Highlands Hammock State Park

The actual park itself is pretty and the staff is friendly and great but the actual campground needs some love. It’s too packed together. It’s mud/dirt sites (depending on weather) and they squeeze you in like sardines. No privacy at all. I probably would not go out of my way to stay here again with as many beautiful parks as Florida has. I do want to stress how friendly and great the staff is, however. I heard they are closing later this year to make some long overdue improvements so hopefully some changes to the campground will happen.

We went to this state park during the Christmas. It was probably the coldest day of the year. The campsite had water and electricity hook ups , table and fireplace. The campsites are however very close to each other. The amenities are nice and clean . Hot showers available.

This is a great state park. Campground has everything you need, but it is a little loud, but manageable.

Nice park. Beautiful surroundings. Friendly atmosphere.

I loved this campground during the week. It was quiet, I could work outside, and had the place to myself (obviously there were others there but everyone was quiet and to themselves). Weekends are busy, like ppl walking through your site at all hours to use the bathhouse busy (I wasn't even by the bathhouse). The hiking trails were fun, saw a lot of wildlife and made some squirrel friends who though me working outside = them time.

This is such a beautiful park. Plenty of trails and wildlife to see. Our spot is pretty shady. Downside - RV to our passenger side is very close to us. People are not very friendly. Almost ran us off the road a few times while we were biking or walking. People ruin the majestic scenery. We arrived on Thursday and there were plenty of sites. Friday night didn’t have one site available. People crammed in everywhere.

A decent state park overall with neat trails to go on and a nice Civilian Conservation Corps museum. It's Florida's first state park, opened in 1935, and the facilities in the campground are definitely showing their age. 

The campsites vary greatly in size and shape, so getting a spot may be trickier if you have a larger rig not just due to the site but also access to it. Most sites are right on top of one another so there zero privacy. 

The bathrooms are all quite outdated and in disrepair although the team tries to keep them clean. (A more modern bathroom building exists, but as of March 2022, it's closed for repairs.) The water connections and electric hookups at each site are old and many are in need of replacement soon. 

The trails are nice, all of them are quite short but there are enough to make a day of it as you travel from trailhead to trailhead. You could walk the whole thing if you're up for it, but it makes for a nice bike ride, too, since there are bike racks at each trailhead. 

Also, consider taking the tram tour since you get to see parts of the park that are restricted to the public. When we took it, we saw a lot of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, birds, and deer. 

Overall, I'd like to give this park a higher rating, but the aging infrastructure of the campground really needs to be addressed. So maybe 4 stars for the park as day use, but only 3 stars if you're staying there.

Mixed initial reviews but overall loved the vibe of this campground. On the one hand: Sites are chaotically close together with little/no privacy between them. On the other hand: we ended up loving the vibe of this campground because the high density of campers meant that we met LOTS of great people, had great conversations over chips and guacamole, and enjoyed some outings to Sebring racetrack with fellow campers. Nice to see so many class B campers in one spot - and actually a mix of large/small rigs plus families in tents. One other bit of unexpected magic was the delight we felt in seeing a group of families celebrate a child’s 10th birthday for a weekend at some campsites nearby. The pure joy we got at hearing and seeing the kids run and play (no screen time!), embrace camping traditions, and enjoy making memories was delightful. There are several short bike trails and one main hiking circuit that’s really lush with tropical vegetation and wildlife. I usually prefer campgrounds with more nature and privacy between sites so at first I was more “negative” about this campground. By the end, my very extroverted husband had convinced me of the joys of the community spirit and vibe that this campground offered. We will return.

This place was really pretty and a fun experience. We did primitive suv camping with our pups and met a lot of other nice people and dogs. The site was very close to the road but the sites were decently spread out.

Highlands Hammock is my go-to campground for trips with kids and/or new campers. We steer clear of the family camping area and stick to the wilderness (tent) area for more peace and quiet, but it does get busy there as well. Shade and privacy can be hard to come by unless you pick the right spot. The sites after the vault toilet and bend in the road (I believe sites 10 and up, as well as the 2 group sites) have better shade and privacy between, BUT they are closest to the main road outside the park so you can hear traffic and even see a house across the street. I personally stick to sites 1-5 as they have still have some shade and are farther from the road, with the compromise being they are quite close together (you'll probably be meeting the neighbors).

