RV camping near Bokeelia, Florida centers around the Pine Island area, with campgrounds offering varied experiences for travelers. Bokeelia sits at the northern tip of Pine Island, surrounded by mangrove forests and coastal waterways with an average elevation of just 3 feet above sea level. Many campgrounds in this region remain operational year-round despite seasonal flooding concerns during summer months.
What to do
Kayaking the Myakka River: Encore Ramblers Rest provides direct river access for paddlers. "Right on the river. Very nice. It is close to Venice beach (less than 10 miles) and the town of Venice which is an awesome little town," notes one camper who found the location ideal for water activities.
Beach excursions: Fort Myers Beach is approximately 4 miles from some campgrounds. "The pros on this RV park are that it is only 4 miles from the beach and very convenient to shopping. Fort Myers, Sanibel, Cape Coral are all just 15 to 20 minutes drive," reports a visitor staying at Fort Myers Beach RV Resort.
Fruit tree shopping: NOFO GROVES Getaway offers camping alongside a plant nursery. "Could not leave without getting a couple of fruit trees," mentions one reviewer who stayed at this small, two-site property while working in the area for several months.
What campers like
Pool amenities: Encore Harbor Lakes receives consistent praise for its swimming facilities. "The pool was really big and beautiful, the hot tub nice, and the showers very clean," writes one reviewer, even though they had mixed feelings about other aspects of their stay.
Convenient locations: Many campgrounds provide strategic access to regional attractions. "We wanted to use our generator for camping to test it out, but it would not start. Had to have an RV park nearby and called, and booked a site within 10 minutes," explains a camper who appreciated Harbor Lakes' accessibility during an emergency situation.
Community atmosphere: Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA Holiday and other parks in the area tend to have mixed seasonal and short-term populations. "This is a park with permanent sites, transient and seasonal people, with the locals prominently making the social life active and fun," according to a winter visitor at Encore Pioneer Village.
What you should know
Site spacing concerns: Tight quarters are frequently mentioned across multiple RV parks. "I live in Florida so I know 'season' is busy but this place had zero outside living space due to they cram everyone in there," reports a camper at Fort Myers Beach RV Resort, adding "we couldn't even put our awning all the way out for fear it would hit the next trailer."
Mixed-use developments: Many RV parks include permanent residences. "Most of the park is full-time. No fires, no wifi, restroom/shower dated. Mini golf, but no one seems to be playing," notes a one-night visitor to Fort Myers Beach RV Resort, highlighting the blend of temporary and permanent accommodations.
Drainage issues: Low elevation creates periodic flooding problems. "There is no drainage - it rained and I woke up to find my camper surrounded by 4 inches of water," cautions a reviewer about their Fort Myers Beach experience.
Tips for camping with families
Pool gatherings: Encore Gulf Air and similar parks offer swimming pools as social hubs. "It has a very nice smaller pool that is a great meeting place every afternoon. The people really make this place tolerable as they are so nice," according to a reviewer describing how the community atmosphere helps offset space limitations.
Wildlife watching: Area campgrounds feature diverse animal sightings. "Lots of wildlife: birds, alligators, and rabbits," mentions a camper at Encore Harbor Lakes, providing natural educational opportunities for children.
Fruit harvesting: Seasonal fruits grow in some campgrounds. "The best thing was mango trees providing all the mangoes one could carry," writes one camper about their unexpected bounty at Fort Myers Beach RV Resort.
Tips from RVers
Laundry facilities: Encore Gulf View and other parks provide laundry amenities, but payment systems vary. "Laundry facility is nice however, they use the card system so you have to pay $5 just to get the card and then the minimum you can purchase is $10 so you better need to do a lot of laundry to get your $15 dollars worth," advises one experienced RVer.
Hurricane impacts: Some facilities continue recovery efforts. "We are staying here for 2 weeks. This is our first visit. To be fair, they are still recovering from hurricane Ian. Some of the sites are very nice and well kept and others look like they have very long term residents who don't clean up after themselves very well," explains a visitor at Encore Gulf View in spring 2023.
Arrival timing: Access can be challenging on narrow roads. "One lane roads with 2 way traffic. If you have a big rig, it will be tight," warns a reviewer about navigating through Encore Ramblers Rest.
