5 Military Campgrounds Near Jacksonville, FL
by Meredith Flory - September 9th, 2022
Many military families have turned to RV Life to make long PCS road trips more manageable or even as flexible housing. However, the R in RV does stand for recreational, and military families may also find that having a camper can allow for ensuring that their family gets out and explores the landscape of America with each move, especially with the abundance of military base RV parks.
For military families stationed in or near Jacksonville, Florida, military campgrounds provide a way to explore the East Coast with discounted pricing and smaller crowds with or without an RV. Jacksonville has a long history with the Navy and is the perfect springboard to visiting the beach and other tourist attractions in FL for active duty, reserve, and veteran families alike.
5 Military Campgrounds in Florida
Pelican Roost RV Park and Osprey Cove RV Park
Located inside of Mayport Naval Station in Mayport, FL this RV park offers full hook-up RV sites, tent sites, and cottages for a variety of vacation options. Pelican Roost offers waterfront RV and tent sites on the St. Johns River, while Osprey Cove offers RV sites and vacation cottages in a relaxing oak tree setting. Both are within close distance of the on-post beach and offer amenities like laundry and a book/video swap.
While staying here, plan a day trip to nearby Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve to learn the history of Ft Caroline and Kingsley Plantation and marvel at the unspoiled coastal wetlands and forest habitats.
Navy Getaways Jacksonville RV Park
This RV park offers tent and RV sites at NAS Jacksonville on the Southern side of Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. Enjoy all the amenities of the base, including the golf course, while exploring all that Jacksonville has to offer. Enjoy the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, hosting “Spooktacular” in October with trick or treating, scare zones, and music.
Make sure to fill up on a delicious breakfast at the Maple Street Biscuit Company before heading to one of Jacksonville’s beaches.
Camp Blanding National Guard Post Recreation Sites
Located in Stark, FL this campground offers camping sites perfect for getting away in nature for a weekend. The James E. Johnson Memorial RV Park offers full hook-ups with reservations on Kingsley Lake and is meant for RVs that are completely contained with their own restroom facilities. McKenna Campground is first-come, first-serve primitive camping with water only for RVs and tents and has laundry and restroom amenities.
This campground is more out of the way, south of Jacksonville, but it’s quiet with amenities like playgrounds and picnic tables for enjoying the scenery as a family. It puts you close to several state parks, such as Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park with old-growth pines perfect for birding and Jennings State Forest with hiking and wildlife viewing.
Eagle Hammock RV Park
Located just north of Jacksonville at NSB Kings Bay in Southern Georgia. This RV Park has earned the Campers Choice Award for the Best Military Campground in the Eastern United States.
The park offers full hook-ups, beautiful views, and is pet-friendly, offering you a place to park close to the Cumberland Island National Seashore, and with easy access to I-95 to continue your road trip down into FL.
Cross over the state line to view wildlife at Four Creeks State Forest or the beach and recreation options of Amelia Island, both just north of Jacksonville.
Manatee Cove Family Campground
Manatee Cove is further down the coast at Patrick FSB, with 156 full hook-up sites and five primitive camping sites.
No RV and want more comfort than a tent? Check out the post cottages! These are resort properties with prices to match, but look out over a federally protected beach used by turtles.
In addition to recreational amenities on post, this campground puts you near all the tourist features of Kissimmee, and the Canaveral National Seashore.
With all these great locations in Florida, there is so much to explore. Whether you are stationed at a military base in Florida, living in a nearby state, or passing through during your PCS, enjoy these great RV parks for your next trip!
Meredith Flory is a military spouse, homeschool mom, and freelance writer currently living in Texas. She has a master’s degree in children’s literature and her writing has appeared in publications such as Military Families, The Mary Sue, and Augusta Family Magazine. You can follow her on Twitter @Meredith Flory Instagram @merediththemom or check out her website www.meredithflory.com for more info.
