Best Tent Camping near Hilliard, FL
Tent campsites in the Hilliard, Florida region offer a mix of coastal and inland experiences, with notable options at Cumberland Island National Seashore and Jennings State Forest. Cumberland Island's Sea Camp Campground provides tent-specific sites with amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, while the Okefenokee Wilderness area offers more primitive tent camping experiences. Most sites require advance planning as Cumberland Island is only accessible by ferry from St. Marys, Georgia, approximately 25 miles north of Hilliard.
The tent-only areas at Cumberland Island feature sandy surfaces under live oak canopies, providing natural shade and protection from coastal winds. Each campsite includes a food storage locker to protect supplies from wildlife, particularly raccoons which are frequently mentioned in camper reports. Access to Cumberland Island tent sites requires ferry reservations, which should be made 5-6 months in advance for Sea Camp Campground. Wilderness campsites like Brickhill Bluff and Yankee Paradise have stricter limitations, with no fires permitted and no facilities available. East Tower Hunt Camp near Sanderson offers more accessible drive-in tent camping with basic toilet facilities.
The secluded nature of these tent campsites provides rare opportunities for wildlife viewing and pristine beach access. At Cumberland Island, tent campers frequently observe wild horses on the beach, armadillos near campsites, and diverse bird species throughout the island. Sites are positioned to allow easy access to the beach while maintaining protection from coastal elements under the tree canopy. The primitive wilderness camping areas require more preparation but reward tent campers with greater solitude and natural experiences. According to one visitor, "Cumberland Island is a beautiful pristine National Seashore with miles of white sand beaches, wildlife sanctuary and unspoiled nature—camping under the live oaks where tent sites are located was easily 10 degrees cooler than elsewhere."