Hillsborough River State Park Archives

The Florida Coast is Great Winter Camping

Camping Along the Florida Coast

This winter trip camping along the Florida coast was more than a year in planning because we tried to reserve in the more popular Florida state parks. We also camped at three campgrounds last year, Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Topsail is one of the nicest state parks we have visited. It is on Santa Rosa Island in a beautiful resort area. We paid $46 a night for an immaculate pull-through shaded site with a concrete slab and full hookups. However, you must book extremely early to snare a spot at this popular park.

A gorgeous, isolated beach is a 3/4 mile walk or a free tram ride away. The tram runs every hour from 9 to 5.

Boardwalk at Topsail Hill Preserve — The boardwalk to the beach

The Florida coast at Topsail Preserve — Enjoying the beautiful Topsail Beach

The park and the beach were wonderful, but our weather was not the best. It rained the first full day we were there and it was very cloudy and humid with drizzle the next. But, we enjoyed it because we went to see the movie, 1917, on the first day and some friends drove in from Port St. Joe to visit us on the second day. Overall, our stay at Topsail was very nice.

Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs is a very special park. For a very economical nightly rate of $25 a night, we had a large, level site with full hookups.

Within the park, we had many sightings of deer and we saw manatees on two separate occasions.

Deer at Manatee Springs State Park — Deer at Manatee Springs

Manatees at Manatee Springs — Manatees in the Springs

The Springs are beautiful and you can experience them up close in one of the canoes that are offered for rent. Bikes are also available. If you are hungry, barbeque is sold on site daily. There is very little cell reception in the park, but there is WiFi in the rental area.

Hillsborough River State Park

We had three nights in site #26 at Hillsborough River, which is near Tampa. Our new awning was up for the second time and we liked the bit of privacy it provided. The park has nice hiking trails and a large pool. However, we did not utilize either on this trip.

camping near the Florida coast — Site #26

Our first full day was cold and rainy. So, our camping friends went with us to Tampa where we visited the Tampa Bay History Center and had lunch at Columbia Restaurant. At Columbia, the White Chocolate Bread Pudding was amazing and so was its 1905 Salad.

Lunch at Columbia Restaurant at Riverwalk

Our next day, we really enjoyed a visit to a small museum in Zephyrhills, the Museum of Military History. It has many artifacts from several wars. The museum is free, but is only currently open on Saturdays. Strawberries were in season in Plant City, so we ended our day with strawberry shortcake from one of the local farms. Timing was with us for these two special treats.

Museum of Military History at Zephyrhills — Museum of Military History

Florida Coast at Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole is about twenty miles southeast of Naples and it has vegetation and wildlife typical of the Everglades. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. There are multiple bathhouses which were very nice for a state park.

The park began in 1924 to build the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) which crosses the Everglades, linking Tampa and Miami. The Walking Dredge was used to build the road and is now a National Historic Landmark.

National Historic Landmark, the Walking Dredge

Access to the Blackwater River is within the park. It is a beautiful place to canoe and the park offers them for rental. Tours are also offered on certain days.

Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole Park — Blackwater River

Because we only had one full day at this park, we just stayed onsite. In addition, the park had bikes for rent at $10 for two hours. It was a beautiful, breezy day—perfect for biking. So we really enjoyed it!

The Florida Coast, Camping in the Lower Keys

Sadly, we could not get a spot at a state park for the Keys. We actually booked at an RV park almost a year in advance because there were not many options. Lazy Lakes RV resort in the lower keys proved to be a nice place to stay, but it was expensive. We had full hookups and a heated pool, but it was $100 a night. Not your typical camping rates.

We had a partial day of beautiful, sunny, and warm weather. This part of the Florida coast was astounding to see—so much gorgeous water everywhere. We drove around and just took in the atmosphere.

Florida camping in the Keys — View from a boat launch

Old Railroad Bridge in the Florida coast — Old Railroad Bridge

An huge (to me) iguana was a frequent visitor at our site. My husband gave him some sweet potato. I stayed away.

Florida Keys Iguana — Our Visiting Iguana

Dinner was at our campsite with our friends who were camping with us, followed by a game of Mexican Train. It was a rainy evening, so we did not leave the campground.

Key West

We drove to Key West for our next full day. The weather had turned cold and wet. We stood in line for about 15 minutes to get a photo of the marker for the Southernmost Point in the continental U.S. Cuba is only 90 miles away and we were told that on a clear night you can see its lights. A couple in our campground planned to take a flight there that included meals and a tour for $900 each. That’s a little too rich for my blood.

