Good news for Florida campers. Beginning with the new year Florida residents gain an advantage in making camping reservations in Florida State Parks.
Florida residents have long complained about not being able to reserve campsites and cabins during the winter months because all the sites have been claimed by Snowbirds and their RV’s. That changes effective in January, 2024. Based on a law that went through the legislature in 2023, Florida residents can now reserve campsites 11 months in advance. Out-of-state residents have to wait a month.
As an example, if you want a campsite at Bahai Honda State Park in the Florida Keys (one of the hardest reservations to get) in December, 2024, you can book that in January, 2024, 11 months out. Out-of-staters have to wait until February.
It’s going to take a while for the new system to start working as existing reservations into 2024 are already made at many parks. The real impact will be the winter camping season of 2024-2025. But you can start making those prized reservations beginning January 1, 2024.
The new rule applies to RV camping, tent camping, cabins, and boat camping. It doesn’t apply to primitive campsites.
Florida residents have complained for years that their tax dollars pay for the parks, but they can’t get in during the prime camping season in the state. Score this one as a victory for Floridians.
To reserve a camp site, go to: https://reserve.floridastateparks.org.