Best Cabin Camping near Youngstown, FL

Great campground with full hookups! Longer hike to the beach than Henderson State Park but everyone seemed to have adapted with beach cart trailers behind their bikes. Beach tram runs when not on COVID shut down. Some sites are close together but the south loop sites had more privacy. Great biking in the park and along 30A. Also has many nice cabin rentals. Beach is absolutely beautiful!

This campground is off the beaten path near Destin (about a 30 minute drive), but is still very convenient.  It's got all the amenities and then some. Cabin rental, ice, pool, fishing, boat dock, clean bathrooms, playground, etc.  There is a nice gas station/small store just up the road too.  It's on a dead end road, so there is little traffic.  Even saw a couple of small gators by the boat dock! Very nice place, would stay there again!

Needed to find last-minute reservation and they were able to put me in a cabin only $50 a night! Very clean, very quiet and very friendly staff. Cabins are rustic but they have a full service bath house. Now goes by the name Flat Creek Family Campground

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 hike in spots for those with tents who want to. There are very nice screened in cabins available.

You need to book this place way in advance, within minutes of these cabins being available for reservation. Reserve even if you don't know you'll be able to go; cancellation is like $17 or something.

Cell reception is spotty with At&T.

Beach is a pretty hilly 10 min. hike or so - so you will need to be organized and not be hand carrying big coolers; you'll need backpack. But not many people make the hike; you'll often have the beach to yourselves.

Lots of wildlife around - deer, armadillos, etc.

If wind is blowing from the north (shore toward beach, from behind you if you are looking at the gulf) the beach may have nasty biting flies, so drive 45 mins and go to St. George beach. Usually wind comes off the gulf though and keeps the bugs at bay.

We love Cabin #7.Cabin 8 has steps down to the bay; all others are a straight walk out.

Downstairs "beds" are not really suitable for adults; I wouldn't try to put more than 2 adults in a cabin and expect much sleep.

Bring kayaks and SUPs! You will be right on the bay, and St. Joe bay is great paddling with tons of fish and wildlife. We've seen manta rays, tons of cownose rays, huge schools of Jack Crevalle, turtles, and caught many species of fish...redfish, snook, seatrout, etc. Even saw an alligator way out at the end of the peninsula once!

Keep in mind, this is a Preserve. Good trails, coastal dunes with lakes, fishing, paddling, beach, cabins, and tent camping including Glamping!

this place is upscale as can be. has a great pool, and entertainment in the common area. Great cabin area if u don’t have a RV. will need to reserve a year ahead.

We are very partial to this park! Beautiful views of the lake. Great for primitive camping or rv/camper. They also have cabins that you can rent. Very busy during the summer months but quiet during the fall and winter.

This place is just nature at it's best! Great fishing! Gorgeous dunes! Shells, shells, shells!!! If you have a boat....take it!!! You can walk from the waves across to the calmer water....short distance. Deer frolic in the ponds at sunset. It is by far one of the best beach camping experiences I've ever had! Good facilities. GREAT cabins! Primitive camping too!

Very nice and clean. Tent area has about 6 sites in a circle around a covered area giving each site shade, shelf, a light, electric and water. Sites have picnic table and fire ring. 6 private shower stalls, clean bathrooms, a clean pool, small playground and store. We have stayed here a few times in the tent area but they also have Rv sites and cabins.

I visited first time this park. beautiful sites happy people on earth day last Saturday I took msny pics talked to interesting people ,received face paint bee for me and butterfly for my Margaret Cabins were also rented in this park. bicycles ,a nice store and everyone was very helpful and friendly.

I truly enjoyed all day Left about three in afternoon Greg and Margaret

Surrounding is beautiful and quiet with the live oak trees and creek. Off the beaten path and out of traffic but close (15-20 minute) drive to many public beaches. 45 minute drive to either Destin or PCB. Park has a pool, nice pavilion with clean bathrooms and fully equipped cabins. Cons are the price, non-functioning laundry, and too few bathrooms/showers. The “pontoon” to rent is a joke.

Lovely area, bring snorkels, kayaks, and bikes. Lots of wildlife. Really neat shorelines with sand and very tall trees, driftwood, dunes. Make sure to explore both sides of the peninsula. About 1.5 hours from Apalachicola National Forest, lots more to do in the area. Watch the sunset! Camp sites have nice privacy, some areas are wooded for shade. Some of my group stayed in the cabins and they were also nice (though sparcely stocked, call to know exactly what to expect). Very clean, great services as described.

