Oleta River State Park Campground houses uniquely furnished glamping cabins within Florida's largest urban park, just 30 minutes from downtown Miami and a short drive from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The park spans over 1,000 acres of natural landscape with private cabins offering comfortable accommodations amid lush surroundings. Quiet Waters Park in nearby Deerfield Beach features modern glamping yurts with electricity, comfortable beds, and climate-controlled interiors. Paradise Island RV Resort and Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort also offer upscale canvas accommodations with luxury furnishings. One guest shared, "This place has cabins and a shared bathroom, but it is such an amazing park right in the middle of an overcrowded city!"
Morning wildlife encounters define the glamping experience at West Palm Beach-Lion Country Safari KOA, where luxury safari tents and cabin accommodations sit adjacent to a wildlife preserve. Guests wake to the sounds of lions roaring and exotic animals, creating a unique glamping atmosphere without traveling internationally. The coastal properties provide easy access to water activities including kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling in crystal clear waters. Biking enthusiasts appreciate the 15 miles of trails at Oleta River State Park, while families enjoy the safari experience next door to the Lion Country Safari KOA. A recent visitor mentioned, "Waking up to lions roaring and bonobos scream in the morning was freaking amazing! I will treasure this memory for the rest of my life."
"Campground in the city, great guest services, friendly staff. Near grocery store, and everything!"
"Staff very friendly! Very respectful of COVID as well. Always appreciate that."
"It was on the water, had a grill, electrcitiy, fire pit, tent, running water and was pet friendly. We brought our kayaks and played around. Had a lot of space to walk our dogs."
"Good location in the middle of urban area, cabins to rent. We’ve used for daycamp without overnight, but you can do that if you want"
$55 / night
"Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers, but it's true. It boasts 15-miles of trails in more than 1,000 acres!"
"This place has cabins and a shared bathroom, but it is such an amazing park right in the middle of an overcrowded city!! I love going here is like 55 bucks a night or so!!"
"sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide."
"The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities. There are pull through spots for the big motorhomes and spots reserved for the handicapped."
"The campground is pretty tight & the sites aren’t very attractive but being next to the safari is awesome! You can hear the lions loud & clear!! The staff was nice."
"Site small and sandy but location is the key to this KOA. Right next to Lion Country Safari."
"Pool is heated comfortably year round. Sauna. Hot tub restaurant fitness laundry pool table clubhouse. Pavilliin. Much is centered around the above area. But more is being done for trails and sites."
Guidesites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide. I would go back again.
ScoutMy husband and I rented a campground flat in December. It was on the water, had a grill, electrcitiy, fire pit, tent, running water and was pet friendly. We brought our kayaks and played around. Had a lot of space to walk our dogs. It was really a great time!
ScoutThis is city owned and operated Park/Campground. This fact is significant. It is very pretty with lots of mature shade trees. The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities. There are pull through spots for the big motorhomes and spots reserved for the handicapped. The bathhouses for the RV's were in good shape and well maintained. The bathhouse for the tenters not so much. The bathhouse for the RV's is not very far to walk which I would recommend.
The tent area is off to one side and well shaded by mature trees. It's an area rather than sites. You pick your spot, put up a tent and place a large numbered sign by your area and you've got your spot. While there isn't any electric to plug into at the tent sites, water is provided interspersed throughout the area. Picnic tables and barbecue grills are also provided throughout.
There is a great fire ring with benches for bonfires and a great Beach volleyball court. The pool is clean and guarded by life guards. There is a lounge where you have access to WiFi and plus to charge your phones. The RVs have WiFi around their pods.
Tenters can stay for a Max of 7 nights while RV's can stay for 180. Tenters can only pay for 3 nights at once before returning to re-up. No such rule for RVs. There is a kind of second class feel to the tenters but if you overlook that (I recommend you do) you will have a great time. Staff is very nice and the park is clean.
LegendJust south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.
Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.
OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.
Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?" Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.
The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.
Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!
Happy Camping!
Guide3 campers and two RVs crammed into overflow. NO full hookups as indicated over the phone. Showers NOT in the “bath house” adjacent to these crummy sites. The dumpsite is between the office and the fence. This requires you to back into position or drive down a narrow path and make 3 tight turns. Florida has NO dump sites at rest or service areas! What????
RangerThe campground is pretty tight & the sites aren’t very attractive but being next to the safari is awesome! You can hear the lions loud & clear!! The staff was nice. Close to groceries and gas stations.
GuideThis campground that sits just outside of the only drive through animal safari with over 1,000 different types of animals, is great for families to enjoy. This has all the amenities as a typical KOA campground except you get a bonus by hearing the Lions roar in the morning. The campground is gated during evening hours with the gate closing at 10:00 pm, so you will need to get a gate key card with a $20.00 deposit which will be refunded when you turn the key back at the end of your stay. The staff are very friendly and the campground is very clean. They also do a great job with abiding by the CDC guidelines for Covid-19. The Raccoons like to come out in the evening, so make sure you pick up you garbage at night. The rabbits were having fun playing in the primitive camping area every evening and early morning hours. They offer cabin and platform tent rentals for slightly more than a tent site. There are many seasonal campers from the North along with weekend campers trying to escape the everyday stress in their lives. We live 1 hour south of this campground but we will definitely be going back fir weekend trips.
