Burns Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

Burns Lake: This is a fine campground. The only redeeming factor is the lake. RV sites are not that great in my opinion.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

To Do: The smallest Post Office in the USA is close by. Oasis Visitor Center has gator viewing.
Visit all the nearby boardwalks are worth a visit.
Do a Ranger led wet walk. It is out of this world.
Drive to Shark Valley and take the tram (reservations are best), bicycle the 12 mile loop or walk part of it. The gates open at 9:00 AM for park parking. Fills up, thus slowing entry into the park. However, parking is available along the highway. We parked there, just past the no parking signs. We then walked in at sunrise for enjoyment before the crowds. Some folks were biking at that time as well. Beautiful. Gators began sunning themselves by 9:30AM or so. Drive to Everglade City for a boat ride out to the bay. Fantastic experience. The BCNP Visitor Center can tell you who to contact to make reservations. We went on this trip a couple years ago.
Airboats and swamp buggy rides are popular. We did this as well, but preferred the other activities in the end. However, how can you pass up on a fun airboat experience. Unlike the Everglades the full campsite discount for seniors is offered here.

Overall Rating: 3 - not picturesque . One of our least favorites. Others we have talked to love this campground. Price 2023: $ 12 w interagency pass Security: Must drive be host site. Usage during visit: Full Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close as Monument and Midway Site surface: Grass Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet during our visit Road Noise: Less than Midway and Monument
Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At Midway Potable: Water Not available. Fill up at Midway. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit toilet Showers: At Monument Pull Throughs: all Cell Service (AT&T): 1 Bar Setting: Around Burns Lake. Lake view from all sites. Recent Weather: Unusually wet winter Solar: Solar will be great in the RV sites.
Host: Yes Rig Size: Largest is fine in RV sites.
Sites: None of the sites really appeal to me. Other people I have met love it here. #10 is the best RV site. Id rather be in the tent only area. It is nicer than Monument and Midway tent only sites. Campers and vans use these sites, I noticed.

This campsite was as expected. Was it my favorite ever? No. But it gets 5 stars for being exactly as depicted on the recreation.gov site. The tent camp sites were far enough apart that you didn't feel like you were overlapping with your neighbor and far enough from the main road that road noise is not an issue. Our site easily held 2 cars, a 4 person tent, and a 2 person tent with room to spare. Each site has a campfire pit and a picnic table. There are bear cabinets around to put your food in overnight if you don't want to leave it in your car. This is not just for bears, but panthers and hungry raccoons too. Even during the dry season, the ground was quite damp so I was happy to have a good footprint for our tent. I would make sure to prep for this by bringing water resistant shoes next time. The campfire area has a grill attachment so if you are just doing burgers and hotdogs, I wouldn't fret too much about cooking utensils; just get the fire going first to sanitize the grill. Bring your own firewood. We were able to scrounge for some, but I wouldn't depend on that. There is a bathroom (hole in the ground with a toilet on top); totally fine, but I would advise to bring extra TP just in case it hasn't been restocked. There are RV sites on the other side of the lake; I appreciated that they were separate as we didn't have to be right next to all the generators. The only negative thing was some jerk who was speeding around the loop road in their Jeep, kicking up dust and dangerously drifting the corners; I didn't feel safe walking along the road to the bathroom. But that is an issue with an inconsiderate camper and not the NPS.

This is a small, primitive campground offering access to a number of backcountry trails. If you're bringing a swamp buggy or ATV, you'll need to be sure to complete the required training and obtain your permits. There were a few swamp buggies heading to the trail when i was there. Following a large rainstorm, there was some puddling on the RV pull-through sites. The back side of the campground was drier and quieter. Access to the trails is at the far end of the pond, so ORVs will be coming past your site either on their way in or out. 

Insects are somewhat more tolerable in the dry season (Jan-Apr), but but expect them anyway! The only facilities here are vault toilets. Be sure to bring plenty of water and stock up on supplies before you get into the Preserve! 

You may be visited by gators or panthers, so there are food boxes available. Ample opportunity for birdwatching and looking for alligators throughout the preserve. You're also not far from the Everglades.

