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Best Campgrounds near Panama City, FL

561 Reviews

Panama City camping on Florida's Gulf Coast includes several good options for visitors. Henderson Beach State Park Campground sits close to the beach with water and electric hookups for campers. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Campground has room for both tents and RVs, with full hookups and good facilities. Indian Pass Campground sits right on the coast with sites that look out over the Gulf of Mexico. Andrews State Park Campground puts you near the beach with hiking trails and fishing spots nearby. The area has rules about fires and how long you can stay to protect the environment. You should make reservations ahead of time, especially during busy seasons when spots fill up quickly. Fall and spring are the best times to visit when the weather is nicer. Summer gets hot and humid with some afternoon storms. Each place has something different - Henderson Beach has more shade while Topsail Hill has nice walking trails. All campgrounds have bathrooms, showers, and picnic areas. If you like fishing, Indian Pass is a good spot to catch fish. Bring your own firewood since collecting it isn't allowed in most places. Panama City has camping that works for quiet trips or more active ones. Always check if a campground is open or closed for maintenance before you go.

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Best Camping Sites Near Panama City, Florida (107)

    1. St. Andrews State Park Campground

    55 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 233-5140

    $28 / night

    "Michael, the camp boasts great shower and laundry facilities, electrical hookups, back in and pull through sites among the quiet of the beach dunes and palmetto swamp... a great natural area minutes from Panama City"

    "Hiking and biking trails within the park. Nice saltwater bay with a white sand beach to relax and snorkel. Good location next to Panama City Beach so you can have city time as well. Fills up quickly."

    2. Panama City Beach RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 249-7352

    $79 - $105 / night

    "There are two pools and to laundry facilities. the clubhouse is spacious and clean there is a place to watch movies read books or just relax in the cool outside of the pool."

    "Clean close to beach great sites"

    3. Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort

    8 Reviews
    Panama City Beach, FL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 235-0924

    $48 - $100 / night

    "Stayed in Panama City beach. Going back ASAP!"

    "Pickle Ball courts, basket ball court, dog walk areas and much more. Short drive to the beach."

    4. Raccoon River Campground

    9 Reviews
    Panama City Beach, FL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 234-0181

    $35 - $65 / night

    "The location of this campground was perfect. We were walking distance to the beautiful beaches and pier of Panama Beach. There are a lot fun activities here."

    "We had a great time camping for 5 nights… we liked how close we were to the beach and even walked from the campground (although you do cross a busy road). There was beach chair rentals and being I."

    5. Outback Springs RV Resort

    7 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 258-3110

    $45 - $50 / night

    "A beautiful new pool, hot tub and outside lounge are available. The pool and surrounding area was clean and well kept."

    "It is one of our homes away from home. The staff is very friendly, the bathrooms are very clean and the pool/hot tub area is super nice. It's well worth the stay if you're in the area."

    6. Raptor Ranch at Tyndall AFB

    4 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 283-2798

    "It's close to Tyndall AFB and the Tyndall marina (requires a drive, not directly connected) where you can rent kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats, jet skis, bikes, and more (again, call ahead to verify availability"

    "Its conveniently located near the base and also near the bay for fishing and other fun water recreational activities."

    7. NSA Panama City FamCamp Southside

    3 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 234-4402

    "The downside is that there are “grass burrs” everywhere in the sparse grassy areas if you want to walk a dog but there is a dog park."

    8. Camper's Inn

    5 Reviews
    Panama City Beach, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (866) 872-2267

    "Close to beach access and tons of stuff to do with in walking distance."

    "Good location with boardwalk access to beach. Park amenities were as described. Drawback was traffic on Thomas Drive, except vehicle noise in evening with cyclists and roadster revving it up."

    9. Sand Pond Campground — Pine Log State Forest

    19 Reviews
    Ebro, FL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 535-2888

    "Camped here in August of 2019 a quiet campground located about 25 miles from Panama City Beach. Mostly pine forrest nice campsites and a beautiful lake."

    "Great little campground near Panama City! Almost all sites were water front. The sites were paved, spacious, and well spaced out. The grounds were well kept with many pine trees."

