Best Tent Camping near Englewood, FL
Tent campsites around Englewood, Florida range from coastal island experiences to inland forest settings. Primitive tent camping options include Myakka State Forest Primitive Campsites, located directly in Englewood, and Myakka River State Park primitive sites, situated approximately 25 miles north. Cayo Costa State Park Campground offers tent camping on a barrier island accessible only by boat or ferry, providing a remote beach camping experience west of Pine Island.
Most primitive tent areas require advance planning due to limited amenities. Myakka State Forest features walk-in tent sites with minimal facilities, while Cayo Costa requires campers to transport all gear via ferry or private boat. At Cayo Costa, a tram transports campers and their equipment from the dock to the gulf-side camping area. According to reviews, "You can hike around the peninsula of Oak Hill and explore, look for fossils and sharks teeth at the waters edge." Many tent campgrounds have fire rings and picnic tables, but not all permit campfires year-round. Tent campers should bring insect repellent as no-see-ums and mosquitoes are prevalent, especially on Cayo Costa Island.
The tent camping experience in this region offers unique coastal and inland environments. Caloosahatchee Regional Park provides walk-in tent sites with cart assistance to transport gear from parking areas to campsites. A visitor noted that it has "great paths to manicured campsites. All have fire ring, bbq, and picnic table." Primitive sites at Myakka River State Park require a 2.5 to 14-mile hike from trailheads, offering genuine backcountry camping with minimal crowds. The walk-in tent locations throughout the region provide opportunities for wildlife observation, including alligators, birds, and occasionally panthers in more remote areas. Most tent camping areas are within reasonable distance of water features, whether coastal beaches, rivers, or inland waterways, making them popular for paddling, fishing, and fossil hunting.
