I moved here recently. Most of the places that I have looked around at here are heavily geared towards RVs. I know I can tent camp at these places but I would rather go somewhere a little more like a campground than a resort.

In your part of the state your best choices probably are state or Corps campgrounds. Here are two links to state campgrounds and one for the Corps.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/states.cfm?state=FL

If you don't mind driving a distance the Ocala National Forest allows dispersed camping outside of campgrounds. It also has a lot of small primitive campgrounds. Here's the link.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/

You probably don't need reservations this time of the year but during tourist season it's almost a must.
Welcome to Florida

Does any one know a really good camping site in the florida keys, I really wanna go camping for memorial weekend, I have been looking for Long Key State park. Does any one have a better site to look at pictures of it. Thanks

HERE'S A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CAMPING AREAS IN THE KEY'S HOPE IT HELPS.

http://goflorida.about.com/od/floridakeys/a/keys_camping_2.htm

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I live in central florida and want to go camping, fishing, and hiking. Where is some place on a river or out in the woods where I can do all of this and there are no bears?

Thanks

Do you love "boiling" hot weather? If so, there are many camping/hiking experiences to be had in FLA.

Look up the state-parks in FLA and also go to www.floridasportsman.com

Florida Sportsman Magazine has reviewed many "camping trips" in their mag over the years. They can give you the "straight dope" on most FLA camping/hiking vacations.

Personally, I wouldn't plan a camping trip until Jan-Feb. I can take the heat all day, but I need a "cool" place to sleep at night or I just can't fall asleep. Many FLA state-parks have "cabins" you can rent for cheap. That would be the way to go unless you are camping-out in Jan-Feb.

Oh, and your odds on "seeing" a bear, much less, getting "mauled" by one are next to nil.

Have a great camping trip! Good luck!

PS: ( If I wanted to go camping in a "pristine", "Old FLA", environment that has superb "saltwater" fishing I would look into the "Steinhatchee" area or "Big Bend" area. The "Cedar Key/Steinhatchee" area of FLA is like stepping back in time. Go see it now before they build 4 million Condo's on the shore!

For a REALLY cool "freshwater" fishing experience go to "The Spirit of The Suwanee" campgrounds and chase the elusive Suwanee Bass. They have a cool old "cabin" you can rent and be in air-conditioned luxory!

Also, one of my fav spots to Hike & Fish is Gold Head State Park , near Gainesville, FLA. They have a neat "ravines" you can hike that travels 500 Ft or so down,(you hike far enough down that the temp can be in the 90's-100's and at the bottom it's like 75! Good fishing too, (if the lakes aren't dried up!)

Yes and no. A lot depends on when and where you are going within the state. In general, in Florida you will not find then number of "wooded" campsites you will find in a northern state like Michigan. Unless you are used to camping at a KOA or a Yogi campground, you will find most FL campgrounds are more densely populated than ones in Michigan.

In FL, the term "campground" can have multiple meanings. In FL it can mean a tent and camper campground like in MI or it can mean a long term camping park mainly aimed at attracting longer term renters like retirees. Make sure you take a good look at the amenities and facilities before deciding on one so that you are not disappointed with the majority of the other campers.

In Fl, especially in the summer months, be aware that it will rain frequently. I mean – frequently – as in almost every day. The rain can come up quite suddenly and be quite heavy but they do not usually last long. Also, summer is hurricane season for FL so do not forget to take that into account.

FL is a humid tropical climate. You should expect high humidity almost every day in the summer months unless you are staying along the Gulf or the Ocean. In the interior, it can be very oppressive on hot days. Also, don't forget that bugs are common. As a rule, the closer you get to the Everglades, the more bugs you will have to contend with. If camping near the Glades or in an area with fresh water, be aware and watch small children carefully as alligators have been located almost every where at one time or another.

If you are camping in the Keys, there are some keys that have restrictions about the type of equipment you can use and where you can park or pitch a tent. Make sure to check these out ahead of time. If you are camping in the keys or a major resort area, make sure to have reservations ahead.

Walt Disney Resort offers a resort campground if you are going to be near Disney. It is more expensive than most campgrounds (I am sure that's no surprise to you) but also offers more perks and amenities. They also have camping cabins and other park models for rent so that you don't have to have or haul all your own gear.

Both FL and MI offer activities and attractions. My personal assessment is that FL offers more man-made attractions and MI more natural ones. They are really not in the same league. Depending on what you are looking for from a camping experience, both can be an economical way to vacation and quite fun.

What piece of natural Florida is within shouting distance of Disneyworld, yet worlds away from the ordinary? Where you can travel back in time to the Florida that once was?

Welcome to Wekiwa Springs State Park, near Orlando, Florida.

