Boondocking Florida: Where to Sleep for Free and What You Can't Do

When you think of boondocking Florida, the practice of camping off-grid without hookups, often in remote or public areas. Also known as free camping, it’s a favorite for RVers who want to skip fees and get closer to nature. But unlike the wide-open spaces of the Southwest, Florida’s boondocking rules are tricky. You can’t just pull off the highway and sleep under a palm tree—some spots are legal, others will cost you a fine, and a few could land you in trouble with wildlife or local cops.

One of the biggest myths is that Walmart boondocking, staying overnight in Walmart parking lots. Also known as Walmart camping, it’s a common tactic across the U.S. But in Florida, many Walmarts have banned overnight stays, especially near tourist zones like Orlando and Miami. Even if you find one that allows it, you’re not guaranteed safety or space—especially during spring break or hurricane season. Then there’s wild camping Florida, sleeping on public land without a designated campsite. Also known as free camping, it’s mostly illegal on state land, but there are exceptions. National forests like Osceola and Ocala let you camp for free in some areas, as long as you’re more than 150 feet from trails or water. And don’t forget legal camping Florida, officially permitted spots where you can park overnight without paying. Also known as dispersed camping, these are rare but do exist on some county-owned lands and BLM-managed areas near the Panhandle.

Florida’s heat, humidity, and bugs make boondocking a different game than in Arizona or Nevada. You’ll need more than just a solar panel and a cooler—you need to know where the mosquitoes won’t eat you alive, where the ground won’t flood after a rainstorm, and where the local sheriff won’t knock on your door at 3 a.m. Some RVers swear by rest areas on I-75 and I-95, but those are technically for rest only—not overnight stays. Others head to state parks that allow primitive camping, like the ones along the Suwannee River, where you can park for free if you hike in a mile. And while Florida has more motorhomes than any other state—over 1.2 million registered in 2025—most owners still stick to paid RV parks because the alternatives are so unpredictable.

What you’ll find in these posts aren’t just tips—you’ll get real stories from people who’ve slept in Walmart lots, dodged rangers in the Ocala National Forest, and learned the hard way why vaping near dry grass is a bad idea. You’ll see exactly where you can legally park overnight, what to bring to stay safe, and which spots to avoid like the plague. Whether you’re in a full-size motorhome or a tiny campervan, this collection gives you the straight facts—not the fluff—on how to boondock Florida without getting fined, harassed, or eaten by bugs.