Best Campgrounds near El Jobean, FL

El Jobean and the surrounding Port Charlotte area provide several campground options along the Myakka River and nearby waterways. Campers can choose from established RV parks like Encore Harbor Lakes with full hookups, or more rustic experiences at Flying A Campground in Myakka State Forest. Most facilities accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin rentals. Myakka River Motorcoach Resort caters exclusively to Class A RVs while providing river access and resort amenities. The coastal location puts campers within 20 minutes of Gulf beaches, making the area popular with seasonal visitors seeking waterfront recreation.

Florida's subtropical climate shapes the camping experience in this region, with high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months. "Sites are typically 70' x 50' with large roads for easy access," noted one visitor to Myakka River Motorcoach Resort. Reservations are essential, particularly during winter months when seasonal residents occupy many campgrounds. Some areas, particularly at Camp Venice Retreat, can experience standing water after heavy rains. Most campgrounds remain open year-round with peak season running November through April. Myakka State Forest's Flying A Campground requires advance reservations through a permit system, with some visitors reporting sites need better maintenance.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings, with the Myakka River providing opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. A visitor at Camp Venice Retreat commented, "Easy river access. Paddle the Myakka River in both directions. Plenty of wildlife - and gators!" Several campgrounds feature swimming pools, pickleball courts, and organized activities, particularly during winter months. Sites vary significantly in size and privacy levels, with older established campgrounds often incorporating mixed-use areas where RVs share space with permanent mobile homes. Campers seeking quieter experiences may prefer the more secluded sites at Flying A Campground, though reviews mention these primitive sites occasionally suffer from litter and maintenance issues. The blend of natural settings with resort-style amenities characterizes most camping areas in this region.

Best Camping Sites Near El Jobean, Florida (144)

    1. Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

    38 Reviews
    Osprey, FL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 361-6511

    $26 / night

    "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."

    2. Oscar Scherer State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Osprey, FL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 483-5956

    $26 / night

    "Like all the Florida state parks, the campground is well-maintained and clean. Lots of trails to explore, easy to launch my kayak from near my campsite."

    "Located just outside of Sarasota and on the edge of Nokomis. Very “old Florida” with lots of palm hammocks and scrub oaks. Cant say."

    3. Camp Venice Retreat

    12 Reviews
    Venice, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 488-0850

    "Easy access to Vince and the great Legacy Bike trail. Beaches and parking are free."

    "friendly staff on site. very nice sites on river inlet with perfectly placed utilities. bet clean restrooms and showers within a brief walk from every site. didn’t use pool but looked very clean and well"

    4. Cayo Costa State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Boca Grande, FL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 964-0375

    $22 / night

    "Best beach oriented camping in Florida.  The shelling is amazing and you truly feel like you have traveled back in time.  We have camped there in a tent site three times in the last year.  "

    "Cayo Costa is absolutely the best place for getting away from everything civilized!."

    5. Encore Harbor Lakes

    4 Reviews
    El Jobean, FL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "We came back to Florida to retrive our car after a 3 month stay in New England. This campground was right down the road from where we needed to conduct our business."

    "Had to have a RV park nearby and called, and booked a site within 10 minutes. Very pleased with the accommodations. Pool was great, neighbors were friendly and very helpful."

    6. Encore Ramblers Rest

    6 Reviews
    Venice, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "First of all the location, if you like to kayak, this is the place for you. Right on the river. Very nice."

    "Many times we had 2” plus of standing water outside of our RV (we were on “Raccoon Road”). Also, the electrical and water connections needed maintenance while we were there. They were very worn out."

    7. Flying A Campground — Myakka State Forest

    4 Reviews
    El Jobean, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 398-3410

    $9 / night

    "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)."

    8. Myakka River Motorcoach Resort

    2 Reviews
    El Jobean, FL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (941) 740-2599

    "Close to everything, multiple beaches 20 minutes away,  great shopping and restaurants are close by.  Extremely friendly owners, they treat renters like members of their family.  "

    9. Creekside RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Punta Gorda, FL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 833-3334

    "Lots of grass and trees all around.  Big sites with plenty of room between other campers.  Wide, paver parking with full hook ups.  Big and clean showers and restrooms.  Nice pool and hot tub.  "

    "Very nice bathhouses with large, walk in showers. The clubhouse was closed due to COVID but the pool and hot tub were open and very nice. Good space between sites."

