Best Campgrounds near Big Pine Key, FL
Campgrounds near Big Pine Key, Florida range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks, with several offering waterfront views along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Big Pine Key RV Park provides boat access, waterfront sites, and full hookups, while Buttonwood Campground at Bahia Honda State Park features oceanfront camping opportunities with beach access. Camping options in the Florida Keys include a mix of state parks, private RV resorts like Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina, and established campgrounds that accommodate tents, recreational vehicles, and cabins.
The Florida Keys experience a tropical climate with high humidity, warm temperatures year-round, and distinct wet and dry seasons. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during the winter months when northern visitors seek warmer weather. "We stayed for 3 nights to celebrate my husband's birthday. We booked a rustic ocean view site and it was fantastic. Well did get a few bites from bugs over the days we were there but the view was too stunning to worry about it," noted one camper about Big Pine Key RV Park. Insects, particularly no-see-ums and mosquitoes, can be problematic throughout the region, especially during evening hours and near waterfront sites. Hurricane season (June through November) presents potential disruptions, with several campgrounds having undergone reconstruction following Hurricane Irma's damage in 2017.
Waterfront campsites rank among the most desirable features of camping in the Florida Keys region. Several campgrounds offer direct water access for kayaking, fishing, and boating. The unique ecosystem provides opportunities to observe local wildlife, including the endangered Key deer that frequently visit campsites. A camper at Bahia Honda State Park wrote, "The Bath Houses were destroyed by Irma and the Atlantic Ocean area is fenced off due to damage. We enjoyed the Gulf Beach and kayaked in the Gulf." Swimming conditions vary by location, with some waterfront sites better suited for viewing than swimming due to rocky shores or seaweed accumulation. While sites offer beautiful views, privacy between camping spots is limited at most facilities, with campgrounds typically operating at high occupancy rates due to the limited camping areas available in the Keys.