Best Glamping near Punta Gorda, FL

Cayo Costa State Park Campground features safari tents on a remote barrier island accessible only by boat, while Palmetto Ridge at Myakka River State Park houses glamping accommodations alongside incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. Peace River Campground complements its yurts with proximity to prime fossil hunting, and Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA boasts upscale glamping options with full amenities. According to a camper, "This place is special. Best beach oriented camping in Florida. The shelling is amazing and you truly feel like you have traveled back in time." Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island offers glamping accommodations with an on-site aviary, creating a unique blend of nature and comfort just a short walk from world-class shell collecting beaches. Most glamping sites provide elevated sleeping arrangements with real beds, electricity, and climate control systems not found in traditional camping.

The Estero River flows past luxury canvas accommodations at Koreshan State Park, where glampers can paddle to nearby sandbars or explore historic buildings from an 1890s settlement. As one guest put it, "The campground located inside the historical state park has hot showers and flush toilets. The park has water fountains and water faucets for portable water." Safari tents at Peace River allow guests to search for prehistoric shark teeth along riverbanks, while Thousand Trails Peace River features heated pools and hot tubs near glamping sites. San Carlos RV Resort & Marina provides water-view glamping with boat access to Fort Myers Beach. Visitors should reserve well in advance for winter stays between October and April when availability becomes extremely limited at premium glamping locations like Cayo Costa, where the pristine beaches and stargazing opportunities attract luxury outdoor enthusiasts.

Best Glamping Sites Near Punta Gorda, Florida (12)

    1. Cayo Costa State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Boca Grande, FL
    19 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.  "

    "We were 1 min from the beach with easy access to bathrooms and running water. Some of us also slept on the beach which was quite a treat. Great fishing as well."

    2. Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

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

    $26 / night

    "Excellent for wildlife viewing in the surprisingly beautiful prairie and tropical Florida area. You can rent bikes or kayaks nearby and make sure to take a tour on the famous fan boats."

    "You can spends days hiking the trails and paddling the river and lakes. The wildlife is everywhere! What would you like to see? Deer, wild hogs, alligators, birds of all kinds?"

    3. Peace River Campground

    25 Reviews
    Arcadia, FL
    25 miles
    Website

    $16 - $80 / night

    "This campground was easy to get to and has lots to do near by. There is the town of Arcadia nearby with local history and restaurants if you feel like a hot meal on a rainy night."

    "ThisThis is a great Campground just outside of Arcadia Florida. It has ATV trails and fossilized shark tooth hunting. it has a Wilderness Area as well as developed the campground area."

    4. Camp Venice Retreat

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

    "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"

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

    5. Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA

    11 Reviews
    St. James City, FL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 283-2415

    "Located in Jasper, TN. This is a place to visit! Fair rates ($35/night) and great views. Friendly staff. Upkeep on bathrooms and showers. Very pleased with my stay here!"

    "The map may show that it's close to Sanibel and Ft Meyers but it is not really by car. This place grows on you. Pine island has no beaches but does have a lot of fishing spots and great restaurants."

    6. Koreshan State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Estero, FL
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 992-0311

    $26 / night

    "We can set up camp and stay throughput the week even if the kids have school. It’s hard to book a weekend at any Florida campground in season so plan ahead if you want a Florida State park."

    "The campground located inside the historical state park has a total of 54 sites, 39 are RV or tent, 3 only RV, and 12 Tent only."

    7. Periwinkle Park

    10 Reviews
    Sanibel, FL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 472-1433

    $50 - $62 / night

    "It is driving f distance from most of the local tourist sites we stayed for a week and never ran out of things to do."

    "We were running close to the cut off for check in due to traffic. We called and the clerk waited for us to get there. We made it just under the wire."

    8. Thousand Trails Peace River

    21 Reviews
    Ona, FL
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This was our second Thousand Trails stay. Unlike The Oaks at Point South you have to find your own spot. It's a little unnerving. Fortunately, we had a few to choose from as soon as we arrived."

    "Huge sites, fire pits, kayaking and trails and nature galore!!"

