Anastasia State Park
RV Guide

There are so many opportunities for aquatic adventure during an RV trip to Anastasia State Park. You can sail the beautiful serene waters of Salt Run on a sailboat, or cruise along with the tide in a canoe or kayak. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the concession area inside the park. To avoid running into manatees and other aquatic creatures, make sure you wear polarized sunglasses and look for flippers, tails, or fins breaking the water.

Make sure you pack your fishing gear in your travel trailer since Anastasia State Park is a haven for anglers of all levels. Not only is there a world-class fishing area right on-site at Salt Run, but there are many amenities to make it easy for fishing, like a fish identification kiosk and fish-cleaning station. The waters at the north end of the park are the most popular spots, but you can catch a variety of fish no matter where you toss in your line.

If you want to enjoy a tranquil afternoon with a picnic on the sunny shores of Florida’s beaches, you definitely can during your RV getaway to Anastasia State Park. This beautiful state park offers three scenic picnic areas to choose from. The Hilltop Picnic area offers covered picnic tables with serene views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Watersports Picnic Pavilion near the marsh and Sea Turtle Picnic Pavilion by the ocean are perfect areas to enjoy a picnic during a fun outing at the beach or on the water.

You can enjoy loads of fun in the sun at the designated swimming area at the beach, near the Island Beach Shop and Grill. There is a lifeguard there for your protection from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, but you should always be cautious in the water. Even on seemingly calm days, swimming in the ocean can still be dangerous because of the rip currents. Although you can swim at other times of the year and in other areas of the park, the park recommends you only swim in the designated area when the lifeguard is present.

If you want to learn about the rich history and natural ecosystem of Anastasia State Park, park your motorhome and head off on a ranger-led hike or tour. The regularly scheduled ranger hikes will take you through the Ancient Dunes Trail, where you’ll learn about the majestic ancient dunes. You can also attend a ranger-led tour of the Old Spanish Quarries to learn about the area’s Spanish roots. Make sure you don’t forget to pack your camera in the RV before heading out so you can create memories that will last a lifetime.

It is hard to imagine going to Florida without getting into the ocean at least once. If you would rather do something more exciting than swimming, pack your waterskis because the waterskiing in eastern Florida is some of the finest around. If you are not great at waterskiing, how about a jet ski? Jet skiing is a much easier activity that does not take as much agility and expertise as waterskiing does. Even the kids can join you jet skiing. No matter what you choose to do on the water, everyone needs to wear a life jacket at all times. If you don’t have skis or a jet ski, you can rent them at the concession area.

Did you enjoy reading this guide? For more Florida coastal adventures, check out our Fort Clinch State Park guide.

If you want to go on a modern-day treasure hunt, geocaching is just the ticket. Geocaching is a fun activity for the whole family during your trip to this coastal state park. You can use GPS coordinates found on geocaching websites to find caches hidden in the park, which will contain trinkets —or maybe even hidden treasure! However, if you plan on taking a trinket, make sure you bring one of your own to replace it with and put the cache back where you found it so others can enjoy finding a treasure too.

Are you a surfer? If you are bringing your surfboard in the RV, you can tackle some of the beach waves on Florida’s east coast. Where else can you surf in the winter? Anastasia State Park has some of the best surfing in the area, with four miles of beach break, so you can spread out. Bring along your wetsuit. In the spring, winter, and fall, the water is too cold for most people. If you’d like to rent ocean or beach equipment, you can do so at the shop right off the beach.

If you are looking for a fun way to explore the 1,600 acres of pristine beaches, looking for seashells is a great activity the whole family can enjoy! Once you park your rig and head out to the beach, you can collect all kinds of shells from clam and scallop shells to oyster and olive shells. Low tide is the best time to go sea-shelling. Don’t forget to bring along a shovel and bucket to collect your treasures.

If you want to get out into the great outdoors, Anastasia State Park is a perfect destination for hiking. You’ll love hiking through shaded maritime hammock and spotting ancient dunes along the 0.7-mile Ancient Dunes Nature Trail. The 0.5-mile Spanish Quarry Hike is a nice easy trail that is good for all skill levels. If you want a longer hike, try the 7.3-mile Cape Francis Beach Walk. You can also meander through four miles of sandy beaches with tremendous views of the ocean.

Anastasia State Park is home to a diverse ecosystem where you can see a multitude of marine wildlife from dolphins and manatees to sea turtles and crabs. You can also spot a wide variety of shore and water birds, including laughing gulls, black skimmers, and blue herons. The beach boardwalk and overlook are the ideal spots for wildlife viewing in the park. Be sure to pack the binoculars and camera in the motorhome before heading to the park.

If you are bringing your bike, you’ll get a chance to ride on more than four miles of sandy beaches. You can coast along on your bicycle and soak in some majestic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Several miles of park roads are open for cycling, some of which feature bike lanes. If you don’t want to pack your bike, you can rent one at the concession area in the park.