There is currently no camping allowed at the campground due to the significant damage caused by hurricane Michael in October 2018. The park is open for day use of the beach, swimming and paddle boating. I urge everyone to please stop by to show continued interest in this beautiful area. In time this will once again be as spectacular as ever and hopefully a decision will be made on reopening the campgrounds. This was one of those places that once visited you will never forget. I’m providing a few pictures from my last visit in 2018 before the hurricane to show what it was and what it will return to over time. 

Here’s the information currently on the Florida State Parks information page and on the Reserve America web site

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T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park T.H. Stone St. Joseph Memorial Peninsula State Park is recovering. The natural communities on the peninsula, such as coastal scrub, have evolved over millions of years and countless storms. Tall dunes provided extra protection. The resilient coastal ecosystems in the park are some of the best suited to rebounding after hurricanes. The south end of the park reopened in January 2019. Staff and volunteers made an incredible effort to clean up debris and make the park safe for visitors. The northern area of the park is currently closed to visitors. Natural sand infill has narrowed the channel created by Hurricane Michael’s storm surge. Across the channel, in the northern half of the park, roads, utilities and several facilities were destroyed and are not accessible. It will be some time before camping or cabins are available. The south end of the park still offers many of the experiences that make St. Joseph a great destination. Swimming, snorkeling and beach-combing are still popular activities. The concession is offering rentals of kayaks and paddle-boards, and a boat ramp provides easy access to St. Joseph Bay. The Division of Recreation and Parks' Office of Park Planning continues to assess the park’s condition. The Office of Park Planning shares opportunities for public comment on their webpage. For the most current information on available amenities and conditions, visit St. Joseph Memorial Peninsula State Park or call 850-227-1327. Please remember, for your safety and to protect the park’s ecosystems, please obey all posted signage. ______________________________________________________________________________

From what I understand, the park is currently closed to camping and cabins due to hurricane damage but some areas are still open. I am reviewing anyway to help encourage public support to rebuild the access to the park and reopen.

This park had smaller sites that were close together; however, the thick vegetation between sites gave each one a very private feel. The ground is dirt/sand (with a paved road leading to sites). The beach is absolutely wonderful. The restrooms were very large, clean, and well kept. There are bike trails leading down boardwalks and paved roads, and a large playground. All of the staff we encountered were very polite and helpful.

As we left, a very heavy storm came and the site flooded as we were packing up. Of course, as most daily gulf storms go, everything dried up rather quickly.

A private, gated road leads to level, stamped concrete pads landscaped with red lava rock around 2 lakes with great fishing either on the water or newly renovated or rebuilt piers lighted for night fishing. They have, likely, the nicest shower rooms you'll encounter on the rv trail. A well equipped camp store has everything you need to get by and some things you didn't realize you need ( hello hammock seats that I had to drop $200 on). They have townhouse cabins and glamping yurts as well as a community center, pool, and laundry room. Full hookups and Wi-Fi. Sites not located on the waterfront are elevated so they still have a water view. Since buying this resort a few years ago, the new owners have poured their hearts and souls into updating this resort into a next level haven for the new generation of the rv lifestyle.

Campground Review:

If you are ever in the Florida Panhandle, you have to stop at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. I have been coming here for years as a visitor and the past four volunteering in the campground because I love it so much. The campground used to be a private RV park so there are lots of amenities with really nice campsites but once you leave the campground there are over 1,600 acres to explore and 3.2 miles of pristine white sandy beaches to walk on. The park is divided into three sections: the RV park, a 22-site tent-only section, and 32 one and two-bedroom bungalows and cabins for rent.

There are 156 RV sites that are level and a mix of paved and crushed gravel with full hook-up and cable television (75+ channels). Park roads are paved and easy to navigate in any size RV. There are plenty of tall trees for shade and bushes that provide privacy. There are no fire pits but you are allowed to have a fire if you bring your own pit. The fair majority of sites are back-in but there are a handful of pull-thru sites and all are level. The water sewer and electric hook-ups are all well-placed at the site and there is a light at the end of each driveway. There are 22 tent sites with an elevated gravel tent pad, fire ring, water spigot, and 110 electric hook-ups. Most of the tents are set under tall pine trees while a few are more in the open and are sunny. A concessionaire offers “glamping tents” with beds, lamps, carpet, chairs and outdoor furniture. There are also one and two-bedroom cabins that can be rented year-round.

