Camping at Little Talbot Island State Park is a unique experience. I can assure you: you will not find many parks like this one! In this article, I summarize what you can expect when you go camping in this gem, so read on!
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Despite living in Florida, we generally steer clear of beach camping. The first reason is that we are lucky to live just 20 minutes away from great beaches. Moreover, we are not fans of the sandy mess and sticky, salty water in our camper. For those reasons, when it is time to camp we either go to parks with natural springs, or we head north to the Georgia mountains.
With the fantastic reviews that this park receives, we decided to make an exception and give it a try. To be safe, we did it during the cooler months of the year. We simply expected to find a nice beach and some nice palm trees.
Boy, were we in for a surprise.
The Talbot Islands
Little Talbot Island is part of a string of barrier islands in Northeast Florida. Together with several other state parks in the area, they form a cluster known as the Talbot Islands.
The location of these islands is ideal for a Florida East Coast family road trip! It would be a great time to also visit the historic city of St. Augustine. Check out this article on what to do for a weekend in St. Augustine with family.
These islands have a combination of ecosystems that I had not seen previously. You will find soft sandy beaches on the east side, salt marshes on the west side, and hardwood forests in between. This makes for a unique array of flora and fauna that come together to form a fascinating landscape.
Just north of Little Talbot Island, you will find Big Talbot Island State Park. If you continue north and cross the bridge you will get to Amelia Island State Park. South and West of Little Talbot you will find Fort George Island Cultural State Park and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park. While there is no camping in those parks, staying in Little Talbot Island will give you quick access.
Camping at Little Talbot Island State Park
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<p><strong>Please include attribution to A Pragmatic Lens with this graphic.</strong><br /><br /><a href='https://apragmaticlens.com/little-talbot-island-state-park/'><img src='https://ml0cur3zhy5j.i.optimole.com/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/ig:avif/f:best/https://apragmaticlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Little-Talbot-Island-State-Park-Info-1.jpg' alt='Little Talbot Island State Park infographic with summary of campground amenitites and things to do' width='800px' border='0' /></a></p>Arrival
When you arrive at Little Talbot Island State Park, you will check-in at the ranger station on the east side of A1A. After checking in, you have to loop back around and cross the road because the campground is on the west side of A1A. You will be given a gate code to go through.
The Campground Road
The road past the gate is short, but not in the best of conditions. It is packed dirt with a fair amount of holes. Within the campground loops, the road is lined with beautiful oak trees that provide a lot of shade on the road and on the campsites.
If you have a camper or RV, however, let me give you a heads up. Maneuvering your rig will not be a fun endeavor. The roads are narrow and windy. Even worse, they are two-way roads, which makes it a bit tricky if you run into a truck or camper coming in the other direction. Also, beware of low branches…
Related: Three River State Park Campgrounds Review
The campsites
The campground consists of 20 sites that are suitable for RV or tent, and 12 sites that are tent-only. I will be honest here, there is room for improvement in these sites.
But I’ll start with the positives.
The sites are lovely. Oak trees provide a LOT of shade, which is imperative here in Florida. At least, that is our opinion. Also, the large amount of vegetation and oak trees provide quite a bit of privacy, even though the sites are relatively close to each other.
The sandy ground worked well, and we did not have issues with the camper getting too messy. The arrangement of the sites also makes it easy to access the bathhouse. More on that later.
The main issues we encountered were size and leveling. Let’s start we leveling because to be honest, it was a bit of a nightmare for us. This is site-dependent of course, and there is a chance ours was one of the worst ones. In general, though, most sites did not look very level.
If you are tent-camping, then the fact that the sites are not level is not much of a concern. However, if you have a pop-up camper then you have to keep this in mind. Our experience when we had our pop-up camper is that the camper had to be almost perfectly level before raising the top.
The other issue was the size of the sites. While some sites can accommodate RVs, our 21ft camper was one of the largest ones in the campground. Not only are the sites relatively small, but because the roads are also narrow it was challenging to maneuver our small camper into the site. It is doable, but keep this in mind if you have a larger camper. If you have a small camper van, then none of this may be a problem for you. Yay!
Hookups and Sewer
Electricity was provided and worked well. There was a power outage for about 30 minutes, but that could happen anywhere.
While the water was provided, we did not like that the water pressure was low. By the time it reached the sink of our camper, there was almost no pressure at all. Our camper has an outdoor shower that we use sometimes to rinse sand and dirt off. We were unable to use it this trip because the water was down to a trickle.
