Several good camping sites near Hollywood, Florida, combine access to both the Everglades ecosystem and city conveniences. Long Pine Key Campground puts you right in the Everglades where you'll likely see wildlife during your stay. Many campers head to Midway Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve for its basic setup and walking paths through the cypress forest. You should store food properly since alligators and many bird species live in these areas. Most people camp here between November and April when it's not so hot and sticky. Summer camping means dealing with heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms that roll through quickly. Most camping areas have regular roads leading to them, though some spots might need a vehicle with higher clearance. You'll find drinking water and bathrooms at the main campgrounds, but bringing extra supplies is smart. Remember to follow Leave No Trace practices while camping in these sensitive environments. When you want a break from nature, Hollywood's restaurants and entertainment are a short drive away. The camping near Hollywood works well whether you want to focus on nature or mix outdoor time with city visits.
"This KOA was close to family and friends. Stayed for five nights. It was clean and I felt safe. Staff were very helpful getting backed in and set up."
"It's located near many attractions and shopping. Beautiful sunset viewing across the street at Vista View Park and easy highway access. You're going to love your stay at this KOA!"
$35 - $57 / night
"Stayed here over a holiday weekend and enjoyed it, roads getting in the RV park are good but watch out for branches with big units outside the park to the north."
"The park is big with a paved walking path around the park. On the west side of the park there's a lot of big mature trees that give a lot shade and are just nice looking. "
"A lot of trails to walk in the middle of the nature. Mini golf. Water park wasn't open on March."
"We stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly. The lake/dock area is beautiful, and there’s a massive playground across from the campground in the main park."
$110 - $300 / night
"If you camp on the canal, chances are you will be right next to some amazing yachts! 7 minutes to Ft Lauderdale Beach and 7 minutes the other way to Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood!"
"The grounds and views of all the surrounding yachts are simply spectacular. Everything here is setup for convenience and comfort."
"For south florida, its about as good as it gets. Also has a nice observatory on saturday nights to visit."
"It has plenty of picnic tables, a path to the lake, and woods to explore via trails. There are some pretty interesting pieces of history leftover behind the camping field."
$45 - $50 / night
"I have been here a few times mainly to use the trails for disc golf. This park is a true escape from the hustle and bustle of South Florida life."
"Great place to pull over on your way to the Florida Keys or Miami for an overnight stay. Showers, charcoal grills and a small kids playground are the highlights of this park."
"Near grocery store, and everything! Full hookup sites, spots are big and concrete roads, amenities like restrooms and showers are cleans, the pool is nice! Great time! Recommend"
"Conveniently located near stores and everything you would need. Close to airport."
"The town around has very nice restaurants in Tarpon Springs but some of the area can be a little sketchy. One thing I see is that the park itself was safe."
ScoutIt's great to be in Fort Lauderdale, so close to activities. RV park is old, poorly kept, and crowded. Mostly long-term campers who were very friendly. Vehicles parked onto narrow black top roads. Dead leaves blown to the side but not picked up. Peeling paint in showers. Friendly staff to our faces, but overheard them being unkind when they didn't know we could hear.
LegendJust south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.
Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.
OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.
Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?" Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.
The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.
Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!
Happy Camping!
ScoutGreat campground near Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.
ScoutOur stay here was the best! Our host, John was extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed while also respecting our privacy. The location was peaceful and relaxing. we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommend!
GuideThis is a dirt parking lot on the Tamiami Trail (Rt 41) right along the canal. Airboats run all day. We didn't go on one but it looked fun. Great fishing! No water no hookups.
ScoutFor $130/night-this place is a crowded dump with poorly maintained muddy sites.
ScoutNice campground, well maintained, County operated. Some road noise. Clean showers and laundry. Sites and roads are paved. Adjacent to Zoo Miami.
GuideThis area is a no frills site to overnight camp located near US Hwy 27.
ScoutThis campground is close to Miami and Everglades National Park along with grocery shopping. It appears that almost all sites are pull through but not spacious. They have events if you like that sort of thing. Overall, a reasonable place to stay.
Camping spots near Hollywood, Florida balance access to urban amenities with natural surroundings in South Florida's subtropical climate. The region sits at approximately 9 feet above sea level with a mixture of coastal and inland environments. While many campgrounds stay open year-round, summer temperatures regularly climb above 90°F with humidity levels reaching 80-90%, making proper hydration and shade essential for campers.
Explore the lake wildlife: Topeekeegee Yugnee Park Campground provides access to a large lake where campers can observe native wildlife. "The park is big with a paved walking path around the park. On the west side of the park there's a lot of big mature trees that give a lot shade and are just nice looking," notes Mark B.
