Jacksonville, Florida was founded in 1822 and named after Andrew Jackson, the territory's first governor who would later become President of the United States. Jacksonville is one of the most populous cities in Florida and the largest city in terms of area in the contiguous United States. Jacksonville is also just north of St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied city in America.
If you are interested in the military or military history, Jacksonville is a great destination. The city is home to two active naval bases — Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville — and is just south of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, giving it the third-largest military presence in the nation. Jacksonville is also in proximity to three well-known historical forts: Fort George, Fort Clinch, and Castillo de San Marcos.Â
With plenty of kid-friendly attractions and fun things to do, Jacksonville is also a great place for kids. In the city limits, you will find the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), and Adventure Landing. More importantly, Jacksonville is just a two-hour drive from Orlando, the home of Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Islands of Adventure, and much more.
Jacksonville is also home to great restaurants and good shopping. While you are there, you should visit Jacksonville Beach or fish on the St. Johns River. No matter what your interests are, you can find something to do in this coastal city.Â
Campgrounds Near Jacksonville, Florida
Big Tree RV Park on the Northside of Jacksonville offers full hookups for your RV, as well as a lot of tree coverage for hot days. Sitting close to Fernandina, Big Tree RV Park sits on 30 acres of land and offers long-term and short-term stays. Some of the amenities include swimming, laundry, full hook-ups, a playground, and picnic areas.
Pecan Park RV Resort is located in northern Jacksonville as well. Pecan Park offers easy access to great restaurants, shopping, and fishing. The amenities at Pecan Park include a stocked fishing lake, picnic tables, a swimming pool, restroom/shower facilities, on-site laundry, and more.Â
Fleetwood RV Park is located in the heart of Jacksonville on Philips Highway, one of the busiest roads in the city. Fleetwood RV Park is close to downtown, shopping, good restaurants, and plenty of fishing. The amenities include 30-amp and 50-amp hookups, on-site laundry, restroom/shower facilities, a clubhouse, and more.
State Parks Near Jacksonville, Florida
Little Talbot Island State Park is one of the most unique and interesting state parks in Florida. It is on a secluded barrier island that you can only walk, bike, or drive to and only at certain times. Even though it is near Jacksonville, Little Talbot Island feels secluded and far away from any developed city. Little Talbot Island features playgrounds, ranger stations, walking trails, and many other outside activities.Â
Fort Clinch State Park is north of Jacksonville near Fernandina Beach. The Fort is located right on the beach and walking to the top of the fort will provide you with some of the best beach scenery in the state. On the first weekend of every month, actors will fire cannons and act out other battlefield maneuvers, and there is almost always a "soldier" on duty in the park. You can still see cannons and other artifacts from when Fort Clinch was operational when you tour the fort itself, but there is much more to this state park. There are also hiking trails, campgrounds, biking trails, beach access, and much more.
Crooked River State Park is north of Jacksonville and close to St. Mary's, Georgia. If you visit this state park you will either want to bring your own boat or be prepared to rent one because the river is the primary draw. There are also hiking and biking trails throughout the 500-acre state park with beautiful scenery and well-defined trails. The Coastal Coast Birding Trail is one of the most popular destinations and is a great way to see the wide variety of birds that call the park home. There are campgrounds and RV parks in and near the park so it is a great place to stay if you are visiting south Georgia or north Florida.
National Sites Near Jacksonville, Florida
Castillo de San Marco may be the most famous national site near Jacksonville, Florida. Located south of the city in St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marco is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It rests on the shore of Matanzas Bay in the middle of the historic district of the oldest city in the world. St. Augustine has become a city well-known for its unique shopping and restaurants and they are almost all within walking distance from the fort. You can visit at any time, but peak seasons in St. Augustine get very crowded, so fall and spring are generally your best bets.
The Fort Caroline National Monument was an attempted French settlement on the banks of the St. Johns River. 300 colonists left France to settle in the new world, and they were some of the first Europeans to make contact with the Native Americans who lived there. There is a visitor center with a lot of information about the settlement and artifacts and a replica of where the settlers might have lived. Being on the banks of the St. Johns River, you can see dolphins and other wildlife, find beautiful walking trails with great scenery, and discover the history of the attempted settlement.
Fort Matanzas National Monument is another fort located south of Jacksonville in nearby St. Augustine. Fort Matanzas was built to protect the Spanish colony of St. Augustine from enemies who would use the Matanzas River to attack. Today you can oftentimes see soldiers recreating events on the weekends as well as a self-guided tour of the fort. Fort Matanzas is located on Anastasia Island which is a ferry ride away from the city. There are a couple of hiking trails on the island, and because of its proximity to St. Augustine, it is close to food, historical sites, shopping, museums, and more.
National Forests Near Jacksonville, Florida
Ocala National Forest comprises approximately 387,000 acres of land, including four protected wilderness areas that you can explore. Located west of Jacksonville, Ocala National Forest is best known for its hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. It is home to wildlife like black bears, alligators, bobcats, manatees, foxes, otters, and more. There are multiple hiking trails throughout the park, but without hills or mountains, most of the trails are easy to moderate. Ocala National Forest is the perfect place to camp and explore if you love the outdoors.
At 632,890 acres in size, Apalachicola National Forest is the largest national forest in Florida. Traveling in an RV is a great way to explore Apalachicola National Forest as you can move around the huge park to see all of the different sites. There are multiple campgrounds and numerous hiking trails throughout the park and more species of freshwater fish live in Apalachicola National Forest than anywhere else in Florida. Whether you are fishing, hunting, stargazing, bird-watching, or trying to identify the more than 1,500 plants that grow there, Apalachicola National Forest is a great place to camp and explore.
Osceola National Forest is the smallest national forest in Florida and is best known as the site where the state's largest Civil War battle occurred. Today you will find hiking trails, fishing, bird-watching, stargazing, and camping throughout Osceola. One of the best parts of visiting Osceola National Forest in your RV is that offers you the chance to see big chunks of the Great Bird Trail and the Florida National Scenic Trail from the comfort of your RV.
