Best Campgrounds near Bonita Springs, FL
The southwestern Florida landscape surrounding Bonita Springs features a mix of developed RV resorts and state park campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Koreshan State Park in nearby Estero provides 54 sites with water and electric hookups, historical buildings, and access to the Estero River for paddling. Sanctuary RV Resort, located directly in Bonita Springs, offers 185 sites with full hookups for both tents and RVs. Collier-Seminole State Park, approximately 25 miles south, sits on the edge of the Everglades ecosystem with over 100 sites nestled among mangroves. Most campgrounds in the region cater primarily to RV campers, though tent camping options exist at several state parks and primitive sites.
Reservations become essential during winter months when seasonal visitors flock to the region between December and March. As one camper noted, "It's hard to book a weekend at any Florida campground in season so plan ahead if you want a Florida State park." Summer brings intense heat, humidity, and daily afternoon thunderstorms from June through October. Mosquitoes present a year-round challenge but are particularly aggressive in mangrove areas. According to a local camper, "The mosquitoes are a bit much, which makes it hard to sit outside at night." Wildlife awareness is necessary throughout the region, with alligators common in freshwater areas and bears occasionally spotted in more remote locations near the Everglades.
Water-based recreation dominates the camping experience near Bonita Springs. The Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail offers 190 miles of marked routes with primitive island campsites accessible only by boat. Several campgrounds provide boat ramps or kayak launches with direct access to rivers, bays, and the Gulf of Mexico. Road noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail). A frequent visitor to Koreshan State Park mentioned, "It's quite peaceful until you get a motorcycle racing up and down the highway at 2am." Birding opportunities abound throughout the region, especially at Army Corps of Engineers sites like Ortona South, described by one visitor as "a birders paradise" with resident alligators and excellent stargazing.
