Campgrounds near Bowling Green, Florida range from developed RV parks with full hookups to cabin-oriented properties within easy driving distance of regional attractions. Pioneer Creek RV Resort in Bowling Green and Hardee Lakes Park, located 5 miles northwest of town, offer both tent and RV sites, with cabin accommodations available at several properties. Peace River Campground and Thousand Trails Peace River provide water-oriented experiences about 15 miles south, where visitors can access multiple accommodation types including glamping and yurt options alongside traditional camping.
Seasonal considerations affect camping in central Florida, with hurricane season potentially impacting availability. "The park like so many others in the area took quite a beating from Ian during the hurricane season," noted one visitor about Pioneer Creek RV Resort. Summer brings intense heat and frequent afternoon thunderstorms from June through September, while winter months (November-March) offer mild temperatures but increased demand for reservations. Many campgrounds in the region operate year-round but require advance booking during winter when snowbirds migrate south. Flooding can temporarily close certain campgrounds, particularly those situated near waterways like Peace River or Hardee Lakes.
Hardee Lakes Park receives consistent praise for its reclaimed land setting. "This is reclaimed land from an old phosphate mine. The mine was closed 20 years ago and the land was reclaimed and turned into a beautified park and campground. The trees have had time to mature," explained one camper. The park features four lakes with well-maintained trails and hard-packed surfaces suitable for various activities. Peace River areas provide opportunities for water recreation, with several reviews highlighting kayaking, fishing, and river access as key attractions. Pioneer Creek RV Resort earns high ratings for its amenities and maintenance despite its proximity to Highway 27. Most campgrounds near Bowling Green offer full hookups for RVs, while primitive campsites are less common near Bowling Green proper. Visitors seeking more rustic experiences often travel to nearby state parks like Highlands Hammock or Myakka River.
"A nice campground in south-central Florida. Campsites are close together but enough room to park trailer and tow vehicle. Most sites have some shade trees. Beware of low grassy areas after a rain."
"Camping next to the river with our adult kids and the grandkids, good bicycle paths walking trails, canoeing fishing and actually quite in the evenings on the eastern side of the grounds, everything is"
$18 - $22 / night
"There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well."
"There are many short loop trails that take you through many ecosystems, giant trees at sizes few have seen before, lots of wildlife to."
$25 - $28 / night
"There are four lakes, campsites are located on one of the bigger lakes. Like all parks some site are better than others, none are bad. We had the end site on the lake that was very private."
"I was excited to discover all these primitive wites with water are right on the lake."
$15 - $23 / night
"I was staying across the Street at 1000 trails, and I thought I would come over here and look at the old locomotive and the log cabin, etc."
"This location is at one of the most unpredictable water level spots along the Peace River - this is not the wide deep Peace River you will find further south, but it is a very popular location for the"
$22 / night
"Widely known in Florida for the mountain bike trails. Not much else to do in the area, but very nice space to chill out. The night sky is far enough away that you can really take in the stars."
"For Florida this is a great campsite especially for me because it's so close overall a great place for any activity"
"All the activities like shuffleboard and such surround the activity center. Located pretty much in the center of the park."
"Very close to Walmart! I even had a package delivered here!"
$16 - $80 / night
"ThisThis is a great Campground just outside of Arcadia Florida. It has ATV trails and fossilized shark tooth hunting. it has a Wilderness Area as well as developed the campground area."
"This campground was easy to get to and has lots to do near by. There is the town of Arcadia nearby with local history and restaurants if you feel like a hot meal on a rainy night."
$24 / night
"Then exit 7 to Highway 301 north about 10 miles to the campground. The way in which the state park and campground are set up is easy too."
"This was my first time at a campground in Florida! I was surrounded by beautiful wildlife (alligators, birds, and even a wild boar). The hiking trails were perfect for a beginner or a regular hiker."
GuideGorgeous grounds, well maintained facilities, great campsites with tiki huts, two bars, two huge pools, and lots of activities for all ages! We spent 4 days here and wished we had less things planned so that we could better take advantage of all they offered. We will be back!
GuideLarge dispersed camping area with good views of the airshow, included access to the ground display area, and great facilities considering how large the event is. I will certainly be back with the family.
ScoutThis campground converted to a resort but still have plenty of camper amenities.
GuideCampground in & amongst trees & scrub brush. Easy RV back-in parking. Also, tent sites. Clean laundry & bathroom facilities, including hot showers. Dump station & potable water available. Ranger led walks & swamp buggy rides. Awesome isolation, so hit the grocery before you camp here. Dark zone is great for telescopes. The road in is a little bit washboard, so just slow down & allow extra time. 2 week maximum stay. Rangers helpful & friendly.
