Cabins near Port St. Joe, Florida range from basic to fully equipped, with several accommodations situated along the region's 43-mile shoreline. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters averaging 60°F, making cabin camping possible year-round. Hurricane season runs June through November, affecting availability and requiring advance planning for peak summer months.
What to do
Beach exploration: 10 minutes from William J. Rish Recreation Park Cabins, visitors find diverse shoreline conditions. "Florida State Parks did a great job redoing this campground after Hurricane Michael in 2018. Brand new facilities, excellent camping pads, and good beach access. You can still see some of the hurricane damage which is a testament to the severity of Michael in the area," notes Colin R. about St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Fishing opportunities: Available directly from cabin sites at several locations. "We had a bit of weather to deal with on our first night but it only got better from there. Our tent site was right on the water and was great for putting our small boat out when we wanted," shares GoWhereYouAreDraw N. about Indian Pass Campground.
Snorkeling excursions: Accessible from multiple cabin locations along the coast. "Best area for protected, near shore snorkeling. A small area located inside rock jetties provides the perfect area for amateur and intermediate snorkeling. Many divers also frequent the rougher/deeper areas near the jetties," explains Denise K. about St. Andrews State Park.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Regular sightings from cabin porches throughout the region. "This place is great! A beach within a short walk, palm trees, clean bathrooms, wildlife, sunsets... And the Florida State Parks system is contactable and friendly!!! There are very nice screened in cabins available," shares Richard R. about T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Campground.
Waterfront proximity: Several cabins offer direct water access without crowding. "Loved this oasis outside of Port St. Joe! Tent camping limited but the 5 tent sites are ON THE WATER and the fishing is spectacular!" explains Shea A. about Indian Pass Campground.
Quieter atmosphere: Many cabins situated away from tourist centers, offering seclusion. "We ended up here on an unplanned night of camping but were very pleased with the park and the campground. The campground was well maintained and not very loud and didn't feel overly busy. Our site was not overly private, but some of the other sites looked more private and some were even on the lagoon!" reports Sara S. about St. Andrews State Park Campground.
What you should know
Hurricane recovery: Ongoing rebuilding efforts affect some facilities throughout the region. "Still recovering from the many storms that have directly impacted them over the last few years. Clean and nicely maintained facilities. Staff was very friendly. Beach is amazing," explains Bille W. about T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Amenity inconsistency: Bathrooms and showers vary significantly between properties. "The bathhouse is clean and the water hot. The views are spectacular. The only negative is there's no septic, so you have to have your black/gray water pumped, but even that's not worth a rating deduction," notes GoWhereYouAreDraw N. about Indian Pass Campground.
Reservation challenges: Limited availability for waterfront cabins requires advance planning. "I liked it because it was a smaller park and there weren't any kids running around. The other coastline West RV park had a lot of families and was bigger. I would stay here again and next time for more than 2 nights! And one of the best things about the park is the view of the bay!" shares Joyce T. about Coastline RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some cabin locations offer better facilities for children than others. "We really enjoyed this campground. About 10min walk to putt putt golf, beach, and water park. Shady, clean, 2 pools are very nice. Can be a little noisy at night from road traffic. All in all, we will be back. Oh, great playground and fort looking structure for people with kiddos," notes Courtney B. about Raccoon River Campground.
Annual family traditions: Several cabins accommodate multi-family gatherings with advance planning. "St. Andrews State Park is a regular destination for our group of Dads and kids annual camping trip. These sites are perfect for our group to book two or three sites together (we book between 6-10 months in advance) and for the kids to ride their bikes around the loop," shares Matt M. about St. Andrews State Park Campground.
Wildlife education opportunities: Multiple cabin locations offer nature programs during summer months. "We have been visiting for a few years now. Feels like home! Abundance of places to explore and great fishing," explains Becky B. about T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection priorities: Waterfront and end spots offer better privacy at most locations. "We had a wonderful stay. The place was very clean. The staff at the office were cheerful and very pleasant. The dog park area in back had good grass and was clear of poop and such. The view. Wow! Just wonderful," shares Joel P. about Coastline RV Resort.
Full hookup availability: Varies significantly between properties in the region. "Spent spring break 2021 there. Loved the amenities; two heated pools, clean nice playgrounds for the kids, nice laundry area, great layout to take walks, level clean spots, trash ran twice a day (picked up from your spot!) and a nice employees everywhere I met!" reports Corina J. about Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort.
Site spacing considerations: Some cabin properties have tighter layouts than others. "The sites are very different. Some are tiny, some are huge. Some have waterfront and many don't. We booked late and got a very small (although not the smallest) site. If you want a good spot once they reopen, definitely book early and pay attention to the measurements on the website," advises Sonyia W. about St. Andrews State Park.
