Florida Caverns State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Florida Caverns State Park, found on the western side of the Florida Panhandle, is a state park known for its limestone caves. It is the only state park in Florida with air-filled caves that are open to the public, and it features many rivers and springs above ground, too. Originally, the park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and it first opened in 1942.
The land of this state park was once home to Native Americans, and information about the cultural history of the park, including archeological artifacts, can be found in the visitor center at the park, which was also built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park also has a unique geology since it features stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstones in the caves, all of which were formed by eroded bedrock.
Nearby Cities:
Marianna, FL
Greenwood, FL
Cottondale, FL
Cypress, FL
Spring 55-80 F
Summer 73-92 F
Fall 57-81 F
Winter 40-63 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Florida Caverns State Park
Campground Accommodations
Blue Hole Campground
Water hookup: 35 sites
Electrical hookup: 35 sites
Sewer hookup: 32 sites
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 32 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, grills, fire rings
Chattahoochee RV Campground
Camp next to the serene Apalachicola River and spend a day relaxing and taking in the scenery. Or, you can try your hand fishing in the ponds or boating on the river.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wi-Fi: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Other amenities: showers, laundry, fishing pier & ponds, boat ramps
Pine Lake RV Park
This 50-acre campground near Panama City Beach, state parks including Florida Caverns, and pristine beaches is a great base camp for all your Florida panhandle adventures.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wi-Fi: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Other amenities: dump station, laundry, showers, fishing pond
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What to Do at
Florida Caverns State Park
While there are many activities to enjoy at Florida Caverns State Park, perhaps the most popular is taking a cave tour with a guide. Cave tours are offered during the in-season from Labor Day to Memorial Day on Thursdays through Mondays, and off-season tours are offered on the same days with more limited time availability. Visitors can only purchase tickets for tours at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop, and tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis. This park also offers canoe rentals for use on the Chipola River daily.
Inside Florida Caverns State Park
There are a number of things to do at Florida Caverns State Park. Some of the activities and camping have been impacted by Hurricane Michael, so be sure to check before you travel to be sure you’re able to do everything you have planned.
Bicycling: There are several miles of multi-use trails that take you through floodplains, sinkholes, rivers, and other topography. You’ll see a variety of plants and wildlife on a ride through the park.
Boating: There is a boat ramp that accommodates small boats. Take a tour along the river, fish from your boat, or simply float and enjoy the wildlife and a day on the water.
Paddling: You can rent canoes along the Chipola River and search for herons, egrets, alligators, beavers, and snakes as you paddle.
Geocaching: Find coordinates and hints at geocaching.com, then search the park for hidden caches. Geocaching is the perfect activity for the whole family and gets everyone out running around searching for treasures.
Cave tours: Guided flashlight cave tour tickets can be purchased at the gift shop and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fishing
The Chipola River is where many anglers can catch unique shoal bass as well as largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, sunshine bass, striped bass, black crappie, and channel catfish. Anglers are permitted to fish in this river anywhere in Florida Caverns State Park though the most comfortable fishing spots are found around the boat ramp area.
Geocaching
Geocaches may be found or hidden by users at Florida Caverns State Park, and the Florida State Parks often host their own geocache games. Visitors can also find 20 caches from around many of the Florida State Parks to earn an Official Operation Recreation Geocoin or participate in the Operation Recreation Kids GeoTour. The GC code for Florida Caverns State Park is GC3BG4G.
Swimming
There is a marked swimming area found at a pond in Florida Caverns State Park, and no lifeguards are on duty at this area at any time. The swimming area is also subject to close when the area is affected by river flooding.
Hiking
There are three trail systems found at Florida Caverns State Park, including the Bluff and Beech Magnolia Trails, Sinkhole Multiuse Trail, and Bumpnose Multi-use Trail. The Bluff and Beech Magnolia Trails are hiking-only trails that were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and they feature rare Appalachian plant species and rock outcroppings that were once used by native people.
Boating
Large boats are not recommended to use the Chipola River from this state park. However, small boats, including canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats, are commonly launched from the boat ramp located between the Florida Caverns State Park entrance and its Blue Hole Campground. Boaters often see beavers, snakes, and even alligators while floating the river.
Biking
Bikers can enjoy the Sinkhole and Bumpnose trails at Florida Caverns State Park, and parking for these trails can be found at the Blue Hole Day-Use Area. Features of these trails include floodplains, sinkholes, and karst topography, which is a type of landscape made from eroding limestone.
How to Get to
Florida Caverns State Park
Florida Caverns State Park is located just three miles north of the town of Marianna in Florida. The park can be accessed from Marianna by using FL-166 North with a left turn made onto Hickory Nut Drive, which takes visitors to the park entrance and ranger station.
Entering Florida Caverns State Park
The fee to enter the park is $2 for pedestrians and bikers, $4 for single-occupant vehicles, and $5 for all other vehicles. Parking can be found at the Blue Hole Day-Use Area in the park.
Florida Caverns State Park Per Vehicle : $5.0
Florida Caverns State Park is a 1,500-acre park that offers options for water recreation on the Chipola River. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the rentable picnic pavilions, concessions at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop, many equestrian trails, and a small playground in the Hickory Day-Use Area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Caverns State Park
Florida Caverns State Park is open year-round though the best time to visit is during the summer since the cave tours are only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the summer months, visitors can also enjoy swimming and boating at this state park so long as there are no flooding closures.
Wildlife found in the caves at Florida Caverns State Park include blind crayfish, bats, and salamanders. On the surface, visitors can spot eastern indigo snakes, red-cockaded woodpeckers, armadillos, red foxes, otters, and deer.
There are 32 campsites at Florida Caverns State Park that most RVs under 32 feet long can use with full hookups. There are three additional campsites with partial hookups for RVs in the equestrian camping area.
The campground at Florida Caverns State Park tends to fill up quickly, so visitors should plan ahead by reserving a campsite online at least one week in advance. Campsites cost $20 per night plus $13.70 in fees to reserve.
Pets are allowed at the campground and on the trails at Florida Caverns State Park, and only service animals are permitted inside any of the buildings or in the caves. Pet owners are required to keep their pets on a six-foot leash and pick up after them at all times while at the park.
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