ScoutVery disappointing experience. We reserved a 50-amp full-service site, but upon arrival were given only a 30-amp spot with no services. Because of this, we had no choice but to leave. Despite the issue clearly being on their end, they refused to refund the unused days. Craig repeatedly postponed the refund, always pushing it to“next week,” and after a month of waiting, we gave up. On top of that, the place was not well maintained and the overall service was poor. I would not recommend staying here.
ScoutThis place has many pros and a few cons... I'll get the cons out of the way first... it is just 3 miles out of Zephyrhills Hills, FL so there is plenty of noise from nearby busy road. A train runs through this property several times a day/night and is loud. It is right next door to a mobile home community and these homes are visible from parts of the campground. Pros? It is close to town if you need something. A train runs through it so not many people come to camp here. There are several picnic tables and firepits. There are 3 port-a-pottie, all clean. It is beautiful, especially deeper in the property along the trails. This is a strictly boondock, pack it out location... no electric, no dump station and only non-potable water via a hand pump at a sink near the staff shack (staff only pr a sent during hunting days). There is. Good mix of sun and shade with a generous oak tree canopy. I could keep my class b in the shade and run my portable solar panels in the sun or keep my rig in the sun as well. Dogs are allowed on leash. There are no numbered sites, just set up where you please, there is plenty of flat spots.I had good cell reception with TMobile. Reservations are required and gate lock code given.Even with the train etc I enjoyed my time there, I REALLY enjoyed having the place to myself all but one day.
ScoutWe were looking forward to staying here, but when we arrived the gate was locked and we did not have the code. We called the phone number at the gate, but nobody answered so we were left scrambling for somewhere else to stay at 9pm.
I'm sure it is a lovely park, but I didn't see anything on their website or here about the gate being locked.
ScoutI'd like to give you the positives. Crisp, clean, manicured, food and bar pretty good, well-appointed amenities. We had a pretty good week, having found a quiet pool area. Saw a bald eagle and a swallow-tail kite. I’d like to tell you about that, but that’s not the review.
Here’s the review: if you book here, you will be checking into a bizarre combination of tropical paradise, tailgate party, spring break, and a middle school playground. On St. Patrick's Day, we had been doing some sightseeing. We came back to our site, and the folks who had arrived behind us fired up their music. I don't have a problem with music or other noise prior to"quiet time," so long as it's not over the top. This was way over the top. Kim was on the phone with the nursing home about her 91-year old mother and she couldn't hear the other end of the call.
We called Security and asked for help, they came around and talked to the offenders. Whereupon the offenders started yelling around"who complained about our music?" And, they sent their preteen daughters on their bicycles going around and asking"did you complain?” Let's just say it was downhill from there. They jacked the volume even more, and started taunting us. Kim lost her temper and started yelling at them to quiet down. They responded by threatening her. She told me to call security, but since they hadn’t helped, and the on-duty rent-a-cop had no interest in helping, I called 911(which the campground rules said to do in an emergency). Apparently, that was a mistake. The rent-a-cop was pissed off that we called 911 when he was supposed to already be on top of it(which he wasn't). So there was a conclave of police cars, and the night manager, and the three large guys from the offending site, etc.
Bottom line: management demanded that WE leave, in half an hour, or be arrested. It’s 10:30 pm, and I told the rent-a-cop that I was in no shape to drive. “Figure it out,” he said, and walked away. So two 70-year olds had 30 minutes to get everything packed up and drive to some alternative place.
While we were striking the site, the kids at the offending site were chanting"we won, we won." And they started playing"Hit the Road You Jack" quite loud. And the adults were yelling"we're Republicans. We can do whatever we want." They noted our Maine license plates and told us to"go back to Canada where you belong."
We ended up in a wicked expensive hotel in the next town over, paying spring break prices($340 a night!!). And we lost the cost of two nights at the campground.
So if you’re a party animal, this may be your kind of place. Just don’t complain about anything, or you will be asked to leave.
It’s interesting to note which rules are enforced and which aren’t. For instance, there’s a poolside bar, and lots of signs between the bar and the pool saying“no food or drink beyond this point.” Not only was there lots of food and drink around the pool, there were wait staff taking orders and delivering it.
In retrospect, the fact that they have a rent-a-cop cruising the premises every night should have been a red flag. I’ve never seen that before, but apparently they expect rowdiness. They just don’t want to deal with the negative repercussions.
