Eastern Lake Campground 1 Point Washington State Forest

About

Eastern Lake Campground 1 sits in the heart of Point Washington State Forest, a 15,000-acre preserve known for its longleaf pine sandhills, scrub habitats, and coastal dune lakes. The campground provides direct access to the Eastern Lake Trail system, which offers 3.5-, 5-, and 10-mile loop options for hiking and mountain biking. Eastern Lake itself is a rare coastal dune lake and a popular spot for paddling. This is a primitive tent-only campground with 4 designated sites. RVs and trailers are not permitted. Each site has an 8-person occupancy limit, with a maximum 14-night stay within any 30-day period. The forest has an active black bear population, so campers must store food in approved containers or inside vehicles. During hunting season, wearing blaze orange is advised. The campground operates year-round on a reservation system through ReserveAmerica, with bookings available up to 11 months in advance. At under $10 per night, it's one of the more affordable camping options along Florida's Emerald Coast, though the trade-off is minimal infrastructure and pack-it-out policies.

Directions

From the intersection of US 98 and US 79: head west on US 98 for 15.1 miles to Forest Road 2. Follow signs 2.7 miles to Forest Road 7. The campground is 1 mile down FR 7 on the left.