Fort De Soto Campground and several other parks provide glamping options close to Belleair Beach, Florida. Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, this area maintains an average year-round temperature of 73°F, making it suitable for camping in all seasons. Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience, with summer months bringing higher humidity and temperatures in the 90s, while winter delivers milder temperatures in the 60s-70s.
What to do
Biking through history: Fort De Soto offers extensive cycling paths through historic areas. "Great park with days worth of activities! The historic fort, scenic beaches, trails for hiking or biking, etc made for a great visit! Tons of wildlife - we saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of tons of Birds!" notes Brennan H. from Fort De Soto Campground.
Paddling with wildlife: Launch directly from your site at E.G. Simmons Regional Park for kayaking through mangrove canals. "We have stayed here many times the last time we had site # 65 on the water with water and electric hook up & there is a dump station onsite. This is a nice campground with a beach, little island you can wade to we always see Manatees there and lots of great areas to Kayak or paddle board," explains B M.
Night sky viewing: With minimal light pollution at some sites, stargazing becomes a prime evening activity. Tucker B. from Starkey Wilderness Preserve shares, "I lucked out and stumbled upon this campground late in the afternoon on my way down the west coast... There were a healthy number of sites but all relatively spaced out for privacy... enjoyed a beautiful sunrise and sunset!"
What campers like
Private waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded waterfront locations available at Fort De Soto. "Cant go wrong with a waterfront stay. Book in advanced, especially if you want to stay more than a night or two," advises Taylor T.
Wildlife encounters: The natural surroundings near Belleair Beach glamping sites offer frequent wildlife sightings. "Great spot for relaxing by the water. Highly recommend. Bring good bug spray lol," recommends David B. from Fort De Soto Campground.
Spacious campsites: Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park features notably large sites for glamping and tent camping. "Starkey's Campground has everything you could want or need. Friendly staff, plenty of critters, and beautiful trails to walk. Campsite #9 has so far been my most favorite spot here. It's VERY spacious (could easily fit 5 large tents here)," reports Shaun C.
What you should know
Seasonal bugs: No-see-ums and mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially during summer months. "Hot, hot, hot. And not in a good way. Not a lot of shade. Lots of no-see-ums so bring a bug repellent and apply religiously, or else. Bathrooms are a good point," warns Nate D. about E.G. Simmons Regional Park.
Reservation requirements: Most sites must be booked well in advance, especially waterfront locations. A reviewer at Fort De Soto notes, "I couldn't make a reservation on the website so I strolled in hoping to reserve a site at the front desk. The lady was very helpful and got me a great site."
Restricted activities: Some campgrounds have specific rules about alcohol, pets, and fires. "Please be aware that this is a very restrictive campground. You can only tent and you are not allowed to smoke anything, vape anything, drink anything alcoholic. If you do any of those things you want want to be here," cautions Kevin W. about Terry Tomalin Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Protected swimming areas: E.G. Simmons offers a designated swimming beach that's ideal for younger children. "There's some great day use areas, nice park," mentions B M., highlighting the family-friendly facilities.
Playground access: Hillsborough River State Park provides play areas for children to burn off energy. "A beautiful park that is a real taste of old Florida, with a campground that is completely shaded by oak trees. At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," shares Jason D.
Wildlife education opportunities: Many parks offer nature programs specifically designed for young campers. "Great park with days worth of activities! The historic fort, scenic beaches, trails for hiking or biking, etc made for a great visit! Tons of wildlife - we saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of tons of Birds!" notes Brennan H.
Tips from RVers
Concrete pads available: Quail Run RV Park offers level concrete sites that accommodate larger rigs. "Very good service. Nice park. Level concrete pads. Ours was pull through. Gated. Mix of permanent residents and rentals," explains Lucile F.
Full hookup options: Several parks offer complete services for RVs. "We stayed at Quail Run for a weekend in October as it was close to my son's lacrosse practice location... we were pleasantly surprised with the very nice site with full hook ups and cable. The park is secluded and away from highway noise," reports John G.
Site spacing considerations: Some RV parks have tighter spacing between sites than others. "Very quiet place. Lots were huge. Everything worked perfectly. Place was clean and staff was super nice," shares Erik P., offering insight on Quail Run RV Park's layout.