Best Tent Camping near Cortez, FL

Recent Tent Reviews near Cortez, Florida

531 Reviews of 11 Cortez Campgrounds

• 

  Colin R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 4, 2023

  St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA

  Great time and very clear facilities.

  We tent camped here for two nights. I really enjoyed our stay and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

  We stayed one of the premium tent sites, but unfortunately there is a very bright street light on all night right next to premium camping. The primitive campsites with no hookups are in a much more secluded area and not affected by lighting at night.

  Other than that, everything else was great.

• M

  Mallory D.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 20, 2018

  Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

  Lots of Wildlife

  Visited back in 2011 & 2014. We tent camped on both occasions. Took the boat tour & saw more alligators than we could count. Lots of armadillos around the campsites at night/in the evenings. Being from further North, armadillo are a pretty exciting animal to spot. The park has lots to do, & they've actually got 3 separate campgrounds. I can't recall which we stayed in, but they were decent for all your tent camping needs (can't attest to RV camping though).

  The park is really lovely and being that your in FL your still close to beautiful beaches too.

• 

  Jennifer D.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 19, 2019

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Awesome campground

  I used an RV site last year and booked a tent site this year. It is technically within walking distance to the beach.

• 

  Aila R.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 7, 2021

  Turtle Beach Campground

  Nice campground, but overnight road noise near the street

  The bathrooms were very nice, and showers heated up well. The location is great for the beach, but I would not recommend tent camping near the road as we were woken up several times overnight by what sounded like cars racing on the road nearby. We'll likely stay again, but only on sites closer to the beachside.

• 

  Dan X.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 5, 2021

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Nice sites, crammed in wall to wall

  Really beautiful area. Sites w/grills that can fit 2 cars. Foliage between sites so they are visually private but can get loud depending on your neighbors. Plenty of space for hammocks.

  Camp store on site has firewood, bug spray, sunscreen, all the basics.

  We tent camped in July and it was truly the hottest I've ever been. Character building.

• A

  Anita

  Guide

  

  Jun. 25, 2022

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Ok campground

  Tent sites are small. Ground is very hard to put tent stakes in. Bath house is clean. They have washer and dryer. People are loud all night. Unless you have a watercraft of some kind or are going to the beach there's nothing to do at the campground. We left a day early due to the heat. It was nice to have trash cans at the site.

• 

  Shawna-Bryant K.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 21, 2023

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Check in

  Check in is at 1 pm. They had a sign on there door that said be back at 1:15.They finally opened door at 1:33. I asked if we got to check out a half hour late because he was late getting back from lunch , he said no! Check out is at 11am. Just not fair. That’s why I gave them a three. Park is great though. I am tent camping.

• 

  Joy H.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 10, 2018

  St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA

  Great place!!

  Very friendly, helpful staff. This place was always clean and well maintained. Tent camped here for 11 days. Water access to the gulf for fishing crabbing claming kayaking etc. The pinellas county trail runs along side KOA and they rent bikes and fun little tricycles to ride the trail or use in campground. Itwas great. Plenty of trees to add shade. Nice clean pool and rec center. They even had a movie night at the pool. Cant wait to go back in my RV. Loved it here

• C

  Craig S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 11, 2021

  Camp Venice Retreat

  Best camp ever!

  We stayed at the tent sites and they are under a nice canopy of trees with water and electric. The staff is awesome, everyone was super friendly, they had clean facilities, the nature trail was awesome to take our dog on walks down. It's located by snook haven so we got to still hear the music and walk over for drinks. Everything about camp venice was amazing. I will DEFINITELY be coming back

• N

  Nestor A.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 23, 2023

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Had a great time with the kids

  Fort De Soto is an excellent place for beach camping. You can bring your kayaks, boats and paddle boards for an enhanced experience. We stayed two nights in the summer, tent camping (it was hot!). The bathrooms are a bit dated BUT kept very clean! The market at the entrance is very convenient. The only reason I did not give this location a 5 star rating was because of the massive amount of raccoons! They are NOT shy and are not bothered by humans one bit. It was almost impossible to fall asleep due the all the noises they were making throughout the night by digging into the campsite dumpsters or fighting each other. If you can get past that, you’ll have a great time.