The tent sites are only okay, but the park itself picks up any slack remaining. It's huge, has great bike and walking trails (no dogs allowed on the boardwalk areas though), and lots of wildlife. If it gets too hot at the tent sites, we take chairs over to the shaded grassy clearing next to the pavilions and just hang out while any kids in the group enjoy the playground and camp store.

This park has everything for the family or first-time camper, while still satisfying the itch for experienced folks too!

I didn’t make it on many of the trails, so I’m guessing I missed a lot of the charm of this place, but the campsites themselves were right on top of each other and very crowded. Everyone was very nice, and one person told me the primitive sites down the road were much more spread out but I can’t attest to that. I will say the main camp area is a madhouse, with loud music, lots of people, and lots of dogs. The restrooms were tidy and the wood was $7 a bundle and not great.

We really enjoyed this park. Lots of trails, a camp store, and a museum on site. It is closed due to Covid right now. Most of the sites are shaded. Nice bath house, playground etc. only complaint is that the sites aren’t marked that great. I don’t mean the numbers, just the actual site lines aren’t there. We had a couple back in to their site but they were extremely close to our trailer. We were leaving the next day so we didn’t say anything. I think the lines between sites should be marked better. Overall it’s a great park and we will stay here again!!

Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. Stayed 3 nights in 35 foot RV+tow car in site#121 at$27/night. This was the weirdest campground set up we have stayed at in our six months. Everyone right on top of each other, awkward roads within the sites. I tried to count how many campers in my line of sight from the front window once parked and quickly lost count. Essentially, you can see everyone all crammed into the same small space. Absolutely zero privacy. Tailgating everywhere one night for a local football game well into the evening. However, LOVED the actual state park. Incredible hiking, biking, boardwalk hikes. Great dog walking trail right from the campground. So although not keen on the campground(at all) it was still worth it to have access to the rest of the park for day use. People at the gate also very friendly and helpful. In summary, giving 3 stars for the campground, 5 stars for the actual state park.

Lots of tent camping and bike trails.

Located nearly dead center in the middle of Florida, and equidistant between Fort Pierce and Bradenton is Highlands Hammock State Park. This lush& alluring park has a lot to offer the hiker, the biker, the kayaker,& the boater. However, there’s no better way to describe the campground inside the park but old and worn. Nonetheless, Highlands Hammock is a very popular campground for tent campers, RVers,& everything in between.

Google Maps and perhaps other direction apps want to bring you in from the west on County Road 634. If you go this way the road becomes a very bumpy dirt road once you enter the state park. It’s Ok for a car but perhaps not for a trailer or RV and everything you have inside it. Instead, come in from the west on route 66 and then go north on County Road 635 that will lead you into the front entrance of the park and the Ranger Station.

One of the oldest state park campgrounds in the Florida State Park system, these sites were designed for a time void of 30-foot RV’s. Most of these sites are either narrow, short, or both. And, with few exceptions, there is no vegetation or other type of barrier between them. You better hope for nice and respectful neighbors, which we had.

Most of the campsites have slopes and stumps. Many campers had to get creative in how they angled their trailer or RV into their site to get a level spot. The hookups are shared between sites which means you may have to run your water hose and electrical line a long way in 50% of the sites. And very strangely the fire rings are placed in the middle of a lot of the sites. That’s fine for tent camping but not necessary for a larger trailer or RV.

All the bathroom and shower facilities are in need of modernization with the exception of one that we saw. Faucets dripped and didn’t completely shut off. While using the men’s room the toilet paper dispenser fell off the wall into my lap.

The campground consists of 138 sites that are accessed from 8 different roads once inside the campground. There are ample bathrooms, dumpsters, and the dumping station is conveniently located on the way out of the campground.

We had site#71 which was next to the very nice campground host. We did have ample room for our pop up camper and awning, our privacy tent, and a screen tent because the site was long. But it definitely was narrow. Our neighbor’s trailer was not more than 25 feet from us.

To see our entire review of Highlands Hammock State Park visit https://lifestyleover50.com/highlands-hammock-state-park-campground-review/

Beautiful Park. Campground is not spread out much. You'll have neighbors. We were there Christmas of 2020. Fantastic hiking trails. We would stay there again. It's close to home.

