5 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Okaloacoochee Slough Hunt Camp provides the only dedicated horse corral near Fort Myers Beach, making it a primary destination for equestrian campers. Located in Felda, approximately 40 miles inland from the coast, this primitive campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with electric hookups, water hookups, and sewer connections available at each site. The camp features spacious sites with fire rings and picnic tables, though sites lack natural barriers between them. Generators are permitted for additional power needs. Horseshoe Primitive Campground in Picayune Strand State Forest offers another option for horse owners, though without dedicated corrals. The campground sits on high ground carved from swamp scrub, featuring well-maintained grounds with fire rings at each site and portable pit latrines.
Multiple trail systems connect riders to extensive bridle paths throughout the region. The trails at Picayune Strand State Forest provide miles of sandy terrain suitable for various riding levels, though some paths become impassable during the rainy season from June through November when standing water is present. Dinner Island Ranch WMA offers free camping with adjacent riding opportunities. Dusty conditions are common at many of these equestrian-friendly sites, particularly during dry winter months. Most locations require advance reservations through Reserve America or Florida State Forest websites, with prices ranging from free at Dinner Island Ranch to around $10-15 per night at other locations. The campsites at Okaloacoochee remain peaceful and quiet, with minimal road noise creating an ideal base for daily trail rides.
"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."
"You do have to carry all your gear to the campsites, but they have carts near the checkin office. Staff is always friendly and the restrooms are usually always clean."
from $15 - $40 / night
"Camping in Florida is not for the faint of heart, but for the adventurous...much like any state."
"Just hit this equestrian campground for a single night and I had the place to myself. There was a single cameraman from a local news affiliate shooting video of deer in the field at sunset."
from $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)."
from $9 / night
"To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter ."
from $9 / night
"To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter ."
from $9 / night
"Hunt Camp, Okaloacoochee SF: We stayed at the nearby Overflow CG. I expect this would have been the same quiet and peaceful experience, as noticed during our walks by Hunt Camp."
Available next weekend
from $9 / night
TravelerAwesome offloading in sugar sand. Camping spot was remote and did run into a few equestrian friends. Saw lots of deer and owls. Primitive camping.
TravelerNot for the average tent peaceful camper. Some of the RVrs blast their generators all night. Very load people last 2 times we have been.
TravelerWe’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!!
GuideA perfect primitive spot with a great location. Kind campground host and spacious spots. It is very open and you will see a lot of your neighbors, but that isn’t too much of a worry as many folks are here for hunting. It’s quiet in the evenings and makes for a great sunset spot.
TravelerNice open area with some trees and lots of palm tree bushes. Well maintained white dirt road. Racoons stalk u at night lol. Parking is away from campsites.
ScoutGreat paths to manicured campsites. All have fire ring, bbq, and picnic table. Primitive showers available; restrooms available. WiFi works good; but there’s miles of trails to walk. Caretakers are friendly.
TravelerTucked away between Englewood and North Port, this primitive site is only eight dollars to stay at. Not too bad, but the campsite looked like it wasn't maintained at all. There was a big dilapidated bin of random trash that looked like it had been there for quite some time (site 3), a ton of cigarette butts, melted plastic pieces everywhere, etc. We even found an... adult toy about ten feet outside of the area of our site.
That being said, it was quiet, and you couldn't beat the scenery and nature once we cleaned up the area a bit. The sites are spread apart enough that it doesn't feel like your neighbor is on top of you, which was a huge plus.
Out of all the sites, 3 had the most privacy and had great views of the forest. If we decide to go again, we will definitely stay at this site. The other sites seemed a little bare and less private.
For the price, you can't complain too much. Just make sure to lock the gate behind you because by the many many signs posted, they're threatening to shut the sites down permanently if you don't.
LegendHunt Camp, Okaloacoochee SF: We stayed at the nearby Overflow CG. I expect this would have been the same quiet and peaceful experience, as noticed during our walks by Hunt Camp. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 for large sites. No natural barrier in between.
Price 2023: $ 10
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/2 to full.
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: Large sites.
Site surface: Gravel
Reservations: Required.
Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: Adjacent to the road, but there is not much traffic.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Non-potable water is available at the adjacent horse corals.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Chemical toilets
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: No
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 bar
Setting: Adjacent to prairie with fairly dense low growing trees which obstructs view.
Recent Weather: Sunny
Solar: Great
Host: No
Rig Size: Any
Sites: I like all of the sites. #3 is the best location in the loop.
LegendPanther Pond: We really liked this quiet campground with very secluded sites. More sunshine and solar at Okaloacoochee Overflow and Hunt Camp. To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter .
Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough.
Bicycles on Wildcow Rd
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4.5 for Great privacy.
Price 2023: $ 10 for seniors
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/4 full
Site Privacy: most all sites – excellent, with shrubbery in between sites.