• 

  James A.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 9, 2020

  Lake Park

  My backyard

  I live in an adjacent neighborhood (2 years) and walk this park daily with my doggos. I’ve biked all the trails and been here from sunrise to sunset. The connecting trail (from my neighborhood) has a parking lot, and there are a few throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. There are lots of little loops in the woods, sometimes flooded out, but just be prepared during rainy season. One section is an old grove and during citrus season, there are oranges available for snacking, while exploring. There is a few large clearings set for tent camping, with fire pits and some small built gazebos for shelter. Not sure if you can drive in, but they are located at the end of an easy, few mile, walk. There are a few ponds surrounding the large lake and I’ve seen gators in several of them. If you live nearby, definitely take advantage of the free parking and miles of trails, paved and non!!

• 

  Dark Wolf ..

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 5, 2021

  St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA

  Home away from home

  I have been a regular here for some time. It is definitely more glamping than anything but always a fun stay and the staff is always kind.

  Everything you could ever need to be comfortable camping and easygoing including a convenience store to free wi-fi. There’s a massive pool and two hot tubs. One is fenced off in the back for adults only which can be nice when there are a lot of loud kids.

  The sites are very well kept and have very nice views of the water way. A couple of the sites are not up against the water but you still get a nice look at it all.

  If you’re traveling around, it would be a great place to stay and be comfortable. Walmart/Publix/Wawa all within a 10 minute drive. The beach is maybe 15 minutes away also. 

  There are two tent sites. One considered primitive because there is no water and electricity hook up but there’s a phone charging station at the site. 6 sites. Then there is 2 sites available with water and electricity in between a section on RVs by the waterfront.

• 

  Meghan O.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 4, 2018

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Busy Campground With Nice Ammenities

  close to the breweries in art district of St Pete Florida, Fort Desoto Campground has everything you could want for a long weekend or quick getaway. There's a general store if you want to stock up on snacks, fishing tackle, pool floats, or ice cream, or just catch a little air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The General Store also has a nice balcony overlooking the water and some oyster beds.

  The campsites are suitable for car camping, hammock camping, tent camping, or RVs. Be sure to bring your rain gear and rain flies, as Florida thunderstorms are brief but no joke. You can rent bicycles down closer to the actual Old Fort where there's also a huge fishing pier and plenty of old military installations to explore. However don't rely on using the bikes to get back to the campground as there's no drop-off on the other side.

  It can be a bit of a long walk from the campground itself to the Old Fort, which shouldn't be a problem unless you didn't pack the right clothes or shoes. If, like me, you find yourself a little under-prepared, there is Lyft and Uber in the area and in a pinch you can use that to get back and forth between the campground and the fort.

  Our neighbors at the next campsite over we're, unfortunately, a bit of a party crowd, which made for a loud night and very little sleep. That said the restrooms were nice and easy to reach and all of the amenities or what you would expect at a bigger busy or campground.

• 

  Dale G.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 19, 2020

  Old Prairie Campground — Myakka River State Park

  Ecologically diverse and full of opportunities to see nature. Loved Myakka!

  Perhaps the most ecologically diverse state park in Florida, Myakka River State Park has lots of nature viewing opportunities. Located just east of Sarasota you’ll find lots to do without having to leave the park. However, because of the age and condition of the campsites, for an exceptional camping experience, you'll want to choose your campsie carefully.

  There are 3 separate and distinct campgrounds at Myakka River State Park. Depending on whether your tent camping or have an RV, you really want to pay attention here. Old Prairie Campground(sites 27– 48) and Big Flats Campground(sites 1– 26) are the oldest. These sites were not necessarily built for large RV’s although you can get into some of them with an RV up to 30 feet. Palmetto Ridge Campground(sites 49– 90) is the newest and will accommodate RV’s of any size and has sewer hookups. The other 2 campgrounds do not. 

  We can’t imagine going to another Florida State Park and seeing more of nature than we did here. While riding our bikes along Park and North Drive, and taking a drive early one morning to the Outpost to get some cell service, it was a Florida safari! 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. We saw black vultures by the dozens, turkey vultures, turkeys, and deer. There was a family of raccoons that visited each night to see what we might have left out for them. They had no luck. And the variety of birds in and around the lake was amazing. There were several that we hadn’t seen before.

