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Several good camping spots surround Dade City, with Colt Creek State Park Campground being one of the main options for hikers and wildlife watchers. The park has multiple trails where you can walk through Florida's natural landscape. About an hour away, Lake Louisa State Park Campground sits beside the water and has good fishing. You'll need to book sites at both parks ahead of time. The local wildlife includes alligators and many bird types, so store your food properly to avoid unwanted visitors. During dry periods, fire rules might limit campfires, so check before you go. Most people camp here from October through March when it's not so hot and sticky. Summer camping can be tough with the heat. You can drive to these campgrounds on regular roads without problems, though some trail access points might need vehicles with more ground clearance. Both parks work well as starting points for hiking or fishing trips. Just follow the park rules and leave no trace to keep these natural areas in good shape for everyone.
"Then exit 7 to Highway 301 north about 10 miles to the campground. The way in which the state park and campground are set up is easy too."
"This was my first time at a campground in Florida! I was surrounded by beautiful wildlife (alligators, birds, and even a wild boar). The hiking trails were perfect for a beginner or a regular hiker."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing. 5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available"
"Colt Creek State Park is one of the newer parks in the Florida State Park System. We had the opportunity to camp at one of the handicap accessible sites recently and found it to be very convenient."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Right near a ton of hiking trails and about 10-15 mins from Dade City."
"Hottest month in Florida but still we had a lovely time here at this park. It was our first time taking our 2016 class C out on the road as total newbies."
"Stayed at Ashley campground, which is free with a reservation through Southwest Florida water management."
"This section of the FT is quite a nice walk, and I assume that most individuals looking at a site on the trail, are looking at Gator Hole."
"Perfectly located just off the exit for Brooksville off of I-75, and right off the Withlacoochee Rails to Trail bike/hiking path and near the [Croom Mountain Biking Trails](http"
"This is a RV-tent camping site with all sites being a reasonable walking distance from the facilities in the center."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"Sertoma Youth ranch is located in Dade City, Forida off a dirt road. It has water and electric hookups and a dump station."
"Located in Brooksville Florida, you will find more of Florida's nature hidden here. There's a swamp like lake in the back with plenty of birds to see."
"The road in called SW 113 ST was hardcore off road muddy driving. We pay for the sites so the road in could have been a lot less treacherous. Potholes all the way to the site."
"Full over the weekend Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: thick shrubs Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Sand Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: none Through Traffic"
from $14 / night
Check Availability"Crooked River Campground is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75."
"Each campground has its primitive camp charm all come with a picnic table, parking spot, a wooden pole you can hang your garbage, and a water spout near by."
from $13 / night
Check Availability"We stayed at Quail Run for a weekend in October as it was close to my son’s lacrosse practice location... we were pleasantly surprised with the very nice site with full hook ups and cable."
"Close to epperson lagoon which was nice."
GuideTook the littles (ages 5 &4) for their first tent camping trip - had a blast once they learned what s’mores were all about! Decent space, warm days and unusually cool nights.
GuideGreat little spot. Seemed to rain every 5 minutes where they had to shut everything down but had good contingency plans. Golf carts galore with some sites a little more rowdy than the next, but plenty of room. Kids loved the pools and crafts, adults loved the tiki bars and live music.
ScoutThe host Nor treated me like trash. He mandates you leave a lock off of your hitch so he can move your Rv around as needed. Mind you I was going to be paying for a reserved spot on the property paying a monthly rate. When I inquired more about their policy to see if they damaged my Rv while moving it would it be covered by them for the repairs of damages. My reservation was then automatically canceled for no reason and Nor only gave me a partial refund for my booking. He is very rude and unprofessional. There are also other reviews in the neighbor app stating damages happened while moving someone's rv and he refused to take accountability or finance the repairs for that customer. Hints the reason I was wanting clarification on the matter. Instead of providing it he decided to cancel my reservation and tried to beat me out of my deposit. Dont bring your RV here for storage it is a huge risk!
