Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerSt. Pete rest area (north)
Uhh. Very confusing. Would not trust without law enforcement bugging you.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Gibsonton, FL
5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Fort De Soto Campground offers waterfront sites where pets are permitted throughout the 236-acre park, including designated dog beach areas with off-leash sections. Little Manatee River State Park, E.G. Simmons Regional Park, and Canoe Outpost Little Manatee River all welcome pets with proper vaccination records and leash control. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Gibsonton maintain a standard two-pet maximum policy with leash requirements typically 6 feet or shorter when outside the RV. MacDill AFB FamCamp provides dedicated dog parks and a small dog beach for military families camping with pets. The tent area at MacDill offers nearly 100% shade, beneficial for keeping pets cool during hot Florida days. Campground bathhouses are generally clean and well-maintained, though sites rarely offer private pet washing stations.
Waterfront access is a significant advantage when camping with pets in the Gibsonton area, with nearly every site at E.G. Simmons Regional Park positioned directly on the water for easy kayak access with dogs. The campground features multiple canals among mangroves where pets can explore alongside their owners. Visitors report the no-see-ums can be problematic for both humans and pets, especially at dusk, so appropriate pet-safe insect repellent is essential. Raccoons are common visitors at most campgrounds in the region, requiring secure food storage to protect pets and wildlife. Most sites provide adequate space for pet exercise, with water hookups available for filling dog water bowls. Several campgrounds connect to paved walking paths ideal for dog walking, though wildlife encounters require keeping pets securely leashed on trails.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Gibsonton (196)
1. Fort De Soto Campground
"Be advised that there is only one section thst allows pets and limited areas that pets are allowed but has a nice dog beach and off leash dog park."
"It’s not a National Park surrounding a national treasure but it might as well be. The park has three loops. All have waterfront sites and inner loop sites."
Check Availabilityfrom $38 - $48 / night
2. Little Manatee River State Park Campground
"Pet friendly and there is a trailhead about a half a mile outside of the campground. We didnt see a single person in this 7 mile loop hike and were very pleased with that."
"A lot of walking trails for people and horses. A surprise was the amphitheater. Washers and dryers are located outside the bathrooms. Friendly hosts and other campers. Would came again."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 / night
3. E.G. Simmons Regional Park
"Amazing water access and dog friendly! The staff and rangers are kind and helpful. During our stay, there was E. coli in water which means water activities and fishing were restricted."
"Nearly every campsite is right on the water - easy in and out for kayaks, large boat ramp and many picnic pavilions."
Check Availabilityfrom $24 / night
4. Canoe Outpost Little Manatee River
"Beautiful scenery and trails. Canoe and kayak outpost. The Outpost peacock named Elvis hung around with us! Dog park for my pup was fantastic and well maintained."
"It’s also located right off the highway, so you get all the noise. All day and all night. Now, for canoe and kayak trips, I guess it’s a good spot. There’s a lot of folk that come just for that."
Check Availabilityfrom $24 - $109 / night
5. Hillsborough River State Park Campground
"If you like to hike, there are a bunch of different trails to walk and they run alongside the river."
"Better if not during rainy season here in Florida. The ground was wet. Some sites had overflow from the river, I guess? Our site was nice. We had water and electricity. Pretty quiet. Lots of dogs."
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $24 / night
6. MacDill AFB FamCamp
"There’s a small dog beach and two dog parks. Laundry facilities are centrally located. Cable is included."
"Close to a small beach and marina with a restaurant walking distance. Several dog parks but muddy/dirt. Laundry available for fee. Bath houses clean and large. Good amenities on base."
7. Lithia Springs Conservation Park
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
Check Availabilityfrom $24 / night
8. Alafia River State Park Campground
"Widely known in Florida for the mountain bike trails. Not much else to do in the area, but very nice space to chill out. The night sky is far enough away that you can really take in the stars."
"For Florida this is a great campsite especially for me because it's so close overall a great place for any activity"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 / night
9. Lithia Springs
"Lithia Springs Conservation Park is a hidden gem for camping in Florida. The campground is clean, well-maintained, and tucked away in a peaceful natural setting."
"Most every one has a dog or two. Everyone obeys the dog rules, not one dog barks excessively. All the campers are courteous about each other and are quiet."
