Ten miles south of Melbourne Beach lies Sebastian Inlet State Park, a hidden gem along the coast of Florida. Known as the perfect park for visitors who love the beach, the inlet itself is man-made and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River Lagoon, both of which offer fantastic recreational activities for RVers. This pristine park offers something for everyone in the family. From bicycling and nature watching to surfing and boating, you can do it all at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Additionally, the park provides the ideal setting for scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, fishing, paddling, and of course, RV camping. If you go during the right time of year you may even be able to see turtle nests filled with eggs- how cool!
The story behind the Sebastian Inlet State Park area is fascinating, with a cultural history that includes a wrecked 1715 Spanish fleet, but that's just the beginning of the far-reaching history of the area. The park is a great place to visit to learn more about the history of the area thanks to the two separate museums that offer hours of exploration. Guided tours and nature walks also provide the perfect opportunity to learn more about the inlet and the diverse wildlife that lives on it. History buffs will love the chance to visit the McLarty Treasure Museum and the Sebastian Fishing Museum to learn more about the area's history.
There are plenty of options for RV campers wanting to call the park home during their visit to the Florida coast. There is one campground within the park and another that is operated by the county in the northwest corner that have plenty of RV sites with hookups available. Want to stay outside of the park? Be sure to check out the Fort Pierce / Port St. Lucie KOA. The park, both museums, and campgrounds are open all year long and make the perfect destination for your next RV getaway.
You can find Sebastian Inlet State Park off of State Road A1A, south of Melbourne and north of Vero Beach. The roads inside the park are fairly easy to navigate and take you everywhere that you need to go within the park, including the fishing pier and boat ramps. However, not all visitors like driving their RV around the park every time they want to go somewhere, so towing an extra vehicle is a common choice for visitors.
The main road that runs through the park also has several restaurants, which is another reason lots of visitors choose to bring an extra vehicle. But if you are just staying for a short time and don't want to pay any extra fees you can still have a good trip without towing an extra vehicle, after all the campground is almost right on the beach.
You definitely won't want to stay inside your car or RV all day since this is a park that is meant to be explored on foot or bike. Just be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen in your RV. There are parking lots dotted around the park, but the best place to park your RV is at the campground if you are staying overnight. The park is accessible all year round, but if you are worried about the weather conditions you can always call the park office before you begin your journey to get an update on conditions.
For RV lovers looking for more amenities, you should consider heading to Fort Pierce / Port St. Lucie KOA. Located around 28 miles from the park, Fort Pierce / Port St. Lucie KOA features beautifully landscaped patio sites with full hookups, cable TV, and up to 50-amp service in 120-foot pull-through sites. Other site options include those with electric and water only or electric and sewer only sites.
There are plenty of great amenities to enjoy at Fort Pierce / Port St. Lucie KOA, including Wi-Fi, bathrooms, showers, a dog park, and a playground. The campground is open all year round, and reservations are highly encouraged.
A short walk from the beach, the campground at Sebastian Inlet State Park features 51 campsites, all of which have water and electrical hookups. There are no sewer hookups within the Sebastian Inlet State Park Campground, but a dump station is located nearby. The maximum RV and trailer length is 40 feet in length. The campground is known for having well spaced out sites further away from the lake, but the closer you get to the water, the smaller the campsites get. The campground provides a picturesque setting where you can relax after a long day of exploring, having fun, and learning about the area.
Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring so you can enjoy some scrumptious grub. You'll have convenient access to Wi-Fi thanks to a nearby hotspot at the marina. Cell phone reception should be achievable on all of the major networks, and you can even camp with your furry friend since pets are welcome. ADA-accessible campsites and beach wheelchairs are also available so visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy all the fun that the area entails.
If you want to camp at this campground reservations are highly recommended since it is a popular place to stay. They can be made from one day up to 11 months in advance.
