Jonathan Dickinson State Park — Attraction in Jupiter Island

I can’t say enough good about this beautiful park. The information center was great. There is Wi-Fi available if you want to sit on the rocking chair on the front porch or you can sit inside. I was there during my actual work week, so I was technically working remote from my camper. It was my first time bringing a camper to a state park. The one thing I learned is that I would probably prefer a concrete platform because I bring my dogs. If you go in and out with the dogs enough, your camper gets filled with sand if you are not on a concrete pad. This was literally my first trip with the Winnebago travel trailer. All of the park rangers were super cool and very knowledgeable. My favorite thing was to wake up early in the morning and take one of my dogs swimming over at the Offleash dog beach in Jupiter. It was about a 15 minute ride only because I drove very slow and back road traffic. This park is very interesting because they try to keep it as original as possible, meaning all of the trees and plant life you will see should be native to Florida, and specifically this region of Florida. You will see tons of charred trees, and burnt stumps, roots, palms and etc. They are constantly doing controlled burns at this park so the invasive plant species don’t strangulate the native ones. I think I may have posted a picture of a chard stump. It’s the perfect place to go, considering it’s less than two hours away from me and I love the surrounding area. As far as the RV hook ups, the very beginning of the park has camping areas with the ability to dump your black water and gray water. The camping area in the back of the park (River campground area) only has a water hook up and electric, both 50 and 30 amp. It looks like you can do any level of camping in this park that you choose. There is a Boy Scout area and I believe even a sort of Woodlands survival camp for those that want to test sleeping out in the woods with nothing more than what you can fit on your back. So at the end of the day, this place offers something for every level of camper. You can go full hook up or you can go fully off grid. I will be coming here at least a few times a year. I was here on a very hot week and I found it to be totally inhabitable. There are definitely mosquitoes, red ants, and all of the insects you would naturally expect vegetative and wooded areas of Florida to have. There is truly a lot more. I could write about this park anyone posts any questions I’m glad to answer...

Jonathan Dickinson State Park: where Florida's "natural beauty" meets the cacophony of highway traffic and the relentless assault of biting midges/sand gnats/no-see-ums. Camping here is like pitching a tent on the shoulder of I-95, with the Pine Grove Campground thoughtfully nestled right next to Highway 1, ensuring that the soothing sounds of nature are drowned out by the lullaby of car engines. But don't worry, if the traffic noise doesn't keep you up, the blinding lights from the bathhouses will. Designed with the subtlety of a sports stadium, these facilities ensure that you'll never have to experience the terror of true darkness in the wilderness. And let's not forget the "River Campground," a paradise for those who enjoy the company of their neighbors; REALLY enjoy their company. With sites so close together you'd think they were designed for hobbits, and access roads that challenge even the most skilled drivers, it's the perfect place to test your patience and maneuvering skills. Of course, no visit would be complete without the park's infamous sand gnats, or "no-see-ums." These nearly invisible pests are always ready to make your acquaintance, especially when the wind decides to take a break. They were "horrendous" when the air was still. One of the restrooms in the River Campground is closed for renovations in the peak of winter Florida tourist season (March 2025), leading to competition for showers and toilets.

So, if you're looking for a place in typical Florida "nature" that features endless ugly slash pines and palmettos, kayaking in opaque, brown, murky, snake and alligator infested swamp water, getting your workout biking in sugar-sand and no shade, coupled with a camping experience that combines the serenity of a truck stop, with the charm of a bug-infested swamp, Jonathan Dickinson State Park is your destination. Just remember to bring earplugs, blackout curtains, industrial-strength insect repellent, and a sense of adventure or perhaps, misadventure.

Bring insect repellant and a small fan, as the biting midges are absolutely brutal, especially in March and April. Do not leave ANYTHING outside your camp overnight. The racoons will be making close inspections. There is only 1 dump station at the Pine Grove camping section. Riko's Pizza just south of the park in the Publix shopping plaza on US-1 was great; very popular place with their unique pizzas, salads, chicken wings, etc. For cocktails on the water check out The Square Grouper on the...

We visited on a Saturday morning in late December 2024. It is a very long drive from the main entrance all the way to the back. There are many posted speed limit signs. It looks like a really cool place to bring bikes to and bike throughout the park. Unfortunately we did not have our bikes on this road trip of ours. We were only visited for a little bit and decided to head straight to the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center.

When we arrived there was plenty of parking in the parking lot. Maybe only 3 other cars there. The center was quite large and they had 6 movies that can be played in their meeting room/theater. There is a desk with rangers who greet you as you walk in. All the staff was super nice and helpful. There is a junior ranger program you can do but this was more doable for people who planned to be here the entire day or maybe camping. Don't expect to finish it in an hour or two.

The exhibits were nice but not the best I've seen. The facility looked to be having some hvac problems as well because there was what I hope is a temporary solution where they had a giant system coming into the back of the center. There was also a small gift shop area to the right when you walked in but if you're looking for more merch head down to the river store. The river store is a little bit of a hike from the parking lot itself. It was much busier over here than the education center. There were tons of picnic tables and other park amenities. It looked like they have canoes and kayaks for rent as well as a tour boat.

I would 100% visit again and bring bikes next time. They do have bikes for rent as well but that is never the same as having your own. Looks like they offer a ton of other activities at this park but we were on a tight traveling schedule and needed to get back...