Several cabin campgrounds provide accommodations near Biscayne National Park in southern Florida. Larry & Penny Thompson Park offers cabin rentals with full electrical hookups, running water, and climate control systems. Oleta River State Park Campground provides furnished cabins in a wooded setting with nearby water access. Most cabins include basic furnishings such as beds, tables, and chairs, with varying levels of kitchen facilities. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground on Key Largo features cabins with electrical hookups and picnic tables, offering a convenient base for exploring the marine environment. "My friend flew in to visit and she rented one of their deluxe cabins. It was really nice, with a fireplace, fenced patio, loft, kitchen," notes a visitor describing the accommodations at Miami Everglades RV Resort.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. The Boardwalk RV and Mobile Home Resort provides cabin rentals with full hookups in a resort-style setting. Kings Kamp RV Park offers cabins with water and electrical access for visitors exploring Key Largo. Most cabin rentals require advance reservations, particularly during winter months when Florida's mild weather attracts visitors from colder regions. Pet policies vary significantly between locations, with some parks like Larry & Penny Thompson prohibiting pets, while others such as Miami Everglades and Southern Comfort RV Resort accommodate pets in cabin areas. According to reviews from The Dyrt, cabin guests particularly appreciate facilities with air conditioning during Florida's humid months.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary widely between locations, with some offering only basic microwaves while others provide full kitchens with refrigerators and stovetops. Some cabin locations like Yacht Haven Park & Marina and Hollywood KOA maintain on-site markets for basic supplies. Nearby general stores offer additional provisions, though many visitors prefer to bring essentials from larger grocery stores in Miami, Homestead, or Key Largo before arriving. Cabins at Miami Everglades RV Resort are noted for their superior furnishings. Based on reviews, guests should be prepared for varying levels of cabin maintenance, with some reporting well-maintained facilities while others note aging infrastructure at certain locations.
"In southern Florida, campgrounds don’t usually come cheap, but we found Larry & Penny’s to be a great value with close access (30 minutes) to Biscayne National Park."
"This is city owned and operated Park/Campground. This fact is significant. It is very pretty with lots of mature shade trees. The RV's are assigned space around several pods."
"The people are nice and the park clean. The sites are close together, I suppose to allow for many seasonal residents."
"The sites closer to the cabin area are closer together. I wouldn't recommend this campsite for actual campsite, but rather the excellent location and fun activities and amenities of the park. "
"There is so much to do we biked to nearly everything including nearby restaurants, we hung at the beach, kayaked and did trail walks with the dog."
"There is power and picnic tables, but you might initially be confused as to who’s table is who’s depending on how people before you have arranged things to fit their RVs….or at least we were for a few"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 / night
"This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size."
"Close to the Keys, Everglades, Bkscayne and shopping. Staff was helpful. I will go back."
"We stayed here about 4 days on our way down to the Keys. This park is mostly quiet but full of sketchy people. We saw our neighbors selling illegal firearms to a young kid in his front yard."
"Personally, I camped in a tent, but they also have RV spots and on-site cabins. It was right off the main highway through the keys so it was very easy to get to."
"The sites away from the water are very close together. Prime sites along the water offer nice views. Bathrooms clean, laundry available. There are tiki huts and lounge chairs along the water."
from $60 - $110 / night
"The park is very well maintained. The front area is more for weekenders. We stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly."
"My site was private and (mostly) clean. Easy pull throughs available if you’re not a savvy backer-upper. The only downside was the loud music playing at the park next door, and I love music!"
"This place has cabins and a shared bathroom, but it is such an amazing park right in the middle of an overcrowded city!! I love going here is like 55 bucks a night or so!!"
"Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers, but it's true. It boasts 15-miles of trails in more than 1,000 acres!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $55 / night
"Had a wonderful week at the naval station in Key West. It only cost $40 per night. All amenities were available."
"The grounds and views of all the surrounding yachts are simply spectacular. Everything here is setup for convenience and comfort."
from $110 - $300 / night
"Conveniently located near stores and everything you would need. Close to airport."
GuideReally nice clean campground clean showers and bathrooms snorkeling diving glass bottom boats kayak rentals on site went on the snorkeling trip really inexpensive $45 went to Christ of the abyss beautiful reef lots of colorful fish all around great time
GuideWe planned on staying here for 5 months and hoped for longer. But today, We just put in our notice that we are leaving. I hope my experience will help you make your decision to stay here. While management is extremely proud of writing 1000 notices to people over the last year, this is still the reality of what you get. They don't seem to know what's available, unless you speak Spanish. Then they got a spot for you. Lots of RV's with window ac units. Refrigerators outside Gate doesn't always work Gym is a joke 2 out of 6 washers out of order for months 2 out of 6 dryers out of order for months Men's and women's showers has no ac and standing water. Neighbors raising pigeons behind his RV. Few Neighbors have pit bulls Pool is nice.(When people are not watching chickens fight on their phone while standing in pool) LOTS OF FOR SALE SIGNS HERE. People are trying to leave this place. Good luck and safe travels
ScoutI had a really amazing experience that has gotten me hooked on camp life. Between the beautiful nature trails, various on-site activities and clean friendly environment I can say with certainty that I am now a camper for life!
LegendThere is something truly magical about waking up surrounded by swaying palms and that unmistakable saltwater breeze, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo feels like stepping straight into a tropical adventure designed for families. This is a well-known and beautifully maintained state park with a moderate number (like 40 total) of campsites tucked among the trees, offering a mix of privacy and EZ access to the park’s main attractions, with clean restrooms, showers and plenty of kid-friendly activities that keep little ones engaged from sunrise to sunset. One of our favorite moments was taking the boys out on the glass bottom boat, watching their faces light up as colorful, exotic fish drifted through the coral reef below us, a memory that felt equal parts educational and awe-inspiring. While the sites are close together, offering next to zero privacy, the restroom / shower facilities were good (not great) and overall, the vibe of being here was quite positive. I would absolutely recommend this campground for families thanks to its unique ocean experiences, well-kept facilities, and unforgettable activities that make it so much more than just a place to sleep.