    10. Myakka River RV Resort

    1 Review
    North Port, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 426-5040
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Recent Reviews near El Jobean, FL

548 Reviews of 144 El Jobean Campgrounds


  • bailey J.
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Caloosahatchee Regional Park

    Our Stay

    We’ve stayed here twice now and absolutely loved it. The first time we stayed in Site 5, I believe, and something to note is that it is directly next to one of the ground volunteers’ RV site. It’s very close and does offer very limited privacy. However, he was incredibly nice and offered us firewood and a few other things that we forgot. This site was also incredibly close to the bathroom, which is a must for me. It was an amazing experience! Our second visit, we stayed on site 24. This site backs up directly to 25 and is right behind the bathrooms/showers. This site was also perfect for us despite the limited privacy. However, inconsiderate campers would walk directly through the back of our site to get to the bathrooms. Either way, these things were not dealbreakers. The grounds have incredible trails, mile-long trails to walk along the Caloosahatchee River, with beautiful sight-seeing. This is now our go-to campground!!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Periwinkle Park

    Very nice campground on Sanibel Island

    Nice campground with very flat campsites made setting up our small trailer a breeze. 

    Very cost effective way to enjoy the island.

    Sites were a bit snug but were plenty for us.

    Bathrooms were probably the cleanest I've ever seen at a campground.  They were cleaned daily and it showed.

    Laundry facilities were very nice as well.

    Periwinkle park is located fairly close to most anything you'd like to do on Sanibel.  It was only a few minute bike ride down to the beach and to many other attractions.

    Great place, would definitely stay again.

  • Rachel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 16, 2025

    Encore Winter Quarters Manatee

    Quaint and quiet.

    First impression, the front desk worker was very informative and quite kind. However, there is no security gate. As a momma with young kiddos, that does make me nervous. The lake is beautiful and our neighbors have been lovely. Also, I am really grateful for the location. Not too terrible a distance from Anna Marie Island, or Tampa! There is so much to do locally.

  • j
    May. 12, 2025

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    Nice place.

    Grounds are nice, and staff are great. I’d suggest avoiding site 37 until it’s renovated. Big tree in the middle, and soft sugar sand is hard to level. Also, just know there are paths in the back where you want to keep eyes open. Saw rattlesnakes.

  • Mack Daddy Van L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 26, 2025

    Hardee Lakes Park

    Fantastic Campgroudnd

    My experience was great with my pup! Primitive sites were $20 a night at time of writing.

    We stayed in a primitive site(p14) with water. I was excited to discover all these primitive wites with water are right on the lake.

    There’s no alcohol allowed which is a double edged sword, but I welcomed this rule as there always seems to be groups partying at public campsites. Not here.

    Bathrooms are typical campsite bathroom. They have showers too for campers.

    It’s a dirt road campsite, but they have water trucks that spray a few times a day to keep the dust down. So thankful for that!

    RV pull sites and promote. campsites are far enough away from each other.

    Nearest major grocery store is wal-mart about 15 minutes away.

    Only iffy thing I’d call out is how tight the primitive campsites are to each other. It was dead when I came, but had my neighboring sites been occupied, I wouldn’t have enjoyed my time as much.

  • Amanda W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

    Enormous park

    I’m staying in the Palmetto Ridge loop which is the only paved loop & I think the only one w/sewer. The Big Flats & Old Prairie loops are gravel road, tight, no privacy & very small sites like for popups, vans or small campers. The Palmetto Ridge pull thrus are gigantic. I would say the vegetation gives semi privacy but they aren’t on top of each other so it’s not like you’re looking right at your neighbor. There is a picnic table & a fire ring. Gravel sites but pretty level. My site was 50 amp. Not sure how many are. Bath house & laundry facility appears clean. Pet friendly. The outpost is literally like 3 miles into the park down from the entrance & Palmetto loop. The store was nice & there was a food truck. It was a little spendy but good food. The river was low so the kayak rental & boat tours were shut down. Tons of great hiking & even some elevated bridges for site seeing. Tons of gators, birds, deer etc. There is also a scenic drive in the park, a “fisherman’s loop” & a few picnic areas. There are cabins to rent but I didn’t see them. Also never saw a playground if you have kids. Very dark & quiet at night.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2025

    Lake Manatee State Park Campground

    Peaceful and beautiful

    Peaceful and beautiful place to walk. BEWEAR, PLEASE READ THE SIGNS! Nice little beach. Lots of wildlife. We had a pretty open site. Some sites have more trees and shade then others. Temps can be warm. It was in the 90s° the week we camped. We enjoyed it.