  To read our complete review visit https://lifestyleover50.com/myakka-river-state-park-campground-review/

• 

  L O.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2020

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Breathtaking beaches, get the low, tent-site numbers.

  Stayed two nights here. Arrived in the afternoon and found site number (38) easily. The tent sites on the outer side of the loops are bedded in sand, and the ones on the inner side are bedded in crushed shells and are nearer the restrooms and facilities. The back side of number 38 leads to a grassy area lined by trees on the far side that block the sunset. Recommend site 30 or below so that the back side of your site leads to the water and beautiful sunsets. Be prepared to deal with mosquitoes and raccoons. On the first night, a raccoon approached the table without regard and tried to open the portable trash can! They're active and large, and can be seen at night throughout the campground raiding the trash bins. Went on a bike ride the following day, and upon returning saw that a raccoon had opened the Coleman 52-gallon cooler, taken out the carton of eggs, cracked all six eggs, and eaten each egg yolk, leaving the whites and the shells strewn about the picnic table and ground nearby. Thankful that it had not touched the Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Resolved to put the cooler inside the car when absent henceforth. There is a campground store near the entrance with everything from ice to wood to tuna, milk, fishing supplies... it's a mini-market. There is a souvenir shop and food shop near the fort part. Didn't go to the fort or museum. Had a delicious fish and chips meal at the food shop. The bike paths are wide along the main vehicular roads. The highlight of the site is the North Beach. It's ample and clean. White sands. Shallow shores. Pleasant, perfect.

• 

  Kytka

  Scout

  

  Aug. 27, 2024

  St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA

  Natural Spot Hidden in the City

  I recently had a wonderful experience at the St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, and I’m excited to share my positive review! I’ve hosted friends in their Deluxe Cabins before, and they were thoroughly impressed. The cabins were equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay—fresh linens, a full kitchen, and even a private patio with a grill and fire ring. And they had a great view of the lush mangrove lined Long Bayou.

  They loved the blend of cozy and convenient, making their getaway truly enjoyable. At the end of the road driving out of this campground is a great restaurant called Doe Doe's that makes a delicious homestyle breakfast if you don't want to cook it yourself.

  Wanting to be close to them I opted for one of the small tent sites at the end of the park where I car camped in my Subaru Outback. It was a peaceful and charming spot, perfect for a relaxing camping experience - and away from more of the centrally located activities that people camping with children enjoy. 

  Overall, the amenities were top-notch, including the heated outdoor pool, bike and kayak rentals, and clean and large facilities. They have something called KampK9 which is a fenced in dog park area. Less than a mile away is Bay Pines Park which is nice to jog or ride your bike through and there is also a super Walmart nearby so you can stock up for your drive to the next campground. You also have easy access to the Gulf Coast's stunning beaches and the scenic Pinellas Trail.

  Driving on the main road, and seeing the somewhat industrial area you pass through on your way down the small side street to this campground, you wouldn't expect much - but this KOA has been there for decades and is one of the nicest family campgrounds in the middle of a city I have experienced.

• 

  Malaney H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 1, 2018

  Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

  Beautiful, Large Park

  What isn't there to do at Myakka River SP. First of all, this place is huge. I think it took me about 10 minutes to drive from one end to the other, but it is full of wonderful things to do along the way. There are two entrances to the park because it is so large, but one entrance is not always open, so its important to check that online before heading over. The main entrance has a nice Welcome Center right at the front with a small store shop. There are three different loops to camp in, one is specific to tent camping and is not open year round called Big Flats Campground. Its further back in the park and surrounded by beautiful trees. The other two are tent/RV, one being very shady called Old Prairie and the other having drive through sites called Palmetto Ridge which does not have many trees for shade. There are also cabins and these are remodeled versions of the original cabins that were built back when the park first opened in the 30s.