ScoutA very nice campground northwest of Orlando in Apopka. It's near a small airport that only has small planes flying in and out. It's relatively quiet here with access to the major theme parks from the nearby expressway. The staff here are very nice and friendly. I've stayed here on and off for approximately 1 month this summer and plan on coming back here again for the winter.
ScoutI visited Preservation Point in June and really enjoyed the stay. The property is a quiet with a lot of open space and natural scenery. The RV sites were clean, brand new, level, and easy to get set up on. The hookups were simple, and everything felt well laid out with plenty of room for the RV. Gail was very helpful and welcoming, which made the whole experience easy from the start. There is plenty of room to relax, enjoy the wildlife, and take in the natural setting. It is also a nice location for exploring nearby Inverness, the Withlacoochee State Trail, and other Central Florida spots. You can tell the park is still growing, but the foundation is excellent. For anyone looking for a clean, quiet, RV-only place with easy hookups and a peaceful setting, Preservation Point is definitely worth considering.
ScoutGood clean site.
GuideNice state park. Plenty of lakes, but also plenty of gators at this time; hatching season. Wide open space, great roads. Not all sites have sewer hookups, it’s worth finding out which one before booking, if it is important for you. Even glamping tents and cabins are available, cabins are right next to the lake. Swimming area at Lake Louisa has a playground with swings and even a beach/swimming area, but that seems awfully dangerous, given the noises the gators make about 30 feet away. Unfortunately there is not a lot of things to do near the state park if one wants to do anything outside of camping, at least not a lot I could find, maybe you are better at that. Apparently it is very popular with bikers and triathletes, I have seen at least 10 today, using the great roads.
ScoutMy husband and I love spending time here and overlooking the water, the sunsets and taking our boat out spending time with our family ,everyone there is super nice and friendly 😊
LegendIf you're planning a visit to Walt Disney World or any of Orlando's major attractions and prefer staying in your own RV over an expensive hotel room, Sun Outdoors Orlando Champions Gate continues to be one of the more convenient options in the area. Since my original visit, the resort has matured nicely, with its modern facilities, clean grounds and resort-style atmosphere making it an appealing basecamp for exploring Central Florida. And make no mistake about it, while this is very much an RV resort – not a nature campground – this spot succeeds by delivering comfort, convenience and easy access to everything the Orlando area has to offer.
While my review from a few years ago provides a ton of detail, I thought I would follow up that review with a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Beautifully renovated facilities that still feel modern and well-maintained; (2) Outstanding heated swimming pool, clubhouse and spotless comfort stations remain the centerpiece of the resort; (3) Full-hookup RV sites with concrete pads make setup quick and easy; (4) Exceptional location just minutes from Walt Disney World, ChampionsGate with countless dining, shopping and entertainment options; and (5) Everyday conveniences like Publix, Aldi, CVS and numerous restaurants remain close enough that you can leave the RV parked and run errands with ease.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) The campground still feels more like an RV resort than a traditional campground, with relatively little mature landscaping or natural privacy; (2) Larger fifth wheels and motorhomes may find some sites a bit tighter than expected; (3) Tent campers will likely find the experience less appealing due to the predominance of paved surfaces and surrounding RVs; (4) Depending on your site's location, nearby road traffic can occasionally detract from the otherwise relaxing atmosphere; and (5) If you're seeking a true Florida nature experience, you'll need to venture beyond the campground to nearby lakes, conservation areas or state parks.
Happy Camping!
Dispersed camping near Dade City offers options beyond state parks, with several sites providing unique experiences in the natural Florida landscape. The area sits at approximately 100 feet above sea level and features a mix of wetland areas, pine forests, and oak hammocks. Most primitive camping sites in this region require advance planning for water needs, as summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity.
Paddling opportunities: Withlacoochee River Park provides access to kayak and canoe routes. "The river was an obstacle course but adventurous and challenging," notes Joanne W., who appreciates that "the Florida Trail starts there also."
Wildlife observation: River Junction Campground serves as a base for spotting native species. "The wildlife during the day is awesome to see on the water and then at night the animal life comes alive," explains Rusty R., adding that "the coyotes at night is one of the coolest things to listen to."