    9. San Carlos RV Resort & Marina

    3 Reviews
    Fort Myers Beach, FL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 466-3133

    "Campground staff very nice campsites are great concrete slab with table. Some campsites are tricky to get into we have a 34 foot fifth wheel. Could use a little more shade"

    "It's proximity to the beaches and location on the water makes it a great place to stay. Location has all the amenities you need to make for a fun time"

    10. Windward Isle RV And Mobile Home Park

    1 Review
    Osprey, FL
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 922-3090

    "As we walked the property, residents were friendly.

    We didn't really use any of the facilities, but overall a great visit."

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Glamping Reviews near Punta Gorda, FL

173 Reviews of 12 Punta Gorda Campgrounds


  • Stacey M.
    Sep. 30, 2017

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    Our favorite place close to home

    We camp Koreshan because it is literally less than 10 minutes from our house. We can set up camp and stay throughput the week even if the kids have school. It’s hard to book a weekend at any Florida campground in season so plan ahead if you want a Florida State park. This campground has short trails to hike through beautiful bamboo forests. A ramp for putting in your kayaks or SUPs as well as kayak rental. Locations to fish the river. You are a 20 minute drive to the beach from here. Very centrally located to shopping and farmers markets. Koreshan has a farmers market there at the park I believe on Sundays. The campsites have a fire pit and wood is sold at the entrance. It is a historic site of the early settlers of the area from the late 1800’s so there are historical buildings on site to tour. It is a pet friendly campground. The only reason I give this campground 4* rather than 5 is because of the road noise from Hwy 41 that it is off. It’s quite peaceful until you get a motorcycle racing up and down the highway at 2am. They do have specific sites if you wish to camp in hammocks. If you google the campground you should be able to find out which sites those are.

  • Michael L.
    Jun. 7, 2021

    Camp Venice Retreat

    maiden voyage

    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 maintained. look forward to visiting again when county wide recreational burn ban is lifted. a friendly baby gator was a frequent visitor to the water by our site which was cool too. walking distance to Snook Haven Restaurant which has great bbq and beer selection with frequent entertainment. i’m a chef in the area so i can attest to the quality. i will be visiting this campground soon for sure.

  • J
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

    Huge state park, lots of wildlife

    Excellent for wildlife viewing in the surprisingly beautiful prairie and tropical Florida area. You can rent bikes or kayaks nearby and make sure to take a tour on the famous fan boats. Pros: wildlife, cabin option, close to towns, clean, pretty large sites, modern amenities like laundry, restaurant, gift/grocery shop on site, very shady campsites, great trails (many boardwalks), huge park, easy to get to from 75. Good mix of locals and tourists to give you more ideas of what to do while visiting. Cons: just the bugs and heat...

  • R
    Apr. 2, 2022

    Camp Venice Retreat

    Great for Paddling

    Easy river access. Paddle the Myakka River in both directions. Plenty of wildlife - and gaters!. No worries, they'll leave you alone if you don't bother them. Easy access to Vince and the great Legacy Bike trail. Beaches and parking are free. Snook Haven is within walking distance (walk through the park to avoid the cars), has good music, river view seating and pretty good food. But, the camp changed hands and the regulars are unhappy with price increases. Office hours are very limited and not much staff around. And bathrooms, while clean, are dated and showers are small, thus the 4-star rating.

  • Hannah V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2018

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    Nice Camping for the Area

    The campground located inside the historical state park has a total of 54 sites, 39 are RV or tent, 3 only RV, and 12 Tent only. There is a bath house on the inside loop of the sites, it has hot showers and flush toilets. Each site has electrical hookup, with picnic tables, fire pit, and utility pole. Each site has good foliage and privacy from other sites. The park has water fountains and water faucets for portable water. Each site has a gravel drive and sandy/grassy area for tents, no tent pads. It is also pet friendly. Two sites I have stayed at are 020 and 009, both are large sites with lots of privacy from neighbors. From October-April it is fairly busy, and availability is scarce, so planning a head is usually necessary to get the site you want. It is $26 a night with a $6.70 nonrefundable reservation fee, reservation is on the park website.

    This state park is part of a Historical Settlement of a religious group that built this particular settlement in 1893, there are lots of buildings still preserved and available for you to walk through. A couple short and nice trails, some along the Estero river. Kayaking and fishing are also permitted.

