Central Florida's Nalcrest area features several established campgrounds with varying accommodation options. Lake Kissimmee State Park, located about 10 miles northwest of Nalcrest, offers tent, RV, and walk-in camping with full hookup sites and fire rings. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, situated to the southeast, provides a range of options including cabins, glamping tents, and yurts alongside traditional RV and tent sites. The region includes both lakefront properties like Lake Rosalie Campground and resort-style facilities such as Resort at Canopy Oaks, which caters primarily to RV campers and cabin guests.
Access to most campgrounds requires advance reservations, particularly during winter months when seasonal visitors increase demand. Many campgrounds maintain paved roads suitable for large RVs, though some primitive areas may require higher clearance vehicles. "The park is in Claremont which is a bedroom community to Orlando so the park sees quite a bit of day trippers from Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando as it should," noted one visitor about a nearby state park. Summer brings hot, humid conditions with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while winter offers milder temperatures that attract snowbirds. Most established campgrounds provide electric hookups, water access, and sanitary facilities, though amenities vary significantly between primitive and resort-style locations.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the Nalcrest area. Several campgrounds provide direct access to lakes for fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. According to one camper, "This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from the other sites compared to many other parks. There is an abundance of wildlife and plenty of hiking trails." Visitors frequently mention the region's lakes and prairie landscapes as highlights. Campgrounds like Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks offer boat-in access alongside traditional camping. The mixed-use campgrounds throughout the region balance natural settings with convenient amenities, making them suitable for both weekend getaways and longer stays. Most camping areas maintain reasonable separation between sites, though privacy levels vary significantly between the more developed resorts and state park campgrounds.
$20 / night
"I live within a hours drive from this park and have been camping here for 40 plus years. This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from the other sites compared to many other parks."
"The path is very clear with markers and when you arrive at the site, there is a clear indicator to follow. The path to the site is right off the main trail."
$35 - $999 / night
"If you are terrified of bugs this may not be the place for you (FYI), it is in the middle of Florida and in summer the bugs love to come out."
"The property is sprawling, definitely bring a bike unless you enjoy long walks. The roads are nice & they offer morning trash pickup. The pool is huge & gorgeous! Very nice."
"This review relates to River Ranch RV Resort, which is next to the Westgate property. I would personally not stay at the Westgate RV since it is basically just an open field with RV spots. "
"Good off-roading nearby ! All the amenities you want. Nice staff"
$20 - $30 / night
"With Spanish moss draping from the Live Oak trees and bordering Kissemee Lake, it's a nice place to just sit and relax... There are 3 boat ramps ($5 fee) with some tie-ups for overnight."
"Close to lake, great for bird watching and walks/ boating. Friendly host and fellow campers. We will definitely be returning. For the price, can’t beat it."
$18 - $22 / night
"There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well."
"There are many short loop trails that take you through many ecosystems, giant trees at sizes few have seen before, lots of wildlife to."
$56 - $201 / night
"Big park so lots of walking if you don’t have the cart (or you can bring your own and/or bikes). Our grandsons loved the golf cart!"
"The best campground in Florida ! Fun beautiful and lots to do even without going to the parks Wildlife is abundant Bunnies deer turkey"
$10 - $20 / night
"We stayed at this location for 13 days. The bathroom was clean, there was a fire ban in place, but we had portable grills so utilized those."
$9 / night
"It’s a very primitive location and I survived it with my son a daughter. It was nice and quiet, given how close it is to the main road."
"We came to Florida to escape NY in 2020, chose from a map! While here, we made good friends with other snowbirds and travelers. There is a nice pool, small playground and 2 laundry facilities."
"First we had a late arrival, and they had left us all the documents ready for us by the entrance."
"It would be nice if one or some of the roads looped so you can just drive out. Owners are very nice. Dog kennel nearby so there are some barking dogs. Pool needs some care."
TravelerStayed just one night on March. Great tent sites and mostly private. Facilities are clean with showers. Water and power at the site. Beautiful walks and lakes, Lots of birds and rabbits.
Only issue was the early morning traffic on the nearby highway (#27) was noisy.
ScoutI'd like to give you the positives. Crisp, clean, manicured, food and bar pretty good, well-appointed amenities. We had a pretty good week, having found a quiet pool area. Saw a bald eagle and a swallow-tail kite. I’d like to tell you about that, but that’s not the review.
