Best Campgrounds near Belleair Beach, FL

Campgrounds near Belleair Beach, Florida primarily cluster along the Gulf Coast, offering a mix of established facilities and waterfront sites. Fort De Soto Campground in Saint Petersburg provides tent, RV, and glamping options with waterfront access, while the St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday features cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping areas. Most campgrounds in this coastal region maintain year-round operations, with several properties situated within 15 miles of Belleair Beach proper, providing convenient access to both beach activities and urban amenities.

Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the area, particularly during winter months when seasonal visitors increase demand. Fort De Soto Campground typically requires bookings up to six months in advance, with limited sites released on Friday mornings for weekend stays. The subtropical climate creates ideal camping conditions from October through April, while summer brings higher humidity, afternoon thunderstorms, and mosquito activity. Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, potentially affecting camping plans. Many campgrounds offer full hookups and amenities like swimming pools to mitigate the summer heat. A visitor noted, "We saw sting rays, a baby turtle, many different birds and other wildlife within 5 minutes of parking the boat."

Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from campers, particularly those at Fort De Soto Park where several sites offer direct water access. Campers frequently mention the privacy between sites created by natural vegetation barriers, with one reviewer describing Fort De Soto as having "plenty of options for both clothes lines and hammocks" with sites that "divide the tent area up into two sides." The region's mixed-use campgrounds typically accommodate both tent and RV camping, though some properties like Caladesi RV Park and Indian Rocks Travel Park cater specifically to RV travelers. Several campgrounds in the area feature pet-friendly policies, though restrictions apply at certain properties including Fort De Soto's tent-only loop where pets are not permitted.

Best Camping Sites Near Belleair Beach, Florida (168)

    1. Fort De Soto Campground

    140 Reviews
    Tierra Verde, FL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 582-2100

    $38 - $48 / night

    "As an camper with northern roots, I have found it hard to camp in Florida. This campground helped me relieve those worries. 

    I will start by saying that this campground is south of St."

    "Nice walking/bicycle path around the edge. Bike paths also throughout the park. Sites 1-8 or so have direct beach access, but swimming is not allowed. Mangroves surround the rest of the peninsula."

    2. St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday

    26 Reviews
    Bay Pines, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 392-2233

    "Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, and I’m excited to share my positive review! I’ve hosted friends in their Deluxe Cabins before, and they were thoroughly impressed."

    "It has all of the amenities you would ever want and is so close to Florida beaches. Pool, hot tub, store, workout room, fishing and kayaking and lots more to do right in the park."

    3. Caladesi RV Park

    16 Reviews
    Palm Harbor, FL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 784-3622

    $45 - $75 / night

    "Decent size spot with stone drive and cement patio. Bathrooms and showers are kept clean. Nice laundry facilities with area to play cards if you wanted. Pool area is nice with shade spots."

    "We first came here a year ago and I was worried about it being so close to a main road, but after staying here I can tell you that it's very quiet and relaxing. "

    4. Caladesi Island State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Dunedin, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 469-5918

    $24 / night

    "One of the last undeveloped barrier islands in Florida. It's around 650 acres with tons of boardwalks and hiking."

    "Next to honeymoon island state park and just south of anclote

    Boat camping ONLY — tents/Rvs are not permitted.

    First come/first serve boat slips, pet friendly (yay for dogs)"

    5. Encore Vacation Village

    5 Reviews
    Largo, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "The park is small, parking is crammed, and there’s a lot of older trailers but overall it’s a great location. This is our go to location when we have appointments at Bay Pines VA!"

    6. Indian Rocks Travel Park

    3 Reviews
    Indian Rocks Beach, FL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 595-2228

    7. Clearwater RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Clearwater, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 831-1204

    "Off a very busy road hidden behind a hotel and a restaurant. Very clean and tidy park with RV sites and park models. Huge laundry room and very nice bath houses. Customer service is good."

    "Best location for moving around the area.  Use Drew not Gulf to Bay to move across the city.

    Great customer service Suzy and the crew are very helpful. "

    8. Avalon RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Largo, FL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 531-6124

    "The sites are a little tight but that's normal for most of Florida, specially in a heavy populated are like Clearwater. It's unbelievably quiet although it's right off of US 19. Staff is so great."

    "Sites were small, Service was friendly, Okay amenities- small pool, dog ‘park’ was a tiny walking area. Expensive considering location and amenities."

