Nothing is better than a camp-out weekend on a whim. I enjoy packing my car and hitting the road. I’m lucky enough to live near so many great campgrounds. Reserving a campsite at the last minute however isn’t always simple. Technology makes the world a much faster but not always accurate place.
When looking for a campsite, the first place I check is the web. Many State parks, National parks and popular campgrounds have online reservation systems. For example, check out Florida State parks website for booking a campsite. You can look up a site by location or date of availability. This is a great resource if you want to either book far in advance or see what’s actually available. Most parks keep their system relatively up-to-date. State Parks and National parks book up pretty quick. If you are looking for a State park but all your dates say unavailable, try calling. On average people who are going to cancel are likely to do so up to 10 days prior to their reservation. Calling is the quickest way to find out if there is a last minute cancellation.
Some of my favorite spots happen to be in water management areas and preserves. Many of these campgrounds are first come first serve the day of. Show up, and if a spot is available, it’s yours. Super simple. Some will have an Iron Ranger that you can take a slip and leave $5 or $10 in the box to use the site.
Some sites are 100% free. freecampsites.net has a wonderful selection of free campgrounds. One of my favorites is located by Indiantown in South Florida. It’s called Dupuis Water Management Area. Great little fishing spot and perfect for a quick getaway. If your not a fan of vault toilets though, you may want to consider bringing your own toilet (bucket, etc.), or bring a shovel. The group camping area has a porta-potty, but be warned, it may contain a creepy crawly or two. Come one, it’s camping! The equestrian sites are a little nicer and have a bathroom with running. If you don’t have a horse this isn’t really the campground for you. It does smell like horse also, just saying.
Finding a campsite last minute may seem daunting, but if you take my advice you’ll find your perfect little escape. Don’t forget to first, check online if the park has a website, 2nd, Make sure to call to check for a possible cancellation. If all else fails, find a drive-up campground. Most free and first come first serve campgrounds do not provide water or electricity. You can bring a generator, but only run it in the daytime. No matter where you find a place to set your tent up, if you are connecting to nature, everything else will come together.
Love,
