Flamingo Campground, near Homestead, Florida, is a unique camping destination within Everglades National Park, offering a blend of wilderness and comfort. With options for tent camping, RVs, and even eco-tents, it caters to a variety of camping styles while providing a scenic backdrop of Florida Bay.

The campground is known for its spacious sites and clean facilities, including flush toilets and a well-stocked store nearby. Visitors have noted that the ambiance is relaxed, making it a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. One camper mentioned, “This is the place to be if you like to fish, kayak or want to be alone,” highlighting the excellent fishing opportunities and serene kayaking experiences available right at your doorstep.

While the campground has its quirks, like close site spacing and a few pesky mosquitoes, many campers appreciate the natural beauty and wildlife surrounding them. The sunsets and sunrises here are particularly stunning, with one reviewer stating, “The sunsets were gorgeous, but the sunrises were even more stunning!” 

For those looking to venture out, the park offers hiking trails and boat tours, making it easy to immerse yourself in the unique ecosystem of the Everglades. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Flamingo Campground provides a memorable experience in one of Florida's most beautiful natural settings.

The Flamingo campground is one of two drive-in campgrounds accessible from the Homestead entrance of the park. It offers solar-heated showers, two dump stations, picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for seasonal Ranger programs. Flamingo has several hiking trails and canoe trails, and opportunities for saltwater fishing are plentiful. Check at the visitor center for a daily schedule of Ranger guided programs.

Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

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The Best Camping Near Islamorada, Village of Islands, Florida

OK. So the Everglades can be cool. You can rent a canoe here, and tent camp or RV camp. The bugs can be hellish though. I was bit like a million times (exaggeration, but everywhere). 

The Bugs!

I have camped here many, many times. Since the other overnight options were destroyed by hurricanes, this is the only way to remain at the end of the road overnight without having to drive back out (40 miles) or wilderness camp.

The campsites are separated into three sections, one for RVs, the other not, and a special "walk in" field. I've only stayed at the "tents" areas. Each is essentially a large mowed field with sparse trees. The "walk in" field is essentially treeless and probably best described as an overflow area for tent campers.

The RV and regular camping areas are loops that allow vehicles to access and park close to the campsite, which is a parking pad, a picnic table, and a fire containment device for cooking and/or a campfire. BTW... you  must bring your own fire wood.

There is no privacy, the ambiance is more one of community than peaceful tranquility. The combined restroom, showers, and dish washing buildings are few but never far from any campsite. Consider their location when choosing your site, closer might not be better for you if you might be offended by foot traffic through your site. A recent upgrade to solar heated water for the showers is fantastic!

The entire area is famously buggy in all but the coldest months, and even then you better be prepared. It is also incredibly hot during the summer, making the few shaded sites a consideration... but the bugs love shade too!

Despite  the above bleak description, the camping area is commonly filled to capacity (hence the "walk in" area) during the cooler months. But it is also commonly empty during the summer when only fanatical anglers will brave the conditions.





Very practical camping - a way to stay but not a reason to go!

We got to the front gate of Everglades National Park and drove another 38 miles until we got to Flamingo Campground!  It is a long, long drive!! Between hiking, biking, canoeing, and attending educational programs given by different park rangers, we had a busy week! Everglades National Park is the first national park especially designated for it's ecosystem.  It's over 1.5 million acres and is the 3rd largest National Park in the lower 48 states.  It has been named an International Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance.  There are only two other locations in the world that are on all three lists!   

Educational Campground and National Park!

This is pure nature, you really have to make sure you're prepared for this place.  No-See-Ums and mosquitos will eat you alive.  I can still feel them crawling on me.  The effects of hurricanes are visible everywhere.

The Flamingo Campground is rather overgrown, neglected and unstaffed, and few of the bathrooms are open... which adds to its charm!  You want to camp at Lone Pine anyway!  but for the full Everglades experience, go ahead and visit Flamingo, just make sure its open.

wild wild wild everglades

This place is incredible. It really is like you dropped down into some jungle, oceans away from a city. Now, while there are definitely huge pros to that (Amazing animal sightings, cool plants, peaceful camping) there are also a few downsides too. 
The mosquitoes will destroy you if you don't come prepared. I'd definitely recommend double and triple checking you supplies to make sure that you are adequately prepared to fend them off. If you are, you will have an amazing time!

