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Equestrian Camping near Cortez, FL

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    Little Manatee River State Park Campground provides horse-friendly camping options with trail access for equestrians. The campground features separate equestrian camping sites that accommodate riders and their horses. Trails within the park system span approximately 12 miles, creating ample riding opportunities through natural Florida landscapes. Equestrian sites include stalls for horses while campers enjoy nearby accommodations. The park accepts both tent and RV camping, with electric hookups and water available at standard campsites. Picnic tables and fire rings come standard at each site. Campers note the campground layout provides good natural foliage dividers between sites, creating a sense of privacy not found at many horse camps. Sites are spacious enough for horse trailers with good access to trailheads.

    Trail riders can explore the extensive network of equestrian paths that wind through the park's diverse ecosystems. The marked horse trails accommodate riders of various experience levels, with both shorter routes and longer options available. Water crossings and wildlife viewing opportunities enhance the riding experience. Bathrooms and shower facilities remain clean and well-maintained according to regular visitors. The campground provides firewood for purchase, and drinking water is accessible throughout the grounds. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance as the equestrian sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. The park's location offers a peaceful setting away from urban areas while remaining accessible from nearby highways. The extensive trail system and camping amenities make Little Manatee River State Park a preferred destination for horse owners seeking natural Florida camping experiences.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Cortez (9)

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      1. Little Manatee River State Park Campground

      4.4(27)23mi from Cortez36 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Equestrian, Car/RV camping and there is a back country site on a 7 mile loop trail that runs part of the way along the river."

      "A lot of walking trails for people and horses. A surprise was the amphitheater. Washers and dryers are located outside the bathrooms. Friendly hosts and other campers. Would came again."

      from $22 / night

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      2. Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

      4.6(37)26mi from Cortez38 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Hidden cabins, hiking, off-road biking, boating, wildlife...so much beauty and activities to enjoy in this park! The cabins are off the main path, tucked away and private."

      "One of the largest state parks in Florida. This great Park has full and partial hook ups for all styles of camping to include hammock camping."

      from $26 / night

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      3. Rye Wilderness Park Campground

      5.0(1)19mi from CortezTents

      "Lively rivers and trails to explore for kids."

      from $20 - $25 / night

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      4. Old Prairie Campground — Myakka River State Park

      4.3(8)26mi from Cortez21 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "This is kind of our go to Florida State Park as we live very close and really enjoy the hiking, biking and paddling the river and lake."

      "Located just east of Sarasota you’ll find lots to do without having to leave the park."

      from $26 - $70 / night

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      5. Tropical Gardens RV Park

      Be the first to review7mi from CortezRVs, Tents, Glamping
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      6. Alafia River State Park Campground

      4.3(20)39mi from Cortez29 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Miles of horseback trails to ride. Very nice horse stalls to put horses in overnight. Perfect place for equine vacation!"

      "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."

      from $22 / night

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      7. Hardee Lakes Park

      4.8(11)44mi from CortezRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We stayed in an "equestrian" site and most people didn't have horses (neither did we).  "

      "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."

      from $25 - $28 / night

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      8. Flying A Campground — Myakka State Forest

      3.5(4)41mi from Cortez10 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Parking is away from campsites."

      "All sites have a fire ring and picnic table
      There are vault toilets available in the loop and there is a potable water spigot at the nearby ranger station (firewood also available there)."

      from $9 / night

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      9. Cypress Creek Preserve

      3.8(5)50mi from CortezRVs, Tents

      "There aren't many free spots in this area of Florida. Of course, they provide nothing other than a spot to camp with fire ring and old table, and an outhouse."

      "There are pot holes as you drive in that are kinda steep however nothing too serious. The spots are spacious and all other campers were respectful of noise volume and kept spots clean."

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Cortez, FL

    5 Photos of 9 Cortez Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cortez, FL

    113 Reviews of 9 Cortez Campgrounds

    • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 9, 2025

      Hardee Lakes Park

      Nice park and campground

      We got lucky to get a site here last minute after our state park campground was closed for extended period due to hurricane repairs (without letting us know so it was a scramble to find alternatives).  The campground is nice.  We stayed in an "equestrian" site and most people didn't have horses (neither did we).  While much of the park isn't shaded (in fact there is waayyyyy too much lawn/grass in all the communal areas - would be much better if they planted trees and let forest grow back), most sites do seem to have at least some trees providing partial shade. Not much privacy between sites, but that didn't really bother us.  There are lots of walking "roads" (dirt roads) to the various lakes. All in all, we were glad to have a site and would return if needed again.

    • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 18, 2018

      Little Manatee River State Park Campground

      So much to offer!

      What an amazing State Park - they have multiple camping options. Equestrian, Car/RV camping and there is a back country site on a 7 mile loop trail that runs part of the way along the river.

      The Car/RV camping spots are roomy, somewhat private. bathrooms are clean, almost always have camp hosts available.

      Access to the back country loop trail and camping is just down the road. Reservations are required and you check in at main gate. camp is about 4 miles in on trail if hiking counter clockwise. There is a space for fire and picnic table at site. This is a nice place for beginner backpackers to try out. Sadly just through the tree line is a golf course and housing community. Note: resident raccoon is very large - you must hang your secure food and trash! You can see lights through the trees at night and hear the lawn equipment in the mornings. This can be comforting to first timers though. The hike along the river is just beautiful.

      Equestrian camping group camping area offers 4 sites has stalls and other amenities for horse camping. fire pits and picnic tables. There are 12 miles of trails in the state park

      There is also a primitive group camping site for scouts and other similar organizations.

      There are many ranger and local outfitter activities and seasonally there are offered full moon horseback and kayak trips that allow you to see the area in a "different light"

      Fishing is available also on the river, The "lake" is man made and has little to offer for those wanting a catch.

      Make sure you book your reservation early as this park fills up fast!

    • Sue G.
      Dec. 30, 2024

      Cypress Creek Preserve

      Free camping

      There aren't many free spots in this area of Florida. Of course, they provide nothing other than a spot to camp with fire ring and old table, and an outhouse. We are in a 24' class C and found a nice private area that was surprisingly level. Trailers are accommodated at the equestrian campground. I suggest you arrive before dark as the road is a bit rough and narrow, with no light.

    • Patti D.
      Feb. 12, 2021

      Little Manatee River State Park Campground

      A lovely state park

      Really enjoyed our stay here, good size lot, #10, with electric, water, picnic table and fire ring. Clean dump station. Natural trees providing privacy between lots. A lot of walking trails for people and horses. A surprise was the amphitheater. Washers and dryers are located outside the bathrooms. Friendly hosts and other campers. Would came again.

    • E
      May. 15, 2019

      Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

      Not the Florida you imagine about when you think Florida...

      Hidden cabins, hiking, off-road biking, boating, wildlife...so much beauty and activities to enjoy in this park! The cabins are off the main path, tucked away and private. They are super roomy and comfortable with their own picnic tables and grills. You can launch canoes/kayaks or book a trip on the boats in the park. If you like off-road biking there are several nice trails. Really family-friendly!

    • Donna H.
      Aug. 28, 2018

      Alafia River State Park Campground

      Perfect place to camp and take your horses with you

      Very nice facilities. Miles of horseback trails to ride. Very nice horse stalls to put horses in overnight. Perfect place for equine vacation!

    • Perry J.
      Feb. 14, 2021

      Old Prairie Campground — Myakka River State Park

      Quintessential Florida

      This is kind of our go to Florida State Park as we live very close and really enjoy the hiking, biking and paddling the river and lake. We typically book last minute as“In-Season” campsites are often difficult to find. In addition, the lower campground is sometimes flooded out or closed for repairs putting even more pressure on the two campgrounds closer to the main park entrance which is further from the lake and general store. 

      I may have reviewed this park before but always find different things to share. Their are three main campgrounds:

      (1) Old Prairie where we usually stay. This is an older campground with a more rustic, state park vibe. Maybe 20 sites typically hosting smaller trailers, vans and tents etc.

      (2) Palmetto Ridge is more more or less across from Old Prairie with a more open and modern looking vibe and where you will see more of your typical RV crowd of Big Rigs and larger trailers

      (3) Big Flats is about 3 miles down the road from the entrance close to Lake Myakka where the tour boat, boat ramp, general store etc is found. We have never stayed here as it has been closed for repairs, maintenance and flooding on numerous occasions. Perhaps something to consider if you are booking way in advance. 

      The reason Myakka is so popular to Florida visitors is it has outstanding beauty, a real Jurassic Park feel but is very near Sarasota with all the beaches, museums, restaurants and activities literally less than 1/2 hour away. Lots of people vacationing Florida on the cheap like to set up home here“in-season” and jump from site to site and stay as long as they can. Summers are much easier to find a site. 

