Best Cabin Camping near Hobe Sound, FL

Rustic. Freedom. Old timers. Families. AANR. Pool is heated comfortably year round. Sauna. Hot tub restaurant fitness laundry pool table clubhouse. Pavilliin. Much is centered around the above area. But more is being done for trails and sites.

Recently took a road trip from New England to Florida with my family and had the pleasure of staying here at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

This state park accommodates RVs, tent sites, and cabin rentals with two camping areas -- one (Pine Grove Campground) located close to the entrance, right off of US Hwy 1 and seems to be more geared towards RV sites and the other (River Campground) located about four miles into the park along the Loxahatchee River. We stayed in the River Campground.

Spacious sites offered: water, electricity, a picnic table, & a fire ring… and grounds include two well kept bathhouses with laundry facilities. Trees were sparse in some sections so be prepared to create shade. Our site was visited by a young raccoon who didn't seem fazed by us at all; just wanted what we were cooking.

We only stayed for one night, so we weren't able to take in all the park has to offer, but we did walk some of the nature trails along the river towards the newly built amphitheater and swimming area. Unfortunate for us, the swimming area was closed during our stay -- which would have made the stay twice as nice… but the views were still incredible!

If we ever find our way back to south Florida for camping, we'll definitely come back here.

This is a wonderful park to go camping in. My family and I typically spend 2 weeks there every summer. The pine scrub forest makes for such an amazing adventure and perfect campsite experience. There are bicycle trails, canoeing/kayaking options, Hobe Sound beach nearby. I absolutely live this place.

Hobe Sound FL Jonathan Dickinson SP This park has two campgrounds. Pine Grove Campground, has 90 sites, it is located near the ranger station. These large sites have more space between and foliage for privacy. Sites have clothes line, fire pit, picnic table and are all level gravel. Very nice clean bathouses with family room. None of the washers and dryers were working. There's a playground and picnic Pavilion. Some road and train noise. Had good downpour today and had a little lake at back of site but within an hour it disappeared! Great place to stargaze. Saw a  great full Wolf Moon.

River Campground is more rustic, it has 52 sites, is about four miles from the park entrance, near the Loxahatchee River. Sites close together, no privacy. The River CG is great if you plan to fish or kayak. Close to boat ramp. Sites are dirt. Also more mosquitoes. There's major utility construction going on next to this camp right now. 

Good things- Miles of paved and off road bike  and hike trails, great bird watching, star gazing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing. Seasonal horse back rides. Fun and informative boat tour to Trapper Nelson's. There's a great learning center. Amazon delivers to Ranger station. Stores and restaurants a couple miles away.

For hiking, biking(street and mountain), paddling, boating, and a great camping experience, Jonathan Dickinson State Park gives you all of that and more. Located off U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound, this park and campground offer a variety of activities. And depending on which of the 2 camping areas you choose, you can also have a Florida camping experience where the only noise you’ll hear is the rustling of the palm fronds in the breeze.

There are two distinct and very separate campgrounds in the park. The Pine Grove Campground is located along U.S. Route 1 after you go past the ranger station. We looked at the campground from the satellite view on Google Maps. It seemed very open with almost no trees. When we rode through it on our bikes it confirmed what we saw on Google. Immature trees next to flat slabs with no atmosphere. If you want to just experience the rest of the park, or you are just stopping over a night or two on the way to somewhere else, this might be an okay choice. And there are more campsites in this campground that can accommodate Class A motorhomes better than the River Campground.

But if you want to experience the best Jonathan Dickinson State Park camping, pick the River Campground. The River Campground is about 6 miles in from Hwy U.S. 1 and rests on the edge of the Loxahatchee River. These sites are smaller than at the Pine Grove campground. There isn’t a lot of shade here either, but the overall atmosphere is great. Lots of palms trees, pine trees, and saw palmettos. It’s quintessential Florida. And there is no ambient noise at all because you are so far in from the highway.

To see our full review visit https://lifestyleover50.com/jonathan-dickinson-state-park-camping-review/

Really had a fantastic time at this campground, I'm typically a tent camper and had great facilities. The cost of camping in Florida isn't cheap though this one actually had the value in it given that you could also rent boats and paddle up river alongside manatees to the wild man encampment. Amazing hiking nearby, the tower to check out, even a little mini museum with reptiles. I enjoyed it so much I would go back.

