If you live in Tallahassee and want to go camping without spending half the day getting there, St. George Island State Park is hard to beat.
It’s close enough for a weekend trip, but once you’re sitting at the campsite surrounded by dunes, pines and palmettos with the Gulf of Mexico just a short walk away, it definitely doesn’t feel like you’re just a couple of hours from home.
We’ve camped here ourselves, and this is one of those North Florida campgrounds where the location really is the attraction.
You aren’t camping near the beach.
You’re camping ON St. George Island. Well not ON the beach but very close!
Where Is St. George Island State Park?
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park sits at the eastern end of St. George Island, the barrier island just across the bridge from Eastpoint and not far from Apalachicola.
From Tallahassee, it’s an easy weekend escape. You can leave town and be setting up camp the same afternoon without burning an entire vacation day getting there.
Once you cross the bridge onto St. George Island, you’ll drive through the main part of the island and continue east until you reach the state park.
The farther into the park you go, the less developed everything becomes.
That’s a big part of what makes it special.
What the Campground Is Actually Like
The campground isn’t directly on the Gulf.
This is important because photos of St. George Island’s gorgeous beaches sometimes make people assume they’ll walk out of their camper and directly onto the sand.
That’s not quite how it’s set up.
The main campground is tucked behind the dunes among pine trees, palmettos and native vegetation. That gives the campsites some protection from the wind and makes the campground feel surprisingly wooded considering you’re on a narrow barrier island.
There are 60 campsites with water and electricity.
The campground also has restrooms with hot showers and a dump station.
It’s a real campground—not a parking lot full of RVs lined up beside each other.
But the Beach Is Why You’re Here
The park has miles of undeveloped Gulf shoreline.
And this isn’t Panama City Beach.
There aren’t condos towering over you, beach bars blasting music or rows of rental chairs covering every inch of sand.
You get dunes, sea oats, white sand and the Gulf.
That’s about it.
Even during busier times, being inside the state park gives you access to stretches of beach that feel much less crowded than the public areas closer to the center of St. George Island.
Pack your chairs, cooler, towels and whatever else you want for the day and plan on spending some time doing absolutely nothing.
Bring the Bikes
St. George Island is a great place to bring bicycles.
Instead of loading everybody into the vehicle every time you want to go somewhere, bikes make it easy to explore portions of the park and get around the campground.
The island is flat, which makes riding considerably more pleasant than pretending a giant hill is a “fun family bike ride.”
If you’ve got room for the bikes, bring them.
Bring the Kayaks Too
One of the coolest things about camping here is having two completely different bodies of water to explore.
You’ve got the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Apalachicola Bay on the other.
The bay side is particularly good for paddling when conditions cooperate.
Kayaking gives you another way to explore the quieter side of the island and look for wildlife.
Just remember that you’re still dealing with coastal weather and tides. Check conditions before heading out and don’t assume the water will stay calm simply because it started that way.
Fishing Is Practically Built Into the Trip
If you fish, bring your gear.
You can surf fish from the Gulf side or explore fishing opportunities around the bay.
Depending on the season, the waters around St. George Island can produce everything from whiting and redfish to flounder and other coastal species.
Make sure you have the appropriate Florida fishing license if one is required for you and check current regulations before keeping anything.
The Wildlife Is Part of the Experience
Keep your eyes open while you’re camping.
The park provides habitat for an impressive amount of wildlife, particularly birds.
You may see shorebirds, ospreys, eagles and plenty of other coastal species.
Sea turtles also nest along Florida’s Gulf beaches, so during nesting season pay attention to posted areas and keep the beach dark and clean at night.
And don’t leave food sitting around the campsite.
You’re still camping, even if there’s a beach involved.
Yes, There Are Bugs
Let’s discuss the part the pretty beach pictures don’t show.
Bring bug spray.
This is North Florida. You’re surrounded by coastal vegetation and water.
Mosquitoes and biting insects can absolutely show up, particularly around dusk and after wet weather.
We’d pack mosquito spray, something for the campsite and whatever else you normally use to keep bugs from turning you into dinner.
And There Is Very Little Shade on the Beach
The campground has vegetation and some shade, but once you head over the dunes to the Gulf, you’re exposed.
In summer, that Florida sun is no joke.
Bring a beach umbrella or canopy, sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.
During the hottest months, morning and late afternoon can be much more enjoyable than planting yourself on the sand at 1 p.m.
Watch the Weather
This is another thing that’s especially important when camping on a barrier island.
Florida summer storms can appear quickly.
Pay attention to the radar, particularly if you’re going kayaking, fishing or spending the day away from your campsite.
And if there’s a tropical system anywhere near the Gulf, keep a close eye on park alerts.
A barrier island isn’t where you want to discover you haven’t been paying attention to the forecast.
Take a Drive Into Apalachicola
One advantage of camping at St. George Island is that you don’t have to spend the entire trip at the campground.
Apalachicola is close enough for an easy side trip.
Head into town, walk around downtown, browse the shops and grab some seafood.
It makes a nice break if you’ve spent a couple of days cooking everything over the camp stove or grill.
Eastpoint is right across the bridge as well.
Don’t Forget St. George Island Itself
The developed part of St. George Island has restaurants, shops and beach access, so you aren’t completely isolated.
That’s one reason this campground works particularly well for people who like camping but don’t necessarily want to spend three days pretending civilization doesn’t exist.
You can spend the morning on a nearly undeveloped beach and still go get ice cream later.
That’s our kind of roughing it.
What We’d Bring
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Beach chairs
- Beach umbrella or canopy
- Bicycles
- Kayaks or paddleboards if you have them
- Fishing gear
- Plenty of drinking water
- Cooler
- Flashlights or headlamps
- Long extension cord appropriate for camping
- Outdoor rug or mat to help control sand
- Extra towels
- Binoculars for wildlife watching
When Is the Best Time to Camp at St. George Island?
For us, the sweet spot isn’t necessarily the middle of summer.
Summer gives you warm Gulf water and long beach days, but it also brings serious heat, humidity, mosquitoes and afternoon thunderstorms.
Spring and fall can be fantastic.
You can still enjoy the beach without feeling like you’re being cooked inside your own campsite.
Winter can also be surprisingly nice for camping, although North Florida weather is unpredictable enough that you might get a gorgeous 70-degree afternoon followed by a night that makes you very glad you packed extra blankets.
Reservations Can Be the Hard Part
St. George Island State Park isn’t exactly a secret.
With only 60 campsites and one of the best locations on the Forgotten Coast, desirable weekends can fill quickly.
If you’re trying to camp during spring break, holidays or one of those perfect-weather North Florida weekends, don’t assume you’ll be able to grab a site at the last minute.
Check Florida State Parks reservations early. Or you might get lucky and get a cancellation spot – never hurts to try for a impromptu weekend!
Is St. George Island State Park Worth Camping At?
Absolutely.
Especially if you live in Tallahassee. It’s close enough to make sense for a regular weekend, yet completely different from camping inland.
You get the Gulf, Apalachicola Bay, fishing, kayaking, biking, wildlife and miles of beach without having to drive halfway across Florida.
It’s also a great choice for families because you don’t need an elaborate itinerary.
Wake up.
Eat breakfast.
Go to the beach.
Come back to camp.
Grill dinner.
Watch the sunset.
Repeat.
Sometimes that’s exactly what a camping weekend is supposed to be.
Have you camped at St. George Island State Park? Tell us your favorite campsite or your best tip for first-time campers!
