Escape to the woods at these primitive camping locations. Some of them are along our statewide National Scenic Trail, the Florida Trail, and on backpacking loops within state parks and state forests.
Others are on water management district lands. Some locations are within city and county parks, where you park your car and then walk in to the campsite, which may be up to a half-mile from the parking area.
Primitive campsites generally don’t have bathroom facilities, or if they do, they offer only portable toilets or vault toilets. It’s up to you to know how to go in the backcountry and to leave no trace.
While most primitive campsites in Florida are free to use, many do require permits in advance, particularly on water management lands. Refer to each destination for full details.
Top Primitive Camping Destinations
These are some of our favorite destinations for primitive camping in Florida outside of our state parks. They include a few places where you can drive or bike in and set up your tent as well as backcountry campsites along hiking trails.
Blackwater River State Forest At Blackwater River State Forest near Milton, immerse yourself in the largest state forest in Florida: 190,000 acres surrounding the Blackwater River and its tributaries. 
Bronson River Trail Loop In a lush subtropical jungle along the St Johns River floodplain, the 9.5-mile River Trail loop is an exceptionally scenic route connecting three designated campsites.
Coldwater Gardens A private nature retreat north of Milton, Coldwater Gardens is a study in serenity, melding camping, gardening, and enjoyment of natural habitats along the Coldwater Creek basin.
Eastern Lake Trail A chain of three stacked loops that enable you to walk or ride up to 10.9 miles, the Eastern Lake Trail offers an immersion in Point Washington State Forest for hikers and cyclists.
Florida Trail, Eglin East 41.8 miles. Simultaneously rugged and scenic: that's the beauty of a backpacking trip across the Alaqua, Catface, and Titi sections of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base.
Florida Trail, Holton Creek Crossing scenic karst landscapes alongside sinkholes and around its namesake spring, the Holton Creek section of the Florida Trail provides botanical and geologic immersion.
Florida Trail, Prairie Lakes 8.1 miles. Traversing the heart of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, the Florida Trail at Prairie Lakes is one of Central Florida's oldest and most scenic hiking destinations. 
Gold Head Branch State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks and notable for its Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers a lesson in Florida topography.
Hal Scott Preserve Explore vast prairies and seepage bogs, cross the Econ River at Curry Ford, and camp under a live oak canopy—all just east of the Orlando International Airport.
Hickory Hammock Trail In deep shade near the Kissimmee River, a former section of the Florida Trail leads to a primitive backpacking site under majestic live oaks covered with ferns and Spanish moss. Primitive Camping in Florida State Parks
Primitive campsites in Florida State Parks are primarily along trails built and maintained by the Florida Trail Association.
Most state parks charge a nominal fee per person, between $1 and $5 per night, to camp in the backcountry. Some of the more popular primitive camping destinations have vault toilets and fire rings.
In the case of primitive sites (including primitive group sites), you do not reserve them online. Instead, call the park directly to make a reservation.
You’ll pay your camping fee when you come into the park at the entrance station. Always arrive early enough to leave enough time to hike in to the site before it gets dark.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park A place to play Robinson Crusoe for a day or overnight, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an offshore gem in the Gulf of Mexico made up of four islands within sight of Tarpon Springs
Big Shoals State Park Florida's largest series of rapids churn the Suwannee River into Class III whitewater along the stretch of river bounded by Big Shoals State Park.
Bulow Creek State Park At Bulow Creek State Park, walk among the ancients in Bulow Hammock, starting with the imposing Fairchild Oak, one of Florida's largest live oak trees.
Catfish Creek Preserve State Park At Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, the steep ridges of blinding white sand are some of Florida's most ancient landscapes, an unusual and unique natural area for Central Florida.
Cayo Costa State Park To spend a day or a weekend on your own deserted island? Heaven. This is one of the tougher and costlier state parks to get to, but well worth it. 
Collier-Seminole State Park Protecting the largest natural hammock of royal palms in the United States, Collier-Seminole State Park opened in 1947 south of Naples along the Tamiami Trail.
Colt Creek State Park For a getaway from the busy bustle of the Interstate 4 corridor between Lakeland and Tampa, wander an extensive trail system and camp beneath the twinkling stars at Colt Creek State Park.