Real Nature Adventure

When we were there (early April), there were TONS of no-see-ums and if you didn't have a tent with a fine enough screen, there was no escape.  Do not camp here unless you have a noseeum tent!  They literally drove us all insane.  Otherwise it was beautiful.  The mangroves are fun to explore by canoe or kayak and the rangers are very informative.

No see ums galore

A few mosquitos and rain though an ideal spot for Everglades immersion. I'm a winter camper here and won't come in the summer as I prefer less bugs and cooler manageable temps. Decent facilities and plenty to see and do.

Great Everglades Base

A really great place to visit if you want a taste of Florida away from all the Disney-esque tourist spots.

This park is like stepping back in time. Enjoy it and relax!

A wonderful taste of the Everglades!

One night tent stay to review for possible use with friends with young kids.

Stayed in tent only area beside bay. Site was bare with only a fire pit and maybe a permanent grill. Very few people around, so quiet. Beach not swimable, very rocky and shallow with mud.

Middle of the week had no movie nights at small outdoor amphitheatre.

Nearby restaurant was had limited fast food, over priced because nearest real restaurant or grocery store was an hour's drive. Marine close by rents boats and runs boat tours through everglades. That would have made stay more fun as would having someone else along.

I had visited that area of the everglades before which I enjoyed. Bring bug spray and long pants, sleeves, and hat.

The area of the camp ground is not picturesque.

Rest rooms available on site.

Bored in the everglades. 

It’s true what they say: don’t visit the Everglades during wet season.

We thought we would miss the worst of the mosquitoes in mid-November, but they were still in full-swing when we spent five days here.

Since we were also visiting Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, and Big Cypress while we were down in southern Florida, we had a lot of time to camp in the area. We camped at Long Pine Key, Flamingo, at a private campground up in Chokoloskee, and at a private campground outside of Miami. For a beautiful, scenic campground experience with access to some of the best wildlife in the park, we enjoyed our time at Flamingo.

Trying to separate our positive experiences from the hoards of mosquitos that we had to fight off each night getting into our tent is difficult, but visiting the campground in the dry season (December to May) should be a lot different.

Upsides of camping at Flamingo include a free shower (in a national park?! What?!), pretty sites with palm trees, incredible wildlife (we saw osprey, a manatee, a crocodile, and _so many_ birds near Flamingo), and the experience of being deep inside Everglades National Park.

The biggest downside (in November) was the mosquitos. Also, Long Pine Key offers closer access to some of the more popular spots in Everglades, as well as easier access to non-park activities (like stopping at Robert is Here for a smoothie - a must-do!)

Our five days at Everglades were full: we attended several ranger programs (we especially liked the talks at the Anhinga Trail), Cole tried his hand at slough-slogging (wading in murky water up to your waist? Not for me), we hiked as many trails as we could, and we kayaked the Nine Mile Pond canoe trail.

You can read much more about our five days in the park on our blog: [Switchback Kids (Everglades)](http://switchbackkids.com/everglades/)

Best wildlife, worst mosquitos in Everglades

A beautiful campground/hike if you're prepared for the bugs that await you. Bathroom facilities were pretty typical and fine. Nothing too crazy. The employees were really sweet and helpful with everything! A lot of wildlife to see. However, got eaten alive by bugs, even with bug spray.

beyond buggy

There’s not much shade and there can be plenty of mosquitos depending on the time of year but it’s a fair trade for sleeping on the edge of the wild.  We tent camped right on the water and woke up to dolphins swimming by every morning.  We saw crocodiles, alligators, every bird and more.  I absolutley love being out where I don’t hear road noise.  I would definitely only go in the winter.  We will go back!

Take me back...

