Best Cabin Camping near Cape Canaveral, FL

You know you’ve really discovered the secret to living here in NE Florida when you come across one of these traditional fish camps that offer up direct access to the water as well as waterfront amenities like SUPs, canoes and kayaks in addition to plenty of places to easily cast a line. Look no further than Oak Hill Fish Camp & RV Resort, which is located directly on the Intracoastal waterway right near Mosquito Lagoon. One bit of advice? Bring your mosquito repellant! 

Wife and husband duo, Dave & Chrissy, run this place and are just some of the most pleasant folks you’ll ever meet. Like me, they’ve come from the wintery north, so they sure enjoy the home and business they’ve founded next to Florida shores. One of the many things that they recommend is that if you are looking for somewhere to camp, there’s actually a handful of really great options that can be accessed by boat. For more on backcountry island camping, check this link out: www.nps.gov/cana/planyourvisit/permits.htm. 

Area fisherman have been flocking to these parts for over a hundred years in search of Redfish and Snook, where with the right bait, you’ll be sure to catch plenty. While this place rents waterfront cabins, complete with their own private piers, there is plenty of room for RV’s (no pull-throughs though), so you can either rent a cabin in addition to your RV or simply rent a plot of land to park your RV and take advantage of some of the best boat launch points on the eastern coast of FL. And if you’re a tent camper, sorry, this place doesn’t accommodate us. 

There’s tons of natural wildlife in addition to all the fish you’ll be catching, where we saw dolphins, manatees and all types of waterfoul. From an amenities standpoint, in addition to the piers, there are boat slips if you brought watercraft, outdoor fire pits and BBQ grilles, picnic tables and the place is pet friendly. Insider’s tip? If you plan your stay well, you can time it to see one of the many launches from Cape Canaveral– and if not, no worries, the sunsets you’ll encounter will be some of the most amazing you ever experience. Another tip is if you have time, make sure to make it down to Haulover Canal where kayaks and canoes can launch from to discover some of the most amazing birds, alligators and endemic wildlife to Mosquito Lagoon. 

Happy Camping!

If you’ve landed on this review hopefully its because of a primary decision to visit one of the greatest beach communities in all of Florida – New Smyrna Beach. This super-slim archipelago boasts some of the most perfect white sugar sand beaches anywhere – plus, the best part is that this beach is a proper ‘drive-on’ beach, so whatever you would normally have to haul in a cart or wheeled by trolley to the beach, you can simply keep in the trunk or bed of your SUV / car / truck. And if you are here, hopefully you have planned to be here for some time – or, upon seeing how simply amazing New Smyrna Beach is, have decided that you need a place to stay ... but unfortunately, you and a couple thousand other people have come to the same conclusion. So what do you do? 

Well, you look for simple and affordable accommodations nearby, and that’s what will attract you to Sugar Mill Ruins Travel Park, which is conveniently located only 15 minutes drive or so from beachside bliss. While this is definitely an RV-laden outpost, the vibe here is quite contagious, with its main office greeting you immediately upon arrival, where just past this wooden log cabin structure pure hedonism awaits with vibrant bouncing beach balls popping up and down in this overgrown campside Florida shaped-pool bursting with loud southern country music (yee-haw!) and nearly everyone en towe brandishing a coozie with some cheap domestic beer and endless “hey y’all’s” and smiles to boot at the ‘Tiki Hut’ (warning – there’s nothing here that resembles a ’Tiki Hut’ apart from the drinks they pour, although even here, no umbrellas!). This place feels like Spring Break for the adults toting 2-3 kids with them as they dwell in their mobile manufactured temporary housing. 

With all the proper hook-ups being provided (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer, water), this oversized RV menagerie feels like it’s been carved out of a forest of tall needle-pine trees sheltering its residents from the sweltering heat of NE Florida. The family-friendly restrooms and shower facilities are fairly clean and there’s picnic tables and BBQ grills sporadically littered all over the place. Sugar Mill Ruins also rents out very affordable cabins (12 x 20) with twin bunk beds and fold-out futon (nice) complete with mini-fridge, table, chairs, microwave and even a porch with deck chairs. There’s more than 200 sites to choose from complete with a playground for the kiddos, game room with 2 billiards tables, plus 3 acres of lake fishing along with a cool pavilion with games and events (this is the main building that you’ll first encounter). 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While not exactly a destination, Sugar Mill Ruins is so dang convenient to some of the best beach experiences you might ever encounter, depending upon your leaning, leave early and spend as much time as you can at New Smyrna Beach; (2) If you’re looking for a different place to soak some suds, I highly recommend Norwood’s Treehouse Bar, which has fantastic cocktails and local live music; and (3) For simply sublime food, check out Outriggers Tiki Bar& Grille, which has a pretty gracious happy hour where you can spot manatees and dolphins while biting down on some of the freshest catch in Florida, but with outstanding accoutrement, like key lime coconut beurre blanc and sticky bamboo rice or pineapple and peppadew rhum butter infused fish entrees. 

