27 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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."
Available this weekend
from $24 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $24 / night
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 / night
"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"
Available this weekend
from $14 / night
"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
"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."
ScoutTim and Leisha were the best! Great campsite close to Disney is what we wanted.. clean and well organized. They make you feel at home and they even invited us to dinner at the pool and provided all the food. I will definitely be going back when I’m in town. They loved our kiddos too!
LegendThis Old Florida location has a Western bent to the place with the covered wagon motif and ranch-styled main office with what looks to be a horse tie up on the porch, so whatever the theme might be, this RV enclave is a good stretch away from the I75 highway that you moseyed onto in to find this 55+ retirement one lane (OK, there’s a simple loop) cowboy retirement OK corral. You’ll access Countryside RV Park via Country Rd 489 just off of Route 470 and if you blink (you know, because of all that dust blowing off the prairie), you’d miss the turn-off, so keep your eyes peeled, pardner, and about 20 yards into the property, you’ll swing by the office on what looks to be freshly laid, small single vehicle lanes and check in with the sheriff (er, the RV manager), who will direct you to your humble piece of very flat land, which no doubt will be draped in shade provided by the scattered ancient and live oaks that are sweating Spanish moss creating a very (trust me) un-wild, wild west vibe.
There’s some basic amenities here in addition to the standard pull-through parking pads and FHUs offering 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage, including: sanitary dump, impeccably clean his / her restrooms and shower facilities, picnic tables, WiFi, cable TV, coin-operated laundry, horseshoes, side X side shuffle boards that are in pristine condition, recreation room with billiards, dog park, fire pit, retention pond, on-site storage, exercise equipment and gym. There’s even a proper mail room in case you plan on staying long enough that you need to receive mail here or have it forwarded (beats waiting for the Pony Express to arrive). Due to this being a semi- or full-retirement zone, Countryside offers additional diversions and activities like bingo, Karaoke, bowling, arts & crafts as well as Bible study, in addition to learning how to lasso your very own steer (OK, I made up this last one).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If your ID or social security card doesn’t clearly state that you are 55+ you won’t have any luck at this hideout; (2) If you do manage to stay here, IMHO the best spots are those either on the western - but of course - side of this depot (#6 – 22) or eastern (#46–#59) perimeters; (3) Should you need to load up on anything while here, there’s not much nearby apart from a Dollar General and Kal’s Food Grocery, but if you don’t mind driving slightly further afield, there’s a Publix NE of here and a Winn-Dixie and Walmart due south of here towards Bushnell; and (4) In the event that you’d like to grab some local grub, there’s Big Apple Café and a Subway nearby in the small town here, or up on Lake Panasoffkee there’s Big Bass Grill Lakefront Restaurant & Marina, which I highly recommend.
Happy Camping!
ScoutShowers and bathrooms are closed
ScoutQuiet. Definitely skewed toward equestrian. Sites are well spaced. Outer loop is best. Restroom/showers are very well kept. Not much for kids. Short trails are ok. Cayaking is best option if you're in to that. Relax here, enjoy the peace and have your favorite beverage
ScoutGreat location
TravelerGreat fishing docks, with lighting for nighttime fishing. Clean & great environment, kids had a blast. Will stay here again
ScoutZephyrhills colony has new Management. It's like a breath of fresh air.A weight is lifted from our shoulders of constant harassment and being hawked at on a daily basis. The parking pads are beautiful.The construction crew did an excellent job and the yellow stripes on the roads are amazing.We are so thankful for this improvement in our park that we can be proud and happy at once and for all. I thank God for answered prayer personally.Now I can breathe now.I can live amen
ScoutExercise caution with this reservation. The website says pet friendly but only after you reserve the site do they make you aware of pet size limit and breed restrictions. And your reservation is not refundable.
ScoutThe campsites are nice! They’re close together, but there are plenty of trees providing shade and privacy. The grounds are well maintained, probably thanks in part to the very strict rules (nothing tied to trees, no disturbing or touching nature, etc.).
Unfortunately, the spring was closed due to flooding during our visit, but the kids enjoyed the swings at the playground (the slides were too hot!). We rode our bikes, relaxed, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
My only real complaint was the staff and their approach to enforcing the rules. From the moment we checked in, the emphasis seemed to be more on what we couldn’t do than on welcoming us. We completely understand the importance of protecting the natural environment, but the delivery came across as unnecessarily harsh, almost rude.
To top it off, we received a written warning for checking out 45 minutes late, despite having already vacated our campsite. We were simply waiting to use the dump station. It seemed a bit excessive considering we weren’t occupying our site or holding up the next campers.
Overall, it’s a beautiful, peaceful campground with plenty of shade, and we really enjoyed our stay. A little more hospitality and flexibility from the staff would have made the experience even better.
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 384 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 4.3-star rating from 65 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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