  • Fitz Edward O.
    Jul. 13, 2019

    Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park

    One of Florida's finest attractions

       Let me start by saying that I live very close to Myakka River Sate Park and it has been a place that four generations of my family have been enjoying for over 40 years. It is very large for a state park. You can spends days hiking the trails and paddling the river and lakes. The wildlife is everywhere! What would you like to see? Deer, wild hogs, alligators, birds of all kinds? You will probably see these and more at just about any time of year.

       There is a nice interpretive center, picnic grounds, boat tours, canoe and kayak rentals, and a tram tour through the park. Don't miss the canopy walk. It's a great way to see a part of the park's ecosystem that we normally only see from below. You also get a great view of the park in all directions from the top of the tower. Florida is flat and views like these are hard to come by. There is also a restaurant and store where you can get pretty good food with a view of the lake. My wife wants to make sure you know you can also get ice cream at the restaurant. 

        There are three camping areas for tents and RVs. The two older areas are called Big Flats and Old Prairie. The sites in these areas are close to each other and there is little or no under story between them. There is water and electric at each site with clean but older bathroom facilities. Both of the campgrounds are also close to the main road with some sites backing up to the road. There is a convenient dump station inside the park but no sewer hookups in these two campgrounds.

      The third and newest campground is called Palmetto Ridge. This one was obviously built primarily for large RVs with water, electric and sewer connections at every site. The bathroom facilities are more up to date and very nice. They are also not used as much by the campers because this area is mostly filled with huge motor coaches and fifth wheels that all have their own facilities and do not need to worry about their holding tanks because they have full hookups. The sites are pretty roomy and there is plenty of under story in between to keep you from feeling like you are right on top of your neighbors. There are quite a few pull trough sites in this area. They are improved gravel sites and most are very level. The sewer hookups are a little higher than you would expect. It will take some supports to keep a positive flow. If you know how much it rains here in the Summertime you will know why these must be kept above the flood stage level.

       A note about rain: Florida gets a lot of rain in the Summertime. It is not uncommon to get multiple inches of rain in a very short time and this can happen almost any day between June and the end of September. The river and lake do flood and large parts of the park are in their flood plain. the Big Flats campground can be shut down because it is the closest to the lake. This is not a reason to avoid Myakka in the Summertime. We have camped there in June and August and if you find someplace cool to hangout during the day you will be rewarded with very pleasant walks and paddles with lots of wildlife to see in the mornings and evenings. Pro tip: If you are staying in the park, get up really early to see the sunrise from the top of the canopy walk.

        There are two other ways to spend the night in Myakka River State Park. There are cabins available to rent and primitive camp sites in the hiking areas. The cabins have recently been rebuilt and I must admit I have not seen the new ones. We did stay in the original cabins before we got our RV and they were very nice for a family getaway. With a kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning they are a very comfortable way to spend some time in the park. The original cabins were built with palm logs by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). The CCC was a program to create jobs and improve public facilities during and after the Great Depression. Some of that construction can still be seen at one of the picnic areas in the park. There is also a monument to the CCC inside the park. Backpackers can spend a few days hiking the trails and camping at the primitive sites. Haven't done that myself since I was a kid back in the 70s but they were great trips. No noise or light pollution. On a cool, clear night the star gazing in fantastic. My wife wants me to make sure you know that she won't be at the primitive campsites but hopes you enjoy yourself and not to forget about the ice cream.

       For native Sarasotans, Myakka River State Park is a beloved point of pride. Most people never leave the beach when they come here for a visit and miss what the rest of Florida looks like. It is well worth your time to spend a few nights away from the beach and see what else makes this such a special place. This is a very popular spot and the campsites and cabins book up early especially for the Winter months. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance on the reserve America website.

  • J
    Jan. 28, 2022

    Cayo Costa State Park Campground

    Beach camping paradise

    This place is special.  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.  The campground closed for several months in summer 2021 to eradicated the rodents.  It worked!  We did not see or hear one rodent when we stayed for three nights in November 2021.  If campers / visitors will keep a clean camp site and not leave food and garbage out, the rodents should stay under control.

      No problem with bugs in the dry season, but you still need some bug spray at dawn and dusk.