You may stay 10 days Jan -Apr; 14 days the rest of the year. If you have a senior or access pass, your fees are discounted 50%.

Burns Lake is about midway between Naples and Miami, making it a great location to explore either of both of Big Cypress or Everglades National Park. The campground is open all year long for day use (it's a big area for ATVs), but unfortunately you can't overnight there during the summer season. (The closest campground open year round is Midway a few miles away).

The camp ground is set up to accommodate off-road vehicles, and you've got to drive down a dirt road a little ways to access it.

The Camping area is structured in one loop around the lake with lots of beware of Alligator signs. Like most of the other camping areas in the Everglades, there  are no trees, so the campground is wide open and you're right next to your neighbor.

In addition the the Alligators, you'll notice in this area when driving on US 41 that you are also in a Panther crossing area. Fortunately, the only thing to eat me was mosquitos.  Be sure to pack your repellant. 

You'll also want to make sure you've packed all your supplies, there's not a whole lot in the area besides wilderness! Each site is equipped with grills and tables.

First, there is nothing like the Everglades…its vast and critical…an enormous river of grass.

Burns Lake Campground is a little more than an hour from home…but it is surrounded by primal wilderness of a different sort.

The campground itself, is…well…primitive. Bring your own water, period. Most of these primitive campgrounds in Big Cypress are used by hunters or recreational vehicle owners. You are out there…in the middle of nowhere. You would need to drive a considerable distance on 41 east or west to get to a service station that might have what you are looking for. Its quiet…in a nature sort of way. In the winter months, it will fill up as do all campgrounds in Florida…mostly with northerners cruising RV's. Being primitive, expect nothing more than a picnic table, fire ring and pit latrine.

Tent camping any time between April and November is hot…be prepared. Also prepare…no, wait…over prepare for biting insects. They spray for mosquitos along the inhabited coastline, so rarely do you even see the nasty creatures…but out here they are active and hungry. Remember too that the sun is hot, sometimes seemingly oppressive…you have a lake in front of you…but you can't swim in it…in fact, you don't want to take your eyes off the water when you are close to its edge. Gators lurk…it's true…and in these parts, they get big, real big. Though I didn't see any, venomous snakes do inhabit these parts as well.

Bears can be pesky…keep your food sealed in containers…in your car. You may still get a visitor anyways. "Florida panthers" have been seen, but are very elusive.

If its cooler and you can't seem to find any gators…my favorite spots nearby are the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk (17 miles west from the campground on US 41) The boardwalk extends some 2300 feet back into Fakahatchee Strand. You'll almost always see a gator sunning itself along the bank (which is uneasily close, as you walk by). Even if you don't see a gator…its a relaxing walk.

Ordinarily you will see hordes of gators in the canal on the northside of US 41 the entire way.

There are two other options: One much closer to the campground…just 3 miles out and to the west to HP Williams Roadside Park. I always see gators there of varying size…and really enjoy the rangers that share words of wisdom there.

Thirteen miles east from the campground brings you to Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center. Guaranteed gators. A boardwalk in front of the visitor center stands above numerous monster gators in the water below. This makes for some great photo opportunities for the shutterbug. The visitor's center is newer and fascinating. (sidenote: If you really wanted a more immersed wild, natural Florida hiking/camping experience…park in the Oasis Visitor Center parking lot…advise the rangers…and hike behind the visitor's center on the Florida Trail. Pack it in, pack it out)

There is really so much to do and far more to see in this natural wonderland. You can check out Wooten's airboat rides or any number of the other's along US 41 for a neat experience…or drop down into Shark Valley and explore even more. Shark Valley in the winter months is triple A+…gators galore…see my upcoming review and photos on that NPS.

Or consider canoeing or kayaking the Everglades and camp on the Chickees along the way.

Remember from June to November is "hurricane season"…from July on to late October, you'll likely experience rain daily as storm bursts roll through. (Take note: Florida is the lightning strike capital…but the displays are awesome!)

Monument Lake Campground and Burns Lake Csmpgrounds are nearly identical in every way…with Burns Lake being a bit further back from US 41.

Also, you may find the campground closed at different periods, so have an alternate plan.