Happy Camping!

Warning: you are not actually on New Smyrna Beach at this RV wonderland, but rather, a good 15-20 minute drive to one of the most glorious drive-on beaches in all of Florida. So what you may sacrifice in terms of immediate beach access, you more than make up for in an affordable place to rock up your RV (max 50 feet length), rent a cabin (1BR or 2BR) or pitch a tent for the night. This destination marries ancient Oaks with swinging Palms and has a very nice forested feel encircling the place (and helping you forget all of that traffic that is whirring by just outside of the property). 

As for the campground itself, all of the typical hook-ups (electric, water and sewage) are available for the mobile-inclined RV’ers out there. For those that prefer to camp au naturale, there’s a handful of spots, but honestly, you won’t feel as though you are out in nature whatsoever, as the noise in the place is pretty unsettling as the individual campsites are too close together. And if you have just rocked up in your car or SUV and are looking for an alternative to hotels, then you have just hit the lottery, as the cabins here, while small, are quaint and fairly new as well as offering a proper front porch swing. 

New Smyrna Beach RV Park & Campground offers up amenities like a nice little swimming pool (at about 4pm, there were some pretty nice cocktails being poured poolside!) along with free WiFi, TV scattered relatively new picnic tables and stand-up BBQ grilles. 

Insider’s tips? This spot is perfect whether you are heading to Daytona 500 or watching a rocket launch form Kennedy Space Center. I’d also highly recommend Central Florida Zoo, which has 116 acres of exotic animals and botanical gardens to explore. Of course, there’s 25 miles of pristine Atlantic shoreline encompassing the dunes and Mosquito Lagoon, which is one of the state’s longest stretches of undeveloped and protected preserve to explore. 

Happy Camping!

I have to admit, when I first discovered Mill Creek RV Resort on our smartphone’s GPS, I had nothing but low expectations and when navigating to get to this seemingly RV road stand, all of the traffic and commercial real estate surrounding this place was just begging me to turn around and hightail it out of here. That was, until we decided to check out this RV parking spot. And we were somewhat pleasantly surprised by what we found. While easily not a destination, if your aim is to simply find comfortable, affordable and safe accommodations to roll up your mobile living room for the night, then (especially for the price), you won’t be disappointed. 

To begin with, the community and neighbors you will meet are incredibly welcoming and the owners / management couldn’t be more hospitable. This place on the one hand has a small neighborhood feel (because it is partly carved out of a residential area) and on the other, feels like a semi-decent nature preserve where RV’s aren’t jam packed next to one another. Sure, it’s tight in a few places, but all-in-all, one feels safe and secure here and offered a number of pretty great and new amenities. And if you don’t have an RV, no worries, the good folks at Mill Creek RV Resort will rent you one of their newly built park models. 

Mill Creek RV Resort offers a number of amenities, including: complete RV hook-ups (20 / 30 / 50 electric amp, water and sewage lines) with pull-through and back-in flat concrete slab sites, picnic tables, heated in-ground pool complete with lounge chairs and umbrellas, recreation hall with ping pong tables, coin-operated laundry facilities, very clean restroom and shower facilities, kid’s playground w/ slide, doggie park (one for small and another for large), mail center, cable TV access, free WiFi access (near the office only though) as well as indoor and outdoor games (e.g. horse shoes, shuffle board, corn hole), propane refill station, LP gas, cable TV access and even sheds for extra storage. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This location puts you within short driving distance to Walt Disney World, Universal, Seaworld and a bunch of other family-friendly entertainment options; (2) When you get tired of paying for overpriced amusement park food or can’t muster enough strength to plan your next meal from the confines of what might be available in your RV fridge, then venture out to one of these nearby eateries: Coqui Snacks, Sol de Borinquen Bakery Restaurant & Deli or Dolce Bakery and Café; and (3) If you brought a kayak or canoe, I highly recommend launching in nearby Kissimmee Lakefront Park, where if you go to the far eastern side, you can cast a line and catch some pretty good fish. 