Econfina River State Park Protecting nearly 4,400 acres where the Econfina River snakes its way to the Gulf of Mexico through the vast marshes of the Big Bend, Econfina River State Park is well off the beaten path. 
Fanning Springs State Park One of the Suwannee River's largest swimming holes is the clear, cool reflecting pool of Fanning Springs, located along the edge of its namesake town.
Faver-Dykes State Park At Faver-Dykes State Park, explore the estuaries of the Matanzas River and the uplands above Pellicer Creek.
Fort Cooper State Park Protecting woodlands and marshes around Lake Holathlikaha, Fort Cooper State Park preserves an important chapter of the Second Seminole War. An annual re-enactment relives the battle. Gold Head Branch State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks and notable for its Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers a lesson in Florida topography.
Hillsborough River State Park With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.
Hontoon Island State Park Criss-crossed by a network of trails, this island in the St. Johns River is worth the short ferryboat trip to explore a landscape with ancient echoes of a past civilization.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park One of South Florida's best backpacking destinations, Jonathan Dickinson State Park encompasses a vast mosaic of ecosystems along the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Enjoy Florida's own big sky at the only state park in Florida where starry skies fill the horizon and an extensive network of trails - including the Florida Trail - provides access for exploration.
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park A beauty spot along the western shore of the Suwannee River, Lafayette Blue Spring is both a swimming hole and a lesson in the curious nature of karst.
Lake Kissimmee State Park Discover the beauty of the land between the lakes east of Lake Wales while exploring the vast prairies and fern-laden hammocks of Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Lake Louisa State Park As longleaf pine reaches for the sky, the rolling hills of Lake Louisa State Park near Clermont return to their forested roots
Land Bridge Loop The first of its kind built in the United States, the tree-lined Land Bridge above Interstate 75 is the focus of this 3.5 mile loop along the Florida Trail.
Little Manatee River State Park With sandy shores around every bend and a canopy of trees overhead, Little Manatee River State Park provides a beautiful destination for a family getaway.
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Paddle, hike, or ride your horse within this massive riverine preserve on the edge of the Orlando metro, where the Wekiva River and St. Johns River mingle.
Myakka River State Park With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida's Big Sky country, blanketing more than 37,000 acres east of Sarasota.
O’Leno State Park At the site of an 1826 pioneer community along the Old Bellamy Road connecting St. Augustine and Tallahassee, O'Leno State Park protects one of North Florida’s weirder geologic wonders, a disappearing river. 
Oscar Scherer State Park A stronghold for Florida scrub-jays north of Venice, Oscar Scherer State Park is an important island of biodiversity in an increasingly overdeveloped region. 
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Protecting a massive natural basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching along its trails.
Rock Springs Run Reserve State Park You have a better-than-average chance of spotting a Florida black bear at Rock Springs Run State Reserve, a vast wilderness area in the Wekiva River basin.
St. George Island State Park Blessed with brilliant white quartz sand, St. George Island State Park is a sparkling, quiet getaway protecting nearly 2,000 acres of coastal habitats on a barrier island between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Protecting fragile coastal habitats on the tip of Cape San Blas as it curves around to shelter St. Joseph Bay, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park provides a sweep of beachfront on both bay and Gulf to enjoy.
St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park Cut in two by Interstate 95 south of Melbourne, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park spans 35 square miles across two counties, protecting a mosaic of habitats for wildlife, particularly the Florida scrub-jay.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park At Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Florida pioneer crafts and Florida folk music are as important as the lovely setting on the Suwannee River.
Suwannee River State Park Perched on rugged limestone bluffs along one of Florida’s most iconic waterways, Suwannee River State Park preserves significant historical sites in stunning natural landscapes. 
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime
Torreya State Park Perched on bluffs above the Apalachicola River, Torreya State Park is one of Florida’s first state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s
Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park Spanning from Inglis to Cedar Key, this 19,000 acre state park conserves a truly wild Gulf shoreline.
Wekiwa Springs State Park A massive wilderness area on the edge of the Orlando metro, Wekiwa Springs State Park is centered on a first-magnitude spring that pours forth a river lined with jungle-like vegetation.