Dover, Florida camping options extend well beyond established campgrounds, with natural areas and conservation parks offering more immersive experiences within a 30-minute drive. The region sits on relatively flat terrain with elevations generally below 100 feet, creating favorable conditions for tent camping near water features. Summer temperatures regularly reach into the 90s with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons.
What to do
Hiking trails: Edward Medard Park provides several hiking opportunities with wildlife viewing. "Beautiful park with a lot of wild life. The campground had bathrooms and showers available at a short walking distance," notes one visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Mountain biking: Alafia River State Park features some of Florida's best mountain biking trails built on former phosphate mining land. "I was probably the only hiker at this park and there were a ton of mountain bikers. I loved that they had a ton of different trails to choose from, some just hiking or biking, and some mixed ones," states a reviewer at Alafia River State Park Campground.
Spring swimming: Lithia Springs Conservation Park offers a natural spring for swimming at $2 per person. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded. Bathhouse are clean. Has dumpstations," reports a camper who visited the park.
Fishing and boating: Multiple lakes and rivers provide fishing opportunities. "Great location just outside Tampa, Fl. Wonderful facilities and friendly staff. nearby RV dealership is largest in America with huge service department and camping/RV store," mentions a visitor to Lazydays RV Resort.
What campers like
Shaded sites: Many campers appreciate the tree coverage at Hillsborough River State Park. "The campground here is very nice! The bathrooms are well kept and clean. The park itself is very nice, with some hikes and kayak rentals! You can kayak in the river, which is really neat to do," shares a reviewer at Hillsborough River State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The area's parks offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. "A beautiful park that is a real taste of old Florida, with a campground that is completely shaded by oak trees. At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," reports a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Water access: Several campgrounds provide river or lake access. "We had a great time while staying here. There was a total of 8 of us including children. And with the paved bike trails, Easy access fishing, and decent size sites, we were always busy," says a visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Clean facilities: Many reviewers note the well-maintained facilities. "This park just reopened a couple of weeks ago from the hurricanes. They are slowly bringing the sites back up to par, but it is still an awesome place. Everything is kept up, and several short trails to see The only class 2 rapids in Florida," states a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
What you should know
Mosquito preparedness: Insects can be intense, particularly in summer months. "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog," warns a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
First-come, first-served sites: Some parks don't accept reservations. "Camping is first come first serve but gives you access to the park after hours. Camp sites are bit close to one another but overall amazing experience," explains a visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Weather considerations: Summer heat and storms can impact camping comfort. "We needed a campsite near Tampa FL for a few days to meet friends visiting the area from up north. Being a Floridian, we've experienced FL's state parks and found them to offer privacy between sites. Weather was cool in February that allowed for comfortable hiking and biking," notes a camper at Colt Creek State Park Campground.
Accessibility: Many campgrounds provide varying levels of accessibility. "Colt Creek State Park is one of the newer parks in the Florida State Park System. We had the opportunity to camp at one of the handicap accessible sites recently and found it to be very convenient. Path and pad on site were roomy and fire pit was higher than usual for safety," shares a visitor at Colt Creek State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Several parks feature play areas for children. "We love this park. The long and windy ride in gives you a trip back to some real Florida. The campground is well maintained and has large, level sites," reports a camper at Colt Creek State Park.
Swimming options: Natural springs provide safer swimming than lakes. "I stayed with 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8. We stayed two night in 40 degree weather. This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping! Super clean campsites and great easy trail out to the site," shares a visitor to Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground.
Safety considerations: Many parks have ranger presence. "The park rangers constantly ensured our safety and were very friendly and helpful. They made sure to keep us up to date regarding changes in weather and flooding," notes a camper at Lithia Springs Conservation Park.
Tips from RVers
Site sizes and access: Some parks accommodate large rigs better than others. "Paved roads and pads, concrete patio, FHU 50A throughout. Sites are close together but have nice grass in the park. We stayed on site 287. Indoor swimming pool. Nice laundry area and conference room," reports an RVer at Lazydays RV Resort.
Hookup availability: Water and electric are standard at most developed sites. "To start with, the state park employees were fantastic!! Our site was spacious. It did not flood when we had torrential downpours for a few hours one night. Bathhouse was clean. They offer recycling, which is a great plus!" shares a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Dump stations: Most parks provide dump stations, though not all sites have sewer hookups. "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places.. and this is a bit peoply. That said it was very comfortable everything was clean and super convenient. There was 30 amp as well as 50 amp water there's a dump station clean bathrooms nice showers even dedicated dishwashing sinks," notes a visitor at Hillsborough River State Park.
