Best Dispersed Camping near Apollo Beach, FL
Dispersed camping options near Apollo Beach, Florida consist primarily of boat-accessible island preserves. Shell Key Preserve and Anclote Key Preserve State Park offer primitive camping experiences on uninhabited barrier islands. Both preserves require free permits obtained in advance. Shell Key features white sand beaches with camping areas tucked among seagrass. According to reviews, "there are no specifically cleared sites, so you need to be mindful of plants, shrubs, sticks and stones which can make being in a tent pretty rough if you don't have a good pad and a tarp."
These island camping destinations are accessible only by water transport. Campers must bring kayaks, canoes, or motorboats to reach the sites. Several campers noted that Shell Key can be reached with "one of the easiest island paddles out there - just a little over a mile" from designated launch points. Anclote Key requires a 3-mile paddle from Tarpon Springs or motor access from various docks. During summer months, weather and tides may affect accessibility and safety.
All preserve camping follows strict leave-no-trace principles. No facilities exist on these islands; campers must pack in all supplies including drinking water and pack out all waste. Portable toilets are required at Shell Key. Fires are permitted in designated areas on Shell Key but prohibited during turtle nesting season. The preserves support abundant wildlife including shorebirds, dolphins, stingrays, and sea turtles. Upper Hillsborough Water Management Area provides an inland alternative with primitive sites featuring fire rings and shade trees, accessible by vehicle rather than boat.
