Primitive Camping at Murphy Island on the St. Johns River - Boat Required

Lisa Kelley, Native Floridian
Sep 10, 2025
7 min read

Updated: Nov 30, 2025

Tucked away on the St. Johns River near Palatka, Florida, Murphy Island offers a primitive camping experience that feels like stepping back in time. The only way to reach the 854 acre island is by boat. For our trip we used the public launch located at Browns Landing which is just under a mile from the campsite. With the river running unusually high in September, we had to wade through dark water to find the ramp. Fortunately, our skiff and trailer handled it just fine. By the end of the weekend, the water had receded some, but not enough to keep our feet dry when loading back up.

Browns Landing - High water The ramp starts where the guard rail meets the river.

Boat Required for Florida Primitive Camping on Murphy Island

Reaching Murphy Island by water sets the tone for the adventure. It's important to know that although the distance from the launch to the island is short, it does include crossing a channel and it's important to stay aware of fast-moving boats and the naturally occurring strong currents. The floating dock that greeted us was in great condition and gave us peace of mind, knowing our skiff was able to stay secure for the night. For those who are wondering, the river here is much deeper than we expected and we now know we can safely bring our larger boat the next time we visit the area.

A Single St. Johns River Campsite, All to Yourself

Murphy Island is managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), and has only one camping reservation available per night. That means when you book in advance through the SJRWMD website, you have the entire camping area to yourself. No neighbors, no noise (aside from nature and passing boats), and most importantly, no competition for the best spot.

Though there are no utilities—no water, power, or restrooms—the campsite itself is impressive. Flat ground makes pitching a tent easy, and the open view of the river is worth every ounce of the “primitive” label. We did used rechargeable lights to bring some warmth to the darkness of night, for creating a twinkling light ambiance around the tent, and to provide the light needed to enjoy our dinner. Additionally, much to our surprise, each night an owl would settle itself close by, watching our section of the island and reminding us of all of the wildlife that has made this location home.

The campsite does include a nice large fire ring with an attached cooking grate which made cooking steaks for dinner on our first night very easy. Because the site can host large groups, the extra large picnic table was all that was needed during our stay. We were mindful of opportunistic wildlife, such as the armadillo who frequented the campsite, and kept our food secured in a bin which we stored inside the tent when not in use. Although we produced very little trash, each evening we placed our small grocery bag of garbage inside the boat and then disposed of it in the can located back at the boat dock the next day.

St. Johns River Crabbing, Fishing, Shrimping, and a Bonus Sandbar

Our trip was a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. We spent time setting up our Wishard Wire Crab traps for blue crabs and managed to squeeze in some fishing as well. We also explored the area by boat and discovered the Georgia Boys Fish Camp located behind the island on Dunns Creek. Here we bought live bait and some much-needed Gatorade. The staff were friendly and helpful, and they even offered some entertainment by whistling to summon a great egret, affectionately known as "Fred". However, the real excitement was right by the Murphy Island dock. Throughout the days and nights, boats came and went, shrimping with a variety of cast nets. You could hear the rhythmic thud of nets hitting the decks and echoing across the river, creating what might be considered the soundtrack of the shrimping season.

Although there are no showers, there is a popular sandbar on the St Johns River towards the west side of the island that brings a lot of weekend activity. We discovered this was a perfect spot to rinse off and relax after a fun-filled day. It might not be a traditional shower but we felt clean and refreshed afterwards. Since early September brings very hot days and high-humidity nights, a dip in the river was much appreciated. We know swimming in a dark river known to host alligators and river sharks might not be for everyone, but there is some feeling of safety when cooling off in a spot that has a large number of boats and people in the same area.

The sunsets in the evenings were beautiful, and thanks to the steady breeze, sitting on the island's dock provided a refreshing break from the heat. It was a welcome relief after spending long days in the sun. However, as soon as the sun fully set, the mosquitoes emerged for their nightly visit, prompting us to return to camp to either apply more repellent or to sit near the Thermacell.

