Anastasia State Park

Defining the northern tip of the barrier island that protects the ancient city of St. Augustine, Anastasia State Park offers one of the best camping experiences in Florida. While you can hear the pounding of the surf from your campsite, the campground is cradled in a natural bowl of ancient sand live oak trees, protecting tents and campers from the persistent winds and the blowing sands. Waking up in time to walk out to the beach for your own personal sunrise is one of the great joys of staying overnight at Anastasia. Within its sweep of 1,600 acres, including more than four miles of beautiful beaches and a massive lagoon for windsurfing and ...

Defining the northern tip of the barrier island that protects the ancient city of St. Augustine, Anastasia State Park offers one of the best camping experiences in Florida. While you can hear the pounding of the surf from your campsite, the campground is cradled in a natural bowl of ancient sand live oak trees, protecting tents and campers from the persistent winds and the blowing sands. Waking up in time to walk out to the beach for your own personal sunrise is one of the great joys of staying overnight at Anastasia. Within its sweep of 1,600 acres, including more than four miles of beautiful beaches and a massive lagoon for windsurfing and sea kayaking, you’ll find plenty to do. Explore quarries dug by hand in the 1500s to create the building blocks from which the walls of St. Augustine and the fortress of Castillo de San Marcos were hewn, and walk the extensive shoreline for a sweeping view of the city and Matanzas Bay. A rollicking nature trail at the campground takes on the rugged tree-topped dunes and their natural bowls of sand. Simply relaxing on the beach, with umbrella and towel and a good book, makes a trip to this popular park always worthwhile.

About the Expert

Sandra Friend has written 12 books about Florida, including the Explorer's Guide (Countryman Press) series to Florida.