The staff at the campground were nice and showed us to the tent area which was an open field by the bay with picnic tables and fire rings scattered around. We showed up after sunset. The second we set foot in the field we were constantly being attacked by the mosquitos. Bug spray doesn't help so make sure you have long pants and long sleeves too. Bathrooms were not too far of a walk, but they were disgusting (no soap, no toilet paper, a cockroach, etc.). The star were awesome, but hard to enjoy with all of the bugs. They were not an issue in the morning and the sunrise was awesome right from the tent. We were suppose to stay for 2 nights but had our reservation switched for the second night over to Long Pine Key.

Lots of bugs; gross bathrooms

If you can beat the bugs, stargaze and enjoy the sunrise. But take the bug seriously. Even in late January the mosquitoes or vicious. You'll want insect repellent long sleeve long pants and maybe even a mosquito net when you are out and about.

Flamingo Everglades is the concessionaire that operates this campground and the nearby marina. The campground is arranged into 2 loops (one for trailers; about half of them with electric) plus a bayside field area that also includes a group tent site. For these, you park and walk to your site, but you get a great view of the bay and sunrises. In addition, there are several new eco-tents (platform tents) with beds two chairs and lamps. I stayed in one of these.

The Flamingo area still shows the effects of Hurricane Irma a couple of years ago and some neglect. The B &amp; C loops are not open, though NPS is working to clean them up. An employee I spoke with indicated that they hoped to have those open next year. I was there midweek and only the trailer loop was full. On the weekends they do fill up.

The campsites in the loops have picnic tables and fire rings. The bayside field sites have scattered picnic tables and fire rings in various states of rusty disrepair. The eco-tents some picnic tables closer to the bathrooms for the field sites are not occupied, you can use one of those. You can't use a stove in your tent or on your deck, so you do need to cook elsewhere.

Bathrooms include flush toilets and free showers, although the water never got very warm. They are solar heated.

Remember everything you need because it's a long trip back to Florida city or Homestead the nearest places for picking up supplies. Stop at "Robert is Here" on your way in or out for a smoothie or milkshake. The shop at the marina has some basic snacks and drinks. Tuesday to Saturday afternoons there is a food truck available. For activities, campers get a discount on bike rentals. They also rent kayaks &amp; canoes and offer boat trips, though I wouldn't do the boat trip again.

If you choose to stay in an eco-tent, there is a cart with bicycle tires to quietly take your gear to your tent. The boardwalk lights up at night so you can safely find your way to the bathroom. You'll be conscious of the sound the zipper makes when you leave and return to your tent. These are tents and not cabins, so you may hear some neighbors talking or snoring. Even so, it was a welcome change from a sleepless, noisy night at a campground in the Keys.

If you're looking for birds, nearby Eco pond or the waterfront near the bayside campsites offer a nice variety for minimal effort.

No Verizon coverage, but I've been told there is AT&amp;T. Wifi is available at the visitors center.

If you can beat the bugs, stars and sunrises await

It is an hour drive to the campground but a good road and worth the trip. There are several points of interest along the way but we did not stop to check them out. Check-in with reservations was very quick and easy. Both campgrounds are well maintained. The T-loop showers are cold water only but the A-Loop showers are solar heated and there was hot water on sunny days. We parked in a site without services but potable water is available at nearby restrooms. Our campground was quiet except for a couple of campers running their generator during official quiet hours, but they were not an issue. The beach area is a short walk or bike ride from the campground and is not suitable for swimming, at least by our standards. There are a variety of scheduled and unscheduled activities available. The Ranger Led Programs are excellent—guided canoe trip and mobile museum. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We biked on the paved trail to the marina several times and observed crocodiles, alligators, manatees, osprey, and vultures. Don’t leave food outside unattended because the vultures will visit your site. Supplies and rentals at the concession are bit pricey. Overall we enjoyed our stay and stops at the visitor centers and Nike site.

Great location to see the Everglades.

We camped out at the open field with a breathtaking view of the Bay. The camp site itself is well laid out with tables and fire pits at a reasonable distance from each other. Clean bathrooms and showers and lots of avian species to look at. Definitely recommend the site and trails. Also for convenience there is a shop and boat ramp where you could rent canoes and kayaks. 

