Searching for a place to camp with your dog near Big Cypress National Preserve? Find the best information on pet-friendly campgrounds near Big Cypress National Preserve, including sites, reviews, and tips. Each pet-friendly campsite offers quick access to one or more of Big Cypress National Preserve's most popular destinations.
Monument Lake Campground is a beautiful place where visitors can enjoy the surrounding preserve while sitting at their picnic table. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as fishing, hiking through the preserve, and exploring the many boardwalks.
Monument Lake Campground is centrally located in Big Cypress National Preserve offering a multitude of recreational activities including hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, photography, and off-road vehicle trails.
The RV campsites surround the lake offering a view from every site. Each campsite is open with limited to no shade. Tent sites are tucked away from the RV area and close to the campground host and restroom.
Located just off the highway, this campground is close to the Oasis Visitor Center, Miccosukee Cultural Center, Shark Valley, and Clyde Butcher's Art Gallery.
For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988.
$28 / night
Midway Campground is a beautiful place where visitors can enjoy the surrounding preserve while sitting at their picnic table. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as fishing, hiking through the preserve, and exploring the many boardwalks.
Midway Campground is centrally located in Big Cypress National Preserve, offering a multitude of recreational activities. Ranging from hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, photography, and off-road vehicle trails.
Midway Campground is centrally located in Big Cypress National Preserve, offering a multitude of recreational activities. Ranging from hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, photography, and off-road vehicle trails.
The RV campsites surround the lake offering a view from every site. Each campsite is open with limited to no shade. The outer perimeter of the campground is lined with a mixture of different trees.
For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988.
Located just off the highway, this campground is close to the Oasis Visitor Center, Miccosukee Cultural Center, Shark Valley, and Clyde Butcher's Art Gallery.
$30 / night
Loop A
$22 / night
Trail Lakes Campground is Everglades RV and tent camping at its best!! Camp in the Everglades with the conveniences of home. We are located in the Big Cypress National Preserve and surrounded by over 1 million acres of National Park lands. Trail Lakes Campground offers a truly unique wilderness camping experience. We’re owned and operated by the Shealy family for three generations. This old- style Florida campground is one of a kind. We offer primitive tent camping, tent camping with electric (Class B site), rustic cabins with A/C, and Native American built chickee cottages for a clamping-style experience. Amenities include showers, laundry, ice, firewood, general camping sundries, a gift shop and nearby fishing areas and hiking trails. Information regarding availability, unit capacity and reservations are available on our website. Fishing and safari guide services are available directly on site. Restaurants, grocery, gas, hardware, bait and tackle supplies and National park water access are easily accessible in nearby Everglades City, just 12 minutes away. Experience the real Florida at Trail Lakes Campground.
$45 - $225 / night
Burns Lake Campground offers lake views from every campsite. Offering direct backcountry access, this campground is the ideal place for hunters and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
Burns Lake offers a great access point for your permitted off-road vehicle. Campers can enjoy fishing in the lake and surrounding areas with the appropriate licensure. Just far enough from any major highway, this campground offers countless wildlife viewing opportunities.
Burns Lake offers a great access point for your permitted off-road vehicle. Campers can enjoy fishing in the lake and surrounding areas with the appropriate licensure. Just far enough from any major highway, this campground offers countless wildlife viewing opportunities.
Surrounded by towering pine trees and wrapping around a lake, this campground allows you to feel like you are getting away while still being close enough to modern conveniences.
For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988.
Campers can enjoy local sight-seeing attractions such as airboat and swamp buggy tours, museums, art galleries, and boardwalks. This campground is located close to multiple national and state parks.
$24 / night
$10 / night
Mitchell Landing Campground is a primitive campground located in Big Cypress National Preserve. Access to the campground is along a secondary gravel road. Cell phone service is limited and it is highly encouraged that reservations be made in advance.__ Mitchell Landing Campground is open August 15-April 15 and offers 12 campsites. This campground allows for tent, RV, and travel trailer camping. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as off-road vehicle trail access, hiking, fishing, and our popular loop road scenic drive. The campground offers vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There is no water available.__
Mitchell Landing Campground is a popular location for airboat users. It is part of the Stairstep backcountry unit, the only unit open to airboats in the park. Visitors with an off-road vehicle (ORV) permit can access airboat trails directly from the campground. This location also offers the opportunity for nearby hiking, fishing, and access to the popular loop road scenic drive. For more information on fishing regulations please visit myfwc.com. For more information on ORV use please call the off- road vehicle office at 239-695-1117 or visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/orv-use.htm.