Within the park is a free wifi hotspot, a non-heated swimming pool, beach access with tram service, club house, camp store, bike/kayak/canoe rental, laundry, amphitheater, shuffle board, and a host of park activities and ranger-led tours. The restroom and laundry facilities (which are only $1.50 per wash/dry) are clean and seemed adequate to handle the crowds. The campground is located ¾ mile from the beach which is accessible via a walking/biking trail or a tram operated by the park. During the winter months the tram runs every two hours, but during peak season it runs once an hour. Once you are on the beach you have miles and miles of unspoiled white sand and blue water to enjoy. There are also numerous ponds and coastal dune lakes scattered throughout the campground for the fishing enthusiasts. The coastal dune lakes are a globally rare ecosystem occurring in only a handful of places around the world and definitely worth exploring (which you can do with watercraft rental).

Nearby are thousands of acres managed by the state forestry department which have miles and miles of hiking trails. The park is located within a mile of a Walmart (with food), gas station, Subway and other restaurants. Within 5 miles are tons of shopping opportunities, movie theater, restaurants, grocery, etc.

What we really liked about this campground are the level, paved, full-hookup sites and the fact that it is in a state park so you have access to miles of hiking/biking and a gorgeous beach. The beach here is the most beautiful in Florida and can be completely empty in the winter. The not-so-good things about this park are the cost and how crowded it can be in the peak season. During peak season this park is very busy and you have to book very early. The cost is $42/night (unless you are a Florida senior resident and then it is half price) which is high for state parks . . . but compared to other private parks in the area that is reasonable.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for TheDyrt I occasionally get outdoor products to test and on this trip I was able to test a High Hopes Hammock. I was pretty excited to receive a hammock because I am one of the few people I know that does not own a hammock putting me a little behind the times. One cool feature of this company is that for every hammock purchased, they donate either a hammock, various survival supplies or money to organizations helping the homeless, impoverished countries or those affected by natural disasters.

High Hopes offers many different colors of hammocks many of which are bright and fun and the large selection made it hard for me to choose because I like so many of them. The hammock is lightweight at just 1 ½ pounds and tucks nicely into a pouch attached to the side of the hammock. The hammock fit perfectly into my small day pack so I took it with me on a long hike and set it up when I wanted a break. I chose the hammock and strap bundle which is $10 more than just a hammock but definitely worth it (bringing the total without tax to $59.99). The straps are 9 ½ feet long with 15 loop holes so you can make this fit in a lot of different locations where trees may be pretty far apart. The hammock is large at 9 ½ feet long and 6 ½ feet wide and easily fits two people or you and your furry friend. The capacity is a whopping 400 pounds so it is good that the tree straps and steel carabiners are heavy duty. The setup is super easy as you just wrap the straps around a tree or other supportive post and clip the carabiner into the loops on the strap. Then, in you go. Once inside you can use the attached Velcro to close the hammock so you feel like you are in a cocoon. This is also a nice feature if you want privacy. The Velcro closure may help keep some pesky insects out but not all as there are only three Velcro patches which leaves gaps.

Click here for my video review.

The downside of this company is their customer service. I was on a “live chat” with them and when I asked about a mix up with an order they went totally silent and I never got another response. I tried emails and those went unanswered. They offer various promotions online and discounts if you sign up for their email list. They were advertising free two-day shipping on orders over $50 which is great but keep in mind there is processing time which in my case was about five days.

In addition to hammocks they sell clothing, accessories and hats. There are a lot of hammocks of this type on the market but High Hopes sets themselves apart from the competition because of their involvement helping those less fortunate. Since I haven’t owned another hammock, I can’t attest to quality differences but this one seems to hold up well so far.

5 days for a summer beach getaway

We love this CG. Extremely convenient for the weekend get away.

Great, short walk to beach access. Lots of activities on bayside as well, including kayak rentals and put-ins. Two large, clean bathrooms with showers at Shady Pine campground. Recycling available and dumpsters in good order.

We stayed here twice last year, great spot with electric hook ups, water , dump station close, camp on inland water way and short trip to beach on south side walk, or bike, has store, boat launch, bike and water sport rental, and only $25 a night!

Amazing state park on the water. The campground is modern with nice clean bathrooms, laundry machines, vending machines, park store with cart rentals and other items. The spaces are close together but great. Nice level gravel pads, full hookups including sewer, and most have fire pits and picnic table.