Open connection to the elements 

We stayed here for 4 nights in site # T10 had water &amp; electric. Big site with some shade got there ion the heat of the day so we parked knowing where the shade was. You do need a screen room to keep bugs out and a good fan in the screened room helps.  It was Halloween so we had some decorations with us, ghosts, witches and more which some of them blew in the wind &amp; helped keep the Vultures off our truck.

  

Right before the campground is the eco pond which is amazing if you like birds. We saw, Roseate Spoonbills, Egrets, Blue Herons, white Pelicans, and more. We just missed  Scarlet Ibis and the Flamingos there were a few a week before we got there. 

  

There was hardly anybody camping there maybe 4 others and the camp host which she was very helpful. 

  

Kayaking on the outside is a little scary we saw a Alligator (no big deal) yet a Crocodile, and a bull shark all within 10 minutes.  Did the inside the next day it was pretty, lots of air plants, birds, gators &amp; manatees.  The Tarpon at the marina were cool to watch them roll. 

  

We were so lucky there was a dark sky photographer there with 2 big Telescopes. He put black bags over all the lite boxes in the campsites to darken it up. Jim Pickering has amazing photos he took. The sky didn't clear up till 3 AM so we didn't get to take a look but amazing photos. He goes to different parks during a new moon when it's the darkest out sometimes has others like him camping they set up and let people look though the telescopes.

Quiet place great night sky, stars galore

If you want to get to a spot with the LEAST light pollution of anywhere in America, this is the place! You are able to see 3x the stars you can normally see anywhere else in America. This is a very remote location so be sure to bring what you need in with you and be sure to gas up before you come from Homestead. It is an hour at least from civilization. The campgrounds are well taken care of. One of my favorite campsites to escape everyone and everything. The showers could be updated but not terrible to be so far off of the beaten path. I would definitely recommend this campsite and would come back. 

Stargazers Paradise !

This camp site is in such a fantastic area of the Everglades National Park. You have a great facility with bathrooms, running water and showers. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets everyday, with the ocean breezes and waves crashing on the rocks. Several wildlife to observe and photograph. The whole family enjoyed this camp site my daughters ages 7 and 11 both enjoyed themselves. We can’t wait to go back and enjoy nature!

Beautiful picturesque camp site right by the peaceful ocean!

Great place with water access and lots ground to wonder and enjoy. Good fishing. Be careful with the elephant mosquitos in the summer. 

Great Place 

We stayed here a night before launching our kayaks out to the more remote backcountry stuff. All of your basic amenities and hella skeeters as you'd expect in South Florida.

It is a big open field, so don't expect visual privacy.

Nice stopover before heading into the wilderness

NO PHONE SERVICE, NO WI-FI.  Good luck in an emergency or if you work virtual.  And there is NO privacy at any of the sites--totally wide open area, no vegetation.  NOT worth the drive down there.

NO PHONE SERVICE OR INTERNET


Flamingo Campground, Florida Everglades—eco-tent

Pro:  The location is superb.  Ours was located closest to the water(#6).  You don’t get to choose—assigned when you check in.  There was a lovely breeze each afternoon and very few mosquitoes.  Egrets and Anhingas were in abundance.  Our eco-tent was equipped with a queen size bed, pillows, bed linens, blankets, fluffy large bath towels, a fan and bedside lights.  The towels were a pleasant surprise because I had specifically asked about towels and was told “no.”  The tents are located on boardwalks with embedded lights to the bathroom building (it can be a fair walk from your tent) so you can see your way there at night.  There is an electrical outlet box with one spare outlet.  We brought a surge protector with additional outlets so we could charge electronics and toothbrushes.  Several people we met rented empty eco-tents for $50 (no beds, lights, etc) a night.

Con:  a solar panel was broken wide open with water flowing out onto the ground so there was no warm water at all in the showers.  The bathrooms are adequate but old and tired—cleaned once daily.  Only one shower in the ladies room was working.  For the price, a decent bathroom would be anticipated.  There is an electrical outlet near the sinks which seemed to be constantly in use by a crockpot.  (Despite a sign on the boardwalk saying for eco-tents only, this bathroom and the nearby picnic tables were heavily used by tent campers.)  There are two dish washing stations at the bathroom building—faucets were not sealed and so water ran out the sides splashing on the backsplash.  There are no water spigots so if you need water, you must use the dish washing faucet (the water is potable but for drinking, you might want to bring in your own as it has a salty taste).  Maintenance certainly could be improved.  