Mitchell Landing Campground is a popular location for airboat users. It is part of the Stairstep backcountry unit, the only unit open to airboats in the park. Visitors with an off-road vehicle (ORV) permit can access airboat trails directly from the campground. This location also offers the opportunity for nearby hiking, fishing, and access to the popular loop road scenic drive. For more information on fishing regulations please visit myfwc.com. For more information on ORV use please call the off- road vehicle office at 239-695-1117 or visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/orv-use.htm.
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida___s southwest coast. Protecting over 720,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida Panther.
For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988.
Mitchell Landing Campground is located directly off the popular loop road scenic drive. Shark Valley Visitor Center, part of Everglades National Park, is located 11 miles east. The Stairstep backcountry trails are accessible directly form the campground and they offer the only airboat trails in the preserve. The Florida National Scenic Trail is accessible 22 miles to the east.__
$24 / night
$10 / night
This is a primitive campground containing nine campsites. No water. Vault toilets are available. Reservations required.
Located nearby are Bear Island (40 sites) and Gator Head (9 sites).
Pink Jeep and Gator Head can be accessed by off-road vehicle, hiking, or biking. Backcountry permits are required for all, and off-road vehicle permits are required for off-road vehicles.
In addition, an off-road vehicle (ORV) permit and gate code is required for 4x4 vehicles to access the site and no trailers are allowed. One can also access the location by foot or bicycle.
$5 - $10 / night
Scout
Stayed with friends. Very expensive they offer breakfast but charge outrageous prices. Otger things are offered but tgey charge a pretty penny. Everyone complained about it. The maintenance guy is rude talks about all the owners and rides around all day like he owns the place. Mosquitoes are horrible. The airboats are loud and run all day. You cant have a conversation out when they pass. I may return with my friends but I would never pay to be here
Guide
It is a well laid out Florida State Park campground In a mangrove swamp, making the mosquitoes horrible. There is access to a channel that you can rent a kayak or “Go Cat” to go all the way to the gulf, or use your own boat. The go cats are very cool and the guide you out in groups for around $150.
Guide
Many sites around a body of water
Traveler
I stayed there for 13 nights. Good experience. Customer service is excellent. I stayed on a concrete pad close to the main office. Great neighbours. Tight spaces but I had no issues maneuvering my 28' RV.
TravelerPulled up to window at check-in. Gave her my name and reserved site number. She asked me to park and come inside. Inside, she handed me a map and recited the rules. Then she asked if I had any questions. I asked, "Do you have a restroom?" She looked at me with unbelief. "Well, I guess if it's an emergency. " I told her I had been on the road for 3 and a half hours. The other lady pointed to the restroom. I don't think that I've ever had anyone deny a restroom to me at check-in. The website said the Royal Palm trail would close on April 3rd. When we went to it on March 26th, it was barricaded. Both my wife and I had cold showers that evening. When I mentioned it to the maintenance lady, she said that she had been there since November and has never had a hot shower. All the sites seem to be fairly tight with no privacy.
Scout
Stayed here for a quick overnight campout last weekend and was very pleased with the campgrounds. The site was clean and well groomed. We were close to the swamp and at night saw quite a few crayfish crawling around on the ground at night which was a first for me. If you stay here make sure you take a walk around at night that is where we ended up seeing a lot of critters which was really cool. Also make sure you take a flashlight and look in many of the waterways. We ended up seeing quite a few gators and fish like alligator gar. Also discovered that the creeping growling noises I was hearing all night was Gators mating which is wild to think about...
Scout
Adverse weather conditions, specifically rainfall, may impede vehicular access to and from the adjacent campsites, resulting in potential challenges navigating muddy terrain. Fortunately, our visit remained unaffected by precipitation, ensuring a pleasant and pristine experience. Additionally, a $200 down deposit is temporarily pending, with clearance contingent upon the absence of any damages to the campsite.