10. Lazydays RV Resort
"This campground was adequate and very close to I-4. Sites are accommodating and clean. Pool and restaurant on site."
"It is very dog friendly and the sites are spacious. There are a lot of activities and a great pool area. This campground is close to Busch Gardens Tampa. We stayed here in a motor home."
Check Availabilityfrom $61 - $83 / night
Drive Time
- 17 min from Tampa, FL
- 37 min from Lakeland, FL
- 1 hr 6 min from North Port, FL
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Gibsonton, FL
109 Photos of 196 Gibsonton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Gibsonton, FL
1085 Reviews of 196 Gibsonton Campgrounds
Jill Z.
TravelerLazydays RV Resort
Beautiful clean campground with great warm pool and hot tub. Friendly staff.
- DDiane F.
ScoutTerra ceia
Great accommodations. Clean. Some road noise but we are enjoying our stay
Stacey R.
GuideOscar Scherer State Park Campground
Nice state park in a great location for visiting the area. Bathhouse near my site could use an update and newer bathhouse could use a good shower stall wash. I camp in a Travato Van so maneuvering in the campground was easy for me but larger rigs might struggle.
James W.GuideSt. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday
The bayou site are excellent. Reasonably level, nice patios, and a bit of a view. The staff are nice and helpful. They seem to have a section for those of us who are not snowbirds.
Stuart K.
LegendFort De Soto Campground
The Most Perfect Campground in Florida?
On my never-ending pursuit of finding the most perfect campground on earth ... I may have just landed it! Fort DeSoto State Park Campground, which rests at the southernmost edge of Pinellas County, reached by crossing a series of causeways from St. Petersburg until the land simply runs out and the Gulf of Mexico (as my friend John Cougar Mellencamp recently point out - not Gulf of ‘Merika) takes over. First impressions are pure Florida magic with palm-lined roads, sweeping water views of translucent aqua blue shimmering in the sun all accompanied by a salty breeze that makes you feel like vacation has officially begun. The campground itself is spread across a low-lying coastal landscape with mangroves, dunes and open skies punctuated by cotton candy clouds, and despite its popularity, this tri-loop campground haven manages to feel relaxed and unhurried if you pick your timing right.
This archipelago is shaped like a boomerang with 3 distinct campground loops – each with its own vibe, layout, amenities and overall character (more on this later) – leaving one with the impression that Fort DeSoto is both incredibly spacious as well as incredibly well-organized, offering a mix of waterfront and interior sites with paved pads, picnic tables, stand-up grills and access to modern bathhouses that are generally clean and well maintained. Many sites offer electric and water hookups, with a dump station available for RV travelers. Navigation through the one-way loops is straightforward, pets are welcome and the overall layout feels intentionally designed to handle high traffic without feeling chaotic. While there’s but just a modest playground on-site, there are much more amenities for the kids on North Beach, but throughout the campground area, the sheer amount of open space, bike paths, beach side access to inlets that will allow you to make the most out of being this close to the Gulf more than compensates for families.
What truly sets Fort DeSoto apart is everything just outside your campsite. Miles of white sand beaches wrap around the park, including North Beach which is frequently ranked among the best beaches in the country (note: not county ... country). Kayaking trails wind through calm mangrove tunnels, fishing piers stretch into Tampa Bay, and biking loops circle the entire park. History lovers can explore the restored fort and military ruins, while birders will find plenty to admire along the shoreline. For supplies, you’re about 15 minutes from Tierra Verde Market, Publix and a Walmart Supercenter on Pinellas Bayway as well as a handful of casual eateries like Billy’s Stone Crab and Sea Hags if cooking feels optional.