William Bartram and Palatka History

Murphy Island isn’t just a camping spot—it’s part of Florida’s rich history. In the late 1700s, famed naturalist William Bartram traveled through this very area during his explorations of the St. Johns River. According to his 1774 account, equipment was stored on Murphy Island to protect the goods from Indian raids. His writings also describe the lush landscapes and abundant wildlife of the region, and standing on the island makes it’s easy to imagine what he saw. In many ways, little has changed. The tall trees, broad river, and abundance of fish and birds all are reminders of Bartram’s time. Today, a paddling trail has been established to mark his route, and signs at the island's dock highlights the historical importance of this location. The island also offers over 6 miles of hiking trails that we look forward to exploring in cooler weather.

Fishing off the dock at sunset. — Sunset at the end of the day

Pros and Cons of Primitive Camping

Primitive camping at Murphy Island is not for everyone—you won’t find showers, electricity, or camp stores—but if you’re looking for seclusion, history, and a true Florida wilderness experience, it’s a perfect getaway. Between the wildlife, the solitude of having an entire island campsite to yourself, and the sense of connection to the river’s history, it’s an unforgettable adventure.

We’ll certainly return, bringing our larger boat, an additional crab trap, and the same appreciation for this unique spot on the St. Johns River. If you're interested in crabbing adventures, check out the rest of our weekend story. It's packed with mishaps and humor and warrants an entire blog post of its own.

Florida Native Life Unisex Camping T-shirt & Women's Blue Crab Tank Top

Florida Native Life Shop

If you're curious about what we pack, below is a list of items used for this adventure*

Rechargeable twinkle lights were a nice feature around the campsite. When at a site without power, these are provide a nice amount of soft light to help you find your way around camp. Although I've not verified it, I've heard some use string lights such as these on the ground to deter unwanted wildlife.
This one is my favorite tent light. During the day, we just set in the sun to recharge. We use the rechargeable expanding light inside of the tent provided soft light when settling in at night
A rechargeable bottle lamp was a cute and practical addition to the picnic table. When paced on top of a water bottle the light dispersed perfectly. It's great how just one lamp is all you need when you have a water bottle available.
We find it very easy to recharge our non-solar items by using the Jackery power pack. For this trip we also brought along a small fan and the Jackery was able to power it for 2 nights and also charge up our phones and accessories.
Fighting the mosquitos. I really expected the mosquitos to be worse than they were but we still needed to ward them off. We have tried a number of products over the years and this Thermacell is the best. I do choose to wear a long sleeved spf shirt and lightweight long pants so that I don't have to use spray directly on my skin at night.
Sleeping comfortably
- We place a small moving blanket on the tent's floor to provide a protective barrier and to make it easy to remove sand from inside the tent.
- Air mattresses can unexpectedly leave you sleeping on the hard ground. Instead, we prefer using a good mattress pad that provides both cushion and gives an option to add an air layer for more comfort. The trick when adding an air layer to the pad, don't over inflate. On night one we had added to much air and I woke up with some aches, on night two we released some of the air and the comfort level was just right
We can't start the day without coffee. We used a small camping kettle to boil the water we used with our Starbucks instant coffee packs. For those who are worried, today's instant coffee isn't like the kind your great-grandma once drank.
We used a compact camping stove that only required us to bring one small propane canister. This stove folds down so small that it would be great for backpacking adventures.
Instead of paper plates, opt for a paper boat! They are much easier to handle whether at camp or on the water. They come in a pack of 200 and typically last us over a year.
For dinner we brought pre-made homemade meatballs that we portioned out, vacuum sealed, and froze for safe travels. We warmed them with sauce on the compact burner with a medium sized pot from our new lightweight pot/pan set. This was likely the best meatball sandwich we've ever had!
To transport our gear from the boat to the campsite, we used our collapsable wagon. This wagon has been used on so many camping trips and we often debate if it's worth packing; each and every time we've brought it along, it has been so helpful. However, when this one needs replacing, we will choose one with larger wheels and we have our eye on wagons like this one that seems to have good reviews. If you have a suggestion, let us know in the comments.