RangerNot a fan of this campground. We stayed for five nights in February. Really hot and buggy - TONS of mosquitos. I guess that’s to be expected given the location in/near the Everglades. The mosquitos were so aggressive we got tons of bites, they covered our pups, and the first evening we smashed close to 60 of them in our van after opening the door just to get into the van. Pretty miserable. On top of that, the nature trails within the campground/visitor area was closed and overgrown. The only hiking trails that were open were close to a mile down the highway - not really accessible on foot from campground. Campground itself was ok but not as pretty as others we’ve been to. On the plus side, good location for visiting other stuff in the area and my husband liked playing pickleball daily at courts in Naples. The volunteers at the campground were really friendly and the facilities were clean.
Legend
Hunt Camp, Okaloacoochee SF: We stayed at the nearby Overflow CG. I expect this would have been the same quiet and peaceful experience, as noticed during our walks by Hunt Camp. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(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 and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 for large sites. No natural barrier in between.
Price 2023: $ 10
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/2 to full.
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: Large sites.
Site surface: Gravel
Reservations: Required.
Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: Adjacent to the road, but there is not much traffic.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Non-potable water is available at the adjacent horse corals.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Chemical toilets
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: No
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 bar
Setting: Adjacent to prairie with fairly dense low growing trees which obstructs view.
Recent Weather: Sunny
Solar: Great
Host: No
Rig Size: Any
Sites: I like all of the sites. #3 is the best location in the loop.
Legend
Burns Lake: This is a fine campground. The only redeeming factor is the lake. RV sites are not that great in my opinion.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
To Do: The smallest Post Office in the USA is close by. Oasis Visitor Center has gator viewing.
Visit all the nearby boardwalks are worth a visit.
Do a Ranger led wet walk. It is out of this world.
Drive to Shark Valley and take the tram (reservations are best), bicycle the 12 mile loop or walk part of it. The gates open at 9:00 AM for park parking. Fills up, thus slowing entry into the park. However, parking is available along the highway. We parked there, just past the no parking signs. We then walked in at sunrise for enjoyment before the crowds. Some folks were biking at that time as well. Beautiful. Gators began sunning themselves by 9:30AM or so.
Drive to Everglade City for a boat ride out to the bay. Fantastic experience. The BCNP Visitor Center can tell you who to contact to make reservations. We went on this trip a couple years ago.
Airboats and swamp buggy rides are popular. We did this as well, but preferred the other activities in the end. However, how can you pass up on a fun airboat experience.
Unlike the Everglades the full campsite discount for seniors is offered here.
Overall Rating: 3 - not picturesque . One of our least favorites. Others we have talked to love this campground.
Price 2023: $ 12 w interagency pass
Security: Must drive be host site.
Usage during visit: Full
Site Privacy: None
Site Spacing: Close as Monument and Midway
Site surface: Grass
Reservations: Required
Campground Noise: Quiet during our visit
Road Noise: Less than Midway and Monument
Through Traffic in campground: None
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: At Midway
Potable: Water Not available. Fill up at Midway.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Pit toilet
Showers: At Monument
Pull Throughs: all
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 Bar
Setting: Around Burns Lake. Lake view from all sites.
Recent Weather: Unusually wet winter
Solar: Solar will be great in the RV sites.
Host: Yes
Rig Size: Largest is fine in RV sites.
Sites: None of the sites really appeal to me. Other people I have met love it here. #10 is the best RV site. Id rather be in the tent only area. It is nicer than Monument and Midway tent only sites. Campers and vans use these sites, I noticed.
Legend
Monument Lake, Big Cypress: This is the best of the BCNP campgrounds in my opinion. It surrounds the largest of the campground lakes in BCNP and has gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. Easy to get to. The hosts all work hard and are kind. The big downsides are: GENERATORS: Hours allowed need to be shortened. Speed limit is double of Burns Lake resulting in excessive dust.
To Do: The smallest Post Office in the USA is close by. Oasis Visitor Center has gator viewing.
Visit all the nearby boardwalks are worth a visit.
Do a Ranger led wet walk. It is out of this world.
Drive to Shark Valley and take the tram (reservations are best), bicycle the 12 mile loop or walk part of it. The gates open at 9:00 AM for park parking. Fills up, thus slowing entry into the park. However, parking is available along the highway. We parked there, just past the no parking signs. We then walked in at sunrise for enjoyment before the crowds. Some folks were biking at that time as well. Beautiful. Gators began sunning themselves by 9:30AM or so.
Drive to Everglade City for a boat ride out to the bay. Fantastic experience. The BCNP Visitor Center can tell you who to contact to make reservations. We went on this trip a couple years ago.
