Cape Canaveral National Seashore

What could be better than laying on soft sand, listening to the crashing waves, and gazing at Florida's best sun and stars?  Cape Canaveral National Seashore has 14 primitive campsites located on Mosquito Lagoon.  This park has a 40-mile stretch of undeveloped seashore, which is truly a rare gem in Florida.  The park is located just northeast of Titusville, or an hour and a half ENE of Orlando.  The beach sites fill up quickly, as there are only two of them, so make reservations ahead of time by calling 1-800-326-3521 or visiting www.Recreation.gov.

The two beach camp sites here are some of the finest beach campsites along the Atlantic Coast.  Although the campsites are considered primitive, there are bathrooms about a third of a mile away in the Visitors Center.  Fires are allowed on the beach, but you must bring your own fire-ring and wood. There are no picnic tables or grills here so if you are planning an overnight stay make sure you bring your own cooking gear. The first beach camp site is about a third of a mile down the beach from the Ranger Station.  If you walk towards the beach from the Ranger Station and follow the boardwalk down to the beach, make a left and keep walking for about 150 yards and you will see a less-than-obvious campsite to your left. Make sure to pitch your tent as close to the sand dunes as possible, as high tide at night can come very close to the dunes.

The ocean here provides endless opportunities for fun and adventure. Bring a kayak and launch it straight from the beach into the breaking waves.  Bring your surfboard and wetsuit and catch some of Florida's best waves. Bring your fishing rod, and capitalize on one of Florida's most untouched fishing waters.  Bring a frisbee, football, or golf clubs and enjoy endless possibilities for fun on the most uncrowded beach you will find anywhere in Florida.  However, the fun to be had here is not just limited to the beach.  Mosquito lagoon lies just a short walk away, where you can find some of Florida's best bird watching and sport fishing.  

There are also a few short hiking trails nearby the campsite, offering opportunities to see the wildlife and landscapes of the coastal hammock and mosquito lagoon. Whether you decide to camp here overnight or to just come for the day, you are sure to see a variety of wildlife.  It is common to see Bottlenose Dolphin, Tortoises, sea birds, Blue Heron, Great Egrets, and possibly a Sea Turtle.

Last but certainly not least, this is one of the best places in Florida for stargazing.  On a clear winter night, it is not impossible to see traces of the milky-way, a rarity in Florida where light pollution is more common than not.