ScoutCheck in is at 2 PM onwards, check out by 2 pm Sunday. Lively rivers and trails to explore for kids.
Camping sites near Bowling Green, Florida provide access to diverse ecosystems from reclaimed phosphate mines to cypress-lined riverbanks. The area sits in central Florida's Hardee County at approximately 115 feet above sea level, with the Peace River valley creating distinct recreational opportunities. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with natural springs maintaining a consistent 68-72°F temperature year-round.
Fossil hunting along Peace River: At Peace River Campground, visitors can search for prehistoric remnants. "We found LOTS and the camp store sells all the gear you need," shared Dan X., while Jennifer L. mentioned, "I found a ton of shark teeth."
Mountain biking on reclaimed terrain: Alafia River State Park Campground offers extensive trail systems on former mining land. "I loved that they had a ton of different trails to choose from, some just hiking or biking, and some mixed ones. Really well kept," wrote Elizabeth G. Another visitor noted, "The MTB trails are constantly changing so we are never bored here."
Tubing in crystal springs: Kelly Rock Springs Campground provides refreshing water activities on hot days. "The small Springs river that goes through the park is very relaxing and great for tubing. The waters are usually about 67-70 degrees so it can be cold in the fall," explained Ilena R. Another camper added, "You can bring your own tube for tubing or rent one outside of park at end of road."
Uncrowded lake access: Hardee Lakes Park offers peaceful waterfront camping away from crowds. "Stayed at a non-electric site right on the lake. Fire pit is great and camp hosts even recommended a local small biz that will bring you firewood," noted Joshua W. Earl B. described it as a "Beautiful spot" during their stay.
Well-maintained facilities: Peace River Oaks stands out for its modern amenities. "This place is brand new and very clean. All of the sites are spacious with large cement pads," according to Brad P. He added, "This isn't the ordinary crunched in resort camping."
Historic exploration options: Highlands Hammock State Park Campground gives visitors access to Florida's oldest state park. "On this trip we were treated to a night time tram ride because the 26 species of fireflies were out for a 2 week period," shared Larry M. Meredith C. noted the variety of activities: "From hiking to boating, fishing to a great restaurant onsite this is a great campground!"
Seasonal wildlife activity: Alligators become more visible during spring and summer months. At Peace River Campground, Leslie M. observed, "The Peace River is full of alligators in the spring/summer time. They didn't bother us but they also didn't seem too afraid of us either."
Site selection strategies: Some campgrounds implement unique reservation systems. Laura H. explained at Thousand Trails Peace River: "Every day about 1pm you go sign up for the lottery system to shuffle your RV to a sewer site if you're lucky enough to get it. They failed to tell us you have to show up daily."
Terrain considerations: Many campsites are on sandy soil or former mining areas. "This is reclaimed land from an old phosphate mine. The mine was closed 20 years ago and the land was reclaimed and turned into a beautified park and campground," Jim W. reported about Hardee Lakes Park.
Spacious sites for groups: Pioneer Park accommodates larger family gatherings. "We opt for a primitive site by the water for a couple nights and couldn't have been happier. We had a solid picnic table and fire ring and a very large site," Jan M. shared.
Kid-friendly water activities: Kelly Rock Springs Campground provides safe swimming areas. "Such a great place for families to camp!! The campground is nice and has bathrooms and showers, plus being able to go to the springs is so much fun and beautiful!!" ReBeCcA F. enthused.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Pioneer Creek RV Resort offers nature encounters for young visitors. "The park is quiet at night even though it's close to 27," noted Robert M., who added, "The price was very reasonable, I believe it was $270 for seven nights. Full hookup."
Electrical considerations: Monitor power supply during peak usage times. Thomas E. cautioned about Peace River RV Resort: "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours droped to 108v for a couple hours, i choose to run the gen during that time."
Accessibility challenges: Some parks have unpaved access roads. Sherry P. from Thousand Trails Peace River advised, "There are a few paved roads but others are not. It had just rained a lot due to Hurricane Eta and there are huge potholes. So go slow!!!!"
Extended-stay services: Little Charlie Creek RV Park accommodates longer visits with practical amenities. "The campsite was nice. The dog park was nice. The pool was nice... Very close to Walmart! I even had a package delivered here!" reported heather.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bowling Green, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bowling Green, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 250 campgrounds and RV parks near Bowling Green, FL and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Bowling Green, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bowling Green, FL is Thousand Trails Peace River with a 4.1-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bowling Green, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Bowling Green, FL.
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