Visiting Florida’s state parks provides unmatched opportunities to experience Florida with your family. While day visits are nice, spending a night or two in the parks will allow you to relax and further explore Florida’s nature and history. The easiest way to accomplish this is to stay in park cabins. In this guide, I provide all the information you need to plan your stay in a Florida State Park Cabins.
Why should you even visit Florida State Parks?
The typical family Florida vacation includes amusement parks, cruise ships, and beach time. But there is so much more to Florida than Disney…
Don’t get me wrong, we love amusement parks and we enjoy going every once in a while!
But be aware that, when you ONLY do that, you are missing out on what Florida has to offer.
“…The Real Florida” is the State Park system’s motto. And I could not agree more. By visiting Florida State Parks you will get to learn about Florida’s diverse ecosystems (we are not just swamps) and history.
Sadly, most people visiting Florida have never visited the state parks. What is even worse, many Florida residents have not either!
So, if you are looking into spending a few days in Florida with your family, do yourselves a favor and plan to stay a few nights in the State Parks.
Five reasons to book a Florida State Park cabin
Quick access to activities within the park
While technically you could look for hotels in the area and simply go to the park for the day, your choices would be greatly reduced. One of the reasons is that you would need to stick the times that the park is actually open.
Also, Florida state parks usually have quite a few activities that you could do, such as hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, fishing, stargazing,
Exposure to nature in a climate-controlled environment
If you are looking to expose yourself and your families to the benefits of nature, then this is a pretty comfortable way to do it. Most state park cabins will have nice porches and yards in a natural setting. But you would have safe shelter in the event of rain, or a break from the heat in the middle of summer!
Great way to spend time with family
Some state park cabins are able to accommodate up to 6 people! Not only would this cut down on costs, but it also provides a fun family getaway. Also, all the cabins tend to be in the same area. This is great if you want to have a large group meetup! You can book multiple cabins close to each other and spend a few days with friends and family.
Most essentials are provided for you
While there are still some things you will need to bring, you will not need to worry about a camping kitchen, tents, rain cover, sleeping bags, or linens. All of those essentials will be provided for you! I will cover this information in more detail in a separate section.
There is no learning curve
Camping in either a tent or an RV requires a certain amount of knowledge and preparation. It is not rocket science, but there is more research that you would need to do. Staying in a state park cabin would take that away since the shelter, beds, and bathrooms are already provided!
When you are ready to take the plunge into family camping, check out these tips on how to have a first successful camping trip!
How to make reservations for Florida State Park cabins
This is actually very easy to do! These reservations are handled through Reserve America. You simply go on that website, select the state of Florida or a more specific location, and select “cabins” in the field you are looking for. Enter the number of occupants and the dates, and start selecting!
The price averages $95/night, but of course but it can vary extensively depending on location and time of year. If you are planning on visiting during busy dates, such as weekends or holidays, then there is a two-night minimum stay.
It is very important to understand that there are only a few parks with cabins and the number of cabins in each is limited. That means you need to either be flexible with your dates, or book your stay well ahead of time. I have an article with tips on how to plan a year’s worth of family adventures that will hopefully help you in this regard.
What is included in a Florida State Park cabin
I am providing information on what items are normally included in state park cabins. However, it is always important to double-check because these may differ from park to park! For example, Oleta River and Cayo Costa cabins do not have kitchens or bathrooms!
- Most cabins have bathrooms, but there are exceptions.
- Most state park cabins will have a fully stocked kitchen. That means all cooking utensils, pots, and pans will be provided.
- Refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, and coffee maker
- Dishes, cups, and eating utensils
- Most will include linens, but there are exceptions
- Dish soap and dish detergent are usually provided
- Outdoor grill and campfire ring
What should you bring with you
In addition to your clothes, medications, and toiletries, there are a few other items you need to pack when staying in a state park cabin. Again, these are general recommendations and your needs may differ depending on where you are staying.
- Paper goods – bring paper towels and toilet paper. Some cabins provide this, but it is hit or miss
- Beach towels – If you are planning on hitting the beach or springs, make sure you bring separate beach towels. Some state parks do not want you to take towels out of the cabin. Even in the cases where it is allowed, I would still advise against it to avoid the risk of losing it.
- Laundry detergent – Most cabins do not include laundry, but there are usually laundry facilities in the campground bathhouses. If you are planning on staying for a few days, then make sure you bring your own laundry detergent.
- Extra dish soap and dish detergent – These things are usually provided but in small quantities. If you want to be on the safe side, especially if staying for more than just a couple of days, then I would suggest you pack a bit extra.
