activities: Coldwater Gardens offers family-friendly accommodations with on-site attractions. Marlene V. recommends, "Nice for a romantic getaway or for families. Lots to do. Little farm area with chickens and trials to hike. Stuff on-site is amazing."

Extended stays: Hurricane Lake South allows longer camping periods for families wanting an extended outdoor experience. Bruce M. shares, "I believe you can stay up to 14 days at a time before being required to pick up and move."

Wildlife awareness: When camping with children at Hurricane Lake, maintain awareness of local wildlife. Bruce M. advises, "many sites are on the lake edge but realize that there ARE gators in the lake and they have legs to crawl on land," though he notes sightings are rare.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most primitive camping areas near Gulf Breeze have limitations for larger RVs. At Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping, Gregg G. warns, "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."

Check availability: Some campgrounds have changed their accommodation types. Before planning a trip to Becks Camp, note that Nancy S. reports, "Head's up. I just called to ask about reserving an RV site. They no longer have those types of sites."

Dump stations: When planning longer stays, know where dump stations are located. Hurricane Lake South offers this amenity, with Bruce M. noting, "A large dumpster provides a place to leave all your trash so theres no excuse not to leave a trace on your site when leaving."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Gulf Breeze, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gulf Breeze, FL is Sunny Days Finca with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Gulf Breeze, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Gulf Breeze, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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