Here’s the review: if you book here, you will be checking into a bizarre combination of tropical paradise, tailgate party, spring break, and a middle school playground. On St. Patrick's Day, we had been doing some sightseeing. We came back to our site, and the folks who had arrived behind us fired up their music. I don't have a problem with music or other noise prior to"quiet time," so long as it's not over the top. This was way over the top. Kim was on the phone with the nursing home about her 91-year old mother and she couldn't hear the other end of the call.
We called Security and asked for help, they came around and talked to the offenders. Whereupon the offenders started yelling around"who complained about our music?" And, they sent their preteen daughters on their bicycles going around and asking"did you complain?” Let's just say it was downhill from there. They jacked the volume even more, and started taunting us. Kim lost her temper and started yelling at them to quiet down. They responded by threatening her. She told me to call security, but since they hadn’t helped, and the on-duty rent-a-cop had no interest in helping, I called 911(which the campground rules said to do in an emergency). Apparently, that was a mistake. The rent-a-cop was pissed off that we called 911 when he was supposed to already be on top of it(which he wasn't). So there was a conclave of police cars, and the night manager, and the three large guys from the offending site, etc.
Bottom line: management demanded that WE leave, in half an hour, or be arrested. It’s 10:30 pm, and I told the rent-a-cop that I was in no shape to drive. “Figure it out,” he said, and walked away. So two 70-year olds had 30 minutes to get everything packed up and drive to some alternative place.
While we were striking the site, the kids at the offending site were chanting"we won, we won." And they started playing"Hit the Road You Jack" quite loud. And the adults were yelling"we're Republicans. We can do whatever we want." They noted our Maine license plates and told us to"go back to Canada where you belong."
We ended up in a wicked expensive hotel in the next town over, paying spring break prices($340 a night!!). And we lost the cost of two nights at the campground.
So if you’re a party animal, this may be your kind of place. Just don’t complain about anything, or you will be asked to leave.
It’s interesting to note which rules are enforced and which aren’t. For instance, there’s a poolside bar, and lots of signs between the bar and the pool saying“no food or drink beyond this point.” Not only was there lots of food and drink around the pool, there were wait staff taking orders and delivering it.
In retrospect, the fact that they have a rent-a-cop cruising the premises every night should have been a red flag. I’ve never seen that before, but apparently they expect rowdiness. They just don’t want to deal with the negative repercussions.
ScoutOur campsite is nice. It's quiet here during the week. The bathrooms need cleaning. They are kept neat just not cleaned.
TravelerSpring break got hit with a cold front but we got 1 day in the springs. It’s nice and clean
TravelerThere appears to be new management in the campground. Procedures are completely different and much better than previous visits. It is cleaner and more organized. It is now possible to get a reservation for the full hookup section. The river and woods trails are in great shape. Hopefully they will get the mini golf course turf replaced, it is currently painted concrete and not much fun to play on.
ScoutNice old KOA but businesses built around it. If you like sirens and racing cars irs ok. It is a nice camp ground but don’t park in back near the fence. lots of street noice like garbage pickup.
GuideWelcoming staff upon arrival. Park is very clean and well taken care of. Met some great neighbors and enjoyed the quietness. The park is constantly monitored by staff giving you a sense of comfort. Beautiful spring to enjoy a warm day as the water temp is a consistent 72°. Canoe and Kyak launch is easily accessible to enjoy the calm waters of the Alafia River. Restrooms and showers were clean and plentiful around the grounds. We will definitely be back.
GuideI think the best thing is the size of this place, there usually is always a spot to get in on. There is a nice Little River running through the very edge of the park, but it's difficult to get a spot there. Also, the laundry facility is top notch and the pool is very pleasant, they also have racquetball and some nice short trails to walk on.
GuideI was staying across the Street at 1000 trails, and I thought I would come over here and look at the old locomotive and the log cabin, etc. But as I walked through the park towards the Peace River, I saw hundreds of buzzards, which made this amazing place to visit. I also noticed that there is a sanctuary for animals here as well, and for only 5 bucks you can go and see a nice variety of birds and mammals. Overall, this is definitely a great place to go it's very, very large and it also hosts tent camping as well.
