Best Tent Camping near Panama City, FL
Tent campsites can be found throughout the coastal and forested areas surrounding Panama City, Florida, with options ranging from primitive spots to more established tent campgrounds. Point Washington State Forest offers several tent camping areas including Eastern Lake Campground 1 and Eastern Lake Campground 2, both providing access to waterfront sites and hiking trails. Pine Log State Forest, located near Ebro, features primitive tent camping options with basic amenities in a secluded forest setting.
Forest roads leading to tent campgrounds in Point Washington State Forest may become challenging after rainfall, with significant puddles forming that require high-clearance vehicles. One camper wrote, "If it's been raining, small vehicles should think twice. At one point the puddle was so deep it covered my headlights!" Many tent sites feature pea gravel or fine gravel tent pads with picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern poles. Vault toilets or porta-potties are available at most locations but vary in cleanliness. No running water or hookups exist at primitive sites, making these true pack-in, pack-out experiences.
Areas farther from Highway 98 offer deeper seclusion with minimal road noise. Most tent sites in the region feature some tree cover providing partial shade, though Hurricane Michael damaged many wooded areas around Tyndall AFB. Tent campers at Eastern Lake Campground have convenient lake access with a small dock ideal for launching kayaks or canoes. The forest surrounding the campgrounds contains multiple hiking and biking trail options, including the Eastern Lake trail system with 3.5, 5, and 10-mile loops. A visitor commented that despite being close to popular beach destinations, Point Washington State Forest "is a wonderful nature retreat not far from Destin and other popular locations, but it's a gem itself!" Reservations for primitive tent camping can be made through ReserveAmerica, with many sites requiring gate codes for access.
