Camping with a dog at Emerald Coast state parks this winter: rates, booking window, rules

Camping at a Florida state park on the Emerald Coast this winter costs $16 a night at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville to $42 for an RV site at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park near Santa Rosa Beach, plus tax and a $6.70 nonrefundable reservation fee, per Florida State Parks as of Nov. 2, 2026. Dogs are welcome at campsites but not in cabins or bungalows, and the state’s campground rules for pets are stricter than most visitors expect.

How far ahead can I book?

Florida residents can reserve state park campsites and cabins up to 11 months before arrival; everyone else can book up to 10 months ahead, per Florida State Parks. Florida residents who are 65 or older, or who have a qualifying disability, pay half the base campsite fee. RV sites add $7 for utilities.

What does a campsite cost on the Emerald Coast?

St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach notes that part of its campground is under construction, so fewer sites may be available on a given date.

What are the rules for dogs at Florida state park campgrounds?

The Florida State Parks pet policy sets the same campground rules in every park:

• Your dog stays inside your camper or tent from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• A dog is never left alone on the site for more than 30 minutes.
• No more than four pets per site.
• A leash of 6 feet or less everywhere outside the camper.
• No dogs in cabins, bungalows or park buildings, and never on beaches, boardwalks or playgrounds.

Topsail Hill welcomes dogs at RV sites, but not in its cabins or bungalows, and keeps them off the beach, the tram, the dunes and the lakes. St. Andrews welcomes dogs in its campground but not in swimming areas or buildings.

Which park fits which kind of trip?

• Topsail Hill Preserve: the most hiking, with more than 15 miles of marked trails, coastal dune lakes and 3.2 miles of beach without lifeguards. Dogs can walk the trails but not the beach.
• Grayton Beach: the 4.5-mile hike-and-bike trail, 9 miles round trip, leaves from the park.
• Blackwater River: the Chain of Lakes Nature Trail, a 1.75-mile loop, and a river that is a designated Florida Paddling Trail.
• Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou: the lowest rate and three short trails for birding.
• Henderson Beach: the campground in Destin, inside a beach park with a 0.75-mile hiking trail.
• St. Andrews: trails at Heron Pond and Gator Lake, with part of the campground under construction.

Is camping on Eglin an option?

Yes, at a different price and with different rules. Camping on the Eglin Reservation costs $10 a night with a camping permit sold only at the Jackson Guard office, on top of the Eglin recreation permit ($5 a day or $30 a year for anyone 16 or older), per Eglin AFB’s permit page. Dogs must be under physical restraint, with proof of rabies vaccination and an ID tag.

Eglin’s general gun deer season runs Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, per its fiscal 2027 hunting table; wear fluorescent orange if you camp or hike there in those weeks.

Do I still pay the day-use fee if I camp?

Camping and day-use are separate. The Florida State Parks annual pass covers day-use entry only, not camping. Day-use entry costs $4 to $8 per vehicle at the six Emerald Coast state parks.

Who do I contact?

Reservations and cancellation rules are on the Florida State Parks reservation page. Each park’s hours-and-fees page lists its phone number and alerts. For Eglin camping, contact Jackson Guard through eglin.isportsman.net.

Camped with your dog at one of these parks? Tell us what worked: email our newsroom through the Contact link at the bottom of this page.

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