Airboats and swamp buggy rides are popular. We did this as well, but preferred the other activities in the end. However, how can you pass up on a fun airboat experience.
Unlike the Everglades the full campsite discount is offered here.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. )
Overall Rating: 4 (should be a 5, but for poor generator usage rules. This negatively affected our stay this time, our 4th time here.)
Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass
Security: None except visitors must drive by host sites.
Usage during visit: Heavy
Site Privacy: None
Site Spacing: Close
Site surface: Grass
Reservations: Required
Campground Noise: Quiet except for one long running generator.
Road Noise: Some.
Through Traffic in campground: Little.
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: At Midway.
Potable Water Available: At bathrooms
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Clean flush toilets.
Showers: Yes. Clean
Pull Throughs: No
Cell Service (AT&T): 3 bars.
Setting: Open, around lake.
Recent Weather: Cool and rainy.
Solar: Some sites are better than others
Host: 3 or 4
Rig Size: Large rigs present.
Sites: 27 - 34 e side of lake. Less shade, better solar. Beautiful sunset views. View of the grass prairie. 34 fine, but faces to pit toilet .
35 - 38: sunset view with day use area in front of lake view
1-3 west side of lake. Sunrise view .
14 - 26 north side of lake with better shade. 26 has a nice view of the grass prairie w shade. One of the best sites in my opinion.
RangerThis was a great spot if your camping in south Florida between spots and has great hiking.
Legend
Panther Pond: We really liked this quiet campground with very secluded sites. More sunshine and solar at Okaloacoochee Overflow and Hunt Camp. To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter .
Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough.
Bicycles on Wildcow Rd
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4.5 for Great privacy.
Price 2023: $ 10 for seniors
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/4 full
Site Privacy: most all sites – excellent, with shrubbery in between sites.
Site Spacing: very nice
Site surface: dirt
Reservations: required
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: Maybe a little from Cow Path Rd. Very little travel.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no
Dump Station: no none
Potable Water Available: a couple miles away at Hunt camp there is a hand pump at the horse corals. Rangers say it is not portable.
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: chemical toilets
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: None
Cell Service (AT&T): one bar
Setting: in a long pine forest, with lots of palm tree shrubbery
Recent Weather: clear with highs in the upper 60s
Solar: some sites. See below.
Host: no
Rig Size: 17 to 20 foot trailer will fit in some sites in my opinion. See below.
Sites: Will easily fit a 17 foot trailer: 1,2,3*,5*,7,6,9*,11,
*very nice solar at 2 PM, but not all day.
Legend
Overflow CG, Okaloacoochee FLSF: We had a peaceful experience staying here for 5 days.
To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter .
Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good.
Wildcow Rd beginning at the campground is a nice walk. Three walks with only 1 vehicle during our walk.
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. )
Overall Rating: 4.5 for mostly large sites, but no privacy in between.
Price 2023: $ 11 about w taxes
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/2
Site Privacy: Open
Site Spacing: most of the 6 sites are large
Site surface: Gravel
Reservations: Required
Campground Noise: Very quiet.
Road Noise: Wildcow, a backcountry road, runs along campground. Not busy during our visit, but can be more busy I hear. Could be a dust problem when there is less rain.
Through Traffic in campground: Along Wildcow.
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Ram gets report as non-potable water at Hunt Camp, .25 miles.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Chemical toilets.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: No
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars.
Setting: 3’ tall native grass in between sites.
Recent Weather: Sunny, not too hot
Solar: The best
Host: No
Rig Size: Any size.
Sites: 1 is best. 6 is second, but closer to the road which was infrequently used during our stay. 3 and 4, unfortunately back up to each other.
Legend
Wildcow Group Campground in , Okaloacoochee FL State Forest: gate is locked 1.9 miles from the campground. Accessible by vehicle. Gate code is available, I am told . CG is located at the end of the road. This is primitive camping, tent only. This is a nice campground with two picnic tables, one grill, two elevated tent pads. Looks like a horse trail/old road begins at the end of the campground. Currently covered w long grass. I do not know how long this road is. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. .