Springs of Delight

Wekiwa Springs State Park is well-known by the Orlando residents, but it’s a secret to most visitors. Hidden away in Apopka, the Springs are a wilderness wonderland.

The most obvious thing about the park is its main spring and swimming area. The water is crystal clear and makes for some great snorkeling! But it’s a bit on the chilly side, at a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit year around.

Back in Time

If you want to see what Florida used to look like, before houses and stores and theme parks took over, take a walk on the trails at Wekiwa Springs State Park. There are about 17 miles of trails in the park, so there is plenty of room to roam. You’ll share many of the trails with people on bicycles and horses, but you may find yourself alone much of the time because…

…of the canoes!

Winding Rivers

Canoeing is the biggest draw at Wekiwa Springs State Park. There are miles of river to paddle or to simply float down. The water is clear, the trees make a cool canopy and the sky is blue. You can start at the head of the springs, paddle down the river and then take a shuttle back up to “Canoe Beach” – your starting point.

Campground Tales

There is also camping at Wekiwa Springs State Park, and it’s one of the few Florida State Parks that actually allows pet camping! Not to worry, there is a campground for people without pets, too.

Want to know More?

If you’re planning a Central Florida vacation, consider a side trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park. Get to know the park the locals talk about!

My wife and I love to camp on the beach. There are numerous places in Texas and Louisiana where you can set up a tent either very close to the sand or on it. Any suggestions?

You can get a back country permit to camp directly on the beach at Canaveral National Seashore In New Smyrna Beach. This is a "hike in" only location, so may have the entire twelve miles of beach to yourselves.
Most of the locations already mentioned by other answerers are in developed parks and while quite nice, are still developed and you will have plenty of neighbors.

You can also go to Everglades National Park and primitive camp on Cape Sable. You cannot reach this place by car or foot, only by boat.

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Anyone who knows of good places to go camping in PA or Fla, please let me know of some nice places we are planning a trip in Fla and then PA, thanks!

I'm going to agree with some of the answers that have been given out already. Worlds End State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park / Colton Point (Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania) and Hyner View all have magnificent views, and best of all, the first 2 have waterfalls nearby.

Pa State parks website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ for SP campground information.

I would personally recommend camping out near Ricketts Glen, but the falls trail is closed from the recent flooding 2 weeks ago. Could be weeks to months to reopen the trails.

The poconos area is nice for rolling mountains and again, waterfalls.

I don't know much about anything other than the Northeastern part of the state yet, but if you care to see some pictures, I'll include my website: http://www.nepaphotographer.com

Other links that might help you out:

campground sites:

http://www.campingpa.com/campground/index.htm

http://www.pacamping.com/

Sun, sand and water – those are the ingredients for a great vacation destination – or a spectacular home town. Palm Harbor, located just about midway down the Gulf Coast of Florida, is both. The unincorporated town has become one of Florida’s fastest growing communities – and with good reason. Palm Harbor’s proximity to Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg give residents easy access to fine dining and big city amenities while preserving the relaxed atmosphere of a small town.

Located on Florida’s Beach just about midway up the Gulf Coast, Palm Harbor is a bustling, prosperous community with a deceptively quaint and charming feel. The area enjoys a special status as an unincorporated town, protecting Palm Harbor real estate from annexation by nearby communities. If you’re looking to buy real estate in Palm Harbor, the community offers a wide range of housing options for singles, couples and families. The many neighborhoods range picturesque historic areas with beautiful traditional homes to contemporary single family and condominium communities with their own beach and lake access and boat slips.

This is the best time in years to buy real estate in Pinellas County, where Palm Harbor is located. After five years of record rises – including a 30% increase from 2004-2005, real estate prices in and around Palm Harbor have dipped slightly and stabilized. Experts project that home values will continue to rise over the next several years, at a much more normal rate. Despite the recent increases in Palm Harbor real estate prices, the average selling cost of new homes in the Palm Harbor area still compares very favorably with home prices in most other Eastern cities.

Palm Harbor offers just about anything you could want in a new home location. The area public schools are part of the Pinellas County school system which is consistently rated above average for the state. The economy is strong and unemployment is below the national average. The area is growing fast, but local constraints are in place to prevent overdevelopment and the resulting loss of the charming small town atmosphere that makes Palm Harbor such a wonderful place to live.

Palm Harbor is also an excellent choice for a second home or vacation rental property. The nearby attractions include long stretches of sandy beaches, nature conservatories and the Pinellas County Hiking Trail. The community offers just about any outdoor sport you can imagine, including golf, boating, parasailing, swimming, hiking, camping and scuba diving. This is the time to take advantage of the low prices and interest rates and invest in Palm Harbor real estate, whether for your own use or as income and rental property. Get in now, before the prices start to rise again.