The other issue, at least on our site, is that the water was on the opposite side of the electricity. We had to run the hose across the site to reach the camper. It is not a big deal as long as you have a long hose or extensions with you. It is just not ideal because it was a trip hazard for the kids.
There are no sewer hookups, but there is a dump station. It is a bit of a tight turn to get in, so it is probably easier to have a portable tank instead of bringing the whole camper.
Shade
As mentioned earlier, the campground roads and the sites are lined with majestic live oaks. Not only are they lovely to look at, but they also provide a ton of shade. We camped during the colder months, but with so much shade it would be feasible to also camp here during warmer times of the year as well.
Best and worst sites
We picked site # 24. It had a ton of shade and a lot of privacy. The bathhouse was very close too. However, if you can, I would avoid this site because we did have multiple issues. Specifically, it was awkward to park the camper, a nightmare to level, and the water was on the opposite side of the electricity.
The best site? I will try to snatch site #38 the next time we camp there. It is a pull-through site, which would make parking the camper easier. I should have checked this, but I am not sure whether the water was on the same side as the electricity. Also, it looked fairly level.
But the best part of site #38: The view. The site was empty the day we arrived, so we managed to get a couple of pictures. The oak trees of the site open into a west-facing salt marsh. Because of that, this site gets a wonderful sunset view. Having dinner while watching the sunset sounds quite dreamy.
One catch with site # 38 is that the max vehicle length is 20ft. We could possibly fit ours because 21ft includes the tongue, but it may indeed be a tight fit. Low branches will also be a consideration.
Another thing to consider with site #38 is that the site can get somewhat inundated during high tide. According to the website, it is only a few inches and goes away quickly, but perhaps it would be best to avoid during heavy rain season. Generally, this should not be a big issue if you have a camper but it may be more of a consideration if you have a tent.
The bathhouse
There is a separate bathhouse in each loop. You can easily get to them from the road, but there are also “internal” trails from a few sites so that you can get to the bathhouse faster. Just make sure you remember your “trail”, or you will end up awkwardly crashing someone else’s camping party. Yes, I speak from experience.
The bathrooms were kept in nice condition, but I was not a fan of the low water pressure. Showering took longer than usual, especially when adding two little kids to the mix. It also took longer for the water to get warm, which my little kids did NOT appreciate.
There are a washer and a drier in the front of the bathhouse, as well as a sink for dishwashing. I did not get to use those, so I cannot say much else about these.
Pets
Leashed pets are allowed in the campgrounds and most trails, but it is important to remember that they are not allowed on beaches. So if you are planning to go on a hike that includes a beach portion, know that your pet will not be able to accompany you.
Things to Do in the Talbot Islands
Little Talbot Island Trails
There are two main trails within Little Talbot Island that we explored to some extent: The Nature Loop by the campground, and the South Loop on the beachside.
The Nature Loop is only accessible through the campground, close to site #40. It is a short trail, less than a mile long. It is a great option for a quick hike and for little kids. The hike features salt marsh views large live oaks draped with Spanish moss. While short, this was one of our favorite walks.
Walking around the campground you will also find a small dock for fishing. You can also launch a kayak or canoe by the fishing dock, or simply sit down and enjoy the sunset.
The South Loop is a 4-mile loop on the east side of A1A. There are two ways that you can access this hike. You can start the hike from the beach parking area. If so, the first part of this loop will be a beach walk. The other option, which is what we did, is to park near the ranger station and start the loop from there. This forest portion of the trail is shady, and we explored about 0.75 miles of it before turning back. We did not make it much farther because it was late in the day.
Big Talbot Island Trails
Hiking and biking around Big Talbot Island was an absolutely awesome experience and made this trip unique.
But beware – you have to pay a SEPARATE FEE to go to this park. Technically you are not camping in Big Talbot, so accessing this park is NOT included in your camping reservation. You will need to provide exact change using the honor boxes, so make sure you have some cash with you! Here is the information for their fees.
Timucuan Trail
This trail is a 6-mile out and back multi-use trail. It starts at Big Pine trail on the south end of Big Talbot, and goes all the way to the boardwalk at Birdwatch station.
Our initial plan was to bike from the campground to the Timucuan trail because it is only a couple of miles away. However, there is no bike lane. You can still do it, but because we have little children we decided it would not be the safest route. Instead, we drove to Big Pine Trail and started biking from there.