Visit historical areas: The region contains interesting historical remnants tucked away near camping areas. At Markham Park Campground, campers can discover unexpected historical elements. "There are some pretty interesting pieces of history leftover behind the camping field," writes Ioana Z., who enjoyed the mixture of natural and historical features.
Water recreation options: Several parks offer water activities beyond the typical Everglades experience. "If you've got a jet ski you can easily get on and off right there. There are gators in the water which is much deeper than one would think," warns Jamie F. about the waterways at Markham Park Campground.
Urban access with nature feel: The balance of city proximity with natural surroundings makes these camping spots appealing. C.B. Smith Park Campground offers this combination. "7 minutes to Ft Lauderdale Beach and 7 minutes the other way to Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood! We will be going back!" shares Donna S.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained areas at the best campgrounds. "The campground was very clean with full hookups and sewer directly at our camp site," notes H M. about C.B. Smith Park Campground.
Night security: Many Hollywood-area campgrounds offer enhanced security features. At Topeekeegee Yugnee Park Campground, "Very well lit at night with security," according to amanda, who appreciated the safety measures in place.
Train noise impacts: Several campgrounds sit near train tracks that can affect sleep quality. "The east end of Easterlin is on the Tri-Rail tracks and you do get significant noise so make sure you are a heavy sleeper," warns Martin R. about Easterlin Park Campground.
Temporary park closures: Some parks have restricted access during certain days. "Open only to campers and the rest of the entire park, including trails, are closed to the public except for Sunday's and Monday's because they are doing Covid Vaccinations there Tues thru Sat," Penny M. noted about Markham Park during pandemic operations.
After-hours access limitations: Park gates typically close in the evening with special procedures for late returns. "Park closes at 8, you can still enter through the exit gate until midnight and then have to call security to get in/out," explains Darren F. about Topeekeegee Yugnee Park.
Water parks within camping areas: Several campgrounds feature water recreation facilities specifically designed for children. "There's a water park for the kids, volleyball, many gazebos with grilling areas and more," notes Mark B. about the family amenities at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park.
Look for dedicated play spaces: Campgrounds with substantial playground areas provide entertainment for children. Davie / Fort Lauderdale KOA offers activities beyond camping. "It is across the street from a massive park that is perfect for all family members. If you go to the park, make sure you see the burrowing owls," recommends Carlton A.
Consider wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to observe local fauna. "My grandson loved looking at and feeding the ducks and turtles," shares Carlton A. about the KOA's pond, making it suitable for children interested in wildlife.
Site selection matters: RV campers should research specific sites before booking. At Yacht Haven Park & Marina, site challenges can affect your stay. "We were unable to hook up to sewer, and had to run our electric cable and water hose under the camper. Luckily we were able to reach," notes Ron M.
Park layout navigation: Many campgrounds have tight roads that require careful maneuvering. "I got to the site and realized it would be impossible to back in without dragging my 20,000 pound camper through their grass," describes Ron M. about navigating Yacht Haven Park.
Full hookup availability: Most area campgrounds offer complete RV services, but specifics vary. "We stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly," explains Kelsey P. about C.B. Smith Park Campground, where full hookups are standard in the more desirable areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Hollywood, Florida?
Hollywood, Florida offers several campgrounds within a short drive. Topeekeegee Yugnee Park Campground provides a great park setting with a lake, good power and water pressure, though you might hear some train and highway noise. C.B. Smith Park Campground is another public option, offering a flat, open camping area. Additional nearby options include Markham Park Campground and Easterlin Park Campground, all within reasonable driving distance of Hollywood's attractions, beaches, and entertainment venues.
Where can I go tent camping near Hollywood, FL?
For tent camping near Hollywood, consider Larry & Penny Thompson Park about 30 minutes away, offering affordable tent sites with amenities like WiFi, laundry, and great showers. It provides good value and convenient access to Biscayne National Park. John Prince Park Campground is another excellent option with lakefront sites, miles of biking paths, and fishing opportunities on Lake Osborne. While slightly further from Hollywood, it's reasonably priced and offers numerous recreational activities.
Are there KOA campgrounds in Hollywood, FL?
Yes, there is a KOA campground in Hollywood, FL. KOA Hollywood (formerly known as Grice RV Park) serves the area with standard KOA amenities. This campground is drive-in accessible and features reservable sites, water hookups, and is big-rig-friendly. KOA campgrounds typically offer consistent quality, clean facilities, and family-friendly environments, making them a reliable choice for campers visiting the Hollywood area.
What RV parks can I find in Hollywood, Florida?
Hollywood offers several RV park options for travelers. Yacht Haven Park & Marina is highly rated, offering canal-side camping with views of impressive yachts and convenient access to Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Paradise Island RV Resort is another option, though reviews indicate variable site quality. Holiday Park provides very quick access to I-95, making it convenient for travelers, though highway noise may be a consideration.
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