The San Mateo area sits within the St. Johns River valley of northeast Florida, where the elevation rarely exceeds 30 feet above sea level. This low-lying landscape creates abundant waterways and wetlands that tent campers can explore year-round. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop into the 40s, making fall through spring the preferred tent camping seasons in San Mateo, Florida.
What to do
Paddling adventures: The waterways near San Mateo offer excellent kayaking opportunities. At Princess Place Preserve, campers can launch directly from their sites. "The sites have docks where you can pull a boat up if you are fishing. Some of the tent campsites are directly on one of the small rivers that empties into the Intercostal," notes Reid D.
Wildlife observation: Bring binoculars for spotting diverse Florida wildlife. Bayard Conservation Area provides excellent opportunities to see native species during your hike to camp. A visitor reported, "On our way to our campsite we were able to spot many animals including: deer, otter, turkey, and wild pigs."
Historic exploration: Visit the historic buildings at Princess Place Preserve between camping activities. One camper shared, "The Ranger who was working when we were there was really helpful. He gave us a private tour of the historic buildings because no tour was scheduled during our stay."
Trail hiking: Explore several miles of trails through varied ecosystems. The Florida Trail runs through Etoniah Creek State Forest, offering easy access from campsites. A hiker noted, "Just off the Palatka-Lake Butler Bike trail. Campgrounds are About 4 miles in on bikeable hard roads."
What campers like
Waterfront privacy: Many tent sites offer direct water access with ample space between neighbors. At Cedar Creek Campground — Matanzas State Forest, a camper described, "As this campground is so incredibly remote, they use the honor system for checking in and selecting your campsite. For the most part, each of these individual sites are very well 'shrubbed up' keeping a decent amount of privacy."
Night sky viewing: The lack of light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. One camper at Matanzas State Forest was impressed by the "Amazing stars -- great view of incredible moon... its amazing you are 10 minutes from a major highway yet feel like you are 1000 miles from anywhere."
Peace and solitude: Many sites offer quiet camping away from crowds. A Princess Place Preserve camper appreciated that "It's off the beaten path sky there is very little traffic in the park compared to other local parks."
Accessible primitive experience: Several areas offer primitive camping without lengthy hikes. Haw Creek Preserve State Park provides a balance of seclusion and accessibility with "a perfectly fabricated wooden plank pathway to follow (read: whatever you typically plan to HAUL to your primitive campsite, here, rest assured, you can pull with a wagon or hand-trailer)."
What you should know
Water considerations: Most sites have limited or non-potable water. At Princess Place Preserve Moody Campground, a camper advised, "Keep in mind that there is no water available at the camping sites or the entire park for that matter. Potable or non potable so you have to bring in all drinking water and water for washing dishes if you plan on doing some cleanup."
Restroom facilities: Bathroom options vary widely across sites. Haw Creek Preserve offers "a restroom and shower facility (granted, it's absolutely gross, but I was surprised to find this nonetheless!)" while at Princess Place Preserve Moody Campground, "The shower house is a short walk and clean for a camp ground. There's also outhouses interspersed for a quicker convenience."
Navigation challenges: Some areas have complex access routes requiring preparation. One visitor to Matanzas State Forest warned, "Once you've turned into this SP, head straight (you won't have any choice!) for 1.5 miles, then hang a right on Longleaf Road for a half mile, then left on Eagles Nest Road, where you'll keep going pass 2 side roads until you eventually end up at Cedar Creek Campground."
Campsite elevation: Several tent sites feature raised platforms for better drainage. At Princess Place Preserve Moody Campground, "The tent sites are elevated which should help keep the soil dryer in case of rain."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife watching opportunities: Turn camping into educational experiences by spotting local species. Bayard Conservation Area's campsites provide excellent wildlife viewing as "tons of squirrels, osprey, an owl, and I'm sure more if you're able to hike a little quieter than myself and my 7 and 9 year old boys."
Easy access water sites: Choose waterfront sites that allow safe water exploration. At Princess Place Preserve, "Dock Site 2 had water on 2 side of the site, and had a steady breeze during our whole visit. Our site had multiple picnic tables, a fire ring, and a charcoal grill."
Pack extra firewood: Many sites have limited dry wood available. At Bayard Conservation Area, one parent noted, "Only problem we had is it was a little tough to find nice dry firewood. Most of the log sized potential firewood was pretty green, but there's plenty of tinder and kindling to make up for it."
Nearby attractions: Plan day trips to nearby towns for a break from camping. A Princess Place visitor suggested, "Palm coast and Flagler beaches and towns are great and nearby for a days adventure off camp."