- Specialty cookware – Depending on the meals you want to make, you may want to bring other items with you. For example, sometimes I like to bring our griddle or our electric grill. Other people like to bring their slow-cookers for easy dinners.
- Drinking water – Technically you can drink tap water, but I am usually not comfortable with this. Make sure you are bringing water to drink. For us, I generally just bring a filter pitcher.
- Coffee and filters – It has happened on a few occasions with AirBNBs that a coffee maker was provided, but not the filters! Just in case, we always bring basket filters with us.
- Food and spices – If you are used to staying in Airbnbs, you know that some include staples like salt and pepper. That is not the case in these state parks. For the most part, nothing is provided in terms of food, so make sure you bring everything you know you will need, including salt and sugar!
- Camping chairs – Some include chairs you can use outside, but we always bring our own to use around the campfire
- Outdoor toys for your kids – Bring items that encourage outdoor exploration and that you do not mind getting dirty! I provide some ideas for outdoor gear for kids in this article.
- Bikes – Not a necessity, but I love exploring parks on our bikes. You can cover a lot more ground, and it is much easier and enjoyable than getting everybody in the car!
- Bug spray and sunscreen – You are out in nature, or at least, that should be part of the plan. Make sure you protect yourself from the Florida sun and mosquitoes.
Important points to consider
Adjust your Expectations
I debated whether I should mention this, but I decided it is important: Make sure your expectations are in the right place. You will not be staying at the Hilton! You should expect clean cabins with basic necessities, but do not expect room service or top-notch appliances!
WiFi and TV
For the most part, cabins do not offer TVs or WiFi. If you need internet access, then you will need to rely on your phone’s connection or bring a hotspot. You would also need to bring tablets or something similar for the kids if you find that necessary (we do use them at night). However, I would suggest that you encourage your kids to play outside, and you take this time to sit out on the porch and read a book instead.
Pets
While dogs are generally allowed in state park campgrounds, that is not the case for cabins. You can always double-check with the park you are staying at, but this seems to be the case in most parks.
Wilderness
Hopefully, part of the reason you want to stay in a state park cabin is to be able to experience nature and wilderness. So, expect to see some wilderness! Most parks have screens to keep mosquitos and bugs out, but it is not perfect and you may still get some in the cabin.
Florida State Parks with cabins
These are your options for Florida state parks with cabins. I divided this section into four regions within Florida to help you narrow down your search. Remember that you need to book your trips ahead of time to ensure availability!
South Florida
- Bahia Honda State Park – Located in the Lower Keys of Florida, this park has six cabins available. That being said, it is incredibly difficult to find availability!
- Oleta River State Park – Located in Miami-Dade County, there are 12 cabins available in this park. However, there are no kitchens or bathrooms in these cabins! There is a communal bathhouse.
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park – 12 cabins and located in Palm Beach county
- Cayo Costa State Park – 12 rustic “cabins” in this beautiful Lee County island. Honestly, these are more like bunkhouses. They have no electricity, kitchens, or bathrooms. Not for the faint of heart!
- Myakka River State Park – 5 cabins in Sarasota County
Central Florida
- Lake Louisa State Park – Located in Lake County, there are 17 cabins in this park.
- Blue Springs State Park – 6 cabins to choose from in this Orange County state park
- Silver Springs State Park – Located in Marion County, there are 9 cabins to choose from. I wrote a full review of this park here.
North Florida
- Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park – 15 cabins in Clay County
- Lafayette Blue Springs State Park – 5 cabins in Lafayette county
- Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park – 5 cabins in Hamilton county.
- Suwannee River State Park – 5 cabins within a huge park that spans Suwannee, Madison, and Hamilton counties.
- Fanning Springs State Park – 5 cabins in Levy county
Florida Panhandle
- T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park – 8 cabins in Gulf County.
- Torreya State Park – Only one cabin and no linens are provided
- Three Rivers State Park – Only one cabin and linens are not provided. Check out our full review here!
- Grayton Beach State Park – There are 27 fully-stocked cabins here, but you do not get to choose which one to stay in. You will reserve one, and you will be assigned one when you arrive.
- Top Sail Hill Preserve State Park – There are 29 cabins here, so you have plenty to choose from!
To Summarize
Whether you are visiting from out of state, or you are a Florida resident, Florida state park cabins are a great alternative to consider when planning a family adventure. It is a comfortable way to experience Florida’s wilderness and a great introduction to the state park system experience.
I hope this guide helps you plan and prepare for your next family adventure! Make sure to let me know if you have any questions by dropping a comment in the comments below!
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