Pets: Fetch the Sun
Florida is a Great Winter Destination—for Dogs
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Getty
If you have ever braved winter in all its glory in an RV with your dog, you know it comes with many rewards: snowy adventures, winter hikes, campfires, and clear-night stargazing are just the beginning. But this season also comes with a lot of extra work for canine-companion campers. And sometimes, as we sit bundled up at our winter campsite, I have dreamed of Florida weather. I have been known to cue up a Jimmy Buffett playlist at such moments.
So if you need to warm up with your dog this winter, consider the Sunshine State migration. Florida campsites are certainly hard to find this time of year. For this story, we dug into the website/app Hipcamp, a handy nexus for both finding and booking dog-friendly outdoor stays, from tent spots to RV parks to glamping-ish cabins. Here are five recent Floridian finds:
The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a chain of limestone islands that extend from the southern tip of the Florida mainland southwest to the Dry Tortugas—approximately 220 miles. The Keys were one of our first destinations with newly adopted dog Fruitycake. It gets extremely hot down here during most times of the year. But in season, it is absolute perfection and the best time for camping.
Hipcamp pointed the way to a two-RV site that promises a step back in time, dating to 1954.. With full hookups, this piece of Florida happiness is located near mile marker 106 in Key Largo, with a private sandy beach, fishing pier, kayaks, great trails to cruise along the shoreline, and direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. When we were in the Keys, we were so surprised at Fruitycake’s newfound love of kayaking. If your dog hasn’t tried it, this is the perfect spot to start.
Photo Credit: Rachel Johnson
The Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle is in the northwest of the state. It has long been popular for its beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. One notable Hipcamp spot sits on one acre directly on Choctawhatchee Bay in Santa Rosa Beach, with a private beach, dock and pond—plenty of room for your dog to explore, and maybe even learn how to swim. Want a night out with your dog? Check out The Craft Bar, a nearby gastropub offering craft beers and regionally-inspired favorites and lots of pet-friendly outdoor tables.
St. Augustine, Florida
We absolutely love St. Augustine—the beaches in this area are truly the definition of the Florida vibe. The oldest city in the United States (founded 1565) is known for welcoming dogs. With 42 miles of dog-friendly beaches, this makes for the ultimate winter camping spot.
But St. Augustine is more than just beaches, with its atmospheric downtown. It’s also an ideal home base for our family when we visit nearby Daytona and our favorite beach in Jacksonville, Hanna Park. Hipcamp revealed a peaceful campsite on a horse farm, a perfect break from the action for the likes of our senior dog Brickle. Located just 4 miles from downtown St. Augustine and 5 miles from Vilano Beach, the spot sat near hiking and water activities—within 30 minutes.
Photo Credit: Rachel Johnson
Homosassa, Florida
This may be a little off the beaten path in Florida, but Homosassa should not be missed. Near the southern end of Florida’s Big Bend, Homosassa is an area where manatee-watching and paddling are the top activities. Tucked along a narrow road, a very distinctive Hipcamp spot called “Manatee Delight” offers users direct access to the crystal-clear waters of the south-east fork of the Homosassa River.
You can use the host’s kayaks to explore the waters, where you may meet a manatee, see otters, find fish, or watch wildlife of all kinds. The site has direct access to Pepper Creek Trail, a 0.75-mile paved trail that is part of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Clermont, Florida
Clermont, in Central Florida, is strategically located just west of Orlando and north of Disney World. Hipcamp revealed a 20-acre site removed from the Orlando crowds, near Lake Baldwin Park and its a 23-acre dog-friendly lakeside park offering a beach, pavilions, picnic areas and a boat ramp.
Want to experience the real old Florida? Take your dog to the Showcase Of Citrus—pick some fruit in the citrus grove, go on a monster truck tour, feed farm animals and then cool off with a frozen Creamsicle in the open-air country store.
Camping with your dog is all about finding new experiences that you can enjoy together. Although we haven’t been able to take our dogs to every place we have wanted to explore, we have made adjustments, and those locations have become new favorites. Using an app like Hipcamp, you can break out of the normal winter routine.