  • Mary jo R.
    Apr. 22, 2025

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    Basic Accomodations

    The trees and shrubs appear burned out from controlled burn or brush fire. The dead branches are still there. Sites have stones and sand. Not alot of grass or tree coverage. The park offers hiking trails and close by access for launching kayaks. This park also has a walking tour of the Korshean Settlement which was interesting. Every time we have been here there has been a burn ban so no campfires allowed. Sites are small but will work for a tent or smaller camper. Ours is 32’ and it is really tight for the site. Staff is super friendly. Sites fill up quickly especially on the weekend.


Guide to El Jobean

Camping near El Jobean offers diverse outdoor experiences along Florida's subtropical Gulf Coast. With an average elevation of less than 10 feet above sea level, these low-lying camping areas require careful site selection during summer's rainy season when standing water can accumulate quickly. Water-based activities dominate the camping experience, with numerous access points to the Myakka River and surrounding waterways.

What to do

Kayak the Myakka River: Launch directly from Camp Venice Retreat for excellent wildlife viewing. "Easy river access. Paddle the Myakka River in both directions. Plenty of wildlife - and gaters!" notes a visitor, highlighting the accessible paddling options from riverside campsites.

Hike forest trails: Myakka River State Park offers 39 miles of hiking trails through canopied forest areas. A camper explains, "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."

Explore barrier islands: Cayo Costa State Park Campground provides a unique island camping experience accessible only by ferry or private boat. "We arrived at the gate! After hearing of the wilderness preserve we decided to go ahead and get the permit... After driving back to the parking area, we realized we had the 600 acres to ourselves," reports one visitor who explored the island's natural areas.

What campers like

Heated pool access: Many campgrounds near El Jobean offer maintained pool facilities. At Creekside RV Resort, campers appreciate "Nice pool and hot tub. Big sites with plenty of room between other campers. Wide, paver parking with full hook ups."

Wildlife viewing: The Myakka River corridor provides exceptional bird and reptile watching opportunities. One camper at Myakka River State Park observed, "Tons of gators, birds, deer etc. There is also a scenic drive in the park, a 'fisherman's loop' & a few picnic areas."

Bike-friendly areas: The Legacy Trail offers paved cycling access throughout the region. "The park is located about half way on 10 mile paved multi use trail-Legacy trail. This was a great trail for biking," notes a visitor at Oscar Scherer State Park.

What you should know

Limited primitive facilities: Basic campgrounds have minimal amenities. At Flying A Campground, "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."

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, with some using gate codes for access. "The campground is gated (you get the lock code when you reserve a site). Note that this campground requires reservations," explains a camper at Flying A Campground.

Bug preparation essential: Camp Venice Retreat and other riverside locations experience significant insect activity, particularly at dawn and dusk. At Cayo Costa, a camper advises, "WHATEVER YOU DO BRING BUG PROTECTION! I brought sawyers big lotion and 2 thermacell bug repellents and in 24 hours got 2 bug bites!"

Tips for camping with families

Accessible swimming: Look for campgrounds with designated swimming areas for safer water access. Oscar Scherer State Park offers "a small beach/swimming area which was great cause it's hot!!"

Spacious sites: Select campgrounds with room for kids to play. "Site #20 which in my opinion was the best site out of all of them... secluded with lots of privacy and a view of the creek that runs through the campground!" recommends a visitor at Oscar Scherer.

Wildlife education opportunities: Myakka River Motorcoach Resort provides riverside wildlife viewing from a safe distance. "The views were gorgeous and the beauty was captivating," notes one visitor, while others appreciate the "Boardwalk along the river, fishing pier, kayak launch" that allow for nature observation without disturbing habitats.

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Many parks accommodate larger vehicles but require navigation skills. At Myakka River Motorcoach Resort, "Sites are typically 70' x 50'. Large roads easy access."

Utility placement awareness: Hookups may have unusual positioning at some campgrounds. At Oscar Scherer, one RVer warns, "The electric hookup is in its normal spot, but be aware that the water is in the woods on the opposite side (one pedestal feeding two sites). Make sure to bring a longer hose, or park closer to the water than electric."

Seasonal crowding: Winter months bring significantly higher occupancy rates to the El Jobean area. A Creekside RV Resort visitor noted they use it as their "winter 'home'. We stay 4 months here. Large paved sites with paver patios the length of the site. Most sites are ~60' or longer."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near El Jobean, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, El Jobean, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 144 campgrounds and RV parks near El Jobean, FL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near El Jobean, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near El Jobean, FL is Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 38 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near El Jobean, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near El Jobean, FL.