  The activities on site vary. because the park is so large, its great for long morning jogs and bike rides. The view is beautiful only the Myakka river and your bound to run into wildlife (i saw deer, gators, hogs and so many different birds)! There are also 39 miles worth of hiking trails, which all vary in distance. Some even have primitive campsites for those that enjoy backpacking. Along one of the hiking trails, is an observation desk with a canopy walkway. The tower soars 76 feet high so you have a great view of the park! There is also a pretty bird watching area for those that enjoying this activity. Even if you don't the view is amazing and a great place to sit and watch for wildlife.

  The last part of the park I want to touch on is the Pink Gator restaurant/gift shop. I think it is one of the largest shops I have ever been in. The food at the cafe was wonderful! I had the chicken salad (way too good!). And they have a small Edys IceCream Parlor. This part of the park also allows access to the river, where you can canoe/kayak or what ever water sport you are into. The one thing that stood out to me is the Airboat ride. This boat hold about 30 people and takes you out on the the lake for a tour. I don't think I have ever seen an air boat that large.

  The facilities were all very well taken care of as well and I cannot think of one complaint! I definitely recommend visiting this park.

• 

  Malaney H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 20, 2018

  Little Manatee River State Park Campground

  Canoeing and Peacocks

  This campsite is right outside of Little Manatee River State Park. I even missed the entrance and went to Little Manatee because I missed the turn. However, even though this camp is tiny, there is a lot to do. There is an area for tents, hammocks, campers and cabins are also available. One area of tents sites is a group site, which has a platform, tables with a pavilion, and a large campfire area, so if you have a group you want go with, this is great place to do so!

  One of the highlights of this site is the canoeing. You can come in for day canoeing and the employees will pick you and the canoe up at a stop and bring you back to the site. You can also bring your own canoe while you stay and they will do the same thing for you at the pick up site down the river. One activity that I did not have a chance to do is the Moonlight Canoeing. This looked like so much fun because you go out canoeing at midnight and have snacks, drinks, s'mores, and listen to music around a campfire.

  One last thing is the owners. They are super friendly and take care of the campers and the campsite. They also have peacocks that run around, so its fun to see them. I would definitely recommend this site to anyone looking for a place to camp in the Tampa area.

• 

  Dale G.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2020

  Oscar Scherer State Park Campground

  Quiet and lush. But small sites and lots of bugs.

  If you live on the Gulf Coast of Florida and don’t want to travel too far, or are just traveling through the area, this campground is a nice stopover. It’s quiet and offers some nice hiking and biking trails. But after spending 3 nights camping at Oscar Scherer State Park, we come away with a mixed opinion.

  These campsites are small. In fact, they are the smallest we’ve encountered in a Florida state park so far. We had just enough room for our popup camper which is approximately 20 x 10 feet plus another 10 x 8 feet with the awning extended. Some are wider but the only sites that seem longer are the pull-in sites in Section 5 which is closed.

  Keys to Choosing to your Campsite at Oscar Scherer

  Given that only sections, 1 through 3 are available currently, you may see that the Reserve America reservations page will show a water icon on some campsites that appear to be along the creek. But you will not see the creek from your campsite. The vegetation in the park is quite dense and certainly so in the campsites in sections 1– 3. The shade is always important when camping in Florida, especially in the summer. The description on the Reserve America website regarding shade isn’t accurate. Our site,#2, was described as ‘full shade’. Not so, I’m afraid. From about 10 am to 4 pm we baked in the Florida sun. However, our friends had site#3 next door and had shade though out the day. Even though that site enters from the east, as do all sites along the creek, they had trees the canopied over the entrance and eastern side of the site. However, sites 22– 28 do have a lot of shade and are located on the opposite side of the campground from South Creek. If we were to go back, we would stay on that side of the Oscar Scherer Park.

  Be Prepared for Bugs
  Oscar Scherer State Park camping requires being prepared for bugs. Perhaps due to the amount of lush vegetation all over this park, and the proximity to the South Creek, there were more bugs than we experienced at other Florida state parks. Even though we take precautions including a very effective bug spray we came home with a lot of bug bites. So, bring your best bug spray and citronella candles. They are especially a problem in the morning until the sun comes up over the trees.

  To read our full review visit https://lifestyleover50.com/oscar-scherer-state-park-camping-review/

• 

  Joe R.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 15, 2019

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Tropical Oasis for the Family

  I find myself torn between four and five stars on this campground. It turned out being everything we expected and more. As an camper with northern roots, I have found it hard to camp in Florida. This campground helped me relieve those worries. 

