Mitchell Landing Campground, near Ochopee, Florida, is a unique spot tucked away in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This place offers a true wilderness experience with its remote setting, making it perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The campground features a mix of open and tucked-away sites, providing some visual privacy for campers. Visitors have noted the clean vault toilets and the peaceful ambiance, with sounds of nature filling the air at night. As one camper shared, “I was the only one camping. Loved it,” highlighting the solitude you can find here.

For outdoor activities, the campground is a great base for fishing, with reports of peacock bass and other species nearby. There's also an airboat launch area, which adds a bit of excitement for those interested in exploring the backcountry trails. Just keep in mind that there’s no drinking water available on-site, so plan accordingly.

While the amenities are basic, with no electric hookups or showers, the charm of Mitchell Landing lies in its simplicity and connection to nature. Campers appreciate the opportunity to unwind and soak in the beautiful surroundings, making it a memorable destination for those who enjoy a more primitive camping experience.

## Overview

 Mitchell Landing Campground is a primitive campground located in Big Cypress National Preserve. Access to the campground is along a secondary gravel road. Cell phone service is limited and it is highly encouraged that reservations be made in advance. Mitchell Landing Campground is open August 15-April 15 and offers 12 campsites. This campground allows for tent, RV, and travel trailer camping. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as off-road vehicle trail access, hiking, fishing, and our popular loop road scenic drive. The campground offers vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There is no water available. 
## Recreation

 Mitchell Landing Campground is a popular location for airboat users. It is part of the Stairstep backcountry unit, the only unit open to airboats in the park. Visitors with an off-road vehicle (ORV) permit can access airboat trails directly from the campground. This location also offers the opportunity for nearby hiking, fishing, and access to the popular loop road scenic drive. For more information on fishing regulations please visit myfwc.com. For more information on ORV use please call the off- road vehicle office at 239-695-1117 or visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/orv-use.htm. 
## Natural Features

 The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Floridas southwest coast. Protecting over 720,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida Panther. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Mitchell Landing Campground is located directly off the popular loop road scenic drive. Shark Valley Visitor Center, part of Everglades National Park, is located 11 miles east. The Stairstep backcountry trails are accessible directly form the campground and they offer the only airboat trails in the preserve. The Florida National Scenic Trail is accessible 22 miles to the east.

Mitchell Landing Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

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Ochopee

The Best Camping Near Ochopee, Florida

This is a primitive campground off the loop road south of Tamiami trail through Big Cypress National Preserve. The first couple of sites have large parking pads for campgrounds hosts that were unoccupied when I was there.  Sites are first-come, first served and you'll have a choice of sites that are tucked away behind brush and trees or large, more open sites. There's no drinking water available. There are vault toilets available that were clean. Few of the sites were occupied in late January. At the back of the campground there is airboat access to backcountry trails in the _Stairsteps_ section of the Big Cypress Preservel elsewhere along the loop road you may be able to use swamp buggies and ATVs. There are extensive rules and permitting to take your vehicle on these trails as well as online training requirements, so check them out on the Big Cypress website. 

  

Sites are $24/night, half price if you have a Senior pass or Access pass, though to be honest I didn't see any envelopes for payments and the campers I spoke with indicated they weren't paying anything. You can stay 10 nights during peak season (Jan-Apr), 14 consecutive nights the rest of the year. They  have picnic tables (look at the end of the table for the site number), fire rings, and lantern poles. Bearboxes provide food protection if you don't have a hardsided vehicle. You're in a panther habitat.

Primitive Campground in a National Preserve

Car camping facility with vault toilets and airboat ramp. Picnic tables, fire rings, lantern post, bear lockers and garbage cans. Sounds of nature at night. 

Drive in car camping

I was the only one camping.  Loved it.  Saw a bobcat and a billion alligators. The best fresh water fishing around is close to this campground.  No water. Clean vault.  Great hosts, very knowledgeable about the area, Brent and Tim.  Beautiful country. Fire ban has been in effect in Big Cypress.  End of the campground there is an airboat launch that was cool to watch. Did I mention fishing❓‼️ Peacock bass galore. Largemouth,warmouth, bowfin, gar and many imports.  Hope you enjoy this area as much as I did

Loved this place

Mitchell’s Landing: this isolated campground has an airboat launch area.  I met a man, Bill, who grew up on this property, owned by his Miccosukee family until the mid 70s. According to him, the department of the interior, reneged on their promise that this land would stay in his family.
(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:  4
Price 2023: $  w interagency pass
Security:  No - Remote 
Usage during visit: Light
Site Privacy:  about half the sites are spread out in an open park lake area.  Are very nice. Some sites are very nice. I was those below.
Site Spacing: the nicest sites are pretty good in this regard
Site surface:  grass
Reservations:   Yes
Campground Noise:   Quiet when we were here
Road Noise:  too remote.
Through Traffic in campground:    None while I was visiting.
Electric Hookup:  no
Sewer Hookup: no, no
Dump Station: at Midway campground. (30 minutes).
Potable Water Available: The closest water is at Midway CG (30 minutes). 
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: pit toilets. Moderately clean 
Showers: no.
Pull Throughs: some
Cell Service (AT&amp;T): three
Setting: surrounded by trees
Recent Weather: very mixed this year. 50s into the 80s.
Solar: some
Host: yes
Rig Size: 30 footers are here. Be careful with site you choose for that size
Sites: my favorite – 4,5,6,7,10, 8
Okay:15

Photos of Mitchell Landing Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

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