    10. Tharp's Camp Cedar

    2 Reviews
    Panama City, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 265-2330

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Waterfront with free use of marina and boat storage, for renters at Tharp's, on beautiful fresh water Deerpoint lake who's recent creel study by Game and fish commission ranked Deerpoint lake the most"

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Recent Camping Photos near Panama City, FL

90 Photos of 107 Panama City Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Panama City, FL

561 Reviews of 107 Panama City Campgrounds

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Campground

    Exploration Trip

    We continue to visit the Gulf to look at where retirement may end up. Another great state park. Lots to do hiking to the dunes or lake. Checking out if the gators will let you see them. Hanging at the beach. Bike riding down 30A or around the park. Everything is close by. Great weather. Most sites are shaded. If you have satellite or Dish setup you may be limited to get signal. Also you will need to bring your own fire ring and grill as many sites do not have either. You cannot go wrong with this park.

  • Bobbie S.
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Stay n Go RV Resort

    Great nights rest

    This is our second stay here. It is so easy to book online or over the phone. They have restrooms, a bathhouse and restaurant options within walking distance. I. Forgot to take pictures AGAIN. Would definitely stay here again and will try to remember to take photos 😂

  • S F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Florida Caverns RV Resort

    Nice Stay

    We stayed here for two nights/three days of a ten day trip. It was hands-down the nicest of the locations. Clean, concrete pads, excellent location and good wi-fi that was not up-charged. The pool area was nice and clean. Service and staff were excellent/friendly and they escorted us to our site upon arrival. They also have trash pickup at your site daily. We saw a security truck drive through several times and had no problems from our neighbors. The location near the water cannot be beat. We were located near the docks and I was able to launch my paddle board easily. The water was gorgeous and clear on the adjacent spring/pond. Our AT&T cell service was good. 

    My only(very minor) complaints are that there are very few trees or shaded areas at this location and it would have been nice to have the fire pits included at the site. We did not spend any time sitting outside our camper and we only did about ten minutes in the dog park because of the sun, but then again, it's Florida in July in an area that's still recovering from tornadoes and a major hurricane. And by the time we thought it had cooled off enough to enjoy s'mores in the evening, the office had long since closed so we couldn't rent a fire pit. We have family that we visit often in the area, so we will definitely stay here again! We camped at Florida Caverns RV Resort at Merritt's Mill Pond in a Travel Trailer.

  • Matthew V.
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Indian Pass Campground

    Quiet and Relaxing

    This is a very low key campground., tucked away on a dead end road. Beautiful water front sites. Campground is just a tad compact when it comes to vehicle maneuverability, but very manageable. Wonderful and helpful staff. Will be returning.

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Retroville 1960s-70 Drive In Movie/TV Themed RV Park

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 – Quiet, Clean, and Super Responsive Owners

    We stayed at Retroville in Freeport, FL from Thursday to Sunday in early August. It’s a very small, peaceful campground—just one gravel road with a cul-de-sac at the end, where there are a few waterfront sites. The grounds were very clean, and although the waterfront area is a marshy slope (more like a slew off the river), it added to the quiet, tucked-away atmosphere.

    Sites are all gravel and full hookup, and while there’s not a ton of space between them, the campground never felt crowded or noisy. We didn’t see a bathhouse or laundry area, and the small office/store was closed while we were there, but it looked like it sold things like ice cream and small essentials.

    The owners were extremely helpful and responsive, even though they were out of town during our stay. I booked last-minute after 9PM en route, and they still responded quickly and offered help—great customer service even from afar.

    There’s not much to do at the campground itself, but we planned for that. It’s in a great location for day trips—about 30–45 minutes to beaches like Seaside, Miramar, Destin, and PCB. We swam at Vortex Springs (30 minutes away), biked trails around Seaside, and had dinner with live music at North Beach Social just across the bridge south of the campground—highly recommend that spot for food, drinks, and beachy vibes.

    The campground has a fun retro theme with gas pumps and vintage signs, perfect for photos. Wi-Fi and cell service were spotty during our stay, but we expected that based on reviews. If you’re looking for a quiet, clean basecamp with super nice owners and don’t mind driving to the action, Retroville is a solid pick.

  • b
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Falling Waters State Park Campground

    Tent camping at falling waters

    Pretty nice small campground. The hike trails are not that exciting with little to no reward at the end. There is a tiny “waterfall” but not something that’s gonna make you say wow once you get to it.

  • a
    Jun. 15, 2025

    Retroville 1960s-70 Drive In Movie/TV Themed RV Park

    Nostalgic Stay

    We really enjoyed our few days at this park. Its newly open and full of details and has a great hollywood museum thst must not be missed. Its very close to the 30a beach area but is hidden. There were a couple of famous Nashville musicians there also camping! The owners take great care of the park and its small and they have mo plans to make it into a parking lot with too many campers.

