Best Camping in and near Big Lagoon State Park

94% (9 reviews)

Diverse ecosystems and ample adventure make this park a top Gulf Coast getaway.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Big Lagoon State Park

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The Wandering Path

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents21 acres · Milton, FL

Located 20 minutes north of downtown Milton, FL, The Wandering Path is a serene escape, offering a unique blend of untouched natural beauty and comfortable accommodations. With 2000 feet of waterfront along the picturesque Coldwater Creek, this nature retreat is a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, set within a sprawling 20-acre landscape. Accommodations at The Wandering Path are designed for those seeking a peaceful retreat. Four glamping tents, equipped with real full-size beds, portable AC for summer, heaters for winter, and essential amenities, ensure a comfortable stay amidst nature. Each tent is adorned with solar string lights, and outdoor essentials like a picnic table, fire pit ring, small charcoal grill, and trash can are provided. For those who prefer a more raw connection with nature, four primitive campsites are available, each equipped with solar string lights, a fire pit ring, and a trash can. A hike-in site with a picnic table is also an option for adventurers. Guests have access to a centrally located bathhouse with two full bathrooms, ensuring comfort and convenience. There is now an outdoor kitchen for all guests to use. There is no cookware, silverware or dishes. There is a counter-top oven, toaster, 2 stove top burners, 1 flat top griddle, sink and keurig coffee maker. There are reusable k-cups for you to put your own coffee in, or your own k-cups. The property boasts 2000 feet of trails alongside the creek, perfect for hiking and exploring the natural surroundings. Kayak rentals are available for guests with appropriate vehicles, and fishing enthusiasts are welcome to cast their lines into the spring-fed creek. At The Wandering Path, nights come alive under a starlit sky, unblemished by city lights, making every evening perfect for a campfire. It’s more than just a stay; it’s an experience of tranquility, a chance to recharge amidst nature’s embrace. We look forward to becoming your go-to spot when you’re in need of recharging. We are less than 1 hour from Pensacola and Navarre beaches, 15-20 minutes to local grocery stores and restaurants. At this time, no pets or children under 12 are allowed in yurts. ***All pets do require prior approval to maintain the safety of other guests.

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Bay Forest Retreat

7 sites · Lodging, Tents11 acres · Navarre, FL

Explore 11+ acres of rustic and untamed woods. We are two military veteran families who enjoy the land as a place for family and friends to explore, camp, and relax at the 250+ feet of the East Bay beach. Primitive camping is permitted at designated wooded high grounds in the middle of the property. It is a 5 and 10-minute rugged hike in to the middle ground and waterfront, respectively. The trail remains under development, so please bring close-toed shoes or boots for hiking throughout the property (depending on rainfall, there may be mud and water). Our Glamper is a 10x12 canvas furnished tent located a short but rugged 2-minute hike from parking. It provides the opportunity to go camping without having to pack all the gear. Our location is minutes from the Emerald Coast - 7 mins to Navarre Beach, - 30 mins to Pensacola Beach, - 15 mins to Naval Live Oaks, - 45 mins to Fort Pickens, - 50 mins to NAS Pensacola, - 45 mins to Santa Rosa Island, - 35 mins to Okaloosa Island, - 40 mins to Destin. Recommended local restaurants: St. Michael's Brewery which has rotating food trucks and is family friendly, Ye Olde Brothers Brewery, Dewey Destin’s, Windjammers, TC’s Front Porch, Deb’s Coffee, The Eatery food truck park, Top’s Burgers, and New York Pizza Depot. Other sightseeing in the area includes: Museums: National Naval Aviation Museum, Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Pickens, Indian Temple Mound Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Museum of Industry, and Destin History & Fishing Museum Additional activities include: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, HH Arts Gallery, Emerald Coast Science Center, Gulf Breeze Zoo, and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

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Malakai 🏕 different by design