They have wonderful camp grounds and beautiful cabins. It’s also very family friendly with lots of outdoor activities for families

This campground that sits just outside of the only drive through animal safari with over 1,000 different types of animals, is great for families to enjoy. This has all the amenities as a typical KOA campground except you get a bonus by hearing the Lions roar in the morning. The campground is gated during evening hours with the gate closing at 10:00 pm, so you will need to get a gate key card with a $20.00 deposit which will be refunded when you turn the key back at the end of your stay. The staff are very friendly and the campground is very clean. They also do a great job with abiding by the CDC guidelines for Covid-19. The Raccoons like to come out in the evening, so make sure you pick up you garbage at night. The rabbits were having fun playing in the primitive camping area every evening and early morning hours. They offer cabin and platform tent rentals for slightly more than a tent site. There are many seasonal campers from the North along with weekend campers trying to escape the everyday stress in their lives. We live 1 hour south of this campground but we will definitely be going back fir weekend trips.

I stayed at one of the cabins, and they were a little smelly, and lacked toiletries, but overall not too bad. make sure you have all you need, since the store doesn't really carry anuthing besides snacks and it closes early anyway. May is the very end of the season, so it was nice and quiet.

This park has a spacious modern sites close to the entrance. They additionally have another area with closer sites more rustic. Lots of bike trails and hosted a race when we were there. River access with boat rentals and tours. Fascinating nature center. Lookout stand for viewing g and lots of wildlife.

Stayed here during a very HOT weekend May/ June 2020. We stayed in the River Campground, lot 139. This site had a small amount of shade, so it offered some relief from the heat, but compared to other places I have camped this was very exposed. The bugs are pretty bad. Bring your OFF and screened shelters. No-see-ums were bad in the evening, and flies were plenty all day. Lots of ant issues too; we never had a problem with them anywhere else. Once you get past that, there is a ton of stuff to do. A paved and off road bike trail, boat ramps and kayaking, the Florida trail cuts through the park, so there is a lot of hiking. The shower and restroom facilities were kept very clean, and we were very happy with the cleanliness of the park. The off road bike trails are very fun, but just like the rest of the park, very exposed to the sun. This park would be best when the weather cools down in fall and late winter. If you’re a boater, you could get away with it year round, as long as you’re not tent camping.

This is the largest KOA in the country...It's a Great campground for families, although I didn't go with one...There is an adult only pool, and a family pool. The Shanty, a bar is right by the adult pool, with entertainment in season and mostly on weekends. I've been there many times in the past, with my TT and my Coach...The sites are mostly large enough for Big rigs...There are upgrades to deluxe sites with brick patios, barbeques, fire pits and chairs. It's a very busy place on the holidays...If you want quiet those days, I don't suggest you go there...There is also a Golf Course, Golf Cart Rental, A nice updated store, A fenced in Dog park...

We sold our house in West Palm Beach and relocated to Vero Beach for work, choosing to stay in our RV at this park while awaiting our new home to be built. Initially, we were excited, but the management at this park turned out to be a nightmare. Despite the reasonable and straightforward rules, we faced constant harassment. We have two dogs that we walk multiple times a day. There are no trash cans or doggy bags on the property except in the dog park, so we took the initiative to buy an outdoor trash can and a bulk supply of dog waste bags to ensure we cleaned up after our pets. Yet, we received weekly notices accusing us of not cleaning up after our dogs. Each time I went to the main office to discuss these notices, I was told to“just ignore it” as it was likely a“pesty neighbor.” Additionally, when family visited us for the day and parked at our RV slot, we received notices about parking violations. After discussing this with the office, we were advised to have our visitors park in the lot by the restaurant, which we did. Despite this, we continued to receive notices for various infractions, such as improper water hookup and not stopping completely in the neighborhood. This felt like borderline harassment. As responsible adults who strive to follow regulations, we were perplexed and frustrated by these continuous and unfounded accusations. Each time we sought clarification from the office, they dismissed our concerns, blaming"nosey neighbors" and suggesting neighborly disputes were at play. Ultimately, we were given a 30-day notice to vacate the property. This experience is particularly disappointing because we had suggested this park for our upcoming family reunion, which would have brought 47 rentals for a week. Now, I can't wait to leave this place. For anyone considering a short-term stay, this park may suffice. However, I strongly advise against bringing pets unless you want to be harassed and falsely accused. For those seeking a long-term rental, avoid this park at all costs, as you will face weekly harassment. Furthermore, we had several packages confirmed as delivered to the“receptionist/front desk,” which mysteriously went missing, apparently mishandled by the staff. Our initial excitement to be part of the Road Runner community has completely dissipated. I am eager to leave and will never return. I do not recommend this park and will be warning others. 0/10.---

This park is a haven for bikers and beach going snorkelers! There are 9 miles of mountain biking with trail skill levels ranging from green to black diamond, rated like ski slopes. They are lined with crushed shell and gravel which makes them flowing and fast! There’s also a pump track and skills practice area. There are 2 miles of paved bike trails as well.