    9. Bay Bayou RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Oldsmar, FL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (813) 855-1000

    "There’s a place to fish, a place to chill on the dock and not fish, trees are everywhere and lots of random wildlife roaming around.

    Staff has been super friendly too."

    10. Clearwater-Lake Tarpon KOA

    6 Reviews
    Tarpon Springs, FL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (727) 937-8412

    $25 / night

    "We camped at Clearwater/ Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday in a Fifth Wheel."

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Recent Reviews near Belleair Beach, FL

711 Reviews of 168 Belleair Beach Campgrounds


  • SukiDookie ..The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Upper Hillsborough Water Management Area

    Very quiet and peaceful

    We were the only ones there for the weekend, probably because of the summer heat. However, it was nice and free. There is a porta-potty, but I didn’t check it out, so I’m not sure about the cleanliness. The grounds were nicely maintained, though. I do wish the fire rings weren’t so damaged, and the lack of trash cans was surprising. Just take your trash with you, leave no trace, and it was an enjoyable and free experience!

  • N
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Sundance Lakes RV Resort

    They don't care about their residents!

    I lived in this park full-time for 2½ years when Hurricane Helene submerged it under 3½ feet of water. The damage left the park without power for months, forcing us to move out and causing tremendous expenses. During that time, the park made no effort to assist or support the residents in any way. 

    When I applied for FEMA assistance, I was told I needed a simple letter from the park confirming the extended power outage. They refused to provide it, even though it would have cost them nothing and could have helped residents like me recover some of our losses. 

    Instead of showing compassion or accountability, they chose to do nothing. The staff at this park are unprofessional, unhelpful, and unwilling to take responsibility. It was a deeply disappointing experience, and I would never recommend living here.

  • Julia Marie H.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Encore Vacation Village

    Mosquitoes beware

    This is a mosquito heaven!!! Being bug spray or candles! You will see a large amount of bugs in your area…. They used to spray. But now they don’t… with a pond down the street there is No end in site for air borne bug issues.

  • Jackie S.
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Gulfbreeze RV Park

    Great little cozy park

    Everyone here treats you like family here

  • C
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Bay Bayou RV Resort

    Excellent clean campground

    Excellent clean campground with great service.

  • Bunkwanaringümü D.
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Lake Rogers Park

    No longer for Camping

    This site no longer permits camping from my experience. I did camp there one night and nobody said anything but upon camping the second night I was told it’s no longer a public campground. Other than that it was a beautiful place.

  • April L.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Oak Ridge Primitive Campground

    Nice

    It's nice quiet clean close to Publix and gas station, trails are not really maintained but great for horses. Camping is ok I guess .

  • Diana S.
    Jun. 18, 2025

    Lithia Springs

    Great camping and spring

    Camping here is always good. The rangers here are very friendly. The bathrooms are decent. Lots of shade at the campsites. We've been camping here off and on for the last year.

  • Lorilee S.
    Jun. 9, 2025

    Hillsborough River State Park Campground

    Nice campground

    To start with, the state park employees were fantastic!! Our site was spacious. It did not flood when we had torrential downpours for a few hours one night. Bathhouse was clean. They offer recycling, which is a great plus! It’s nice and dark at night.


Guide to Belleair Beach

Camping near Belleair Beach offers year-round access to Florida's subtropical ecosystem and Gulf shoreline. The average winter temperature ranges between 55-75°F, creating comfortable off-season camping conditions when mosquito activity decreases and humidity drops. During summer months, camp sites with shade become premium as temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with afternoon thunderstorms common.

What to do

Kayaking through mangroves: Fort De Soto Campground provides direct water access for paddlers with natural launch areas. "We saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of birds!" reports camper Brennan H., who explored the park's diverse ecosystem. Many sites allow you to keep watercraft at your campsite for multiple excursions.

Bicycling on dedicated trails: Caladesi RV Park sits adjacent to the Pinellas Trail, offering easy access to miles of paved pathways. A reviewer noted, "The Pinellas bike trail is also located right behind the park and easy to get on." Several area campgrounds rent bicycles for daily or weekly use.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Fort De Soto Campground features abundant wildlife viewing with minimal effort. "Great bike trails. Restrooms are dated but well maintained. Electric and water. 2 dump sites on property," mentions David G., highlighting the infrastructure supporting longer stays for nature observation.