The Southernmost Point of the Florida Coast — The Southernmost Point

The Truman Little White House

My favorite part of the day was a visit to the Truman Little White House, but getting there was quite challenging. Parking was nonexistent except for a few lots and traffic was very heavy. Then, there was quite a walk through a neighborhood to get to the house, which has a very interesting history. However, I really loved what we learned about Truman on the tour. We have not yet visited the Truman Library, so it was good to learn about him personally and his accomplishments. The guide was excellent! Also, it was inside and away from the cold and rain.

We had a delicious lunch at Blue Heaven. Though it was late in the afternoon on a cold, rainy day, there was still a wait of about 20 minutes. The food was good though.

We tried to visit the Hemingway House, but they only accepted cash, which we did not have with us. So, we walked around a bit and bought some macaroons at a nearby bakery. We were back at our campsite before dark. Old folks!

The next morning, we said goodbye to our camping friends and were on our own for the remainder of the trip.

The Everglades

Our Everglades home for three nights was Long Pine Key Campground in Everglades National Park. Though it was dry camping, the campground was excellent. The roads were paved and the sites were roomy with pretty vegetation. The bathhouse and separate restrooms were nice and well-maintained. There is also a dump station and fresh water available. It was inexpensive at $24 a night. So, on our first afternoon, we cooked hot dogs and enjoyed all the birds that came to visit, including a pair of cardinals. It was so peaceful!

The Miami Connection

Last year, we visited Miami on a non-camping trip and I got a short haircut that I loved. Wanting to obtain another magical cut, I contacted the same hairdresser and arranged for her to cut my hair again. So, we drove approximately an hour to Miami Beach and I had the same lady cut my hair. It was not the worst haircut I have ever had, but still, it was pretty bad. So disappointing!

Afterwards, we had a nice Italian meal outside at Mercado Della Pescheria on lively Española Way. The meal was good and the people watching was pretty interesting as well.

Lunch on Española Way — Late lunch at Mercado Della Pescheria

Exploring the Glades

Our second full day was all about exploring the National Park. We took a short walk on a nearby trail. It would be great for bikes, but was a little boring to walk. There were bikes available for rent in the campground.

However, we decided our time could best be spent driving the 35 miles south to Flamingo, which is at the bottom of Florida and the Everglades. There is a campground there and we checked it out. It has full hookups, but is not nearly as nice as Long Pine.

Along the way, stopped at Mrazek Pond, one of many in the area. It was teaming with wildlife.

Flamingo

Flamingo was rather lively. There was a a marina and you could take boat rides. We got hamburgers at a food truck. When I got up to throw away the containers, a large crow grabbed the strap on my camera and attempted to fly away with it. He didn’t get far and my husband was chasing him, but my camera dropped on the concrete. It seems to be working though.

The excitement continued when we had the opportunity to see a crocodile pretty close. He was just sunning himself on the shore. I personally think my husband was a little too close.

Lastly, we visited the beach. The water was very shallow and calm. The color was different from what we have seen elsewhere along the Florida coast. It was kind of a mint green—rather strange, but pretty in its own way.

The weather was fabulous while we were in the Everglades, so we did not miss having an air conditioner. Mosquitos were my biggest fear, but they were not bad at all. That was probably because we were there at the end of February. In conclusion, we loved this stop on our trip.

Tomeka State Park

Our last stop along the Florida coast was Tomeka State Park at Ormond Beach. It has an amazing canopy of live oaks nestled between the Tomeka and the Halifax rivers. The campground was beautiful and there was a lot to do and see nearby.

We had an excellent meal at nearby Hulls Seafood. Another winner in the area is Donnie’s Donuts. Both were recommended by the park ranger. Needless to say, we both gained some weight on this trip.

The Casements

Sadly, we only had one full day in the area. The summer home of John D. Rockefeller, the Casements, was our first stop. The tour was free, donations requested. We really enjoyed it. The house has an interesting history and there was also lots to learn about Rockefeller.

We had Thai food for lunch and spent our afternoon at the Battle of Dunlawton Plantation. It was another free activity that offered the history of a plantation during the second Seminole War in 1836. Some of the equipment used for sugar production still stands. This eclectic site also has lovely and whimsical gardens.

This was a wonderful stop on our trip and the community of Ormond Beach spoke to me. I would like to return someday.

Conclusion

We were so blessed to be able to take this trip along the Florida coast! But, when it was time to go, I had been sick for months with a respiratory infection. I was on my sixth round of antibiotics and my doctor said if I didn’t get better, I would need intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

We departed with just a few days of antibiotics remaining and me with a considerable cough, not knowing if we would have to return early. I am happy to say that steadily I became better in the warm, sunny Florida climate. It was such a great trip!

Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks

Florida Campgrounds, Three Different Types

Florida campgrounds are incredible, especially in the spring before it gets too hot. Our trip began with in Jacksonville at Hanna Park Campground, which is a city park. Second was Salt Springs Recreation Area, which is a federal park and Hillsborough River State Park was last on our journey . Campers have rated all three of these Florida campgrounds highly and we found all to be uniquely beautiful. Each also offered very different ways for us to experience the surrounding area.

Hanna Park Campground

Hanna Park was one of the most beautiful Florida campgrounds we have visited. For all that the park offers, its nightly fee of $30 for full hookups was a bargain!

Enormous Live Oak trees enshrouded in Spanish Moss were everywhere. It is described on the website as a “coastal hammock” that is increasingly rare on the Atlantic coast. I felt we were in a tropical paradise while there.

We camped in site # 17 and loved it. The sites are fairly large and offer a degree of privacy.

Florida Campgrounds Hanna Park — Site # 17 Hanna Park Campground

The park is in Jacksonville, with all its attractions available to campers. This trip originated for us because of a desire to attend a concert at the Florida Theater and Hanna Park was a perfect home base. We were camping with friends who also attended the concert. It was a great evening! My only complaint is that the music was unnecessarily loud.

The campground includes a very large private beach right on the Atlantic. It was a reasonable walk from our campsite. We only walked on the beach, because it was too cool for us to get in the water. It was not the least bit crowded.

Beach access at Hanna Park — Beach Access at Hanna Park

Hanna Park had amenities that we did not have an opportunity to use. Bikes are available for rent and there are 15 miles of bicycle trails. There is also a freshwater lake.

Since we were camping with friends, we cooked in for most meals and played games (Mexican Train, Hand and Foot, Uno). We had a fabulous time.

The Negative

This Florida campground is amazing! It would be perfect except for the lack of cleanliness in the bathhouse. They were not the worst we have ever seen, but they certainly were a sharp contrast to the quality of everything else in the park. In fact, I used the shower in our T@B 400 while at Hanna because of this. As former T@G owners, we did not have that option nor did we have a toilet. It would have been a bigger issue with our previous camper.

Salt Springs Recreation Area

Salt Springs is in the heart of the Ocala Forest. The campground and facilities were immaculate and offered full hookups. Because we have a small grey water tank, this was very nice. With our Senior Pass, the nightly rate was only $23. 18, another bargain in Florida campgrounds. It was easier to keep our camper floor clean at Salt Springs because the site had asphalt. The campground also offers WiFi, though we were told it was sporadic. We happened to be near an access point and it wasn’t bad.

Salt Springs Site 17 — Salt Springs Site # 17

Our site had shade for part of the day, but when it did not, it was quite hot. We moved our rug and chairs around a lot to avoid direct sunlight.

The Springs were the main attraction and we really enjoyed them. We got into the water on two of our three days there. It gets its name from the potassium, magnesium and sodium salts in the water, which is a constant 74 degrees. The Springs provide a very clear, shallow pool that ranges from approximately 2 to 5 feet deep.

Salt Springs Florida Campgrounds — Chilling at the Springs

We also hiked the 1.5 mile Bear Swamp Trail, which was a treat for me because my husband’s knee replacement now allows him to be more active. It was an easy, shaded path with beautiful vegetation.

Our friends were with us at this campground too and we enjoyed cooking in and more games. We had lunch and one breakfast at a nearby restaurant, but the meals at the campground were much better.

The Negative

If there is a negative at this campground, for me, it would be that there is nothing of interest outside the campground. For some, this may be a big plus. We loved the Springs and time spent with our friends, but by ourselves we would miss nearby things to do after a couple of days.

Hillsborough River State Park

The third of our Florida Campgrounds was actually a repeat. We stayed at Hillsborough River in the fall of 2017. This is a link to our earlier post. Our son and his girlfriend are in Tampa, so we stay at this park when camping and visiting them. We had Site # 84, but it was quite sunny when we arrived, so we requested a change to 101. The site was quite large and shady. Sadly, no sewer though. It was a bargain as well at a nightly rate of $29.50.

The park has several hiking trails. We walked the Rapids Nature Trail, which runs alongside the river. It was an easy, shaded walk with magnificent views of the river. I so loved the “Prayer of the Woods” at the beginning of the trail in the photo below!

Florida Campgrounds Hillsborough River Prayer of the Woods — Prayer of the Woods

When we were at the campground before, the pool was closed. This time, it was open and we loved it! It was huge and a perfect temperature and not a bit crowded, though that will probably change once school is out for the summer.

