NPS · Canaveral National Seashore · Florida

Canaveral National Seashore Permits

Canaveral National Seashore is located midway along Florida's east coast where warm waters and a temperate climate meet to host species as diverse as bald eagles and alligators or bromeliads and mangroves. The national seashore was designated in 1975 to preserve and protect this special area. Visitors to the seashore will discover its rich and diverse history, from its fertile estuaries once supporting Timucuan Indian populations to the area's first orange groves in the 1830s.

Reservable · Recreation.gov14 sitesFrom $25 per nightPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Florida · pets allowed in Florida

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Canaveral National SeashoreCanaveral National Seashore PermitsCanaveral National Seashore PermitsCanaveral National Seashore Permits
Photos courtesy of Share the Experience, Joyce Dykes · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Boat-in14
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

14 sites in 14 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
01. Orange Island01. Orange IslandIsland,6 / –Yes
02. Homestead02. HomesteadIsland,8 / –Yes
03. Shipyard03. ShipyardIsland,10 / –Yes
04. Headwinds04. HeadwindsIsland,10 / –Yes
05. Government Cut05. Government CutIsland,20 / –Yes
06. Jones Canal06. Jones CanalIsland,20 / –Yes
07. Brickhouse Cove07. Brickhouse CoveIsland,60 / –Yes
08. Bissette Bay08. Bissette BayIsland,15 / –Yes
09. Middle Dredge09. Middle DredgeIsland,25 / –Yes
10. South Middle Dredge10. South Middle DredgeIsland,25 / –Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCamping Use Fee: $25 per night Entrance Fee: Canaveral National Sea shore charges an entrance fee (separate from the camping fee).

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Canaveral National Seashore Permits60°70°80°90°January: 2.76 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.47 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.00 inches of precipitationApril: 2.62 inches of precipitationMay: 3.72 inches of precipitationJune: 7.45 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.06 inches of precipitationAugust: 6.47 inches of precipitationSeptember: 6.88 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.49 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.32 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.32 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 60.0°F averageFebruary: 61.4°F averageMarch: 65.0°F averageApril: 71.0°F averageMay: 75.8°F averageJune: 79.8°F averageJuly: 81.6°F averageAugust: 81.6°F averageSeptember: 80.3°F averageOctober: 75.2°F averageNovember: 69.1°F averageDecember: 62.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at New Smyrna Bch - Marine Discov, 9 miles from the campground at 16 feet, station USC00087261 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 51 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates28.9272° N, 80.8243° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • RV or vehicle camping is not permitted within the seashore.

Charges and cancellations

Backcountry Overnight Primtive Island Camping Fees: $25 per night Island Capacities vary from 6-60 people. Refund and Cancellation Policy Reservations cancelled prior to 12:00 am ET the day before the reservation start date will be refunded all fees paid minus a $10 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled after 12:00 am ET the day before the reservation start date will forfeit the first night's fees plus a $10 cancellation fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Full refunds will only be given in the event of park closure due to inclement weather or administrative purposes. Reservation Changes: Once your permit is printed no changes are allowed. Changes in the number of people with the same dates and campsites are allowed when available and completed prior to printing your permit. Changing the date of entry requires a new reservation. Cancel your current permit and reserve a new permit. No-Shows: No refunds will be given in the event of a no-show.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceWheel-A-Way Trailer Sales ↗3.8 mi
Outdoor gearMad Dog Surf Shop ↗17.5 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗32.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Canaveral National Seashore Backcountry Island Camping

Worth a stop

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge begins about 13.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for Florida

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Florida
    Johnny Molloy, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Florida
    Rick Sapp, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Florida Lighthouse Trail
    Thomas W. Taylor and Chris Belcher, 2020
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Sites at Canaveral National Seashore Permits are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Camping Use Fee: $25 per night Entrance Fee: Canaveral National Sea shore charges an entrance fee (separate from the camping fee).

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Refund and Cancellation Policy Reservations cancelled prior to 12:00 am ET the day before the reservation start date will be refunded all fees paid minus a $10 cancellation fee.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Canaveral National Seashore Permits have?

14 sites, including 14 boat-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Yes, pets are allowed at Canaveral National Seashore Permits. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Canaveral National Seashore Permits?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What if Canaveral National Seashore Permits is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Middle Dredge Campsite (4.2 mi, first-come), River Forest Group Site (34.8 mi), and Clearwater Lake Recreation Area (44.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Canaveral National Seashore Permits in?

Canaveral National Seashore Permits is a Canaveral National Seashore campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Canaveral National Seashore