At Ponte Vedra, Florida, tent and RV campsites sit within a coastal landscape where maritime forests meet salt marshes. The area maintains average summer temperatures in the 90s with winter lows rarely dropping below 40°F. Most campgrounds near Ponte Vedra provide fire rings and picnic tables, though some restrict campfires during dry periods or high wind conditions.
What to do
Bicycle trails and mountain biking: At Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, cyclists can access miles of trails for various skill levels. "Miles of biking/hiking trails at this park. Great quick getaway for those living in the Jacksonville metro area," notes Chad P., highlighting the accessibility for day trips.
Fishing from dedicated piers: Ocean Grove RV Resort offers a fishing pier on the San Julian River with turtle watching opportunities. One camper mentions, "Great full hook up, paved site with easy access to beautiful St Augustine Beach. There's also a large, clean pool area with hot tub, big fishing dock with small boat/kayak ramp."
Kayaking with guided tours: Local waters provide calm paddling opportunities. "For kayaking, I recommend using Kayak Amelia. The staff were super helpful and gave us a lot of tips on where to go and what we would see," recommends Shannon C. when describing activities at Little Talbot Island State Park Campground.
What campers like
Historic sites and interpretive programs: Atlantic Beach Campground — Fort Clinch State Park offers a 19th Century Coastal Army Fort with educational opportunities. As Art L. notes, "19th Century Coastal Army Fort. Museum, guided and self tours," making it a destination for history enthusiasts.
Diverse camping environments: The region offers varied landscapes for different camping experiences. "One campground is more beachy near the Atlantic and the other is in the backwoods/swamp/alligator areas. Campsites at both spots were big and spacious," explains Elizabeth G. about Fort Clinch State Park.
Well-maintained facilities: Many campgrounds feature clean bathhouses and community amenities. One camper at Compass RV Park shares, "The arrival and check-in process was easy and well organized. We arrived and were met by one of the friendly campground office staff."
What you should know
Traffic noise levels: Some campgrounds sit near major roads. "This park is literally in the middle of a busy area. It lines up with a strip mall where there was endless noise all night long," reports a camper at St. Augustine Beach KOA.
Site privacy variations: Crooked River State Park Campground offers more secluded sites. "Our site was secluded and surrounded by lush natural vegetation and huge oak trees. Water, electric, fire pit with grill," writes a visitor describing their experience.
Bug activity by season: Insect levels vary throughout the year. "Mosquitos at night here will eat you alive. Lots of canopy cover keeps everything really, really humid," warns Elizabeth E. about Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park during summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Look for parks with diverse activities: Jacksonville North-St. Marys KOA receives praise for family amenities. "We had so much fun camping here for the weekend with our family. Very clean with lots of fun activities like mini golf, pool, jumping pad and a dog run for your pet," shares Susan R.
Consider all-in-one resorts: Flamingo Lake RV Resort caters to families with multiple recreation options. "Flamingo lake is a blast, most notably for the inflatable slides. The kids go absolutely crazy and can't get enough of the water park area," according to Sean B.
Opt for yurt camping: Yurt camping near Ponte Vedra, Florida provides comfortable shelter options. "We stayed in the cabins, with the whole family. Mom's, aunt's and kids. 3 to 80 years old and all had fun," reports Amy C. about the accommodations at Crooked River State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have tight access roads. "VERY tight boy. I drove a commercial truck for years and I had to switch to back us in because it was so tight," notes Elizabeth E. about maneuvering at Hanna Park.
Look for paved sites: Ocean Grove RV Resort offers concrete pads. "Full hook ups and concrete pads with bbq and pick-nic tables," mentions a reviewer, though they caution the sites offer "not a lot of privacy."
Verify hookup placement: Check the positioning of utilities before booking. "The sewer line was 4 inches off the ground, and at a 90-degree angle, gravity doesn't work well with this setup," warns Darren F. about functionality issues at some sites.