Overall Rating: 4.5 for a nice remote group camp experience. Hiking trail is overgrown with grass. Due to a rainy dry season, probably. Price 2023: $ 20 per night Security: Locked gate Usage during visit: empty Site Privacy: 2 elevated tent pads, have a semi shrub barrier. Two other areas tents could’ve pitched Site Spacing: adequate. Site surface: Wooden tent pads Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Very, very quiet Road Noise: none. Through Traffic in campground: at the end of the Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: no none Potable Water Available: hand pump Generators: No posting denying use Bathroom: none Showers: no Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: Wong, Pine Forest, oak trees, and palm trees Recent Weather: unseasonably cool Solar: not at the camp site. Could set up panels on road. Plenty of sunlight there. Host: no. Rig Size: I would think a small trailer or easily a van could park next to the one tent pads. Sites: two sites total. With raised wooden platform. One or two spots where tents can be pitched on the ground.
Legend
Pinecrest: Group camp. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(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 and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 3.5 for a group campground
Security: None. Isolated.
Usage during visit: Empty
Site Privacy: None - Two defined areas
Site Spacing:
Site surface: Grass
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: No e
Through Traffic in campground: No reason
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: At Midway CG
Generators: Yes
Bathroom: Pit toilet
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: Yes
Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars
Setting: Open grass area surrounded by trees
Recent Weather: 50s to 80s. Some high winds. Tornado warnings
Solar: Yes
Host: Not on premises
Rig Size: Can accommodate large rigs
Sites: See pics
Legend
Mitchell’s Landing: this isolated campground has an airboat launch area. I met a man, Bill, who grew up on this property, owned by his Miccosukee family until the mid 70s. According to him, the department of the interior, reneged on their promise that this land would stay in his family. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(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 and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 4 Price 2023: $ w interagency pass Security: No - Remote Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: about half the sites are spread out in an open park lake area. Are very nice. Some sites are very nice. I was those below. Site Spacing: the nicest sites are pretty good in this regard Site surface: grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet when we were here Road Noise: too remote. Through Traffic in campground: None while I was visiting. Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no, no Dump Station: at Midway campground. (30 minutes). Potable Water Available: The closest water is at Midway CG (30 minutes). Generators: allowed Bathroom: pit toilets. Moderately clean Showers: no. Pull Throughs: some Cell Service (AT&T): three Setting: surrounded by trees Recent Weather: very mixed this year. 50s into the 80s. Solar: some Host: yes Rig Size: 30 footers are here. Be careful with site you choose for that size Sites: my favorite – 4,5,6,7,10, 8 Okay:15
LegendMidway in Big Cypress: This is our forth time here. We love this campground, though the sites are open. All trailer sites look over the lake which is in the middle of the campground. This campground seems to be very conducive to meeting people. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(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 and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 for the lake view
Price 2023: $ 15 w interagency pass
Usage during visit: RV sites full every night. Tent sites accommodate vans, rooftop tents….
Site Privacy: None
Site Spacing: Fair
Site surface: Blacktop
Reservations: Required
Campground Noise: Tent area - defiantly.
Road Noise: Tent area - defiantly. From # 21, yes.
Through Traffic in campground: Folks might come in to have picnics at tables around the lake.
Electric Hookup: Yes
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: Yes
Potable Water Available: Yes, at the dump station.
Generators: Allowed.
Bathroom: Flush toilet. Only one stall in the men’s. Clean.
Showers: At Monument Lake CH, 20 minutes.
Pull Throughs: None in RV Loop
Cell Service (AT&T): Site 21 usually has 1 bar. Sites at the near the end have weaker reception.
Setting: All RV sites are situated around the lake
Recent Weather: High 50s to 80s. Rain
Solar: Plenty in the tent sites
Host: Three
Rig Size: Largest bus RVs are here
Sites: 19 - 26 are best shaded sites. 13 and 14 are corner sites with less shade . 1 is near a shed, but a fine site. Picnic tables along the lake and in between these sites: 22&23, 3&4, 11&12, 16&17. (On nice weekend days you can expect small groups using these spots for day usage.)
GuideWe accumulated several nights in our travel trailer at Collier-Seminole in the November/December time frame, staying at a total of 5 campsites (76, 45, 84, 22, and 66). The standout for us was the quick and helpful response of the staff. Ex: As we were moving into site 84, we spotted a fire ant problem, and they attended to it right away. Ex: As we were moving into site 21, we saw that the middle board of the picnic table top was rotted out. I brought this to the attention of a Ranger passing by, and we had a different table within 15 minutes. Ex: We had the misfortune of locking the keys in a friend's vehicle, which caused us to have two vehicles on site overnight. The staff was very understanding, and even suggested an empty campsite nearby for parking our second vehicle overnight Ex: Because our initial bookings were late, we did a quite a bit of "jumping" between sites. The staff proactively stopped by to tell us we could move to our next site early.
