St George Island State Park, FL

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is located on the eastern end of St. George Island, a barrier island in Franklin County on Florida's Panhandle. This state park boasts beautiful beaches, nature trails, and camping facilities. While our family has vacationed on the west side of the island for years, we decided to experience accommodations at the state park and camp as a family for the first time.

St. George Island welcome sign, April 2016

We arrived at the Park at 3pm, which was check-in time. After signing in at the ranger's office, we headed to the campgrounds. The camping area was located on a looped street with 60 camping spots and two bathrooms located within the loop. We quickly set up our tent and the kids got comfortable with their surroundings. 

Camping S'mores are a must! April 2016

Our campsite had vegetation on both sides, and aside from seeing the neighboring site's boat, we felt we had sufficient privacy. The site was very open to the road, but with our vehicle parked on-site, it provided additional coverage. It was your typical Florida state park campsite - fire ring, picnic table, water tap and electrical outlets. I wasn't expecting a gravel base at the campsite, but with the tarp beneath the tent, it wasn't too uncomfortable.  

Since we were camping on an island, with a beautiful beachfront as well as bay access, we intended to swim and kayak. Unfortunately, it was a bit too chilly and windy for either activity. We did see a gorgeous sunset from the beach though! 

While Spring weather in Florida can be unpredictable, we sure didn't expect the very windy night we endured. There were times during the night where the whole tent swayed and swelled. I was afraid that any minute the stakes would be pulled loose from the ground and the tent would collapse on us! The kids slept well, but my husband and I were awake most of the night, debating whether or not to escape the tent and just sleep in the car.

In the end, our tent held up well and we got some sleep. The next day we explored the trails around the park and then headed home.    

For our first family camping experience, I would say it was a success. There were several things I would have done differently. Mainly I would camp for more than one night. We planned for one night since we weren't sure if we would like camping as a family. Even so, it is a lot of work packing and preparing for a camping trip, so I feel like the effort would be better spent on two or more nights camping.

The next issue was the weather. Obviously, the weather is not something that can be controlled, but we had intended to spend most of our time at this park in and on the water. I guess a month or two later would have enabled us to utilize the Park's aquatic amenities. The hiking trails were nice, but there were not a lot of other things to do.

Duration: at least 1 night, preferably 2
Fun Meter: 4 thumbs up

Visit date: April 2016