Guide to Panama City

Camping near Panama City, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful beaches, lush parks, and family-friendly activities. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, there's something for everyone in this sunny slice of paradise.

What to do

  • Explore the beaches: The stunning beaches are a major draw. Campers love the easy access to the water, especially at places like Henderson Beach State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The beach was beautiful! We didn’t camp here but drove in to use the beach while we were there."
  • Hiking and biking: Trails abound in the area. At Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Campground, one camper shared, "Excellent access to the beach, hiking, biking (many miles), lakes, great campground."
  • Fishing and kayaking: Many campgrounds, like Indian Pass Campground, are close to great fishing spots. A reviewer noted, "Great place for kayaking, surf fishing, and there’s a boat ramp right next-door."

What campers like

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and showers. At St. Andrews State Park Campground, one guest said, "Bathrooms clean, Wi-Fi good... great access to beaches."
  • Friendly staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. A visitor at Grayton Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "The park rangers and volunteer staff were awesome and very accommodating."
  • Natural beauty: Campers love the scenic views and wildlife. One reviewer at Florida Caverns State Park said, "The campground is small and has a really sweet vibe... the shower stalls are really nice."

What you should know

  • Site sizes vary: Some sites can be tight, especially for larger RVs. A camper at Falling Waters State Park Campground noted, "Campground spots were sufficient if a little tight."
  • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive facilities. A visitor at Eastbank mentioned, "The bathhouses are a bit on the older side, I know funding is not there to do much."
  • Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for wildlife. One camper at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park Campground shared, "Aside from the overly friendly wildlife... the large over 5ft rattlesnake made it a no-go."

Tips for camping with families

  • Plan for beach days: Make sure to pack beach gear. A family at Camp On The Gulf enjoyed, "Short walk to the beach. Sites are close together but the beach is beautiful."
  • Check for kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or nearby attractions. One reviewer at Henderson Beach State Park Campground said, "It's a clean well-kept campground with bathhouses, laundry, and very beautiful scenery."
  • Bring bikes: Many campgrounds are bike-friendly. A visitor at St. Andrews State Park Campground noted, "We rode our bikes to the dam. Great time!"

Tips from RVers

  • Check site levels: Some sites can be unlevel, making setup tricky. A camper at Indian Pass Campground mentioned, "Our site was difficult to back into down a small hill and not very level."
  • Use leveling blocks: Bring leveling blocks to help with uneven sites. A reviewer at Florida Caverns State Park advised, "The crushed gravel pad base can allow your jacks to settle too far down."
  • Plan for dump station access: Some campgrounds may not have the best dump station facilities. A visitor at Falling Waters State Park Campground noted, "The dump station does not have the hose hookups for flushing your tanks."

Camping at Panama City, FL, and its surrounding areas offers a unique blend of nature, adventure, and relaxation. Whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful retreat, there's something here for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in Panama City, Florida?

St. Andrews State Park Campground is a premier camping destination with newly renovated facilities following Hurricane Michael. Located minutes from Panama City Beach, it offers beautiful waterfront sites, hiking and biking trails, and excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities. Another excellent option is Sand Pond Campground — Pine Log State Forest, which provides a quiet retreat about 25 miles from Panama City Beach. The campground features paved, spacious sites, many waterfront, surrounded by pine forest—perfect for hammock camping.

How much does camping near Panama City, FL cost?

Camping costs near Panama City vary by amenities and location. Wright Lake Campground in Apalachicola National Forest offers more affordable options, with most sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. For state park camping, Grayton Beach State Park Campground provides well-maintained facilities at standard state park rates, typically ranging from $20-30 per night. Private RV resorts like those in Panama City Beach generally command higher prices, especially during peak season, with rates potentially ranging from $50-100+ per night depending on amenities and season.

What RV camping options are available in Panama City?

Panama City offers several RV-friendly camping options. Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort provides excellent facilities with helpful staff in a convenient location. For those seeking a military connection, Raptor Ranch at Tyndall AFB is an option, though it's worth noting it was damaged by Hurricane Michael and availability may be limited. Additional RV accommodations include Panama City Beach RV Resort and Raccoon River Campground, both offering full hookups, amenities for larger rigs, and convenient access to area attractions.

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