Other reviews cover the mosquito situation. I would add that dealing with the mosquitos was routine for a grizzled Minnesotan such as myself, but the aggressive biting noseeums were something new.
Some "insider" information:
(1) campsites 22 and 24 are the only sites with paved pads. The rest are gravel. ALSO, campsite 22 is actually a double wide paved pad (used to be sites 22 and 23, but they combined them into one).
(2) While you are limited to one vehicle per campsite, you can park an extra vehicle down by the boat landing.
(3) There is a lot more shade over the grounds than the view from Google Earth would suggest.
(4) There are washers and driers that take credit card payment. Nice. The bath house in the A-loop has two washers and two driers for doubling up.
(5) This campground has several bag dispensers for dog clean up that are always well stocked. GREAT for those of us on an extended stay.
Guide
Had a marvelous time at the Meadow River Ranch. The grounds are well kempt, with a thick, lush carpet of a St. Augustine and rye grass blend covering the acreage. Very quiet and peaceful. A great place to just “be”. My grandson and I tried our luck fishing in the canal. Jeff was very accommodating. Let us run our generator as much as we wanted. Even let us run our dogs off leash for awhile.
We stayed at MRR in a self-contained RV, and as such had no need to use the outdoor toilet or solar shower, so I offer no comment on those facilities.
Legend
This is a nice camping location…or will be when they complete renovations. They are still recovering from hurricane damage, so there was some construction and noise. The spaces are pretty tight, but not as bad as other places. And they are staggered so it feels roomier. we had a nice site with a shaded patio. Also a misquote problem! Lots of misquotes and no see-ums. But the pool, boat ramp, playground, and dog park are all open. 2 dog parks! The laundry, hot tub, and camp store are still closed. It’s close to the Big Cypress Wildlife area, and an easy drive to Everglades National Park.
Guide
Rated 1 only because 0 isn’t an option. We were told we could extend our trip and there were plenty of spots available since it’s off season and the park isn’t even half full. I call to pay just to be told no there aren’t any spots available. I tell Jim I was told there were plenty of spots. “Oh well she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, she is new.” I asked if he just didn’t want us here. Well yes, there has been a violation. We were never even given a notification of violations (just asked for us to move extra vehicle, even though there was room on the pavement we just needed to park in overflow across the park. No big deal) My husband is covered in tattoos and he was judged. There is plenty of space here, they just don’t want us here. My husband is one of the most giving people who has handed his last dollar to someone who has needed it more…on more than one occasion. Don’t support this business. Jim should feel ashamed of himself. We’ve never received a violation for anything here and now have no place to go forth of July weekend.
GuideGreat camp sites, leveled with electric for the RVs and tent camping off on the side. Clean bathrooms (no showers) and dump station. Attendant was friendly. Central pond for fishing just watch for the gators.
GuideGreat state park with decent amenities. Even had cc laundry which was a surprise. Lots of shaded spots in the lower lot numbers.
TravelerMy site had the hookups in the middle of it. The bathhouse is not ventilated. It doesn’t have ac. It’s extremely hot in there. The park Rangers are more like fun police. My neighbors had their family reunion yesterday. At sunset they were on site telling them they had to leave. Everyone was clearly loading up their vehicles. It was unnecessary for them to show up and bark at them. I got harassed by 3 different people in a period of 5 mins b/c I had my lights wrapped around a tree. Needless to say, I won’t be coming back here.
TravelerThe security at the gate she’s amazing and love what she’s doing, she was very helpful and knowledgeable, the campsite is nice and clean, you have showers with hot water, definitely coming back.
GuideBetter than described. Showers‼️ Very clean facilities. Potable water. Lake had Alligators in it. Fire ban. Great hosts. Another great stop in Big Cypress. Great fishing in the area. Fresh and salt. I saw multiple pythons nearby. No ground animals. None. Bugs weren’t bad. Try to get a site with shade, many didn’t. I spent 4 extra bucks and took an RV site in the back. Well worth it.
Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a range of amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Big Cypress National Preserve?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Big Cypress National Preserve is Monument Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Big Cypress National Preserve?
TheDyrt.com has all 41 dog-friendly camping locations near Big Cypress National Preserve, with real photos and reviews from campers.
