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Best Tent Camping near Jay, FL

507 Reviews

Tent campsites throughout Blackwater River State Forest provide the primary camping options near Jay, Florida. Both established campgrounds and primitive sites are available within this expansive forest system. Coldwater Gardens and Bluff Springs Campground offer dedicated tent camping areas with different amenity levels, while several primitive areas in the state forest allow backcountry camping with minimal facilities. Most locations are within a 20-minute drive from Jay, with Hurricane Lake South Campground providing lakeside tent sites approximately 15 miles east.

Tent campers at Blackwater River State Forest primitive sites should prepare for self-sufficient camping. Many areas require campers to pack in all water and supplies, as facilities are limited or non-existent. Fire rings are provided at established campgrounds like Bluff Springs and Hurricane Lake South, but primitive areas may only permit fires in designated spots. A visitor commented, "Black Water River State Forest is perfect for primitive camping—pack everything you need as this is all primitive camping." Most tent sites throughout the region have 14-day stay limits, and some locations require permits or reservations depending on the specific area within the forest.

Forested tent sites throughout the Jay area offer substantial shade and natural surroundings. Blackwater River State Forest primitive camping areas provide more seclusion than established campgrounds, with walk-in tent locations offering greater privacy. Access to waterways is a significant feature, with Hurricane Lake South Campground offering lakeside tent sites. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The sites were spacious and grassy with each site having a fire pit and picnic table, and Hurricane Lake surrounds the campground so every camping spot has a view of the beautiful lake." Summer months bring higher humidity and increased insect activity, so spring and fall typically provide more comfortable tent camping conditions. Winter camping is possible with proper cold-weather gear, as noted by campers who find the area "beautiful in the winter months from October through May."

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Best Tent Sites Near Jay, Florida (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Jay, FL

15 Photos of 10 Jay Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Jay, FL

507 Reviews of 10 Jay Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • G
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Big Lagoon State Park Campground

    Big Lagoon State Park - Florida - Nice, quiet state park.

    Stayed at Big Lagoon 7/8/2021 for 4 nights in 24” travel trailer. There is a mixture of sites that have dirt, gravel, sand, fully paved, partial paved drives.

    Our first site: # 45 was a back in and was in low area, near a marshy area. Entire site was muddy, and caked on to your shoes. (It had been pretty rainy the previous day, but we stayed at this site 2 nights and never really dried out.

    Went to Ranger who was very helpful and moved us, 1 site over: # 46. This site had a paved area for Trailer and wide cement area to walk in and out of.. a much better site. With the heavy foliage through out the park, sites are pretty private.

    If you look at the campground map, you will see the sites on the north side are a bit higher and elevation and did not seem to have any issue with water. When booking, read the description of the site, carefully, some are tent only, or very short drive so limited what you can put where.

    Campground is gated, and you are given a code for “off hours” entrance. Used rest rooms and shower. Very clean and really hot water. No water views, short walk to water BUT, board walk was still closed due to last hurricane. Looks very close to being done.

    Lastly: Campers: if you do not plan on keeping your reservation, please be kind and formally cancel. We wanted to move the first night but sign at Ranger stated “campground full” so we did not ask.. next morning there were at least 5 or 6 sites where people did not show nor cancelled.

  • Sam S.
    Jan. 18, 2022

    Mystic Springs Recreation Area

    And it comes with a cat!

    Loved this place. It doesn’t look like it on the campground map, but most sites are secluded and come with their own picnic table, fire ring, and cover! The cover is amazing - you can put your tent, car or camper under it to stay dry. Makes me wonder why more campgrounds don’t have something similar. There’s a portapotty available, and it’s one of the cleanest I’ve visited.

    Only issue with this place is the reservation system. I like that you can reserve a site in advance, but it seems like a lot of people take advantage of it and don’t end up showing. While I was here I think almost all the sites were officially booked, yet less than half actually were occupied. Please don’t do this if you’re staying here!

    Oh yea, there was a pregnant cat at my site (6) as well. She was very sweet and maybe you’ll get to see her kittens if you stay here!

Guide to Jay

Tent camping near Jay, Florida centers around the extensive Blackwater River State Forest system, located in Florida's western panhandle region with elevations rarely exceeding 200 feet. The area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly above 90°F and mild winters where frost can occur but snow is extremely rare. The forest covers over 210,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat interspersed with numerous waterways and lakes.

What to do

Kayaking adventures: Hurricane Lake offers excellent paddling opportunities with electric motors only permitted on the water. The lake provides scenic views from every campsite as noted by a camper at Hurricane Lake South Campground: "Hurricane lake surrounds the campground so every camping spot has a view of the beautiful lake."

Hiking multi-state trails: Combine state experiences by exploring the connection between Florida and Alabama forests. A visitor to Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping explained: "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."

Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and river access points provide fishing throughout the Jay area. Several campsites at Hurricane Lake South sit directly on the water, though visitors should note: "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."

What campers like

Spacious, well-maintained sites: Many campers appreciate the layout and upkeep of designated camping areas. According to one review of Hurricane Lake South Campground: "The sites were spacious and grassy. Each site had a fire pit, a picnic table and shared a water spigot."

Year-round accessibility: While summer brings challenging conditions, campers enjoy the cooler months in particular. A visitor to Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping noted: "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."

Separation of camping types: The differentiation between RV and tent camping areas enhances the experience for tent campers seeking a traditional outdoor experience. One camper at Hurricane Lake South observed: "I love that the tent campers are in a separate campground from RV campers. This makes for a more peaceful camping experience."

What you should know

Primitive camping preparedness: Backcountry sites require complete self-sufficiency. A reviewer at Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping advised: "This is all primitive camping so be sure to bring EVERYTHING you need to camp."

Stay limits: Forest regulations permit extended camping but with specific timeframes. As one camper noted about free camping areas: "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."

Seasonal considerations: Jay area tent camping varies significantly by season. Summer brings intense heat, humidity and insects, while winter camping requires appropriate gear but offers more comfortable conditions and fewer pests.

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: Coldwater Gardens offers unique learning experiences for children alongside comfortable accommodations. A family visitor shared: "Nice for a romantic getaway or for families. Lots to do. Little farm area with chickens and trials to hike."

Water safety awareness: Families camping near Hurricane Lake should supervise children constantly due to alligator presence, though encounters are rare. Designated swimming areas exist at some locations but require caution.

Specialty accommodations: Some properties offer unique lodging options beyond traditional tent sites. According to a Coldwater Gardens visitor: "Stuff on-site is amazing. They even have a tree house you can rent out!"

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Smaller RVs fare better at most Jay area campgrounds due to access road limitations. One RVer at Black Water River State Forest Primitive Camping cautioned: "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... Rigs over 40' not recommended."

Cell service coverage: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the Blackwater River State Forest area. A camper noted about one primitive site: "This is on the edge of Verizon cell coverage service."

Limited RV facilities: Many tent camping areas near Jay provide minimal services for RVs. According to an RVer reviewing Becks Camp: "Head's up. I just called to ask about reserving an RV site. They no longer have those types of sites."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jay, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jay, FL is Coldwater Gardens with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

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

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