GuideLong Pine Key Campground — Everglades National Park
Everglades Field School - Long Pine Key with a big group
I personally loved the Long Pine Key Campground, after being twice earlier this year. One trip was short and sweet with one other person as a site visit for a larger group the following month, and in February the weather was PERFECT! Cool, clear nights and no bugs. So peaceful and perfect, our team thought our next trip with our field school would be a breeze. Highly recommend visiting in February or while it’s still cool if you can!
We returned in March, Spring Break, with a bunch of environmentally focused college students at their group site and 5 additional sites. And they LOVED it, even after a rocky start facing the strong Florida thunderstorms, waiting out the rain and then setting up in the dark. The rain was so needed, and honestly meant the world to the students to see the ecosystem come to life while in this drought.
The group site housed 5 tents, and our additional sites had 2 each (students were told not to hang up hammocks on their sparse trees per the campground rules), and we were able to stay relatively close together and still have some breathing room for the beautiful vegetation between the sites. Keep an eye out for critters, especially snakes surrounding the campsite. We saw multiple cottonmouths and even some babies, super cool but want to keep your distance.
The restrooms are clean, dish sink is a godsend, and showers were warmed by solar (score!). We are so thankful to the campsite for taking care of all of us, and it’s worth the adventure. Bugs, snakes, weather, and more, full send it!