Beach exploration: Caladesi Island State Park offers unique beach access for boaters. A camper explained, "You can only access this island by boat or ferry from honey moon island. We have always accessed it via kayak from the causeway leading to honeymoon island. There's lots of great sandbars, and mangrove tunnels for kayaking."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday maintains natural buffers between camping areas. "It was very quaint. There is a fishing dock near where we stayed. Lots of catfish," notes Jenny K., highlighting the peaceful setting despite the park's popularity.

Clean facilities: Bay Bayou RV Resort maintains exceptionally clean amenities. A camper stated, "Immaculate grounds, clean and modern bath houses, three laundry rooms. Very dog friendly with doggy bag stations and dog parks." This consistency in maintenance appears across multiple reviews.

Water access sites: Many campers specifically request waterfront sites for wildlife viewing. "We saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of birds!" mentions one Fort De Soto camper, while another notes "Cant go wrong with a waterfront stay. Book in advanced, especially if you want to stay more than a night or two."

Shade coverage: Fort De Soto Campground maintains natural vegetation that provides crucial shade. As one camper described, "Very private spots lots of trees. Lots of bugs in the summer time." This natural canopy helps mitigate Florida's intense summer heat.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Belleair Beach require advance planning. For Fort De Soto Campground, a reviewer advises, "Note that they do start booking 6 months out and open up 10% of the sites for the weekend each friday at 7am if you want to try and get lucky."

Bug preparation: Insect protection remains essential year-round. One camper at Vacation Village RV Resort warned, "This is a mosquito heaven!!! Being bug spray or candles! You will see a large amount of bugs in your area." Mosquito activity increases after rainfall and during summer months.

Camping limitations: Caladesi Island State Park has unique restrictions. A reviewer clarified, "These camping 'sites' are really just boat slips which allowing you to overnight at the docks on the island." This means traditional tent camping isn't permitted - visitors must sleep aboard their boats.

Traffic noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise. At Clearwater Lake Tarpon KOA, a camper reported, "This park was okay, but we were at the front and the road noise was bad. Lots of sirens and traffic. It was noticeably quieter at the back of the campground."

Tips for camping with families

Pool access priority: Clearwater Lake Tarpon KOA maintains a clean swimming pool that receives positive reviews. "Bathhouse very clean and nicely done. Doggie playground nice. They are still updating many of the sites but it is very nicely landscaped and clean. Workers very friendly and helpful. Pool was excellent," notes camper Nancy I.

Playground options: Fort De Soto provides child-friendly play areas with safety features. "There is a playground with good swings and also a sturdy playground that offered plenty of opportunity for my four year old to blow off some steam. The ground is all recycled rubber, which I love as a parent," explains Joe R.

Mini-golf activities: St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA includes family recreation options. "Great inner city spot. Friendly staff and the grounds are bigger then expected. Full hook ups for RVs and separate tent area. Has a small shallow marina. Great for Kayaks, canoeing... etc. They have a heated pool, mini golf course, shuffle board, dog run," describes Doug E.

Beach proximity: Caladesi Island State Park offers unique beachgoing opportunities. A camper explains the main benefit: "However, the main draw of staying overnight at the dock is that it allows you to get onto the beaches and explore the trails before too many people start arriving on the ferry or other boats."

Tips from RVers

Site size considerations: Many Belleair Beach area campgrounds have compact sites. At St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA, a camper reported, "Site was small, couldn't even put awning out all the way because we were so close to next site." Request specific site dimensions when booking.

Water drainage issues: Some campgrounds experience flooding during typical Florida rain. At St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, a camper observed, "Rain comes and sites are so easily flooded that we kept sandals on the entire time. Sites just stacked on top of each other."

Hookup configurations: Bay Bayou RV Resort offers full hookups with convenient layouts. "Immaculate grounds, clean and modern bath houses, three laundry rooms. Very dog friendly with doggy bag stations and dog parks. Right on the bayou with a kayak launch and docks for fishing and relaxing," notes Mary G.

Site surface materials: Several campgrounds use crushed shells for site bases. A Clearwater Lake Tarpon KOA camper mentioned, "Didn't like the spots were crushed sea shells as they are hard on the feet and easily tracked in." Consider floor mats or outdoor rugs when setting up your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Belleair Beach, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Belleair Beach, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 168 campgrounds and RV parks near Belleair Beach, FL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Belleair Beach, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Belleair Beach, FL is Fort De Soto Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 140 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Belleair Beach, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Belleair Beach, FL.