Beach Camping From Destin to the Keys

Florida has more coastline than any state but Alaska, and you could chase it for a whole season without repeating a beach. From the sugar-white sand of the Panhandle to the turquoise shallows of the Keys, here is how the coast breaks down — and where to camp along the way.

The Panhandle: Destin and the Emerald Coast

Start in the northwest, where the sand is almost blinding white quartz and the Gulf glows emerald green. The run from Pensacola through Navarre, Destin and the 30A beaches is some of the most beautiful shoreline in the country, with calm, warm water and state-park dunes. It is a family favorite, and the RV parks here put you a short hop from both the sand and the seafood shacks.

The Gulf Coast: shells and sunsets

Follow the Gulf south and the beaches turn to shelling country. Sanibel, Fort Myers, Sarasota and the barrier islands serve up warm, gentle surf, low-tide treasure hunts and a postcard sunset every single evening. The water is bath-warm much of the year, and the pace is slow — exactly what a beach trip should feel like.

The Atlantic and the Space Coast

Cross to the east coast for a different beach entirely: real surf, wide hard-packed sand, and the Space Coast, where you can watch a rocket launch from your campsite if the timing is right. From New Smyrna down through the Treasure Coast, the Atlantic side trades the Gulf’s calm for energy and elbow room.

The Keys: the end of the road

Finally, drop down the Overseas Highway into the Keys, where the water turns Caribbean-clear over the only living coral reef in the continental United States. Beaches here are smaller and made of coral sand, but the snorkeling, the sunsets and the mile-marker-zero energy are unmatched. Sites are limited and book far ahead, so plan this leg first.

Booking a beach site

Waterfront and beach-access sites are always the first to sell out, especially from November through April. Reserve early, ask for a site on or near the water, and use the waterfront filter in the directory to find the coastal member parks on whichever coast you are chasing. Whichever way you point the rig, Florida’s beaches are close.