LegendWe tent camped here. Site small and sandy but location is the key to this KOA. Right next to Lion Country Safari. We are used to hearing birds and frogs when we camp, but here it is lions...and other noises I was not able to identify. Weather great to explore park in late Winter. Kids loved it and we will be back!
GuideVery nice KOA , clean well presented , friendly staff. The lions waking you up in the morning is really pretty cool. LOTS of local channels and good internet. It's pretty far from most everything but its really the only game in town. Very peaceful and quite. Discount tickets to Lion Country Safari which is next to campground.
Cabin camping options near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida exist within a subtropical climate zone where winter temperatures rarely drop below 60°F, making year-round camping viable. The region sits at just 7 feet above sea level with camping locations scattered across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Most campgrounds remain open during Florida's rainy season (May-October), though afternoon thunderstorms can occur frequently.
Kayaking at Larry & Penny Thompson Park: Paddle through calm waters at this Miami park featuring well-maintained launch points. "This campsite is a great central base camp for those visiting Biscayne NP/Everglades NP and Miami," notes reviewer Sandra R., who found the grounds "clean and safe, with spots for both RVs and tents."
Beach volleyball near camp: Larry & Penny Thompson Park offers a "great volleyball court" alongside a clean, lifeguarded pool according to camper Tod H., who appreciated the park's amenities despite feeling there was "a kind of second class feel to the tenters."
Mountain biking trails: Explore rugged terrain at nearby parks with varying difficulty levels. One camper at Quiet Waters Park mentioned, "My husband and I rented a campground flat in December. It was on the water, had a grill, electricity, fire pit, tent, running water and was pet friendly. We brought our kayaks and played around."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Wake early to spot native Florida species. Burton M. describes the Lion Country Safari KOA experience: "The Raccoons like to come out in the evening, so make sure you pick up your garbage at night. The rabbits were having fun playing in the primitive camping area every evening and early morning hours."
Secure gated access: Paradise Island RV Resort prioritizes camper safety with controlled entry points. Richard H. shares, "We spent 14 months here sheltering from Covid, and it was extremely convenient to all of the Fort Lauderdale area. We never had a single issue during our stay."
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathhouses and laundry facilities make extended stays comfortable. "The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and will do whatever they can to make you satisfied," notes Richard H. about Paradise Island RV Resort.
Yurt camping options: Quiet Waters Park provides yurt accommodations for those seeking Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Florida's unique glamping experiences. Stephen M. simply states it's an "excellent park" and a "great place to camp."
Urban convenience with nature access: West Palm Beach-Lion Country Safari KOA offers proximity to services while maintaining natural surroundings. Coral W. notes it has a "great location near the Safari park with discounted tickets available" and recommends staying "if you are going to the Safari Park and need a place to stay."
Limited tent camping duration: Restrictions vary by park. Tod H. explains at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, "Tenters can stay for a Max of 7 nights while RV's can stay for 180. Tenters can only pay for 3 nights at once before returning to re-up."
Seasonal closures affect amenities: During off-peak times or construction, facilities may be limited. Nikaela B. reports, "Right now, nothing is open until memorial day weekend. So no beach and no pool. Also half the park is under construction."
Weather considerations: Florida's afternoon storms can impact camping plans. William C. visited during a hurricane evacuation and found that "the campground staff was great: while going from 15% to 100% occupancy in 24 hours, they still kept up the cleanliness support, and friendliness."
Urban noise levels: Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort offers a unique camping environment with varying noise levels. Lisa C. notes, "The reason why I titled this 'relaxing' is because I enjoy the feeling of the place! The people (mainly the snowbirds) that come down seem to be the friendliest!"
Pool access importance: Select campgrounds with swimming facilities for kid-friendly entertainment. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, Tod H. noted, "The pool is clean and guarded by life guards."
Educational wildlife experiences: Jeffrey W. describes the Lion Country Safari KOA experience: "We are used to hearing birds and frogs when we camp, but here it is lions...and other noises I was not able to identify. Weather great to explore park in late Winter. Kids loved it and we will be back!"
Security considerations: Some locations report theft issues. A Larry & Penny Thompson Park reviewer warns, "Talking to neighbors today we found out that theft of bicycles and other items is common here."
Naturist camping option: Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort offers clothing-optional family camping with specific guidelines. Sandra C. describes it as "Rustic. Freedom. Old timers. Families. AANR. Pool is heated comfortably year round. Sauna. Hot tub restaurant fitness laundry pool table clubhouse."
Urban location benefits: Paradise Island offers city-based RV camping with full services. Milagros B. notes, "Campground in the city, great guest services, friendly staff. Near grocery store, and everything! Full hookup sites, spots are big and concrete roads."
Overnight stop planning: Paradise Island works well for quick stays. Linda M. shares, "Spent one quick night here. This is a campground with mostly full timers, but we got a nice easy spot to back in and get out easily."
Dumpsite challenges: Some parks have limited dump facilities. Michael J. warns about Paradise Island: "The dumpsite is between the office and the fence. This requires you to back into position or drive down a narrow path and make 3 tight turns."
Site layout considerations: The West Palm Beach-Lion Country Safari KOA has specific site arrangements. Amanda W. notes, "The campground is pretty tight & the sites aren't very attractive but being next to the safari is awesome!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL is Paradise Island RV Resort with a 3.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 glamping camping locations near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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