Peace River and surrounding areas in central Florida offer diverse camping experiences from tent sites to upscale glamping options. The region features oak-studded landscapes with elevation changes between 100-150 feet, providing some topographical variety unusual for this part of Florida. Water plays a central role with multiple lakes, rivers, and wetlands creating habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation year-round.
What to do
Fossil hunting along riverbanks: Peace River Campground provides excellent access points for finding prehistoric treasures. "We spent the day paddeling down the river, fishing or sifting through the sediment looking for fossils from all different time periods," shares Kasey K., adding that the campground is "conveniently located next to the canoe rental place."
Stargazing at dark sky sites: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park offers certified dark sky viewing away from light pollution. "This is the only designated dark sky site in Florida. It does not disappoint for night sky viewing," reports David G. The park requests visitors "please be courteous and keep your outdoor lights to a minimum."
Weekend rodeo experiences: For a unique camping activity, Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo hosts weekly events. "We went to the rodeo on Saturday night, did a swamp buggy ride, skeet shooting, petting zoo and rode a mechanical bull," writes Tina S. The resort combines outdoor recreation with western-themed entertainment.
What campers like
Spacious, private campsites: Many campers appreciate the room to spread out. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit," notes Stephanie G. The separation between sites allows for a more secluded experience.
Clean facilities despite remote locations: Even at more isolated campgrounds, maintenance receives positive reviews. Roxxy G. found at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve that "Showers are hot. Bathrooms are spacious," while also noting the remarkable air quality: "The air was so clean that we felt like we were on oxygen!"
Wildlife encounters: Hillsborough River State Park offers frequent animal sightings. "At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," describes Jason D. At Kissimmee Prairie, Roxxy G. reports, "Our 6 teenagers were so excited to stand face-to-face, only a few feet from gentle deer, bunnies, and turkeys."
What you should know
Limited amenities at some locations: Several campgrounds require advance planning. For Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, David G. advises, "Expect a long travel to this remote site. It's a couple miles of reasonably decent dirt roads to get there, after several miles of remote highways."
Seasonal bug concerns: Insects can be problematic, particularly during warmer months. At E.G. Simmons Regional Park, Christy C. warns, "You really cannot stay outside at dusk. Citronella Torches, spray, fans, Avon skin so soft...none of these work for the no see-ums." Similarly, Jason D. found at Hillsborough River that "the mosquitoes were ridiculous in June."
Flooding concerns: Thousand Trails Peace River experiences occasional high water issues. Laura H. notes, "Although we enjoyed our time here there were some serious concerns with flooding. Many large rigs were parked in the flood plane which encompasses a large section of the park."
Tips for camping with families
Consider yurt camping options: For families seeking comfort without full RV amenities, yurt camping near Bowling Green, Florida provides a middle ground. Westgate River Ranch offers luxury yurt accommodations with modern comforts, while maintaining a connection to nature.
Kid-friendly activities: Scheduled events keep younger campers engaged. At Myakka River State Park, families can explore via rentals. "There are bike rentals I have taken advantage of, plenty of walking trails, and you can rent airboats," shares Alyssa D. The park combines education with recreation.
Swimming access considerations: Not all water features are suitable for swimming. Hillsborough River has a pool, but Jason D. cautions, "Don't come expecting the pool to be open, just consider it a lucky bonus if it happens to be. They look for any reason possible to close it."
Tips from RVers
Lottery system for hookups: At Peace River, unusual procedures exist for securing full services. Laura H. explains, "There are some sewer available sites but there is a strange lottery system. 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."
Low-hanging branches: Several parks have tree issues for taller vehicles. Corey K. warns at Lake Kissimmee State Park that "If you have a tall RV low hanging branches in the camp area might be an issue." Similarly, Sherry P. advises at Thousand Trails Peace River to "be careful of low hanging tree branches when backing in."
Electric reliability concerns: During peak usage, electrical service can fluctuate. Thomas E. reports at Thousand Trails Peace River, "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours dropped to 108v for a couple hours, I choose to run the gen during that time."