Central Florida offers several quality camping options around Nalcrest. The region sits amid a chain of lakes in the state's interior plateau, with elevations ranging between 100-150 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can occasionally drop below 40°F, creating varied camping conditions throughout the year.
Tubing at Kelly Park: Kelly Rock Springs Campground provides direct access to a crystal-clear spring run perfect for floating. "We stayed in site 19 for one night in early February. This site was very large, mostly level, with beautiful trees surrounding the site and great privacy," noted one camper at Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Airboat adventures: Several campgrounds offer access to local airboat tours. "We did the air boat ride and it was a fun experience," commented a visitor to Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, adding that it provided an excellent way to explore the wetlands ecosystem.
Hiking trails: The region features multiple marked trails through diverse ecosystems. "Beautiful shaded sites and long biking/trails," reported one visitor about Lake Kissimmee State Park, while another mentioned "Lots of hiking trails and some wildlife. Deers all around even among the campsites."
Fishing opportunities: Lakefront camping sites offer direct fishing access. "We stayed on a waterfront site at River Ranch RV Resort and it was perfect! We were able to fish right off the dock at our site," shared a camper from Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo.
Private, spacious sites: "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit. Bathrooms were clean," noted one camper about Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Old Florida atmosphere: "This is an absolutely beautiful and relaxing spot... surrounded with gorgeous moss covered oak trees all around the campsites," reported a visitor to Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks, highlighting the natural setting.
Wildlife viewing: "Animals are abundant - wild turkeys, eagles, bobcats, AND the Florida Panther!" exclaimed one enthusiastic camper about their experience at Highlands Hammock State Park.
Clean facilities: "The bath house was extremely clean and showers are really spacious and private," reported a visitor to Resort at Canopy Oaks, noting the quality of the amenities.
Limited cell service: "Be aware that we had no cell service (this actually made us cancel another stay we had planned since we needed cell service for remote work)," cautioned a visitor to Lake Kissimmee State Park. Several campgrounds in rural areas have spotty reception.
Seasonal crowding: "The park was dead, but still amazing. Everything was open, and we had most of the resort to ourselves," noted a summer visitor to Resort at Canopy Oaks, while multiple reviews indicate winter months see significantly higher occupancy rates.
Varying shade coverage: "Since it's a new resort and the trees are new there is absolutely no shade! It can get extremely hot," warned a camper about Resort at Canopy Oaks, a consideration during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.
Reservation requirements: "Holiday weekends are insane and busy. Get reservations," advised a visitor to Highlands Hammock State Park. Most established campgrounds require advance booking, particularly during winter.
Activity planning: "We went for the 4th of July weekend and there were so many different activities to do and see. There's even a clubhouse for people of all ages with many games and activities," shared a family visiting Resort at Canopy Oaks.
Weekend entertainment: "We really enjoyed the rodeo," mentioned a camper at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, which offers scheduled weekend activities. Another noted, "Chip and dale walk around to everyone. They ask that you don't leave your spot and they will come to you."
Kid-friendly swimming: "The pool is a nice size pool with a small water slide. There is a splash area in the back for small kids," reported a visitor to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, highlighting water recreation options.
Protected camping areas: "Like all state parks the bathrooms were spotless and rivaled those of a Marriott. We enjoyed the common areas, the observation deck and the hiking," noted a family visiting Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Site selection: "We were on the inside of the loop on #4. Since the pandemic spots at most state park have been few and far between so we have become way less particular and simply take what we can get at most parks," advised an RVer at Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Hookup variations: "Only 30amp hook up and no sewer, but there is a dump station. The spots are pretty level and the pads are crushed shells. Spot 9 is fully concrete," noted a visitor describing Lake Kissimmee State Park's facilities.
Navigating tight spaces: "My only problem with wilderness camping. There is not a lot of room in the loops to pull your rv into the spot," cautioned an RVer at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, adding "Our neighbor across from us had to move his truck and several neighbors were helping direct us into our spot."
Weather considerations: "Summer brings hot, humid conditions with regular afternoon thunderstorms, while winter is the peak season with milder temperatures and larger crowds," reported a seasonal RVer, suggesting specific timing considerations for comfortable camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Nalcrest, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Nalcrest, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Nalcrest, FL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Nalcrest, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Nalcrest, FL is Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Nalcrest, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Nalcrest, FL.
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