6 sites · Lodging, Tents12 acres · Milton, FL

Welcome to Malakai campgrounds different by design 🏕 I purchased this land several years ago after a loss of a child a daughter her named was (little jo) JoLisa Marie Roadcap , it was a life changing moment, teaching me that family and enjoying of life is what it all about... so I want to welcome you here to Malakai for a peaceful and relaxing time, it's even a place that may help you heal from life hardships... At 5:30 just as the Sun comes up it is time for you to go out on to the deck and listen to the birds song 🎵 . As the Sun starts to rise on a new day ✨️ dozens of species of birds from the Great American Bald Eagle , To the endangered woodpecker, The blue herrings, bluebirds(we have mating pair that comes every year) blue jays, mocking birds, doves and several other species and occasionally a couple small black bears like walking through, we want you to have a peaceful and relaxing stay here while you visit everything,here at Garson Point were several species of carnivorous plants grow wild and our beaches have much to offer. It's official -- after 4 years of politics we are officially a park and a preserve.....9 acres of 🚶‍♂️ trails 👣 we are still constructing trails by hand I believe this place has a spiritual strength to people of all nations History of our location Count De Galvez awarded a land grant on Garcon Point to Antonio Garzon following his 1781 Siege of Pensacola in consideration of “his good services rendered as an interpreter to the Indians of Pensacola." The grant was held for 35 years before Maria Garzon, who survived husband Antonio, sold the land they called Garzon’s Point to Joseph (Jose) Bonifay. The land uses were favorable for cattle grazing and turpentining through the 1800s. Many more pioneer families moved into the area and began their own business in the booming industrial opportunities of western Florida. It came to be known as Yellow River Marsh State Buffer Preserve on June 12, 2000, when it was purchased by the state of Florida to protect rare and environmentally sensitive lands, plants and animals. Through generous donations, Preservation 2000 and the Florida Forever Program, more land was added to protect contiguous habitat of the Garcon Ecosystem. Today Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park provides recreational opportunities for hiking and nature study along the Great Florida Birding Trail among rare and endemic plant species and within one of Florida’s oldest multi-cultural frontiers.The preserve is located in Santa Rosa County on Garcon Point, which separates Escambia Bay from Blackwater Bay. Nearly 20 rare and endangered species of plants 🪴 and animals make their homes along the bay and its wet prairies, dome swamps and flatwoods.

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Heart of the Country

8 sites · RVs, Tents12 acres · Bay Minette, AL

Heart of the Country is our home and also your own personal twelve acre state park whenever you stay with us! We are less than 15 minutes from Interstate 10 and from Interstate 65. I offer a half-dozen campsites, all either on a relatively level paved driveway or grass. Power (20 amp and 30 amp) and water is available. We have two 30 amp campsites, which are first come, first served. WIFI is available! (please ask for password). We have a portable toilet for your use. This is a Longleaf Pine sanctuary with lots of nature trails. This is also a hobby farm with livestock (Donkey, two Goats, a Duck and a flock of Chickens). I feed the livestock grain every morning usually between 8 and 9 am, and again hay before dusk. You are always welcome to join me and I'll introduce all of them to you! My dog, Homer, is our very friendly welcoming ambassador who will enthusiastically great you upon your arrival. I put him up in his kennel each evening around dusk, then lock him in his shed until morning which keeps him from backing during the night. We also host an AirBnB, so other guests may be here as well. Texting via the app is our preferred mode of communication. If you call, please leave a message if I can't answer, and I will call you back. We are slowly updating the site photos. Use them only to determine your price, for example: A site with 30 amp power and water is $25 per night. A site with 20 amp power and water is $20 per night. A boondocking site (no power) is $15 per night. All sites have access to a porta-potty and water. Suggested local attraction: Blakeley State Historic Park is four miles away.

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CampFire at the Riverbend

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents38 acres · Robertsdale, AL

38 plus acres with 1200ft pristine riverfront. Remote but accessible. Chose your site. Blaze a trail to the river, private beaches, tubing and swimming. 20 acres wooded and open field for a more remote experienced. Camp off your tailgate. You still have river access. RVs are welcome nice level easy access spots but no hook ups. Plenty of room for extra vehicles and trailers. Bring your horses!

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Navarre Beach Camping Resort

161 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Navarre, FL

Navarre Beach Camping Resort is located in Navarre, FL. We have 99 rv sites 29 cabins and three travel trailers. We are on the water, the Santa Rosa Sound, it is an intercoastal water way. We are a ten minute drive to Navarre Beach. Fishing, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding are fun things to do in the area.Learn more about this land:Back-in standard sites throughout the park have full hook-up and will accommodate up to twenty five foot campers. You park your RV on a sand, dirt pad, you have a concrete pad and a picnic table. Site comes with water, sewer, electric, wifi and cable. Some sites have shade. None of our sites are shaded all day long. Every site is a short walk to our beach.