Happy Camping!

If your idea of heaven is closely packed RV trailers lined up side-by-side with not a whole lot of space to stretch out and relax, then Mosquito Lagoon RV Park has you covered. While from my POV, that’s the downside, the huge upside is that this destination places you in the front row of oceanside vistas and supremely easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. Located in Oak Hill on the Space Coast, this seaside campground is easily accessed from I95 and is easily one of the best fishing meccas in the whole of the Sunshine state where you’ll catch the famed Oak Hill Reds in addition to gag grouper, snook, mangrove snapper and spotted sea trout, to name but a few.


While Mosquito Lagoon RV has about 30 RV sites (3 of which are pull through), you’ll discover all the usual amenities from 30 / 50 amp service in addition to water and sewage hook-ups, picnic tables, fire pits (by request), fairly clean and well-organized bathrooms, laundr-O-mat and fairly decent WiFi. They also rent a few cabins here, on-premise ice machines and have a pretty nice Tiki Hut& Bar (albeit makeshift, due to rebuilding from a recent hurricane), where they have no problem if you BYOB. Unfortunately, there’s no tent camping here, but for a $35 fee, they’ll let you park your car here and then boat to one of the many neighboring islands where you can engage in some pretty epic primitive camping options. 

Insider tips? Here’s a few. First, this place has a handful of kayaks that they’ll rent to you for FREE! That’s pretty amazing, but you’ll want to call ahead and reserve one well ahead of arriving. Second, unlike many other campgrounds in the area, this place has their own boat launch and slips, making it quite ideal if you have your own watercraft. Also, if you time it right, as you are on the Space Coast, you can see a rocket or satellite launching into the pristine star-speckled nighttime sky. Lastly, if you want a break from cooking, I highly recommending heading a bit up the road from Mosquito Lagoon RV Park to Goodrich Seafood, where they have all the seafood you could expect grilled, fried or sautéed along with evening specials, live music and a pretty amazing bar. Ask for Oliver who likes to pour them strong! 

Happy Camping!

If you prize convenience and EZ access on/off the I95 corridor as you’re heading up or down Northern Florida nearby the Canaveral National Seashore, then this is definitely a consideration for the 18 wheeled mobile living room crowd. It’s literally less than a 1 minute drive once you get off the interstate to this little RV parking lot. Plus, there’s a fairly oversized BP gas station right there for fueling and stocking up. As for the RV oasis itself, there’s a simple, oval-shaped loop that is cut down the middle with a third lane (wherein you’ll find the community pool, which I have to admit, is in pretty good shape). At the end of the main drive, you’ll come across the main office where you check in. Kathy, who was there when we stopped by, was pretty friendly and very accommodating. 

As for the sites, it’s pretty standard fare with all the electric (20/30/50), water and sewage hook-ups you would expect with the majority of sites being pull-through. There’s a full-service bath house with pretty decent and clean facilities, laundry room, basketball court, tether ball, children’s playground, recreational hall, shuffleboard, doggie park and even a 3 acre lake. Here they rent paddle boats and bicycles (check at the main office). Despite being next to one of the busiest interstate highways in the country, the place is completely surrounded by greenery, so some (trust me, not all - by a long shot) of the noise pollution spilling over from the highway is absorbed by all the lush vegetation. 

About a 25-30 minute drive from Crystal Lake RV Park, you’ll easily reach Cape Canaveral, but you’d be very well served to explore so many other amazing sights and natural attractions, such as Mosquito Lagoon (yep! Bring the bug spray!), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Indian River and Enchanted Forest. Insider’s Tip? Head on over to Black Point Wildlife Drive, where you can (yes) drive around, but you can also park your car (or RV) and go for a solid hike to see some pretty amazing water inlets and abundant wildlife. There’s also Playa Linda Beach which is not heavily populated like you’ll find up north with Daytona beach, and the swells are nice and mild. 

Happy Camping!

This is a great spot. Plenty of trees. Most sites have some space to spread out. Many pull-through spots. The wi-fi repeaters are good for remote workers. This is a paid option and worth it. The bathrooms are cleaned often but some guests don’t clean up after themselves- leaving hair and trash behind- rude! The staff is wonderful as and the permanents are welcoming. Laundry is pay by phone. There is a dog park. Only downside is lack of concrete pads- roads and parking spots are sandy. Minor issues with heavy rains. Quick drive to the beach. Must haves: outdoor mat, above ground camp fire ring, longer hoses.