Stargazing sessions: Several campgrounds in the area offer dark sky viewing. The astronomy field at Withlacoochee River Park hosts local astronomy clubs during new moon nights, making it ideal for stargazers. One visitor noted, "This place is quiet and dark at night!"
Mountain biking trails: The Croom Mountain Biking Trails near Cypress Glen Campground provide technical rides through forest terrain. Located just off Interstate 75, these trails attract cycling enthusiasts who describe them as "a great spot to stop for the night" with "many like-minded cycling neighbors."
Secluded tent sites: Crooked River Campground offers private camping spots. "My boyfriend, myself, and 3 kids spent 4th of July weekend here and LOVED it! The spacious, private campsites were a plus. It truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest," shares Danae N.
Waterfront access: Many campers appreciate riverside camping options. At River Junction Campground, John O. reports they "stayed at campsite 14 it has its own private pool right in front of it with cold spring water it was an awesome experience."
Trail connectivity: Green Swamp West Tract provides direct access to the Florida Trail system. Kelly S. describes a memorable experience: "We hiked out about a mile along the Florida Trail and stayed for a night at the Gator Hole campsite. It was so peaceful... the symphony of Sandhill Cranes and Coyotes as the sun set was a memory I'll never forget."
Clean facilities: Despite primitive settings, many campgrounds maintain good bathroom facilities. At Withlacoochee River Park, reviewers note "very clean bathrooms with showers" and at Green Swamp West Tract, a visitor mentioned that "a vault toilet was also provided and was pretty clean."
Gate access procedures: Many campgrounds use combination locks or gate codes. At Green Swamp West Tract, "It is free but had to register at watermatters.org - (Southwest Florida Water Management). They provide you with a code to unlock the gate once registered," explains Monte W.
Limited cell service: Be prepared for connectivity challenges. At Withlacoochee River Park, campers report "perfect cell service with Verizon," while at River Junction "most cell phones have spotty reception here, but all the better for camping."
Seasonal flooding: Cypress Glen Campground and other riverside sites can experience water issues during rainy periods. "The sites are around a lake/river, so many of them are on a slope. I went when it was a rainier weekend and the water went through my site to the lake/river behind," reports Malaney H.
Reservation requirements: Policies vary significantly between campgrounds. At River Junction, "Sites 1 thru 3 are walk up only. These are also the only sites you can pay cash for. All the others are available on reserveamerica.com only."
Kid-friendly water spots: Choose sites with safe water access for children. At Crooked River, Danae N. shares that "the kids really loved cooling off in the river and catching frogs, they all agree that this was their favorite part."
Playground access: Hillsborough River State Park offers family-friendly amenities. "You can rent Surrey's and golf carts to cruise the park which is a nice plus," mentions Jason D., though he cautions they are "overpriced."
Bug protection essentials: Florida's humidity attracts mosquitoes, especially near water. One camper at Hillsborough River State Park warns, "The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Scheduled ranger programs help children identify local species. At River Junction, families report seeing numerous wildlife species, with one camper noting they "enjoyed the water and the trails in the area. The day time nature is great. Then at night we got to hear different creatures of the night."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. At Cypress Glen, Karen T. notes, "Some of the outer loop sites had steep drop offs," and advises selecting sites carefully based on rig size.
Road condition awareness: Florida Sand Music Ranch and other rural campgrounds may have rough access roads. One RVer mentions the "rolling hills as you come into the check in of the ranch/campground," recommending appropriate vehicles for the terrain.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dumping facilities. A camper at Cypress Glen notes, "For you folks in an RV, there is a dump station located in Silver Lake Campground," which requires planning for longer stays.
Power options: Available electric service varies between parks. Many campgrounds offer 30-amp service, while others like Quail Run RV Park provide 50-amp connections on "nice wide, level concrete pull-through sites," though one camper notes it's "not really child friendly."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dade City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dade City, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 379 campgrounds and RV parks near Dade City, FL and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dade City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dade City, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 64 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dade City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Dade City, FL.
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