Bear Island Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

Stayed here for a quick overnight campout last weekend and was very pleased with the campgrounds. The site was clean and well groomed. We were close to the swamp and at night saw quite a few crayfish crawling around on the ground at night which was a first for me. If you stay here make sure you take a walk around at night that is where we ended up seeing a lot of critters which was really cool. Also make sure you take a flashlight and look in many of the waterways. We ended up seeing quite a few gators and fish like alligator gar. Also discovered that the creeping growling noises I was hearing all night was Gators mating which is wild to think about...

Absolutely love this campground. Instead of turning left to the circular campground, go straight and there is many more sites. It is quiet and well kept. No water/electric but personally, you don't need it.

Part of Big Cypress Preserve, Bear Island offers 40 sites including 13 year round in a field with some trees. The other 27 offer more privacy in wooded camp sites each with a fire ring and picnic table. Vault toilets are available along with bear boxes for food storage. Bring everything you need because the drive in is over 20 miles of dirty/gravel roads. Plenty of wildlife. ORV trails if you obtain a permit. Trails also good for biking, hiking, and running. Only downside is the road noise from I-75 about a mile away. When wind isn’t rustling through the trees, road noise can be heard. A little buggy at dusk too.