Cayo Costa State Park

Pros: Quaint and Quiet
Cons: No amenities

Cayo Costa Island State Park was a BIG hit with our family when we spent a weekend camping on this Island. My husband and I invited my sister in law and her family for a camping adventure we will truly remember for a long time.

Lets start...

Pros: A"Real Florida" Experience!
Cons: Coarse crushed shell beach

We spent 5 days at Cayo Costa on our 28 ft boat with our 2 kids(8 and 3). Cayo Costa is a BEAUTIFUL Island with PRIMITIVE camping. We had a great time !! We camp frequently so we are prepared for most situations (I HOPE! haha) I'll list the "GOOD" and...

Pros: Beautiful sunsets, quiet beaches for exploring and shelling
Cons: When camp is full it's noisy

I've read a lot of complaint about the effects of Hurricane Charlie on Cayo Costa and it's all a bunch of hooey. Sure, the Australian Pines are gone - they weren't native plants and did not withstand nature's force. The sea grapes are thriving, as are ...

Pros: Brutal barrier island beauty.
Cons: Poor facilities, customer service and park management

From the accounts I had heard, Cayo Costa was once considered an almost idyllic barrier island campsite, shaded by old tall Australian Pines with a naturally landscaped perimeter of mangroves and sea grapes, and of beautiful beaches that were a treasure ...

Pros: Starry skies at night
Cons: The canopy of trees is GONE. Deceitful park ranger staff.

Just returned from a two-day nightmarish camping trip to Cayo Costa State Park this Memorial Day Weekend. None of the campsites have adequate shade which is a must have in the tropical Florida heat unless you come prepared with canopy or other shelter. ...

Pros: Secluded
Cons: Zero shade, none, nada, anywhere!

Cayo Costa is a wonderful escape from hectic, busy life. However, you MUST BE PREPARED! If you are going during the summer months, you might want to think twice. It is rediculously HOT. If you do go for just the day trip, no amount of water is too ...

Pros: PEACE and great wildlife, for those of us who appreciate the natural
Cons: primitive not for people who need to be pampered

We were a little skeptical of making more than a overnight reservation, if itsounds to good to be true it probably is has always been our motto. We were pleasently proven wrong this time. The trip over was smooth and informative. Upon arrival we checked ...

Pros: Good fishing, plenty of sun, peaceful
Cons: Hot!, no see ums, day trippers

We spent 5 nights on Cayo Costa for Spring break. We had a tent site and brought everything but the kitchen sink with us! We have 2 children ages 4.5 and 2. It was a little bit challenging, but worth the trip. Make sure you bring a shade tarp, plenty ...