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Colorful Camping at Beakertopia✨️🌈

22 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Bon Secour, AL

Come camp on one of the Southeast's most unique properties, Beakertopia! Our 2.4 acre artist compound is enclosed in bamboo and lush with hundred-year-old live oaks + native pollinator flowers we’ve planted. Choose any spot to pitch your tent and enjoy our magic oasis only 20 min from the beautiful white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores. You're welcome to use the "outdoor living room" as you please. This area includes a bar with rainwater catchment for washing hands/dishes, refrigerator, freezer, electric tea kettle, microwave, solar oven, complimentary coffee/tea station, 2 burner biogas stovetop with cooking equipment&utensils, games, aerial yoga silks, climbing wall, slackline, Iyengar yoga rope wall, trash/recycling, filtered alkaline drinking water and more! Feel free to use our laundry facilities, communal picnic basket, and complimentary condiments, seasonings, sauces, etc found in the door of the fridge. Attached to the lounge is our air conditioned ecobathroom with *hot* shower, bio toilet, and complimentary toiletries if you forget anything. We currently have an armadillo taking up residence at Beakertopia and he comes out every night. He is cute and harmless, but sounds like a grown man walking around if it’s dark and you can’t see him- don’t be alarmed! Please note that our growing community is not "finished" as we have many years worth of projects we intend on using this land to experiment with. With our 2 aircrete domes are under construction, there are lots of tools and materials on site. We do try to limit any loud work being done while campers are here, but we cannot fully clean up the construction site every single day. While many visitors leave with inspiration for their own homes & appreciate the chance to view our building process rather than just the final product, we understand it's not for everyone. Gulf Shores offers many nice, high-end condos+hotels if you're looking for a more luxurious experience. Just like ourselves, Beakertopia is a work in progress and we are happy to share our journey with those who resonate! Learn more about this land: Community. Art. Sustainability. At Yum Arts Collective we believe that the power lies in the collective, rather than the individual. A group of people working towards a shared goal can truly create magic out of thin air. We know this to be true because we've witnessed it time and time again through our business and life. We created Beakertopia to show that alternative lifestyles are indeed possible and can actually flow beautifully. We hope to inspire others to break out of the square boxes that society puts you in from the moment you enter this world. Beakertopia is a beautiful 2.4 acre piece of land in Bon Secour, AL that we purchased in 2020 to explore sustainability, alternative building methods, and permaculture. Due to the seasonal nature of this region we're able to devote half the year to our business and half the year to our land which allows for a symbiotic relationship for the 2 to serve one another simultaneously. Our intention for this artist community is to bring like-minded people together and make the world a more beautiful place. It serves as our primary residence and also residence for seasonal workers&traveling artists when they come here. Every year we have the opportunity to employ about a dozen people to work with us during the tourist season, from March-October. Aside from our local employees, we also wanted to create a space that would allow for fellow travelers to join our crew. Beakertopia provides the possibility for friends from around the world to come live and work. Check out our website for more info ✨️

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Ellis Farms

25 sites · RVs, Tents50 acres · Holt, FL

Come join us in the heart of the beautiful Blackwater Forest. We are less than 10 minutes from many nature trails for hiking and a crystal-clear creek for swimming. If you’re seeking to step away from the hustle and bustle of life and relax, we welcome you to our little spot we call home. We warmly welcome all big groups. Please be respectful to the campers around you. Our location: 20 minutes to Crestview 45 minutes to Pensacola 1 hour and 15 minutes from Pensacola Beach 40 minutes to Navarre Beach

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Country near the Beach

2 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Pensacola, FL

The property is 3.29 acres. Surrounded on 3 sides by thick trees. The front of the property is open and great for letting the dogs run around. The back of the property has a pond and dock fed by a creek that is great to swim in that also feeds a major bayou in Pensacola Bay. Perfect for a kayak, canoe of paddle board trip. And also has about .75 acres of thick wooded area for a great forest feel on the property. Only one 50 Amp connection but if you have a generator or are tent canping I have many locations to camp

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YaYa's River Retreat

101 sites · RVs, Tents41 acres · Robertsdale, AL

A little slice of camping heaven, 41 acres with 800 feet of water frontage on Styx River. YaYa's is a completely primative or boondocking campground and swim area with porta pottie available. There is hot showers available at truck stop about a mile away and they have a dump station for those in RV. Come enjoy all the natural beauty or we are within an hour of hundreds of things to do for all ages. YaYA lives about 1/2 mile away and has a well available to refill your water. There is plenty of fallen wood to gather for fires or cut wood available for purchase. We have a community area with picnic tables, sun sails, grill, pavilion, and large bonfire. Please note the access road is old gravel and dirt, so if in a low car you'll need to take it slow. If there has been rain call ahead for entry directions as part of road becomes muddy. There is also a shooting range near by so during the day you will hear this some. You will not be disappointed if you love the tranquility of being outdoors.

