Guides · St. George Island, Florida
RV Camping on St. George Island, FL: What to Know
St. George Island is a skinny nine-mile barrier strip with one bridge, no chain stores, and a state park campground that is the only dedicated RV base on the island—so plan around that rig, and you'll have the Gulf to yourself.
RV Camping on St. George Island: Pros and Cons
The island's permanent population is 1,218 people, but the census counts 1,815 housing units, of which 1,246 sit vacant. That math tells you what this place is: a seasonal shell, quiet by design. The median age is 60.9, the unemployment rate is 0 percent, and there is no nightlife to speak of. The four-mile St. George Island Bridge to Eastpoint has connected the island to the mainland since the mid-1960s; before that, you arrived by ferry. That history still shapes the pace.
For an RV, the island works if you want beach access, not amenities. There are no big-box stores, no sprawling RV resorts, and no hookup-heavy campgrounds beyond the state park. You come for the water, the empty stretches of sand, and the kind of quiet that makes a 7 p.m. bedtime feel reasonable. If you need a Walmart or a movie theater, you're on the wrong island.
The State Park Campground: Your Base Camp on the East End
The only dedicated RV camping on St. George Island is at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park and its attached Saint George Island State Campground, both at 1900 E Gulf Beach Dr. The park itself came from an 1,800-acre state purchase in 1973, and it now holds the beach that Dr. Beach ranked number one in the United States in 2023. That ranking is real, and it draws people.
The campground sits on the east end, with sites close enough to the Gulf that you can hear the surf. But this is a state park, not an RV resort: hookups are limited, so come prepared to boondock or run on minimal power. Book well ahead, especially for event weekends, because the inventory is small and the demand is constant.
Public Beach Access Points on St. George Island
The island runs a grid of public beach accesses, most of them unstaffed with no facilities. They are for day parking, not overnight stays. The named accesses include 12th Street West-Beach Access Point (rated 5.0 from a single review), 10th St Beach Access (also 5.0 from one review), East 7th Street- Public Beach Access (5.0 from one review), 9th Street West- Beach Access, 6th Street East - Public Beach Access, 5th Street East- Public Beach Access, West 6th Street- Public Beach Access, and a general Public beach access at 8W W Gorrie Dr (rated 4.8). The Beach access at 1000 E Gorrie Dr is another unstaffed entry point.
Ratings here are thin—some of these have a single review—so treat them as starting points, not guarantees. Most have small lots, and none are built for a 40-foot rig. The pattern is simple: pick a street, park, walk to the sand.
Kayak Launches and Bay-Side Parks on St. George Island
Not everything on the island faces the Gulf. The bay side is calmer, and that's where you'll find the non-beach activities. Sawyer Street Kayak Launch (rated 4.6) gives you a put-in for paddling Apalachicola Bay. Regatta Park (rated 4.3) is a bay-side spot for picnics and watching the water. Gulf (of Mexico) Beach Park (rated 4.6) offers a quieter stretch on the gulf side, and Unit 4 Recreation Area (rated 4.7) is a smaller park worth a stop if you want to trade the state park crowds for something less traveled.
The bay waters hold what the Gulf doesn't: oysters, scallops, grouper, flounder, redfish, snapper, trout, and mullet. You won't catch them from a beach access, but you'll see the boats working the bay.
St. George Island Chili Cook-Off: A Fall RV Trip Highlight
If you're planning a fall trip, aim for the St. George Island Chili Cook-Off. It started over forty years ago as a small fundraiser for the island's volunteer fire department, and it has grown into an International Chili Society competition that draws cooks from across the country. The proceeds still go to local emergency services, and the event includes a silent auction and the Red Pepper 5K.
This is the one weekend where the island feels busy. The campground will be full, and the beach accesses will see real traffic. If you want quiet, come a week before or after. If you want to see the island at its liveliest, this is it.
| Access Point | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| 12th Street West-Beach Access Point | Rated 5.0, single review; small lot, walk to sand |
| 10th St Beach Access | Rated 5.0, single review; minimal parking, no facilities |
| East 7th Street- Public Beach Access | Rated 5.0, single review; quiet, residential street access |
| 9th Street West- Beach Access | Unrated; small lot, unlikely to fit a big rig |
| 6th Street East - Public Beach Access | Unrated; street parking only |
| 5th Street East- Public Beach Access | Unrated; narrow approach, best for cars |
| West 6th Street- Public Beach Access | Unrated; bay side, calmer water |
| Public beach access (8W W Gorrie Dr) | Rated 4.8; central, more foot traffic |
| Beach access (1000 E Gorrie Dr) | Unrated; simple dune walkover |
Day Trips for Supplies and Seafood: Apalachicola and Beyond
The island has no big-box stores, so stock up before you cross the bridge. For supplies and seafood, Apalachicola is nine miles away. That's the nearest town for groceries, fuel, and the kind of oysters that made the bay famous—Apalachicola Bay oysters, alongside scallops, grouper, flounder, redfish, snapper, trout, and mullet. If you time it right, the Florida Seafood Festival is the draw.
Further afield, Port St. Joe (31 miles) hosts the Florida Scallop, Music & Arts Festival. Perry (96 miles) has the Florida Forest Festival, Steinhatchee (104 miles) runs the Fiddler Crab Festival, Cedar Key (132 miles) does the Cedar Key Seafood Festival, and Dade City (206 miles) holds the Kumquat Festival. For a week on St. George Island, Apalachicola is your supply run; the rest are day trips if you're restless.
The best time to visit with an RV is spring or fall, when the weather holds and the crowds stay thin—except for chili cook-off weekend, which you'll either plan around or avoid entirely. Either way, the island rewards the self-reliant traveler.
Common questions
- Can I bring my RV to St. George Island?
- Yes, you can. Saint George Island State Campground, at 1900 E Gulf Beach Dr, has RV sites and is rated 4.8 from 23 reviews. Youth Camp on E Gulf Beach Dr also offers camping. Reserve ahead, especially in season.
- Where is the best beach on St. George Island for RV campers?
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, on the eastern end, has the top-rated beach—Dr. Beach ranked it number one in the U.S. in 2023. It's a short drive from the campground and offers pristine shoreline.
- Are there beach access points near the RV campground?
- Yes, several public accesses are along the island. The State Park itself has beachfront, and nearby you'll find 12th Street West-Beach Access Point and 10th St Beach Access, both rated 5.0, plus East 7th Street Public Beach Access.
- What is there to do besides the beach when RVing here?
- Explore nature at Regatta Park (923 W Bay Shore Dr) or Gulf Beach Park. Launch a kayak at Sawyer Street Kayak Launch (447 N Sawyer St). The island is quiet, so plan for outdoor activities and day trips to Apalachicola, 9 miles away.
- Is the island crowded in peak season? How busy does it get?
- The island has 1,815 housing units, but 1,246 are vacant, meaning many are rentals. Population is just 1,218, with a median age of 60.9. It's peaceful, but the State Park beach can draw visitors—go early or on weekdays.
- What should I know about driving an RV to the island?
- The four-mile St. George Island Bridge from Eastpoint, completed in the mid-1960s, is the only road in. It's accessible for RVs. The island's unemployment is 0%, so it's a working community—drive carefully in residential areas.
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