      We are lucky to live so close. We are here more in the summer and swing seasons. This park makes an excellent 2 or 3 day adventure or a great Basecamp for your Florida vacation. You won’t be disappointed. 

      NOTE: Some of the public facilities have been closed due to COVID including the “Canopy Walk” which is very cool so you may want to check if that sort of thing interests you.

      It is always interesting to me how all the Florida State Parks are a little different as the park manager seems to have some autonomy. Certain parks have public facilities closed like the Canopy Walk here at Myakka but another Florida State Park might have their observation tower open even though the structures are similar. Go figure.

    • Travyl Couple !.
      Dec. 7, 2019

      Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

      Camping and Canopy Trees

      One of the largest state parks in Florida. This great Park has full and partial hook ups for all styles of camping to include hammock camping. There are 6 primitive campgrounds; group camping and Cabins too! We stayed at the Palmetto Ridge campground which were gravel and had the full hook ups. The old prairie and big flats were regular ground surface electric/water (no sewer) . These also had a little less privacy. You will have 39 miles of hiking trails and off road/mountain biking at your pleasure. We bike with hybrid specialized bikes and had no problems off road. We were here in July. Fortunately, there is lots of shade even while hiking due to the canopy trees and this kept things cooler during in the summer. We did not have a problem with biting bugs until nightfall. You will enjoy biking the 7 miles of paved (flat) roads in Park. There are Rivers and lakes for kayaking/canoe and we enjoyed the fishing and paddling. Great gift shop and cafe area near boat launch on lake. There is even a flat bottom boat tour on the Upper Myakka lake. The visitor center offers a lot of rentals too... from kayaks to tandem bikes. (For the die hard road bikers it is only 12.5 miles to Legacy Rail to trail). We had a blast and our video goes into more detail about the park. Be sure to visit the nearby Crowley Nature Center less than 5 miles away. (Crowley nature center is a separate video located on our YouTube channel and website)

    Guide to Cortez

    Little Manatee River State Park offers equestrian camping sites near Cortez, Florida, about 45 minutes northeast of Bradenton. The park sits on lowland coastal plains with pine flatwoods and riverine habitats at an elevation near sea level. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winters remain mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 50°F.

    What to do

    Kayaking and canoeing: Myakka River State Park provides excellent water activities when water levels permit. "We rented a canoe for the day (reasonably priced at $20 for the first hour and $5/hr after that) and saw many alligators, turtles, wild pigs, and so many birds," reports Laura M.

    Mountain biking: Alafia River State Park features some of the region's best trail systems. "The MTB trails are constantly changing so we are never bored here," notes Jennifer T. The park offers multiple difficulty levels with trails built on former phosphate mining land, creating unique elevation changes uncommon in Florida.

    Wildlife viewing: The parks around Cortez provide exceptional opportunities to observe native Florida species. "I've never seen so many alligators in the wild. From babies to big daddies, they lined the river and the edge of the lake," shares Dale G. about his experiences at Myakka River. Early morning and dusk offer the best viewing times.

    What campers like

    Privacy between sites: Hardee Lakes Park receives praise for its spacious layout. "All sites are quite large and well separated from neighboring sites," explains Ari A. The campground features four lakes with trails connecting them throughout the property.

    Peaceful atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the quiet setting at horse-friendly campgrounds near Cortez. "Absolutely beautiful and peaceful," writes Jill K. about her stay at Little Manatee River State Park. The area's campgrounds generally maintain quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.

    Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the well-maintained bathhouses. "Clean bath house and laundry facilities (bring quarters)," notes Kathy L. about Old Prairie Campground at Myakka River State Park. Most established campgrounds in the area provide hot showers and flush toilets.

    What you should know

    Water restrictions: Water availability can be limited at certain times. "No water since Spring 2024. No boat tours as the river is low," reports one camper about Myakka River State Park in December 2024. Always check current conditions before your trip.

    Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds near Cortez require advance booking. Palmetto Ridge Campground is particularly popular. "In-Season campsites are often difficult to find," explains Perry J. For weekend visits during winter months, book 3-6 months in advance.

    Wildlife awareness: Alligators are common in and around waterways. "Went to drain the tanks yesterday morning and a large sounding gator started to growl territorially at me. So heads up with your pets please," warns Jenelle J. Never approach wildlife and keep pets leashed at all times.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cortez, FL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cortez, FL is Little Manatee River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 27 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cortez, FL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Cortez, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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