Eco-tent residents must use tables and fire pits close to the parking lot which are not very close.  No food is allowed in the tents.  There are no lights around the picnic tables so if you are cooking after dark, be sure you’ve planned for that.  Also know that you cannot leave unaccompanied food at the picnic tables or the Anhingas will be feasting with abandon.

The food truck was open at the Marina.  It had been closed due to hurricane damage.  Because of the long new year’s weekend, the shop had no ice, no firewood and only minimal supplies like snacks and beer—lots of empty shelves and coolers.  We received an email just before arriving telling us that there was no ice or wood due to the holiday long weekend so we needed to get them before arriving.  We had planned to bring all our food which was a good thing given the lack of items at the store.  With a 38 mile drive from the Coe entrance center to the campground and another 45 minutes to Homestead, you don’t want to have to go back to Homestead for supplies!

No internet or phone service (other than AT&amp;T).  Was wonderful to escape!!

Enjoyed our visit

I’ll admit, based on the size and the bugs I had really, really low expectations. Our trip was in January. We stayed here because we were leaving on a backcountry kayak trip the next day and this was the closest site to the launching point. We stayed in the dispersed tent field, which was spacious if not at all private. I really thought the bugs would be awful, but they were just slightly annoying. Decent bathrooms, cool water showers. We felt safe. Not a dream destination, but did the trick.

Better than exspected

If you want to experience the Everglades, this is a great campground to do it from. Located deep into the park, you are surrounded by the beauty of the “river of grass” and of all that nature has to offer in this incredible place! The rangers are very helpful. 

Heart of the Everglades

We did not have enough time to do everything we would have liked. Flamingo Adventures is about as far away as you can get from the rat race.  They have eco tents, dry camping and hook ups. You can camp in the open grassy tent field by the bay, or in one of the campgrounds with hook ups for RVs. When the FHU sites fill there are still lots of dry sites available. They have clean bathrooms with showers. Some have solar heated water and some don’t. We stayed in the dry area and heard a lot of generator noise but most were considerate.  The marina and store are an easy bike ride along a path that follows the waterfront. Manatee activities are in the canal and marina. There are many side trips along the very long ride from the visitors center at the entrance to Everglades National Park to Flamingo.   They were working on many new and updated amenities:  visitor center, conference center and lodging. Crocodiles can be seen in and around marina.  Many friendly people everywhere; staff, rangers and visitors. 

Way down south tip of Florida 

After some of the reviews we read here, we had some trepidation. Much of the ‘cons’ that other people experienced, we did not. We stayed in T loop since we wanted electrical hookup. This loop is designed for RVs and travel trailers, electric hookups at each site, but you needed to fill your water tanks from the spigot at the bathrooms. There is a dump station to make your deposit on the way out. Sites are all pull-thru and very level. Each site has a fire ring with grate, and a picnic table (very heavy and hard to move). There is a smattering of trees throughout, but not enough to offer much shade. There is a good amount of space between sites so you are not crammed in like sardines, which we have experienced at other National park campgrounds. 

At this particular time of year, we experienced little to no bugs and there was a constant slight sea breeze which helped to make it feel a bit cooler. We were here the second week of February and it was plenty hot (80s) and humid for us northerners. The area we were in was very quiet, mostly us “older” folks. Very peaceful here at night, and a great location for stargazing since the campground has very few lights. Some previous reviews mentioned pesky vultures, we never saw any. I can’t speak to the conditions of the bathrooms in this loop as we had our own and didn’t need to visit them. Bring your bikes, fishing gear and kayaks as those seem to be the major activities here. It’s long way from major stores, so be sure to bring whatever supplies you might need. The store at the marina has some basics, but you won’t want to buy many groceries there.

Glad we went, but now that we’ve been there, probably won’t feel the need to go back, but it’s a nice place to get to at least once!


Better than we expected!