This paved trail weaves through forests and open marsh. It also connects multiple trailheads including Blackrock Trail and the Bluffs. You can go past Birdwatch Station to access George Crady Bridge State Fishing Pier, but at that point, you will be back on the main road. We did not venture that far, but if you do, make sure to have cash for separate entrance fees.
Related: Hart Springs Park Campground Review
The Driftwood Beach
This was the highlight of the trip. Boneyard Beach is littered with bleached, weathered fallen trees. Blackrock beach owes its name to the black spots of spodosol on the sand. I have seen driftwood beaches in the past, but this is unlike any other.
You can access the beach from the Timucuan Trail through the BlackRock trail and the Shoreline Trail. We went during low tide, which I would recommend. During high tide, most of the trees would be covered. Also, swimming is not allowed because, well, you may end up impaled by the branches…
Other trails and State Parks
As I mentioned in the beginning, there are multiple other state parks in the Talbot Islands that are within easy access. Because we only had two full days in the area, we did not get to explore beyond biking and hiking at Little and Big Talbot Islands.
If you will be spending more days here, there are many more trails for hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding in the other parks. Of course, fishing, boating, canoeing, and birdwatching are also phenomenal.
Wildlife
Just in our campground, we saw chickadees, a titmouse, bald eagles, and fiddler crabs. As you may imagine, there are a ton of birdwatching opportunities from Birdwatching Station on the northern end of Big Talbot Island. Ospreys and wading birds such as egrets and Great Blue Herons are common in this part.
With wilderness also come ticks and mosquitos. I found two ticks on me just while we were setting up the camper, so make sure you load up on DEET!
Kids Activities
Our kids had a BLAST during our visit.
Firstly, the rangers at the office gave us scavenger hunt bags during check-in that contained a small notepad, pencil, magnifying glasses, wildlife and plant guides, and a couple of toy insects.
Also, there is a playground within the campground that is in great condition. The paved Timucuan trail is great for bike riding with the kids, and the trails that we went on were short, easy hikes with lots of trees to climb on.
And speaking of climbing trees…
The driftwood beach. The crown jewel of this area is better than any playground these kids have ever been to. Lots of climbing and running and giving mommy mild heart attacks…
To wrap it up
The campground itself has room for improvement, and it is only suitable for small campers and tents. These are all minor shortcomings that, with a bit of preparation, will not affect your experience. We truly enjoyed our stay and wished we had a few more days to explore the rest of the Talbot Islands. But our days here were numbered, and it was time to move on to Colt Creek State Park to finish up our trip.
I guess we gotta leave something for next time!
Additional Resources
Official Little Talbot Island State Park
RV and Camping Resources
RV Trip Planning
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Have you been to Little Talbot Island State Park? What information am I missing? If you are planning a trip there, are there other questions you have about it? Let me know in the comments below!
Overall sounds like you had a good time! I grew up in South Florida and once went camping around the keys. I was too young to remember where exactly now. Sorry to hear about the shower and water pressure. Maybe that will be something the grounds will look into for future campers!
Maybe! But even if they do not, it is not a deal-breaker. It is an amazing place!
This looks like a great place to get back to nature and explore.
It truly is!
Great post! This seems like it was a lot of fun, besides the water.
Krystianna @ Volumes and Voyages
Definitely one of our favorites 🙂
I love discovering new places and I´ve never heard of The Talbot Islands before your post! It would be great to do the trails with my kids! The fishing pier on the campground looks gorgeous!
This is a great area for kids! The trails are easy and shady, and lots to see 🙂
Camping at Talbot Island so like so much fun! It’s funny, I grew up in San Diego and we camped at the beach just minutes from home every year and I loved it. I would love to try camping here sometime! ?
Head on over to Florida and spend a few days in the Talbot Islands. It really is unique 🙂
I love the look of camping at Little Talbot Island State Park! The trails sound lovely (even if you have yo pay extra to visit the Big Talbot Island trails! That beach covered in driftwood is gorgeous! Do you know why that particular beach had so much driftwood?
Hurricanes! I tried researching this to see if there was a specific storm that caused most of the damage, but sadly I could not find information.
Do you recommend good places to eat near little talbot island?
Hello Yary! We did not eat out during our stay but did hear about a couple of places from other people when we were camping. One is the Palms Fish Camp restaurant. It came highly recommended, but it is about 15 minutes away. Another good one we heard about was the Sandollar Restaurant. People seemed to prefer the former, but Sandollar is closer being just under 10 minutes away from the park. I hope this helps!