  I will start by saying that this campground is south of St. Pete and north of Ana Maria Island. We drove down from Orlando and it took us under two hours. We hit some traffic on 275 and the Parkway, but it is expected. There are two tolls (1.00 and .75) before you hit the park. One thing we learned and a good pointer is that if you intend on going into the park (which you probably will), you should go in and register BEFORE you go to the beach, even if before check in time. By paying for your site, they provide you a beach pass for two vehicles, which saves $5 each on parking. 

  The check in process was very simple. We arrived about an hour early and got everything set up. We were told to stop back between 12:30 and 1 (Advise that check in is at 1pm, so getting in early is not a guaranteed or expected result). The parking lot is a bit awkward, as the camper/trailer line blocks views and actual spots for cars..but it is trivial. 

  We had rented site 28 (mostly because it was one of the only ones available and best of the litter). There are three loops, and we were in the 1-86 loop. There are no pets and no RV's allowed, which was perfect for us. Most of the outer side of the loop has some sort of water. Water does not mean access. It seemed that the higher numbers (40+) had less access to water and more of a mangrove area. Depths of sites also varied widely. We must have done the camping gods some good, because we hit the site karma. Our site was nice and deep, with a weird little island (former tree/stump) in the middle. This actually made us divide the tent area up into two sides, which worked out well. The site has plenty of options for both clothes lines and hammocks. We opted to put the "kitchen" towards the back of the site with the water view, and fire bin (rented for $3 from the campground office). We had neighbors on both sides and across (this places always sells out) and it was still fairly secluded. They did a great job at keeping a lot of natural growth to maintain privacy and a true tropical feel. There was plenty of shade, but also plenty of sunshine when you wanted it. This site also gets direct sunlight after about 9am (based on mid october), so plan accordingly. It gets toasty :) We have an inflatable raft that we took out in the water. We were greeted by dolphins, sting rays and manatees. 

  The bath house is pretty central and literally across the road from our site. We had expected a much further walk based on the map, but it was just a 1 minute walk. They were ample, but nothing to write home about. They clean them daily, so they are not bad. The showers leave a lot to be desired with water pressure and privacy. They share a common area with stalls and cheap liners that offer little privacy. Again, it is camping so this isn't a complaint, but a warning. Also, bring your own toilet paper. 

  There is a playground with good swings and also a sturdy playground that offered plenty of opportunity for my four year old to blow off some steam. The ground is all recycled rubber, which I love as a parent. 

  The campground store is nice and good for essentials if you don't want to take the 15/20 minute drive to publix or 7 minute drive to 7-11. Firewood is a bit overpriced at $9 per bundle and the fire buckets are cheap at $3 per night. They also have basic food and camping supplies. Note that there is no alcohol allowed in the park, including the campground. All I can say is that you should use common sense. This is a family friendly place. They also rent bikes and kayaks. 

  The site was just a 10 minute drive to north beach, which is our favorite. There is plenty to do in the area. Overall, I love this place and look forward to coming back many times in the future. Note that they do start booking 6 months out and open up 10% of the sites for the weekend each friday at 7am if you want to try and get lucky.

• 

  Perry J.

  Legend

  

  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.

• 

  Perry J.

  Legend

  

  May. 30, 2020

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Best County Park in the USA

  Quite possible the best county park in the USA. This park is incredibly well run and has so much to do. This is our go to place for a close to home weekend when we are lucky enough to get a reservation. If you are a visiting from Miami or out of state you won’t be disappointed if you can get in. 

  What makes this park special for us is that many of the camping sites are coveted waterfront sites. The campground portion of the park is divided into three parts, one camping area that is pet friendly, one no pets and one predominantly for tents and pop ups with smaller sites. 

  Another bonus of Fort DeSoto in addition to the old fort is the fishing peer, great beach, cycling path and absolutely enormous parking lots so unlike many Florida locations, especially in season, parking is never really an issue. 

  Fort De Soto County Park is a very special place. We are lucky to have it so close to us.

• 

  Jeanene A.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 4, 2016

  Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

  Wildlife adventure awaits!