Another option for tent campers at Sebastian Inlet State Park Campground is to stay in the primitive camping area near the marina. Keep in mind that you will have to walk a bit far to get to these sites, so you can not park your RV here. You can, however, park your rig nearby while unloading your gear.
The primitive campground is perfect for visitors wanting a quiet camping experience as there are only 10 sites available at any given time. All of the sites come equipped with a fire ring, and there are toilets and water collection points located nearby. If you wish to take a hot shower you can do so, but you will have to travel south to the main campground. Reservations for the primitive camping area are available all year round.
Even during the months of January and February, when most other beaches would be pretty dull, you can still see lots of unique wildlife along Florida's coast, including right whales. Right whales are the most endangered whale species, so getting the chance to see them is not an opportunity you want to miss. If you are lucky enough to see one make sure you snap a picture because it's not a sight you will want to soon forget.
Geocaching is pretty common in state parks, but having tours dedicated solely to geocaching is not quite as common and definitely something worth trying out while staying at Sebastian Inlet State Park. The GeoTours allow you to get out of the RV and explore the area and find different caches, but not all of them are easy. It's a great way to spend an afternoon as a family since it is inexpensive, immersive, and educational. Can you find all the caches hidden within the park?
Two museums can be found within Sebastian Inlet State Park: the McLarty Treasure Museum and the Sebastian Fishing Museum. The treasure museum tells the story of the wrecked 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet and the survivors that then inhabited the islands. The fishing museum aims to educate visitors about the history of Sebastian Inlet as a fishing hot spot and the early families that helped its fishing industry blossom. Since you may find it too difficult to peel yourself off the beach during the summer months, the museums make a great stop during the wintertime when the beach is less appealing.
Operated by the local county, Long Point Park Campground is the second public campground within the Sebastian Inlet State Park area. The campground is suitable for RV and tent campers, and it is located on a small island on the northwestern side of the park.
Long Point Park Campground is quite large and features 113 sites with water and electric hookups that are on the water, 15 sites with full hookups, and 42 that are not waterfront but feature water and electric hookups. Each site features either a grass or sand pad for your RV and free Wi-Fi. Other amenities at the campground include a bathhouse with showers, playground, laundry facilities, and water collection points. You will also be within walking distance of the beach and the marina where you can explore the water.
Despite the campground having 170 sites it can still be difficult to get a site during the summertime since it's a very popular place to stay. If you are considering calling Long Point Park Campground home, you should reserve a site well in advance.
No campsites or campgrounds are specifically available on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you want to be guaranteed a campsite, it is recommended that you book a site. This can be done up to a day or as early as 11 months in advance, so you will have plenty of time to select a place to stay.
One of the most popular activities for visitors to Sebastian Inlet State Park is to make the most of the Atlantic Ocean and the consistently great waves. So if you're packing your surfboard in your rig you can join them! Popular surfing spots can be found at Sebastian Inlet's First Peak to the north and a place nicknamed the Monster Hole to the south. Surfers love the long rides you can get thanks to the rising of the ocean floor. However, that's not to say that the waters will always be ideal for surfing; you should always check the surf report before heading out.
Boat ramps are available on either side of the inlet, but if you're looking for smooth, easy waters you'll probably want to steer clear of the Atlantic and leave that for the surfers. On the other side of the inlet, the Indian River Lagoon provides the perfect setting for canoeing and kayaking. You can take an afternoon and explore the small islands scattered around the area and get a closer look at much of the native wildlife. Depending on when you go, you may even see young sea turtles feasting on seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. If you don't have your own canoe or kayak there are some available for rent from the park concessionaire.
Sebastian Inlet is a wildly popular fishing location and features two jetties that extend out into the Atlantic Ocean from which you can fish. You won't want to forget your fishing gear in your camper when you head on over the majestic fishing pier, which juts out right over the Atlantic Ocean. Common catches include mackerel, bluefish, snook, and several other saltwater fish species. Just be sure to brush up on all the rules and regulations before going fishing so as to respect the native wildlife and area.