Trying to find out which 1 of the 3 loops might be best for you? I’ll try to break this down. First, of all, my brother and I stayed in Area #1, so let me begin there, not only because numerically that’s where we should begin, but also because I’m the most familiar with this loop, which consists of sites numbered #1-85. If you’re looking not just for ocean views with Gulf access – because like me, you’ve brought a kayak / canoe – then Area #1 for this solo reason is why you want to book here. And while it’s true that you likely could access water in Area #2, you’ll have to go the long way around to access the Gulf. Back to Area #1, I found this simple, single loop offering sites excellent in size, with TONS of shade (no need to bring your shelter to blot out the sun, although not a bad idea to have it handy in case of rain) and decent length long ‘driveways’ with which to pull in and set up camp, whether you’re packing tents (like me) or pulling in with your RV or sprinter van. Seriously, the scenery alone here in Area #1(at least sites #1-34) cannot be beaten with direct views of the Gulf, which you can access in less than 20 paces from where you’ve pitched your tent or parked for the night.
Each site is equipped with electric and water and for RVs needing sewage, there’s a spot as you exit prior to arriving at the ranger station that will accommodate you. The restroom and shower facilities in Area#1 are the best that I’ve ever seen in the state of Florida (which is saying something as I’ve camped in more than 100 spots here in the Sunshine state) – and wonder if this is because CG Hosts (versus FL state employees) are charged with keeping the CG clean?! – with very hot water (sometimes TOO hot) and lots of pressure would be an accurate description. Area #2 IMHO is somewhat cramped, very RV populated, with sites that are fairly crowded, yet heavily shaded with amenities that are similar to Area #1, albeit slightly more outdated; however, if you come with pets in tow, this is the ONLY area that will welcome you here at Fort DeSoto CG. Lastly, Area #3 has AMAZING water views, but given the seawall that surrounds this portion of the island, you won’t be able to actually access the water unless you dock your boat somehow to the wall and don’t mind jumping up 4-6 feet down to access your vessel. I found the sites here to be fine, although like Area #2, somewhat crowded, but yet still offering very good shade with restroom and shower facilities to be on par with the rest of the park. The best sites over here would be those from #197– 233 that look northernly towards the Gulf offering nothing short of AMAZING sunsets on the water.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Waterfront sites in Loop 2 and Loop 3 are the most coveted for sunset views and breezes, but they book fast; (2) Bring bikes as this park is tailor-made for cruising on two wheels with flat, scenic loops in and around the campground area, but the best biking will be had once heading out past the ranger station to explore the larger areas of the island, where East Beach is worth a glide by (especially to watch the kite surfers where wind is at its strongest), but it’s North Beach that will have you stopping for a longer spell; (3) Kayaking through the mangroves on a calm morning is a must, especially for wildlife sightings; however, our absolute favorite moment of the entire trip was crossing the strong currents of shipping lanes to make it all the way to Shell Key, which apart from a few pensioners getting sunburnt in their beach chairs and an errant fishing boat or two, we had the entire island to ourselves … EASTER EGG: I’m a fairly solid kayaker and love oaring and with these strong currents, it IS manageable to cross, but you’ll want to plan on at least 1 hour of non-stop, albeit scenic oaring to make it to Shell Key; (4) Afternoon storms roll through quickly in summer, so plan beach time early and camp dinners later; (5) North Beach on the northernmost edge tends to be quieter and more family-friendly than the busier east-facing beaches near the fort; (6) If you’re visiting during peak season, weekday stays are noticeably calmer than weekends; and (7) When heading to the restroom facilities you will come across what is likely the largest sign I have ever seen in any campground WARNING YOU OF RACCOONS and, trust me, you want to HEED THIS SIGN as these black-eyed bandits are EVERYWHERE and not afraid to come right up to your tent and look in or right up to you sitting next to your campfire while looking for something to eat or steal, so be incredibly careful and PACK UP EVERYTHING whenever it’s not being used EVEN IN DAYLIGHT HOURS.
In sum, I absolutely loved this campground and will now be comparing every single one I visit to Fort DeSoto Campground.
Happy Camping!
Kevin W.ScoutPalmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park
Haven't been camping here. Based on the photos, it looks like it is a beautiful place. Looks like somewhere to have a fun, crazy, spontaneous camp experience. I prefer natural nature. Cutting the trails, fire wood, catching dinner, fighting mosquitoes without harsh chemicals. Preserving the world. Maybe make a reservation. Leave the dogs with a sitter and not have a care in the world.