Blowing Rocks Preserve beach is about 10 min away on the other side of the intercostal. It is a spectacular site! Limestone cliffs line the beach, and a hard bottom reef lines the shores making for incredible snorkeling! The waters are generally a deep turquoise and crystal clear!

There are two Campground loops. One in the front of the park, mainly for RV as there’s no trees or shade between sites. Because of the lack of trees and the location, these sites get the daily sea breezes! Bath houses and really clean and plenty of them. These lots are huge, with gravel pads.

Water, electric and sewer at every site. Fire rings, picnic tables and posts to hang trash or clothes lines also at each site.

the River Loop is in the back of the park. It has trees and shade but thecsites are a bit more like keyhole lots, very close together and smaller in size. These sites do not get the breezes as they are quite far into the park.

There is river access in the back of the park, with a swimming area, river cruises and canoe rentals. There are hiking trails through the park, and a tower perched atop of the tallest sand dune in the area allows for awesome 360 views. Horse trails and guides horse rides are offered. A playground and historical areas are also there to keep you busy.

We generally stay in the months of May and June as the ocean is quite cold in the spring months.

It gets hot, it’s Florida. There are bugs, it’s camping in nature. Bug spray is a plus, but strong fans seem to be the best way to keep your site cool, and big free.

Absolutely a wonderful spot in the brush jungle of so Florida. Extended my stay and was planning to again but it’s booked solid this weekend

This park was potentially one of our biggest surprises of any Florida State Park! 

I’ve actually driven past the entrance to this park more times than I can count, but had never ventured in nor made the time for a special trip across the state to visit until this trip. What a surprise with unbelievable biking and BIG OPEN SPACES. I was astonished to learn just how large this park is. I understand not why it is known on Florida’s East Coast for biking. The roads, trails and bike paths are great. 

We brought everything just in case and enjoyed canoeing, paddle boarding, biking, hiking and exploring. 

There are two campgrounds, one near the entrance called Pine Grove and one several miles into the park by the river, named… you guessed it… The River Campground. 

Many people recommend the River Campground as it is where most of the activities are including swimming, boat ramp, water activities etc. The River Campground for sure has a more State Park vibe and intimate feel. We were in spot#112. However when we biked through Pine Grove Campground we really liked the modern look, larger spaces and better air circulation on top of the hill. Next visit we will try this one even though most of the campers were BIG RIGS and we have a small trailer. 

Views from observatory are great and the park has lots of history. What a Gem for the east coast of Florida which is not often on our radar for camping opportunities. 

We will return.

We absolutely love Jonathan Dickinson State Park. We camped for 10 nights and enjoyed every moment of it! The bathrooms are the cleanest we have ever seen at a campground including expensive campgrounds throughout Florida, California and Colorado. So much to do there too. Family or retirement oriented.

There are limited options for affordable camping in this part of Florida, so plan to book your stay here a while in advance as it fills up. We are lucky to snag two nights here on our way to Miami. Lots of hiking options and some really nice views. The RV park has full hookups and is almost completely filled with older adult campers high end big rigs. Clean facilities and level sites though.

Jonathon Dickinson SP, Jupiter Florida Dickinson SP Large park with miles of paved and off road trails for biking and hiking. Lots to do, horse back riding, boat tours, discovery center, bird watching, off road bike challenge course. We've seen otter, tortoise, birds, eagles so far.Nice sites in two campgrounds. We're in River CG, more shade, a few paved sites but most are dirt/mud. The Pine Grove CG close to entrance, more spacious, not much shade, paved and nice gravel sites. If you get the chance take the river tour. We went on the one that goes to Trapper Nelson's place where you get a ranger guided walk. Totally worth the$25 fee.

Saw a pair of sandhill cranes, on our way into our camp. They were huge! Lizards everywhere, rabbits, birds. No alligators 😐 though. Would've like to see 1 or 2. Showers, bathrooms all clean.

Like the nature…

I stayed at campsite 140. Little to no privacy. Very convenient to the restrooms and trash. Overall a good stay.