Site Spacing: very nice
Site surface: dirt
Reservations: required
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: Maybe a little from Cow Path Rd. Very little travel.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no
Dump Station: no none
Potable Water Available: a couple miles away at Hunt camp there is a hand pump at the horse corals. Rangers say it is not portable.
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: chemical toilets
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: None
Cell Service (AT&T): one bar
Setting: in a long pine forest, with lots of palm tree shrubbery
Recent Weather: clear with highs in the upper 60s
Solar: some sites. See below.
Host: no
Rig Size: 17 to 20 foot trailer will fit in some sites in my opinion. See below.
Sites: Will easily fit a 17 foot trailer: 1,2,3*,5*,7,6,9*,11,
*very nice solar at 2 PM, but not all day.
Equestrian camping near Fort Myers Beach, Florida offers accessible trail networks with varying terrain conditions throughout the year. Located inland from the coast, these campsites typically experience warmer inland temperatures than beachfront areas, with summer highs regularly reaching 95°F. Most equestrian sites include basic amenities without natural barriers between campsites, creating an open camping environment.
Trail riding in diverse terrain: At Caloosahatchee Regional Park, riders can access "plenty of trails down by the river" with "mile-long trails to walk along the Caloosahatchee River, with beautiful sight-seeing." According to Bailey J., the "grounds have incredible trails" suitable for multiple skill levels.
Wildlife observation: Visit the boardwalk near Okaloacoochee Slough Overflow Campground where Roger W. recommends: "Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough."
Mountain biking: The region offers some riding opportunities despite the flat terrain. At Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Geoff notes there are "some really good mtb biking trails (as far as mtb biking is in S. Florida)," making it a good option for riders looking to explore on two wheels.
Peace and quiet: The inland location keeps most equestrian sites relatively tranquil. At Okaloacoochee Slough Hunt Camp, Roger W. found "this would have been the same quiet and peaceful experience" with minimal traffic noise despite being adjacent to a road.
Spacious campsites: Sites at Horseshoe Primitive Campground are "quite large and well separated from neighboring sites," according to Penny M., though she noted "the campground is very open and the sites don't really have much privacy."
Star viewing: The inland location away from coastal light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing opportunities. Joe D. at Horseshoe Primitive Campground found it "a great view of the sky's above. Definitely a nice place to search out for a nice nite star gazing."
Water situation: Most sites have limited or non-potable water. At Okaloacoochee Slough Hunt Camp, Roger W. notes "Non-potable water is available at the adjacent horse corals" but no drinking water. Paul W. confirms Horseshoe Primitive Campground has "no drinkable water."
Seasonal changes: During summer months (June-November), trails can become impassable due to standing water. Tucker B. visited Horseshoe Primitive Campground during drier months and found "miles of trails" but these conditions change drastically with seasonal rains.
Campsite privacy: Most equestrian sites feature open layouts. Teala S. at Horseshoe Primitive Campground describes it as "very open and you will see a lot of your neighbors" with limited privacy between sites.
Generator noise: At primitive sites, some campers run generators that can affect the wilderness experience. Penny M. at Horseshoe Primitive Campground found "the generator of one of the campers was annoying because we were in the wilderness. I guess they needed their heat, as it did get down to 30 degrees in Feb."
Beginner-friendly options: Caloosahatchee Regional Park receives high marks for families, with Kenna D. calling it "Great for kids and new campers! Great paths to manicured campsites. All have fire ring, bbq, and picnic table."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids enjoy spotting local wildlife around camp. Daniel O. at Flying A Campground warns with humor that "Racoons stalk u at night lol," while other campers report deer sightings at multiple campgrounds.
Campground facilities: While most equestrian sites are primitive, Caloosahatchee Regional Park offers family-friendly facilities. Geoff notes "Staff is always friendly and the restrooms are usually always clean. Lots of hiking trails down by the river. Also...very family friendly."
Site surfaces: Most equestrian campgrounds have natural surfaces that can affect larger rigs. Ari A. at Flying A Campground explains: "Nice but small primitive state forest campground. Only 10 sites and one is for the camp host. About half the sites are back-in and can hold small RVs."
Generator policies: Policies vary between campgrounds. Roger W. confirms generators are "Allowed" at Okaloacoochee Slough Overflow Campground, while some sites restrict generator use.
Dust conditions: During dry winter months, campgrounds can become dusty, particularly with horse traffic. Paul W. at Horseshoe Primitive Campground simply notes it as "Dusty," while Roger W. mentions at Okaloacoochee Slough Overflow Campground that nearby roads "Could be a dust problem when there is less rain."
Cell service: Signal varies by location and provider. Roger W. reports at Okaloacoochee Slough Overflow Campground: "Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars" while Ari A. found at Flying A: "Cell service on Verizon was ok with a jetpack, better with a MIMO antenna attached."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fort Myers Beach, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fort Myers Beach, FL is Bonita Lake RV Resort with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Fort Myers Beach, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Fort Myers Beach, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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