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Gulf Shores Waterfront RV Getaway

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Gulf Shores, AL

WELCOME TO PLASH ISLAND'S "OSPREY LANDING" RV PARK ON OYSTER BAY. BRING YOUR RV AND FAMILY AND ENJOY FISHING, KAYAKING AND SWIMMING. FURRY FAMILY IS WELCOME! CANOE TO OYSTER BAY TO SEE BOATS, DOLPHINS AND WET A LINE. WATCH THE AMAZING SUNSETS, BIRDS AND THE MULLET JUMPING RIGHT FROM YOUR PATIO. PLASH ISLAND IS LOCATED IN GULF SHORES ON OYSTER BAY AND IS ABOUT 8 MINUTES FROM THE BEAUTIFUL SANDY BEACHES. ENJOY OUR BOAT LAUNCH! GOLF CARTS AND FURRY FAMILY ARE WELCOME. THIS SPOT IS CLOSEST TO THE WATER. TMOBLE PROVIDES WIFI PASSWORD Oneram2482 WE ARE LOCATED 3 MILES WEST OF LULU'S. FULL HOOK UPS PROVIDED. WE OFFER 2 CONCRETE RV PADS. NO RV IS PROVIDED.

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Farm Cottage & RV Near Beaches

2 sites · Lodging, RVs1 acre · Harold, FL

Our Horse Farm is a place of Peaceful Reflection, thus the name, ELET Horse Ranch - Eagles Landing Equine Therapy. It is a Place where Friends and Family gather. Farm was developed with Lots of Love and is a place of Refuge and Quiet Relaxation. Mark and Teresa are our Caretakers and take Excellent Care of Guests, the Horse Herd, Flock of Chickens, Farm Cottage and Beautiful Pastures. Eagles Landing is the Perfect Place to get away from it all. We understand that even the Majestic Eagle needs a place to Rest. Turn Left into the First Gate at Eagles Landing. The Front Pasture on the North Side of the Outdoor Shower is where you can park your Camper, 5th Wheel, Gooseneck or RV.

The best camping near Big Lagoon State Park guide

Overview

About

On the western edge of the Florida Panhandle, just 10 miles west of Pensacola, the saltwater marshes and pine flatwoods of Big Lagoon State Park are a gateway to both the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail and the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. A diversity of birds hang out here, including more than 20 species of wood-warbler and a variety of ducks, sandpipers, and black-bellied plovers. Five miles of hiking trails wind their way through Big Lagoon, while swimming and kayaking are available at designated areas along the Intracoastal Waterway. The park has 75 campsites for tents and RVs up to 40 feet.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Reservations can be made at the Florida State Parks website or by phone. Florida residents can make campsite reservations 11 months in advance, while non-residents can make reservations 10 months in advance.
Big Lagoon is a popular spot, so booking in advance is recommended. Many experienced Florida campers book their spots on the first day bookings open up.
If you can’t secure your preferred dates, keep checking. Spots sometimes open up as others’ plans change.

When to go

Summer is prime for camping in this part of Florida, with many visitors flocking here to cool off in the park’s waterways. If planning a summer visit, try to make reservations as far in advance as possible. Otherwise, opting for spring or fall promises more availability, fewer crowds, and more comfortable hiking conditions—this is also the best time for viewing migrating birds.

Know before you go

Kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available through Sunshine State Concessions.
You’ll likely find everything you need at Publix, Walmart, or Target, all of which are within five miles of Big Lagoon.
No lifeguards are on duty in the park.
All pets must be on a six-foot leash and continuously attended to. Pets are not allowed on the beach, wetlands, boardwalks, playground, or in any buildings.
Some areas are wheelchair accessible, and beach wheelchairs are available free of charge from the ranger station.