  • Megan K.
    Sep. 16, 2018

    Periwinkle Park

    Sanibel Island on a Budget

    Sanibel Island is a great vacation spot full of vacation homes, white sand beaches, and world-class shell hunting. This is the only campsite available on the entire island, and as a result it is a bit pricier than most camp sites, but it is far and away the most economical way to see the island. It is driving f distance from most of the local tourist sites we stayed for a week and never ran out of things to do.

    The campground is less than a mile from the beach, easily walkable and even easier to bike. The campsite is designed to acomódate RV camping and long term mobile home set ups, however there are some lots available for tents as well. Due to the RV and location in city limits there are no campfires allowed, but grills are allowed and the site has very well kept and clean shower/bathroom facilities.

  • D
    Mar. 3, 2021

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    We are spoiled by other Fl state parks

    We stayed at Koreshan in site 38 for one night. It is definitely not as nice as other FL state parks we’ve been spoiled by... Sites are ok, a little smaller than we’ve had at other campgrounds and there’s some vegetation between sites. The trails aren’t very exciting at the park, although we did walk through the settlement later in the day (when no one else was around) and we got to see a gopher tortoise nesting. Our neighbors were the loudest we’d had at any park (watching an action movie outside), but the campground was quiet after quiet hours. Again - we have been spoiled by other FL state park campgrounds. Ok place to stay, but if you have a choice for another state park, I’d probably recommend staying elsewhere.


Guide to Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda sits at the convergence of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor, creating diverse camping opportunities in a subtropical climate zone with year-round temperatures averaging between 65-90°F. The area's natural waterways make it ideal for campers interested in fossil hunting, with many sites offering access to rivers where prehistoric shark teeth can be found. Seasonal fluctuations bring varied wildlife viewing opportunities depending on when you visit.

What to Do

Fossil hunting in Peace River: At Peace River Campground, campers can sift through sediment for prehistoric treasures. "You can spend the day paddeling down the river, fishing or sifting through the sediment looking for fossils from all different time periods," notes Kasey K., who adds that the campground is "conveniently located next to the canoe rental place."

Island exploration by boat: Cayo Costa State Park offers primitive camping on an undeveloped barrier island accessible only by ferry or private boat. "Take the time to plan your paddle around, between and through the barrier islands to Cayo Costa. There is some big water, that might put your panties in a bunch if you aren't use to it," advises Dave V., who paddled from Pineland Marina.

Wildlife spotting trails: The trails at Myakka River State Park showcase Florida's diverse ecosystems. "If you want to see Florida Wildlife this is the place to go! From birds to gators, wild hogs and lots of raccoons! wildlife is everywhere," shares Jeanene A. The park features over 36 miles of trails with opportunities to view alligators, deer, and numerous bird species.

What Campers Like

Private island experience: Campers appreciate the isolation at Cayo Costa State Park. "Cayo Costa is truly getting away from everything. Primitive camping only, and reachable only by ferry (must reserve ahead) or private boat," explains Ellen E., who recommends bringing all supplies since "there is nothing out there once the last ferry leaves."

Affordable beach access: Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island offers budget-friendly accommodation near premium beaches. Megan K. notes it's "the only campsite available on the entire island, and as a result it is a bit pricier than most camp sites, but it is far and away the most economical way to see the island." The campground is "less than a mile from the beach, easily walkable and even easier to bike."

Historic settings: Koreshan State Park offers camping in a historically significant location. "An oasis in the middle of suburbia. Nicely wooded sites if close together. Interesting history, nice kayaking from the park," shares Rebecca E. The park preserves buildings from a religious settlement established in 1893.

What You Should Know

Access limitations: Many prime camping spots near Punta Gorda require boat transport. "Options to get to this camp ground is only by boat, ferry, or kayak. We kayaked out here for a night," shares Erica V. about Cayo Costa, adding "The docking station does provide transportation to the campsites otherwise it would be a long walk."

Weather considerations: The subtropical climate brings seasonal challenges. "It seems as though you are marooned on your own little island. You'll enjoy a myriad of water birds... along with osprey, bald eagles, kingfisher and kites," notes Dave V., who cautions "from June through October, it'll ordinarily rain for a short duration in the afternoon."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Punta Gorda, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Punta Gorda, FL is Cayo Costa State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Punta Gorda, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Punta Gorda, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.