Enormous Hillsborough River State Park Pool

The Negative

Hillsborough River State Park is wonderful, but we had terrible experiences with bugs. First, it was lovebug season and they were all over our SUV. We were told they like white vehicles and they certainly liked ours. The only way to get the massive numbers of dead ones off our vehicle was using dryer sheets. If you allow them to remain on your car, they are corrosive and can destroy your paint.

Secondly, I had a bad experience with chiggers. They bit my ankles and I had major bumps and itching. I think I also transferred some to my arms and legs for additional bites. I had no idea chiggers could be such a big deal! Hypochondriac that I am, I imagined much more serious possibilities for my bites until my son talked me down.

Ybor City

We also visited Ybor City, a fascinating neighborhood in Tampa that was founded on the cigar industry . On another trip, we had dinner at the wonderful Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and wanted to eat there again.

I am so glad we also decided to check out the Ybor City Museum State Park. The neighborhood has a most interesting history. We toured the museum with Mitzi, a lovely docent from Venezuela who has lived in the U.S. for forty years. She provided a tour of a replica of the homes during the 1800s. She made the 1800s and early 1900s in Ybor City come alive for us. All this for just $4 each. I won’t spoil it for those who might want to visit, but encourage everyone to check it out. It was great!

Family Time

Of course, our favorite time in Tampa was visiting family. Our son and his girlfriend prepared a delicious steak and lobster dinner for us. The interesting thing about the lobsters is that they caught them. They are both experienced divers and our son has just become a certified Divemaster. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

Favorite Restaurants on Trip

Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City on the way to Tampa was awesome. Surprisingly, their Gator Bites with horseradish sauce was great. The best thing there, however, was the goat cheesecake with gingersnap crust. We also liked The Great Catch in Zephyrhills. Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad and the White Chocolate Bread Pudding were also wonderful.

In Conclusion

This, our first camping trip of 2019, was everything we could have wanted. We were blessed by wonderful weather and soul-soothing closeness with nature. Our time with friends and family was priceless. This trip was retirement at its very best. Florida campgrounds rock!

Tampa, Stop #2 Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River is a Florida State Park located about a half hour northeast of Tampa. It is a beautiful park with a “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” look with its gorgeous live oak trees and abundance of spanish moss.

Teardrop Left at Campground

We have family in Tampa and this trip was more about visiting them than camping. So, we decided to spend a couple of nights at their home. Therefore, we left Endeavor, our teardrop, all alone at Hillsborough River.

Link to park.

We set up our rug, awning, and chairs so it would look like we would return at any time. Teardrops are so light, it is easy for them to be stolen and we worried a little about being gone so long.

Our time with family was great and we did a lot of cool things in Tampa. I will cover those activities in a separate post.

On the afternoon before we left to return to the park, I received a disturbing message via Facebook Messenger. It went something like: “Ma’am, this is the Ranger in Charge at Hillsborough River. I need you to call me ASAP.” This freaked me out! My first though was that something had happened to our camper.

I called immediately and spoke with the ranger. He was concerned about us and said that several people had noticed that we had not been around. He wanted to be sure that we were okay. I thought it as really great that he went to the trouble of tracking us down to confirm that all was well.

Camping at Hillsborough River

We had two nights and one full day with Hillsborough River as home base. The river and a canoe launch was just across from our site, #32.

Hillsborough River empty campsite — River is beyond the trees

View of Hillsborough River from State Park — Hillsborough River

We sometimes camp with friends and play games at night. The above shelter would be nice for this as it is screened and would enable us to be protected from bugs. Bugs were not bad at all during our time at the park, but we were not outside with lights on for a long period.

We did not use some of the nice amenities. There is a very large pool, a cafe, and rentals for canoes and bikes. Also, there is a playground and several hiking trails.

One thing about Florida State Parks that I really like is that they have dishwashing stations with hot water. With our limited cooking, I loaded up our dirty dishes in a plastic bucket and carried them to the station for washing. With no sewer available, this was a lot easier than it is in parks without this option.

Our New Accessory

We were given a large, heavy-duty cot by our son’s girlfriend and we tried it out one beautiful morning. It was glorious laying on the very comfortable cot looking up at the gorgeous blue sky and amazing trees! The cot actually holds both of us.

Man laying on cot in Campground — Our new equipment—thanks Laura!

Spanish moss in trees — View from the cot

Road inside Hillsborough River State Park — Path to our site

In conclusion, we had a very relaxing stay at the campground and hope to visit it again. It is the most beautiful park I have visited in my limited camping experience. We are big fans of Florida State Parks. One tip, the bathhouse near site #77 is much newer and nicer than the one nearest site #32. However, we loved our site and think it would be a good one for bigger rigs as well.

Lastly, if you would like to follow our adventures, below is a link to our main page.

Retirement and teardrop camping!

HAPPY CAMPING!