The campground is well kept and clean. The staff is friendly. Great camp store which is not overpriced. Nature trails have plaques with historical info throughout. Lots of wildlife to enjoy. Primitive campsites do not have many trees and are close together (no privacy). Each campsite has a picnic table and firepit.

The sites are very close and not much to talk about. The baths are dated and could use the a little help. I was eaten alive by red ants in our site.

We loved camping here. The trails are lovely, plenty of restrooms, but the sites can be just a bit tight and very close together. We chose site 127, which had shrubs on both sides for a bit of privacy and was tucked on the outside of the campground. We wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much being in most of the other spots. We had a lot of fun exploring the park and searching for geocaches, which they have quite a few of.

We camp here 1 night 2 adults and 4 kids. The place is comfortable and the boathouse are clean. They should implement more distances between the camping sites. It was really crowded.

Amazing campground. This was our first trip when we bought our RV. Nice trees everywhere. Each spot has a BBQ, picnic table and fire pit. The bath houses are clean and spacious. I love the fact that there are dish washing stations! Mosquitos are a little crazy in that area, but it’s Florida and we’re used to them. Nice trails everywhere to walk on. The store was closed due to the pandemic, hopefully it’ll be open when we go again next month.

The reservable campsites here are very close to each other and not shaded very well, no privacy. We changed to the primitive sites that are first come first served. The are a bit more private and have trees for hammocks etc. it’s nice out there. You can sometimes hear the nearest road and see a power line from camp so you don’t feel that far from the city unfortunately. Sites have a fire ring/grill and picnic table. There is an outhouse out there and on the road in a faucet to get some drinking water, they say it’s clean even though it may be discolored. There are a bunch of short trials to hike in the park. Through some woods, swamps etc. very pretty.

Very small and packed campsite. We had an Rv right up against our tent. Will never go there again.

Words cannot describe the amazing experience my partner and I had here. We took our rescue dog with us and were really able to enjoy the majority of this park with the exception of 3 trails. However, that did not stop us from having the best weekend. The campsites here are close together but everyone is very respectful about quiet hours. The only con was that only one bathhouse was open at the time. Other than that, Highlands Hammock is a true gem. The trails are gorgeous and I would suggest doing them in the morning to avoid the mosquitoes as much as possible. Also, make sure to give the Maxwell’s Orange Ice Cream a try in the camp store!

Really nice campground and rangers! But practicing social distancing. I could see it would be tight if it was full! Bathhouse was adequate but needs update.

We have stayed here several times from a 3 day weekend to a little over a week. The Rangers are very helpful, there are many hiking trails if you like to hike. They have a great tram experience to show you all the different areas and wildlife. There is a CCC museum and a quaint little store that has local made non dairy orange ice cream, key lime pie and a to die for sour orange pie.

They do not have sewer, but electric and water. They have a dump station and to make up for lack of sewer, behind the clean rest rooms, showers they have a row of big sinks, all clean, ready for one to do their dishes. I wish this was implemented in a lot of other campgrounds that don't offer sewage but a dump station instead. Allows for the extension of your RV sitting in one spot especially if you're there for a week or two. Ranges are very friendly and helpful. They have a constant workforce I believe of volenteers that come around and make sure empty sites are clean for the next person. Plenty of bike trails and walking trails. An outdoor amphitheater, campfire ring, playground, museum and a camp store to name a few. Oh and if you like orange creamsicle you have to try Maxwell's ice cream in the camp store delicious! We will definitely be back.

I had tent site 14 which was spacious and secluded due to shrubbery. Road noise is prominent as it’s next to a main road. It’s a trek to the main area with facilities and camp store so you’ll want to drive there. There are compost toilets in the tent area. The park itself is beautiful, with many trails and a variety of foliage. The tram tour is a must as the guides are knowledgeable and it’s an interesting description of the park, with almost guaranteed gator sighting. The camp store has all basic supplies (ice, firewood, cold drinks, etc). Great kayaking nearby at Arbuckle Creek.

Very nice campground with friendly hosts. Holiday weekends are insane and busy. Get reservations... Enjoy the Tram and Hammock Loop, wow!

5 Star Experience