- aalan F.Scout
Hillsborough River State Park Campground
Showers and bathrooms are closed
- GGordon S.Scout
Little Manatee River State Park Campground
Quiet. Definitely skewed toward equestrian. Sites are well spaced. Outer loop is best. Restroom/showers are very well kept. Not much for kids. Short trails are ok. Cayaking is best option if you're in to that. Relax here, enjoy the peace and have your favorite beverage
Guide to Gibsonton
Tampa Bay waterways dominate the landscape around Gibsonton, creating numerous opportunities for waterfront camping experiences. The area maintains subtropical temperatures year-round, with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F and winter lows rarely dropping below 50°F. Seasonal rainfall patterns affect camping conditions from June through September, when afternoon thunderstorms frequently occur.
What to do
Kayaking through mangrove trails: E.G. Simmons Regional Park offers extensive paddling opportunities through protected mangrove canals. "Great place to paddle a kayak in the Mangrove canals. Right on Tampa Bay," notes reviewer Bran P., who appreciated the "paved roads which was great for biking."
Swimming in natural springs: Lithia Springs Conservation Park provides a refreshing alternative to saltwater activities. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded," writes Nate D. The constant 72°F spring water makes this an ideal cooling spot during hot summer months.
Mountain biking on challenging terrain: Alafia River State Park Campground offers some of Florida's most technical mountain biking trails. "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," says Elizabeth G., who appreciated the well-maintained trail system.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Little Manatee River State Park Campground receives praise for its natural site separation. "Clean with good natural foliage dividers between campsites. Nice walking trails, & a gentle river for an easy paddle," writes Nicole D., highlighting the park's serene atmosphere.
Historical exploration: Fort De Soto Campground offers more than just beaches. "Tons of wildlife - we saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of Birds! Great park with days worth of activities! The historic fort, scenic beaches, trails for hiking or biking," shares Brennan H., pointing to the diverse activities available.
Family-friendly amenities: "There's a playground with good swings and also a sturdy playground that offered plenty of opportunity for my four year old to blow off some steam. The ground is all recycled rubber, which I love as a parent," explains Joe R. about Fort De Soto's facilities that cater specifically to families with children.
What you should know
Insect preparation: No-see-ums and mosquitoes present significant challenges at many waterfront sites. "You really cannot stay outside at dusk. Citronella torches, spray, fans, Avon skin so soft...none of these work for the no-see-ums," warns Christy C. about E.G. Simmons Regional Park.
Seasonal crowding: "They do start booking 6 months out and open up 10% of the sites for the weekend each Friday at 7am if you want to try and get lucky," advises Joe R. regarding Fort De Soto's reservation system. Most waterfront campgrounds fill quickly during winter months.
Weather variability: "Even with the down trees, it was a wonderful hike filled with Black Swallowtail butterflies," notes Elizabeth G. about Little Manatee River State Park following Hurricane Irma. Tropical storms can affect camping conditions, particularly from June through November.
Tips for camping with families
Water safety measures: With numerous waterfront sites available, proper supervision is essential. "The swimming area is clean and well kept," mentions a reviewer at Lithia Springs, but parents should note that most water access points lack lifeguards.
Playground accessibility: Hillsborough River State Park Campground offers recreational facilities within walking distance of campsites. "Plenty of hiking and biking. Rental canoe staff were amazing. Tons of wildlife," says Bryan about the family-friendly amenities.
Security considerations: "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," writes Cat A. about Lithia Springs Conservation Park, highlighting the staff's attentiveness to camper safety.
Tips from RVers
Dump station locations: "Water and electric hook-ups and a dump station nearby. Lots of things to do here and great waterfront sites available on first come first serve basis," notes Christy C. about E.G. Simmons Regional Park, emphasizing the practical facilities for RVers.
Site selection strategy: "Sites sit 90 degrees to the narrow street, so backing can be tricky, especially with all the vehicles parked along the road perpendicular to the pad entrance," warns MickandKarla W. about Lazydays RV Resort, suggesting corner sites for easier access.
Dog-friendly campground amenities: "MacDill AFB FamCamp provides a small dog beach and two dog parks" for military families camping with pets, according to Richard. RVers traveling with dogs should check vaccination documentation requirements before arrival, as most dog friendly campgrounds near Gibsonton require proof of current rabies vaccination.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gibsonton, FL is Fort De Soto Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 148 reviews.
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