We stayed at this campground the week before spring break and during the week it was nIce and quiet. There was no hot water so showers were very quick. We took our bikes and had some nice rides. We rented a kayak for a few hours and kayaked down the canal but stopped at coots bay as it was very windy. A manatee swam right under our kayak! We also took the boat tour and learned a lot, especially about the trees,history and wildlife. We saw the nest osprey with the adults feeding the babies. The last night we were there the unruly spring break crowd came in and partied all night. The camp host did nothing. They left a big mess in the bathrooms. Also the day before we were to arrive we got a cancellation email so I had to call to fix that error, we had not cancelled. There is a lot of construction as a result of hurricanes and many of the trails are not maintained. We saw huge crocodiles and many bird species.

Flamingo at Everglades 2021

Flamingo is right inside the national park and is the only center with services available in the park; marina, food and convenience store, rental equipment, boat tours with park naturalist, food truck, and a pricy gas pump for emergencies. 

Once you’re all the way down to Flamingo, you’re 50 miles away from nearest town, so bring everything you need that you wouldn't normally find at a convenience store. 

Nice array of overnight options: tent camping, new canvas eco tents with electricity, camper sites and even 6-person houseboats to rent (next time!).

I found one of the eco tents that had just been converted to off season (April-November), meaning no furniture except a fan and a large lantern. Bedding etc. is all removed for rainy summertime to avoid mold. Also means you pay $50 instead of $99, great deal! Bring air mattress and camp chairs and you’re good!

Loved the experience, with 3 sides of the tent being screens – can be completely opened or covered for privacy. Woke up to a gale blowing in from the water, felt partially like being on safari and partially like staying on a boat.

Things to know:

Try for waterfront tents 3,4 5, 6, 7 or 8. 

No eating or drinking inside the tents - they’re spotless but food remnants would quickly draw bugs in this climate. There are shared tables and fire pits for guests.

Food-wise, the food truck is OK for lunch but next Time I’d pack pre-made dinner and use the store’s microwave to heat it up. Options for anything healthy at the marina store are pretty scant. But... they do have lots of Haagen Dazs flavors for dessert! 

To solve for morning coffee, I’d pack my electric kettle and a french press or pour over next time, &amp; drink it out on the tent deck. Coffee in store not recommended.

And bring your bike, kayak or board, and trail runners. All possible right from the campsite! Luckily I had all 3 :)

Definitely an experience not to miss - and every single person on staff at Flamingo was super friendly and full of great info and tips.

Eco tent glamping with off season rates! 

Spent three days fishing and using the camper as a base camp. Caught tons of mangrove snapper, snook, and even a tripletail. Been going to Flamingo for years to fish but this was the first time taking the trailer. Would definitely do it again. 50 amp hookup worked great. Just wish they had running water to the trailer so you don’t have to refill the tank. Great experience as long as your going fishing. Not too many other things to do in the Florida heat. 

Great fishing at this remote spot

We were able to get a site with electricity. Not all of them do. The campground doesn’t have hot water in their bathrooms. Visiting the park was a neat experience. We saw manatee, osprey and a crocodile. Ultimately we shortened our trip and only stayed one night instead of two. It is really far away from everything! The Visitor Center is still closed for renovations but they hope to be open in the fall.

Nothing to write home about

Went four times between January an February and it was always beautiful. People have the misconception that the Everglades is just a huge swamp. It is not. Flamingo campground has a few trails around the trail that allow anyone to be absorbed by the depth of nature.
The walk in cite has a beautiful green plain with a bunch of nicely separated fire pits and benches ant the “A loop” has each individual cite a little closer to each other but the trees allow for a little sense of privacy (and shade).

Highly recommended 

Just Beautiful 

Originally I was over in the Trailer loop but was able to relocate to the tent camping loop. 

Site #53 was a winner with a nice big tree for plenty of afternoon shade. 

Nice bathroom with solar heated showers centrally located in the loop. 

Also within walking distance of a beach area and the trailhead for the Coastal Prairie trail (~12 miles round trip).

Mosquitoes were on the cusp of being pretty bad, but as long as you layered up and light a fire a little before dusk, they weren't unbearable. 

Quick drive over to the marina to restock on food, firewood, ice, and other supplies. 

