Waking up to the sound of Atlantic surf — with four miles of undeveloped beach a short walk from your tent — is the kind of thing that gets people hooked on Anastasia State Park for life. But getting a site here requires real planning. This is consistently one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Florida, and understanding exactly how the reservation system works is the difference between a confirmed site and a disappointed drive home.
The Campground at a Glance
Tucked into a dense maritime hammock of Spanish-moss-draped live oaks and palmetto scrub on Anastasia Island, the campground's 139 sites accommodate both tents and RVs. Every site comes with water and electric hookups, a picnic table, an in-ground grill, and a fire ring. There are no individual sewer connections, but a dump station sits near the campground entrance, and four full bathhouses — each serving two loops — provide hot showers and on-site laundry. The park is open year-round, with gates from 8 a.m. to sundown daily. Campers arriving after dark should call the park on their arrival day for the gate code.
Know Your Loops
The campground is divided into seven named loops grouped into two areas, separated by the Ancient Dunes Trail. Understanding which loop fits your trip style saves a lot of post-booking regret.
- Coquina Loop (sites 106–139): The crown jewel. Closest to the beach and the Sea Turtle pavilion, and the first loop to fill whenever reservation windows open. Great for tent campers and smaller rigs who prioritize beach proximity above everything else. Sites here feel a bit tighter than the other loops, but you can fall asleep to the sound of the surf.
- Shark Eye Loop: Positioned in the middle of the park, near playgrounds and a Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library — a solid pick for families. There's also a renovated campfire circle between the Shark Eye and Sand Dollar loops with ADA accessibility and multiple benches.
- Sand Dollar Loop (sites 56–70): The best choice if you're rolling in with a larger RV. This loop handles rigs up to 38 feet, though only a handful of sites park the biggest rigs comfortably, so scan individual site photos on the reservation site before you lock in.
- Sea Bean, Queen Conch, Sea Urchin, and Angel Wing Loops: These loops sit north of the Ancient Dunes trailhead, each pair sharing a central bathhouse. Sea Bean and Queen Conch skew tent-friendly with restrictions on large RVs. Angel Wing is the most secluded of the bunch and sits near the historic Old Spanish Coquina Quarries — a nice bonus for history-minded campers. Each loop pair shares a central bathhouse with laundry.
One practical note for RVers across all loops: hookups are often spaced further from the pad than you'd expect, so packing a longer water hose and a heavy-duty extension cord is genuinely worth it.
How the Reservation System Works
Reservations are handled through the Florida State Parks system at reserve.floridastateparks.org, or by phone at 1-800-326-3521 (8 a.m.–8 p.m.). Florida residents can book up to 11 months in advance; out-of-state campers get a 10-month window. A non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee applies per booking — not per night — and full payment is charged at the time of reservation. Standard campsites run roughly $28–$42 per night depending on season and site, so verify the current rate when you book.
In practice, treat the 11-month mark as a hard deadline. Popular loops like Coquina routinely fill within hours of their availability date opening. If you miss the window, check back daily for cancellations — availability does pop up, especially mid-week. A handful of sites are also held for first-come, first-served walk-ups, so arriving at the park entrance right at 8 a.m. is your best bet if you're trying your luck without a reservation.
The New Beach Bungalows (Glamping)
In spring 2026, Anastasia added something genuinely new: a set of six glamping bungalows managed by park concessionaire Cape Leisure, under the brand name Beach Bungalows at Anastasia State Park. They're booked through the concessionaire's own site — not the Florida State Parks reservation system — so keep that in mind when planning.
The collection includes three cozy 16-foot bungalows sleeping up to six guests, and three more spacious 24-foot bungalows sleeping up to eight, with one of the larger units being ADA-accessible. Pricing has hovered around $145–$150 per night for the smaller units and $165–$169 per night for the larger ones, though rates can shift seasonally — confirm current pricing before booking. Inside each bungalow you'll find air conditioning, heat, a queen bed, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, bed linens, and pillows. Outside, there's a fire pit with a cooking grate, a picnic table, Adirondack chairs, and string lights. Bathrooms and showers are in a shared bathhouse nearby rather than in the unit itself, and only service animals are permitted inside the bungalows.
The bungalows debuted to immediate demand — one operator noted the first weekend sold out before it even arrived. Add-on packages for firewood, a pre-set hammock, and s'mores kits are available through the booking site. Two days before check-in, guests receive a detailed arrival email including a personal door code. As with all new programs, check the official park concession site for the latest availability and pricing.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
- Dogs are welcome in the campground on a six-foot leash but are prohibited on the beach to protect nesting shorebirds. Plan your pet-friendly beach time at nearby Vilano or Butler Beach instead.
- The St. Augustine Amphitheatre sits just outside the park boundary. Concert nights mean you may hear music from your campsite, but city ordinance requires all amplified sound to end by 10 p.m. — quiet hours officially begin at 11 p.m.
- Buy firewood at the camp store on-site rather than hauling it from home, both for convenience and to avoid inadvertently transporting invasive pests hidden in off-site wood.
- Anastasia Watersports, inside the park, rents kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats, canoes, and bicycles — useful if you'd rather travel light. Book rentals in advance at peak times.
A lightweight cooling towel is a small addition to your kit that pays off fast on the Florida coast in summer. And if you're working out your full St. Augustine trip budget, comparing Orlando-area theme park tickets early can free up more of your travel fund for nights at the park.
The bottom line: Anastasia is worth every ounce of planning effort. Mark your reservation date on your calendar the moment your trip takes shape, study the individual site photos before you confirm, and if you've always wanted to try camping but never loved the idea of sleeping on the ground — the new Beach Bungalows are a legitimately comfortable entry point into one of Florida's best coastal parks.