TravelerClean, quiet and full hookups. Bath with showers and laundry. Lots of blacktop to bike. Right on a Marina and beaches.
GuideWe were lucky enough to swoop this site when someone else cancelled, and it was fantastic!
Snorkeling is a MUST. We just did a walk in and booked a same day snorkel boat tour that was epic. There’s plenty of tours that go out and prices are totally reasonable.
Campground is lovely, small and easily accessible. Short walk to the beach, which is small and sweet. Lovely swim and views.
Staff is super helpful and friendly, and overall vibe is nice. Clean bathrooms and showers, however there’s definitely a buggy atmosphere once the sun starts to set. If you’re fully self-contained, shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Overall this spot is a 4.5 stars (only cuz of the bugs) and is a great spot to check out in the Keys.
LegendJust south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.
Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.
OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.
Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?" Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.
The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.
Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!
Happy Camping!
TravelerWe brought our canoe and put in on the boat dock. It was sweet paddling all around the mangrove islands. The campground is full of greenery, which lends slightly more privacy. A nice place to land for the night.
ScoutFor $130/night-this place is a crowded dump with poorly maintained muddy sites.
Cabin accommodations near Biscayne National Park are situated between 25-35 feet above sea level in the subtropical climate zone of southern Florida. The cabins experience an average temperature range of 60°F to 90°F throughout the year, with humid conditions common during summer months. Most cabin facilities near the park remain open year-round with peak season running from November through April.
Kayaking through mangroves: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground on Key Largo offers direct water access for kayaking. "We were able to skirt the shore and paddle through some of the mangrove forests in Biscayne. This was the highlight of our two short days," notes a visitor exploring the diverse water habitats.
Beach access for children: Oleta River State Park Campground provides cabin stays with nearby beach access perfect for families with young kids. "This place has cabins and a shared bathroom, but it is such an amazing park right in the middle of an overcrowded city," shares a visitor who paid approximately $55 per night for cabin accommodations.
Swimming in heated pools: Some cabin rentals include pool amenities, particularly useful during winter months. At Southern Comfort RV Resort, cabins are within walking distance of their pool. "There is a bar/Tiki Hut on premise and a big swimming pool open year round," mentions a guest who found the location convenient.
Canal-front views: Yacht Haven Park & Marina features cabins with water views. "If you camp on the canal, chances are you will be right next to some amazing yachts! 7 minutes to Ft Lauderdale Beach and 7 minutes the other way to Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood," states one visitor who appreciated the unique setting.
Park walking trails: Several cabin locations provide access to walking paths. At Miami Everglades RV Resort, "there's a walking trail around the entire perimeter which is actively used," according to a visitor who stayed there while exploring local natural areas.
Proximity to multiple parks: Cabin accommodations at Larry & Penny Thompson Park provide central access to both Biscayne and Everglades National Parks. "This campsite is a great central base camp for those visiting Biscayne NP/ Everglades NP and Miami. Clean and safe, with spots for both rv's and tents," notes a camper who appreciated the strategic location.
Water quality concerns: Some cabin locations have experienced water issues. At Encore Miami Campground, a guest reported: "We were only informed upon arrival that the campground's well water contained fecal matter and was a potential source of E. coli. This failure to provide a safety warning ahead of time was irresponsible."
Seasonal maintenance variations: Facilities may have limited amenities during off-peak seasons. One visitor to Larry & Penny Thompson Park reported: "Right now, nothing is open until memorial day weekend. So no beach and no pool. Also half the park is under construction, and for whatever reason (covid?) All of the bathrooms and showers are closed in the whole park."
Security considerations: Cabin guests should take standard security precautions. "Our Ford F-250 King Ranch 4x4 diesel got stolen in the middle of the day from right in front of our RV at this park. This state park is NOT secure," warns a visitor at Southern Comfort RV Resort who recommends securing valuables.
Cabin size limitations: Kings Kamp RV Park has specific occupancy rules for their cabins. "We arrived to a warm welcome and headed to site #27. To say these sites are tight is an understatement," notes a family that ultimately chose different accommodations after finding the spaces too confined.
Noise levels: Cabins near highways experience traffic sounds. At Kings Kamp, a visitor observed that "tenting is by the highway and under lights. Very noisy and bright for sleeping," suggesting light-sensitive sleepers should bring eye masks and ear plugs.
Child-friendly activities: The boardwalk at several cabins provides entertainment for children. "We had a nice experience at John Pennekamp. There is so much to do we biked to nearly everything including nearby restaurants, we hung at the beach, kayaked and did trail walks with the dog," shares a family who found the varied activities kept children engaged.
Water connections: Many cabin sites near Biscayne National Park have variable water pressure. A visitor at Yacht Haven Park & Marina noted, "The water pressure was terrible. The best part about the park is backing your RV up to the docks on the river and seeing all the boats go by at night."
Site leveling: Cabin areas typically have level ground for easier setup. One guest at Larry & Penny Thompson Park observed, "This is city owned and operated Park/Campground. It is very pretty with lots of mature shade trees. The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities."
Neighborhood setting: Some cabin accommodations are located in residential areas. A visitor described the Boardwalk RV And Mobile Home Resort stating, "We stayed here about 4 days on our way down to the Keys. This park is mostly quiet but full of sketchy people. The lots are huge and clean."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Biscayne National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Biscayne National Park is Larry & Penny Thompson Park with a 3.4-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Biscayne National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 cabin camping locations near Biscayne National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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