Also highly recommend taking a boat tour up the canal and checking out manatees in the bay!

Four Windy Days in the Glades!

Stayed at the T loop campground. Arrived late at night around 10 pm. We reserved a spot without hookups, big mistake, too hot to sleep and somehow mosquitos made their way inside. Next morning I called to switch spots and the kiosk switched us no problem. Very helpful and friendly staff. Both spots we stayed at are fairly even, and they are all pull through sites with hard compact dirt. We’re we’re able to easily fit our 35ft coachmen plus the car we are towing. Two bathroom facilities, one of which was locked ( I think due to the fact there were only 4 other campers here) bathroom and showers are old but they work. My only issue is the relentless and vicious attack of mosquitos 24/7. 
Would definitely stay again. 

Nice campground a ton of mosquitos 

Down at Flamingo, there’s four types of camping: eco tents, tents (A Loop), campers/ RVs (T Loop) and the backcountry chickees. This review is for the ✨eco tents✨.

The eco tents are awesome in general, but more so if you’re new to camping. Some come fully furnished with beds, nightstands, etc, while others are completely unfurnished and you can set up your own gear, so you choose your level of comfort. They also come with electric fans.

It’s incredibly quiet down there and the full moons are outta this world - no pun intended! 😉 Waking up and drinking your coffee on the shore of Florida Bay is a great way to start the day.

But there is no food allowed in the tents whatsoever. Because the walkways to and the platforms of the eco tents are elevated, there’s also no way to cook even near your eco tent. There are fire rings and picnic tables near the parking area, which is also where the bathrooms are. So if you’re someone who wakes often in the middle of the night for “bio breaks”, you might want to keep that walk in mind - or plan for an alternative.

There are bathrooms with running (non potable) water and toilets with real plumbing, but no showers.

I’d definitely recommend the eco tents for a short stay!

Eco Tents 😍

Down at Flamingo, there’s four types of camping: eco tents, tents (A Loop), campers/ RVs (T Loop) and the backcountry chickees. This review is for the ✨A Loop Tent Camping.✨

I happened to be down here on a weekend of a full moon, so my thoughts on tent camping in Flamingo might be a bit skewed because that night sky was IMPRESSIVE.

There’s not much by way of privacy on A Loop, but I personally didn’t mind. I had a corner site near a bathroom and even despite that, the evenings were still pretty quiet. 

The bathroom was in clean condition and had plenty of stalls.  No showers or potable water down this way though!

Bring plenty of mosquito repellent or a thermacell because the bugs take no prisoners down there!

A Loop

I camped two nights in January 2022 in the A-loop for tents. Plenty of space between sites. Even though it was January, mosquitoes could not be ignored. Once I applied bug spray they didn’t bother me again. My site was unshaded, but others had shade trees. Wasn’t a big deal in January (plus I wasn’t around the camp during the day) but being in the direct sun would be miserable in summer. Bathrooms were clean and plentiful. Stargazing was excellent. Small convenience store about .5 mile away. Quiet hours started at 10 pm, but the area was pretty quiet much earlier. Pretty much by sundown.

Quiet, well maintained.

There aren’t that many big open fields on the water in the USA for tent camping. Lots of fun, easy to meet people, and chill atmosphere. I slept in my car in the parking lot and they had no problem with that, BUT the mosquitoes were intense. Even the campfire and wind didn’t stop them. 

Location, location

This was an amazing spot to camp with my bestie. My only complaint was that the mosquitos are HUGEEE and swarm at night and will eat you alive so prepare! Kayaking was beautiful on the ocean and also on the river but there are alligators and salt water crocs! A very memorable experience! Would go back! 

Amazing Location and View 

We booked a site, but stayed in the walk-in field on the water instead. It was so pretty and we grabbed a picnic table and got water and charged phones in the bathroom. We had paid to park our car at the first campsite and loaded up our bikes and did an out and back bike tour to this site! A great 35 mile overnight practice ride!

Beautiful, if you prepare for bugs

The sites are bare and very close together, so no privacy. Also, cannot choose site, so I was stuck next to the very loud bathroom, I could hear the toilet seats and hand dryers going. Kindof took away from the camping experience. Ended up switching my reservations to the walk in camping as there was no one there, plus it’s right on the water. Much better!

