Camping Area – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Prapat Aowsakorn
The Sunshine State has always been the perfect destination for a beloved beach vacation, but many seem to forget that Florida has more to offer than theme parks and beaches! The camping travel trend is on the rise with the number of first-time campers skyrocketing, according to the North American Camping Report. Florida’s combination of great weather and natural beauty make it the ideal place for a camping trip this fall.
Holidu, a search engine for vacation rentals, decided to find out which places in Florida are the best for camping throughout the autumn season. These camping hotspots were found using the Google search volume and the historical weather data for each town.
The results?
- Coastal camping reigns supreme: all cities in the top 5 are located on the coast
- Florida’s west coast is the most popular with campers
- Tampa Bay area is the best place for camping, with 4 cities in the top 5
However, the most surprising was Florida’s top city to go camping in, which is none other than the famous Key West.
According to the report, Key West has a total camping score of “10,” which is due to the city collecting over 8,900 searches per month for camping. Additionally, the city averages approximately “11.5 sun hours per day.”
In Key West, campers can explore the lush mangrove forests by kayak, discover coral reefs while snorkeling, and visit the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.
Following Key West on the list was Clearwater at No. 2, Naples at No. 3, Miami at No. 4, and Tampa at No. 5.
Clearwater is home to a variety of nature parks and reserves, including the Moccasin Lake Nature Park or the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve, the perfect spot to begin a tour of Tampa Bay. Naples had the most sun hours of every place in the ranking, with a total of 12 hours of sun per day. Naples’ parks also offer trails for biking, hiking, and even for BMX-ing and off-roading for thrillseekers of all ages and skill levels.
It might seem unfitting to see a big city like Miami in fourth place on the list, but you only have to drive a few miles and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the Everglades! Other notable parks in the area are the East Coast Buffer Preserve, the Biscayne National Park, and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area.
While Tampa, similar to Miami, may not seem like a place associated with camping, there are plenty of recreational and camping areas on the outskirts of the city. Parks in and around Tampa, such as the Morris Bridge Road Preserve and Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve, have trails for all levels. Tampa is also a prime location for canoeing and kayaking, with several waterways and rivers to explore.
For their complete ranking of “Florida in Fall: the best places for camping,” click here.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.