Best Tent Camping near St. Augustine, FL
State parks and conservation areas surrounding St. Augustine, Florida provide diverse options for tent camping in natural Florida landscapes. Princess Place Preserve, located in Palm Coast, offers waterfront tent sites with elevated wooden platforms to keep tents dry during rain. Cedar Creek Campground in Matanzas State Forest, just 10 minutes from I-95, provides secluded tent camping with primitive amenities. Black Creek Ravine features walk-in tent sites accessible only by a 2.4-mile hike, offering complete seclusion from vehicle traffic and day-use visitors.
Most tent campsites in the St. Augustine area feature sandy or dirt surfaces with varying levels of shade from oak and pine trees. Campers should bring all drinking water, as many locations like Princess Place Preserve provide only non-potable water or none at all. Fire rings with cooking grates are standard at most sites, though firewood availability varies significantly. Portable toilets or vault toilets are typically available, though often at some distance from campsites. During summer months, high temperatures and humidity make tent camping challenging, with fall through spring offering more comfortable conditions. Wildlife considerations include alligators near waterfront sites and ticks in wooded areas.
In early fall, tent campers find significantly fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures at most St. Augustine area campgrounds. One camper at Bayard Conservation Area noted they "spotted deer, otter, turkey, and wild pigs" while hiking to their riverside campsite. At Black Creek Ravine, a visitor reported "zero competition for the single campsite" with the tent area "nestled between trees that held guy lines beautifully." Jennings State Forest Hammock Campground provides semi-private tent sites with "plenty of brush between you and the next camper." Walk-in tent sites generally offer greater seclusion, though they require carrying all gear from parking areas. Primitive tent camping areas typically include fire rings and picnic tables but limited additional amenities.
