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.
$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."
$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."
"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"
$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!."
"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."
"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."
$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)."
"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. "
$50 - $70 / night
"The farm was so peaceful and seems like your far away from the city but you're actually super close to restraunts, stores, and a very nice beach!"
"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."
TravelerThere appears to be new management in the campground. Procedures are completely different and much better than previous visits. It is cleaner and more organized. It is now possible to get a reservation for the full hookup section. The river and woods trails are in great shape. Hopefully they will get the mini golf course turf replaced, it is currently painted concrete and not much fun to play on.
Guidethis place has great potential, however, they are in a remodeling phase at the moment location, location, location is its best feature, very kind owner who tried his best to post our state last January
GuideI think the best thing is the size of this place, there usually is always a spot to get in on. There is a nice Little River running through the very edge of the park, but it's difficult to get a spot there. Also, the laundry facility is top notch and the pool is very pleasant, they also have racquetball and some nice short trails to walk on.
GuideI was staying across the Street at 1000 trails, and I thought I would come over here and look at the old locomotive and the log cabin, etc. But as I walked through the park towards the Peace River, I saw hundreds of buzzards, which made this amazing place to visit. I also noticed that there is a sanctuary for animals here as well, and for only 5 bucks you can go and see a nice variety of birds and mammals. Overall, this is definitely a great place to go it's very, very large and it also hosts tent camping as well.
GuideGreat location to walk to local beach 1/2 mile 20 minute walk
ScoutWell kept, modern units in a very clean environment. RV pads are privately owned but managed by the resort when vacant. Very convenient to the Ringling Museum.
GuideIf you are here, reading this review, you are one step ahead of me. I booked this campsite without doing a whole lot of research. I was driving, I passed through Arcadia, and the first two places I looked at had a three night minimum or were fully booked so I went with this one. Peace River. It sounds so peaceful. But this place is really just a playground for ATVs. I’m in a Ram Promaster and I booked a primitive site. Basically, I parked under some trees and spent two hours watching and listening to ATV riders circle me like bees around a flower. When I heard myself saying “I hate it here,” I knew it was time to drive two hours back home. Plus I was at risk of getting stuck in the sugar sand with my front wheel drive vehicle. I’ve never heard of sugar sand, and now it will fill my nightmares.
ScoutTight quarters is made up by how nice people are to help and move cars
TravelerWell spaced out sites, all sites appear to have electric and water. Clean bath house with toilets/showers. Each site seems pretty roomy.
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.
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.
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.
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!"
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.
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 148 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.
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