Best Cabin Camping near Alva, FL

A new casino is being built beginning Summer 2023 with expected completion in 2025.  We were told the majority of the campsites and cabins will house the construction workers for the casino project.

PROS 

Prearrival text regarding checkin and checkin documents left at campground sign, but it had rained and documents were unreadable 

Deon was very helpful upon arrival 

Security code for bathhouse entry 

Over 65 and veteran discount 

Site 312 concrete pad level 

Site 312 paver patio surrounded by sand and weeds, but most sites had manicured grass. 

Nicely spaced sites. 

Very clean bathhouse during the week. 

5 washers and 5 dryers at $2 each in Park laundromat. Office sells quarters. 

Quiet. 

Saw Seminole police patrolling frequently 

TMobile 4 bars. 

Park had WIFI but we did not connect. 

CONS 

No security gate so LOTS of drive-bys 

30amp breaker overheated and tripped 3 times during our 7 night stay 

Site 312 absolutely no shade 

Not permitted to select site online when making reservations 

Absolutely no bathhouse cleaning Saturday and Sunday so by Sunday evening it was pretty nasty 

Price increase 8/1/22 that we had to pay even tho we made reservations during March 2022 

Need to bring-your-own fire ring, but wasn't informed of this requirement until we arrived 

No picnic table at site upon arrival. Notified camp office who advised one would be provided first thing next morning by park maintenance. 

Day 2. No table. Stopped by camp office right before noon and reported no table delivered to site. Then the excuses started from Jodi, the park manager…only one maintenance man…picnic tables are disappearing overnight and that’s a problem…now have 3 sites that need a picnic table…staff believes other campers see a unoccupied site and drag table to their site…there were 63 tables when the season started… No mention of when picnic table will be delivered to site. We offered to help get it. Told maintenance man is working on it. 

Day 3. No table. 

Day 4. Stopped by office at 9am for an update on when to expect a table. Spoke with Jodi again. She had no update. Same excuses as I heard on Day 2 but she did mention that NEXT YEAR she was going to need to anchor the tables at each site so they don’t disappear. I mentioned seeing 4 tables at the firepit area. She said we are welcomed to take a table from the community firepit area and move it to our campsite but those are needing replacement boards badly(her words). 

Never got a table. Just too heavy for us to drag one from the firepit area to our site, which was a bit more than a half block and the maintenance man never delivered one.

We stayed in the RV side of the campground. Arrived at 745 literally before closing. Called the office ahead to let them know we are almost there , the staff was super nice. Checked in with no issues, staff even gave us an option to checkout another site if we liked more we can take it. We stayed at out booked site. It’s very dark no lights . I wish the sites were marked with a reflective tape. Very quite and chill atmosphere. This is not a party spot. Sites are pretty roomy and you are not on top of your neighbors.Each site comes with fire-rings, full hook up (rv sites), tent sites do not have hook ups and a picnic table. The river is so beautiful in the morning filled with fog. There’s a swimming depot in the park , looks like a man made lagoon. You can rent kayak/canoe and paddle on the river. A new add on was a food truck , looks like a good menu will try next time. There’s a small preserve with a Boardwalk to explore. There’s no pool or playground. This is a no frills campground but i love it because you can disconnect,relax and view wildlife. Reception here is actually amazing. 20 mins away in Labelle there’s a bomb brewery if you wanna explore a nearby town.

We were running close to the cut off for check in due to traffic. We called and the clerk waited for us to get there. We made it just under the wire. The sites were close together and a bit tight, but they are nice gravel for the rig and a concrete pad for your rug. Each site has a grill and picnic table. Fires are not permitted. The beach is a short bike ride away, but can be walked too. This place only takes cash or check and is kind of old school. But the prices are awesome for staying on Sanibel Island. There is a nice restaurant across the street from the park. There is an aviary in the campground. This place is also a trailer park with mobile homes super close to each other. Not many campsites available, so book early. The bath houses were nicely kept and no issues. The sites are all full hook up. We will be back again.

Note: TT Encore does not mean a special upgraded park, 

Per TT, Encore parks are ones that agree to hold several sites for TT members. We've come to understand the worst sites are set aside for TT members 

Don't waste your money if TT and do research on what site you get if not This is the second worse Encore park we've visited 

Booked this site 60 days ago for longer BUT left early as it was so bad One lane roads with 2 way traffic. If you have a big rig, it will be tight. 

Our Site: Side and rear backs up to the park dump and supply site. 

Grass/dirt site. 

Our front has 6 foot diameter sewer drum which is leaking vapor, picnic table over some access panel. 

Some resolution could be had if a privacy fence was put up to shelter the view Surrounded by year round residents, some homes well kept, most not so much, some abandoned and trashed 

I reached out to park manager and was after 2 hours and we already set up in 85 degree heat, there was 1 other site but it was just as bad. 

We paid an additional$20 per night, I asked for a refund, response was Why? What did you expect? 

They said to contact TT I contacted TT and they said they couldn't do anything, but I could file a complaint. Our neighbor was here 3 months, they said on Google earth the area behind us was a field at time of booking. Also told if they wanted to rebook for next year, they would have to have the same site! They aren't coming back either

ALSO at 630 am a crew decided to install an electric both beside the septic tank, pic ax, sawing metal and cement.

So much for our vacation stay

Pretty good spot for primitive camping. I would say the ideal spots would be on the water of depot lake where you’re pretty secluded and by the water. The scrub spots are also good but you get a lot of generator noise from the water treatment pump. The RV sites is a parking lot so that’s not good for tents at all. The riverside grill has good food in see you didn’t pack enough and the store has ice and $10 firewood bundles. The trail is pretty short unless you venture off but only in the dry season or you’ll be up to your knees in mud. Renting a canoe is a good idea to drift around and see some wildlife.

Fish Eating Creek Outpost : Trails and canoe/kayak shuttle provided Water is a bit low right now. There is a 2 mile trail beginning in the campground. There is also a 6.7 mile trail within a short drive from the campground. I have included a map for this trail in photos.

(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. Cleanliness of whatever type of the campsite and whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 3 Price 2023: $ 38 Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: Open between sites Site Spacing: Fairly good Site surface: Most are paved . Some are soil/grass. Reservations: Accepted Campground Noise: Quiet during my visit Road Noise: Not noticeable Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: Some Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: At site Generators: At some sites allowed Bathroom: Flush Toilets Showers: Yes. Double Curtains Pull Throughs: Most if not all are back ins Cell Service (AT&T): 3 bars Setting: Open park like under large, scattered mossy trees . Recent Weather: to 50s for lows and to 80s for highs. Solar: In many sites should be good solar. The sites in P Loop probably will bony have adequate solar. Host: Yes. Staff friendly.
Rig size: Large rigs Sites: Perimeter sites are nicest in my opinion. Sites under the mossy trees are going to offer some shade.

P1-6 are my favorite sites here. They offer RVs more of a camping kind of atmosphere as they are a little more secluded. Not all have electric/sewer, so better check. They are under trees with moss hanging from them. Not all sites in P1-6 will accommodate a tall rig!