  If you want to see Florida Wildlife this is the place to go! From birds to gators, wild hogs and lots of raccoons! wildlife is everywhere. Protect your cooler in the campground and DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN THE TENTS! The trails are full of amazing sights and there is so many opportunities to see wild things everywhere - you can see turkey and deer form the road (drive slow) and watch for people pulled over - that usually means they are looking at something (and bikes share the road to so be safe!) Air boat tours will get you out on the river where a ranger will tell you all about the local plants, animals and history. Great shops and Cantina! Everything from a hot lunch to beer and ice cream! Rent bicycles and canoes, hike the 36+ miles of trails and bird watch all day! The tower Canopy Bridge is something to see! The campground is almost always sold out in advance on weekends and they pack you in tight! Reserve early and prepare to have a wild time!

• D

  Deven V.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 16, 2017

  Primitive Sites — Myakka River State Park

  Myakka River State Park

  Myakka River Stste Park is 10 miles outside of Sarasota Florida, but feels very far removed from the city. The park has three regular campgrounds for tents, campers, and RVs, as well as 6 primitive campsites along 30 miles of hiking trails.

  Everyone at the park is extremely helpful and there are plenty of people at the established campsites. There's a campground host at each of the three campgrounds as well. Restrooms are clean and stocked. Overall, it's quiet and scenic.

  The primitive campsites are between 2.5 and 14 miles from the trailheads within the park. Each campsite has three campsites at it, each with a fire ring and post to hang up your pack.

  Bee Island, Oak Grove, and Honore campsites have working pitcher pumps at them. Water from these pumps will need to be filtered or treated. Prairie and Panther Point Camps aren't guaranteed to have water, so you should bring your own. Mossy Hammock campsite has a broken pitcher pump at it, so you will have to carry in your own water for the duration of your stay.

  The primitive campsites are mu favorites, because they're not as crowded as the established campgrounds.

• 

  Dale G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 29, 2020

  Fort De Soto Campground

  Gorgeous camping spot. But we've got some tips for you before you reserve

  If you want to camp by the water, then Fort De Soto may be the best spot on the west coast of Florida south of the Panhandle. Having said that, if you want the best experience at Fort De Soto there are a few things you should know before booking your site.

  Fort De Soto Campground is extremely popular making it difficult to get reservations. Plan way ahead to get a decent selection of sites. Weekends, as you might imagine, are packed. So, if you can camp during the week it will increase your chances of getting reservations within a month or two.

  Be prepared for rain especially in the summer months, and know that the rain will drain toward the water. 

  There are 3 distinct areas for camping at Fort De Soto. All 3 are beautiful and have great campsite but #1 (sites 1-85) is the least desirable. Area #2 is pet friendly. If you're bringing your dog this is where you'll need to camp. However, if you don't have a dog you may want to avoid this area as the barking is non-stop. Area #3 is the most beautiful and most quiet of the 3 areas. 

  There is no alcohol allowed so prepare accordingly.

  Spend time at Fort De Soto Park a few miles down the road. Bring your bikes or rent them at the campground and take the paved bike path along the highway into the Park. There are 2 fishing piers, a dog beach, a long humans-only beach, the Historic Fort De Soto, kayaking, beautiful views, and more.  

  You can also take a ferry to Shell Key Island or Egmont Key State Park. If you bring your tent and gear onto the ferry, you can camp at Shell Key with a permit. Egmont has a large population of Gopher Tortoise. You can't touch them as they are endangered, but you can get great photos. 

  See our more detailed review at https://lifestyleover50.com/fort-de-soto-campground-review-and-tips/. You'll also be able to see articles on other Florida Road Trips and more! Happy road trippin' and camping!

• 

  Matt-Mandi M.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 23, 2020

  Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

  Great hide away hike in!

  BEAUTIFUL shaded park. Hike in only to the primitive. Tents only.

• K

  Kim G.

  Scout

  

  May. 23, 2019

  Fort De Soto Campground

  great place right on the water

  great campground. right on the water.  doggy beach.  full shade for most RV sites.  best sites are reserved for tent campers.  close th st. Petersburg.  very busy reserve way ahead.