Odessa is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Odessa. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Odessa and user-submitted reviews.
$24 / night
"Then exit 7 to Highway 301 north about 10 miles to the campground. The way in which the state park and campground are set up is easy too."
"This was my first time at a campground in Florida! I was surrounded by beautiful wildlife (alligators, birds, and even a wild boar). The hiking trails were perfect for a beginner or a regular hiker."
"Great get away in west-central Florida as a day trip or long weekend stay.
We spent the day hiking the numerous off-road trails and enjoying some of the amenities the park has to offer."
"3.2 mile hike through mostly open Florida pine forest with the occasional swamp. Perfect time of year to come. Site has great shade and opens up at the fire pit for great star gazing."
$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. "
"Starkey wilderness park and can be accessed off of Route 52 in Land O' Lakes, Fl."
"You do have to apply for a permit to camp here through the SW Florida water management site. The campground is gated so you need a code to get in, which is a nice safety feature."
"I live in an adjacent neighborhood (2 years) and walk this park daily with my doggos. I’ve biked all the trails and been here from sunrise to sunset."
"This park has a really great walking trail around a lake with exercise stations. I’ve seen some horses on the trails also. There’s a cool BMX and rc car track too!"
"You must reserve a site with Southwest Florida Water Management by website. It is sometimes closed to hunting. There are lakes and multiple varieties of terrain."
$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."
"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."
$25 / night
"We camped at Clearwater/ Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday in a Fifth Wheel."
LegendThis is a 55+ resort for either the early or soon-to-be-retired community who happen to be toting around in an RV. Red Oaks, which is owned by the large RV conglomerate Sun Outdoors, is pet-friendly and offers up 200+ pull-through and back-in RV slots with FHUs offering 30 / 50 amp electric and well-apportioned grassy or, for slightly more $’s, concrete or paved asphalt pads for regular-sized and XL RVs alike. Most sites come with the prerequisite picnic table and cable as well as offering enough space for slide outs with some of the spots offering more shade than most. Net-net, if you are looking for a mini-RV village to live in with a tight-knit community of retirees looking to kick back, enjoy the simple life and grab some Florida sunshine while doing it, you’ve just hit the RV park lottery!
With a population that actually rivals that of nearby Bushnell itself, Red Oaks RV Resort is organized pretty much like a little town in its own right with a grid-like paved street complex where the primary residential set-up is an oversized RV – but trust me, this place isn’t like many are simply housing long-term residents, although this location will definitely conjure up some residential vibes. What I like most about Red Oaks RV Resort is its central location to a ton of natural spaces to stretch your legs or get some oaring in like Flying Eagle Wildlife Management Area to the north, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to the west, Lake Apopka to the east as well as artificial playgrounds like Disney World, Legoland and Universal Studies in Orlando to the south.
From an amenities standpoint, this place packs a decent punch offering the following: incredibly clean and well-maintained restroom and shower facilities, WiFi / Cable TV, Mail Center, laundr-O-mat, on-site storage, doggie park, clubhouse, covered pavilions with picnic tables and benches, swimming pool w/ deck patio and lounge chairs, jacuzzi, fitness center, shuffleboard, horseshoes, hiking trails & biking paths, game room, pickleball, volleyball, billiards, fishing, library, car wash, dumpster and dump station, on-site catering, scattered community halls and open air pavilion with picnic tables and seating, comfort station, woodshop as well as planned activities like (you guessed it) Bingo, live music, karaoke nights, line and square dancing, ice cream socials, water aerobics and quilting contests (yes, this review actually mentions 'quilting contests').
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) IMHO the best sites at this place are either the ones on the eastern perimeter as they place you as far away from the roaring traffic shooting up and down I75, plus this area is heavy-laden with good ground cover and a decent thick treeline granting both shade and a healthy bit of privacy, versus many of the other spots here; (2) In the event that you wanna get off the reservation here and try some local fare there’s Big Bass Grill Lakefront Restaurant & Marina, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Wood Shed, Coney Island, Odd Cuples (misspelt on purpose) Café and a smattering of fast food joints closer to I75; and (3) If you are looking to catch up on some local history, head on over to Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.
Happy Camping!
LegendThis Love’s RV Hook-up located off I4 just NW of Lakeland in the drive-by town of Auburndale is open 24 hours and has a number of dedicated slots for your overnight parking pleasure and if you are driving on 18 wheels and hauling freight, there’s a massive open parking area in the rear of the store just for you. In addition to providing about a dozen or so dedicated RV and 5th Wheeler slots with FHUs, there’s full fueling capacity in front of the store for cars and trucks as well as a much larger and taller fueling station along with CAT Scales in the rear for big rigs and RVs.
This pit stop has the typical roadside marketplace as well as an Arby’s embedded within the store along with a designated private shower area along with his / her restrooms that were just in marginal condition when we stopped by. There’s both a propane tank exchange as well as bulk propane for sale, RV dump service, WiFi, video gaming, Bulk DEF for sale and ATM onsite as well as a small doggie park in addition to offering laundry facilities. Should your RV need it, there’s a tire service here along with commercial truck oil change offering. As this spot is located right next to a very busy I4 heading out of Orlando towards Tampa, there’s a ton of traffic and the overnight parking for RVs is the closest to the highway, so filter in earbuds as a requirement if staying here.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 3
Quality: 2
Peace & Quiet: 1
Amenities: 2
Overall, I scored this location a 3.
Happy Overnighting!
ScoutCamping 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.
GuideYou need a permit, but it's free.
LegendTo 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.
TravelerVery private spots lots of trees Lots of bugs in the summer time
ScoutKind of in the low population area so it was quiet.
ScoutWe love this Margaritaville location! The staff is always friendly, they've got a great splash pad and playground for the kids, a water slide, and two larger pools for kids and adults. There are nice bathrooms with showers (soaps provided) and a laundry room. This is significantly more expensive than we typically spend camping, but we like to splurge for a weekend here and there. Site 142 is right across from the bath house and very convenient to the pool/splash pad area as well.
ScoutFirst impression, the front desk worker was very informative and quite kind. However, there is no security gate. As a momma with young kiddos, that does make me nervous. The lake is beautiful and our neighbors have been lovely. Also, I am really grateful for the location. Not too terrible a distance from Anna Marie Island, or Tampa! There is so much to do locally.
Camping near Odessa, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds nearby that cater to different needs.
Kayaking and Canoeing: At Hillsborough River State Park Campground, you can rent kayaks or canoes to explore the peaceful river. One camper mentioned, "The staff was amazing, and we enjoyed paddling down the clear waters, spotting fish along the way."
Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Lake Louisa State Park Campground, are great for fishing. A visitor shared, "The lake was beautiful, and I caught some nice fish while enjoying the scenery."
Hiking: Trails are abundant in parks like Fort De Soto Campground. One reviewer noted, "The hiking trails were well-maintained, and we loved the wildlife we encountered."
Camping in Odessa, FL, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent or an RV. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Odessa, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 264 campgrounds and RV parks near Odessa, FL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Odessa, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 65 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Odessa, FL.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Odessa, FL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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