Not ideal for tent camping

This is one of three options to "camp" in this part of Everglades National Park (the other two are RV sites and a large grassy area for tent camping (only open during the winter months). The 20 Eco tents provide a change of pace to regular camping, and they are nicely appointed, but they are a bit of a splurge (over$100 with tax). 

  

Each tent has full deck flooring and comes equipped with a double or queen bed with bedding (November– April only), a fan, 110 outlets, towels, two chairs/small round tables, and shelving with baskets. You can enjoy at least a partial view of Florida Bay from each tent.

  

The Eco tents have their own “private” bathroom/shower separate from the public restroom and it was clean. Unlike the bathrooms at Long Pine Key campground, there is a handicap-accessible stall. Towels are provided in the tents. 

  

Cooking or food of **ANY KIND** is not allowed in the tents as it would attract bugs and other wildlife. There are picnic tables/fire pits by the parking lot for cooking/eating but it was very windy when we arrived, so we just ate cold food in our van. All food must stay in your vehicle. You are also not allowed to use bug spray in the tent due to the flammable nature of the spray. Other rules include no music in the campground or tents. 

  

We were there shortly before the winter season so there were not as many options for recreation available. There are hiking trails and you can rent canoes or kayaks. Other boat tours are available, but we didn’t take advantage of any of these, preferring instead to take photos of birds and walk the short Anhinga Trail (closer to the northern entrance to the park). 

  

Both the sunsets and the sunrises are spectacular (if you can stand the mosquito assault!)

Bring your bug spray!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Flamingo Eco-tents. We appreciated being able to camp without brining in the typical supplies since we were visiting from out of state - the tent includes your bedding, towels, etc. 

  

Even in January bugs were intense as soon as the sun went down - don't plan to sit around a campfire here, even doused in bug spray. Instead, eat an early dinner and then head back to your tent for sunset. 

  

When booking, request a bay side tent (7,8,13,14,17,18) to have an uninterrupted water front view from your porch.

Wonderful easy option for out-of-state camping

Loved the campground. I stayed during the week and it was mostly quiet. This is the place to be if you like to fish, kayak or want to be alone.. I can’t say enough about the fishing. Many Crocodiles. The 1.5 hour boat tours are both well worth the 35$.  Make sure you ask for a site with shade‼️

Great stay  

The store by the marina is well stocked and the marina itself is pretty big though we did not use it. The sites are cozy and pretty close together and the bathrooms were well kept. The water in the showers gets about lukewarm. There’s a little beach nearby too. We were able to buy firewood at the site and help was easy to find if it was needed. 

Cozy Spot

Flamingo in the Everglades: Open parklike with new and what are the absolute largest of campsite signs I have seen in 5 years of traveling.  No excuse to be in the wrong site at Flamingo!  I had to laugh and wonder that if they are that big, blind drivers must be frequenting Flamingo.  On a serious note, the brand new visitor center is a 5 star.  Spending time there will not be regretted,.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer.  Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us.  A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.  

Overall Rating:  3.5
Price 2023: $  34 w interagency pass
Usage during visit: 1/2 full
Site Privacy:  Poor
Site Spacing:  Fair
Site surface:  Blacktop 
Reservations:   Yes
Campground Noise:   Not bad for an open area
Road Noise:  No outside road noise 
Through Traffic in campground:    None
Electric Hookup:  Many sites 
Sewer Hookup:  No
Dump Station: Yes
Potable Water Available: Yes
Generators: Allowed 
Bathroom: Flush toilets.  
Showers: Solar.  Water temperature depends on sunshine, time of day, usage , and the length showers folks take.   
Pull Throughs: All
Cell Service (AT&amp;T): 4 bars
Setting: Open park like with scattered mature trees 
Recent Weather: The weather has really varied this year.  Hot, cod, cloudy, windy, rainy. 
Solar:  Yes
Host: Paid personnel 
Rig Size:   The largest of rigs can be accommodated here 
Sites:  Last loop is best 

Photos of Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

Real photos from real campers