Sebastian Inlet camping — and what to do when it's full
Everything about camping at Sebastian Inlet State Park: the 51 sites, the real cost, how the 11-month reservation window works, and the closest alternatives on this stretch of the Indian River Lagoon. Written 12 miles up the road.
51 sites, $28 a night, booked months ahead
Sebastian Inlet State Park is the only campground where you can walk from your site to the jetty and be casting before sunrise. That's exactly why it's hard to get: 51 developed sites shared by tents and RVs, reservations opening 11 months out, and winter weekends claimed the morning they appear. There are no cabins, no primitive sites and no boat-in camping.
If you land a site, take it — it's a great park. If you don't, you are not out of options: the same water, the same inlet and the same fishing are reachable from the west shore of the lagoon in Grant-Valkaria, about 20 minutes north by road and 5.4 miles by boat.
- Campsites in the park
- 51 developed sites, shared by tents and RVs
- Nightly rate
- $28 plus tax, plus a one-time $6.70 reservation fee
- RV utility fee
- $7 per night (tent sites are exempt)
- Cabins / primitive / boat-in
- None — developed sites only
- Booking window
- Up to 11 months ahead; winter weekends go the day they open
- Park entry
- $8 per vehicle · boat ramp $4 plus tax
- Distance from our house to the park
- About 12 miles by road, 5.4 miles by water
Campsite vs. the house up the lagoon
| Sebastian Inlet State Park | Sunrise on the River | |
|---|---|---|
| Nightly cost | $28 + $7 utilities + $8 entry per vehicle | From $175/night, no resort fee, cleaning $150 |
| Availability in winter | Booked out months ahead | Usually open, monthly rates available |
| Sleeping | Your tent or rig, sandy pads, neighbors close | 3 bedrooms, real beds, sleeps 8 |
| Bathroom | Shared bathhouse | 2 private bathrooms, hot water, laundry |
| Weather | Summer heat and afternoon storms; cold snaps in winter | A/C, kitchen, covered outdoor space |
| Water access | Park ramp and Bayside Marina | ~50 ft private dock, kayaks and paddleboards included |
| Dogs | Leashed pets allowed in the campground, not on swim beaches | Up to 2 dogs, $100 per dog per stay |
| Fishing | Jetty, catwalks, ramp | Fish off the dock at any hour, inlet 5.4 mi by boat |
Camping wins on price for one or two people. Once you're four or more — or you want a kitchen, air conditioning and a dock you can fish at 2 a.m. — the gap closes fast, especially on weekly and monthly rates.
Other places to sleep near the inlet
Long Point Park
North side of the inlet, Brevard County campground with waterfront sites and its own ramp. Also fills early in winter.
Wickham Park, Melbourne
Inland city campground about 35 minutes north — usually has space when the coast doesn't.
Private RV parks in Micco & Sebastian
Monthly snowbird sites; call directly, most don't show real availability online.
Waterfront house in Grant-Valkaria
Our place: 3 bedrooms, sleeps 8, private dock, kayaks, dog friendly, 5.4 miles to the inlet by water.
Camping at Sebastian Inlet
How much does camping at Sebastian Inlet State Park cost?
$28 per night plus tax, plus a one-time nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee. RV sites add a $7 per night utility fee; tent sites do not. Park entry is $8 per vehicle and the boat ramp is $4 plus tax.
Why is Sebastian Inlet camping always full?
There are only 51 sites for one of the most popular state parks on Florida's east coast, and reservations open 11 months in advance. Winter and spring weekends are typically claimed the morning they become available, and cancellations get taken within hours.
Are there cabins at Sebastian Inlet State Park?
No. The park has no cabins, no boat-in camping and no primitive or walk-in tent area — tents and RVs share the same 51 developed sites.
What's the closest alternative if the campground is booked?
Long Point Park on the north side of the inlet and Wickham Park in Melbourne both have campsites, and there are private RV parks in Micco and Sebastian. If you'd rather have a roof, air conditioning and your own dock, our house in Grant-Valkaria is about 20 minutes north of the park and 5.4 miles from the inlet by water.
Can I bring my dog camping at Sebastian Inlet?
Yes — well-behaved leashed pets are allowed in the campground and on many trails, but not on the designated swimming beaches or inside buildings. Our house also takes up to two dogs at $100 per dog per stay.
Is it cheaper to camp or rent a house near Sebastian Inlet?
For one or two people a campsite is cheaper. For a family or two couples, once you add per-vehicle entry, RV utilities and eating out, a monthly or weekly rate on a 3-bedroom waterfront house with a kitchen and a dock often lands close — and you're not packing up wet gear after a storm.
Same water, with a roof
Sunrise on the River is a 3-bedroom waterfront home at 6910 US-1, Grant-Valkaria, sleeping 8, with about 50 feet of private dock, kayaks and paddleboards, and space for a truck and trailer.