Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Gulfport is the way to go. Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
LMR1
$22 / night
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites. Each site is equipped with 50-amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
NOTE: Non-Potable Water
Effective May 11, 2023: Drinking water is temporarily unavailable at Myakka River State Park. Please remember to bring your own water. Bottled water is also available at no cost at the ranger station from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt-based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel-based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining restrooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka Outpost, a fishing deck and Wi-Fi.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle, a small playground and Myakka Friends Gift Shop. Well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds, up to four per site.
There are six primitive campgrounds (Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Honore, Panther Point, Oak Grove and Prairie) located along the hiking trails for backpackers. These rustic settings provide campers with a fire pit and post to hang items. Each campground has three campsites, and a maximum of four people may be on each site. Only Bee Island, Oak Grove and Prairie have water pumps. Water at these sites is not potable; it requires boiling/chemical treatment. Other sites do not have water; you must bring your own. The terrain is primarily prairie, and dehydration is possible even on the coolest days.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s largest parks with 37,000 acres of its own. Home to the officially designated “Wild and Scenic” Myakka River, this state park is the perfect destination for outdoor adventurers who are looking to get closer to the natural, diverse Florida wildlife.
Choose from one of over 80 campsites while Myakka State Park camping and get ready to explore!
Bring your kayak and make your way through a variety of waterways where you can spot american alligators, snook, ospreys, and countless species of birds.
Embark on one of many hiking trails to explore more of the unique environments found within Myakka River State Park. Trek to the highlands to get a look at Florida’s traditional wetlands where marshes, cypress dome trees, and grazing birds will welcome you. Go even deeper to reach the diverse array of grasses, wildflowers, and vines that grow freely in the park’s protected dry prairies. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you! Short shrubs in the dry prairies allow visitors to see for miles in any direction.
You’ll also want to bring the camera atop the Canopy Walkway at Myakka River. Just a short walk from the main road, this suspension bridge provides a panoramic view of the entire park from a unique vantage point above the tree canopy. Every camper can find what they’re looking for at this Florida park.
$26 / night
Standing out from the relatively flat topography of Central Florida is Alafia River State Park, a reclaimed phosphate mine with some of the most radical elevation changes in the state. This makes it a hot spot for mountain bikers, who traverse the scenic and challenging International Mountain Bike Association trails.
Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of hilly trails through forests and flatwoods, stopping to relax and admire one of the park's pristine lakes.
Canoeing and fishing opportunities are available along the South Prong of the Alafia River with some lakes scattered throughout the park.
The park also offers picnic pavilions, a playground, a full-facility campground and a full-service bike shop.
Family campground is suitable for RVers and tent campers. Campers will find water and electrical hookups at each of the 30 campsites. Clean restrooms feature solar-heated showers. There are two large picnic pavilions in the campground.
Equestrian campers have access to 12 sites with equestrian designation and tie-outs for horses. Equestrian campers can access the barn, which is a short walk from the campground. There are 12 stables and 6 paddocks available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Extra parking for trailers can be accessed near the barn area. Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of hilly trails through forests and flatwoods, stopping to relax and admire one of the park's pristine lakes.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
$22 / night
Separate primitive camping areas available for individual and equestrian camping. Backcountry camping available. Campsites for cars and primitive cabins available. Groups can reserve tent site or cabins up to 90 days in advance. Reservation and fee are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance.
Equestrian, group and primitive campsites. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills. A free reservation is required and must be displayed on dashboard at campground.
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites. Each site is equipped with 50-amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers. Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt-based. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers. Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle, a small playground and Myakka Friends Gift Shop. Well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds, up to four per site.
$26 - $70 / night
Hardee Lakes Park is approximately 1200 acres, and has horse trails, hiking trails, handicap-accessible hiking trails, and bike trails. There are 3 restrooms located throughout the park. The restrooms in the camping areas also have showering facilities available. There are also picnic areas, a picnic pavilion, and a playground available. The park includes a boardwalk that winds around the lakes and through the woods, with an observation tower where people can watch wildlife.
The fisheries are controlled by the Florida Game and Fish commission, and fishing is allowed in all the lakes. Hardee Lakes Park contains 4 lakes in total; Lake Hardee is 120 acres, Deer Lake is 110 acres, Lake Firefly is 97 acres, and Gator Lake is 47 acres.
$25 - $28 / night
Equestrian and primitive camping available. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills. A free reservation is required and must be displayed or available at campground.
Scout
Checked in to site 36 and discovered some very comfortable folks letting their gear go over multiple spots. They weren't happy we had actually showed up and "took their extra parking spot", so they parked blocking the road. No privacy, no barriers between spots. No wifi, no AT&T. Literally 3 yards away from their open fire, which also isn't legal in these dry conditions. When I asked for help with the site, I was told I was lucky to even have one at all. Ok......
Scout
Great campground for any type of camping. All sites at Palmetto Ridge are full hookup and many sites are pull through. ATT WiFi is fast enough to stream YouTube and YouTube TV via my Apple TV box tethered to my iPhone.
Guide
We camped overnight on a Friday and were the only people in the area. Lovely space for dispersed camping with a picnic table, fire pit, an outhouse and hiking trails. We'll definitely visit again when we're in Florida.
Scout
Stayed in spot #8, not as much shade as I had hoped for, would've been better in 10-14. Sites are plenty large and relatively well spaced out. There was a large anthill between the spot and where you park which made packing in and out an adventure (very active colony). Otherwise, the site was level and devoid of rocks & roots. A good night's sleep despite the racoon who pilfered my SunChips during the night.
ScoutThe campsites are well-shaded and have easy access to walking & biking trails. We've visited Myakka on day trips previously, and just recently camped there for the first time. It's quiet, and there's plenty of wildlife to be seen: Lots of birds, alligators, deer, wild turkeys. Bathrooms with laundry facilities were conveniently located, but we didn't use them. Campsite was clean, level, and easy to back into.
Legend
Site 2 HC restroom directly next store 50 amp water only Paved Spacious site Partial shade Clean restrooms and showers with HC ones 2 washers and 2 dryers brand new $2.50 EACH Plenty of walking, hiking, and biking Clean cg
Guide
Very spacious camp sites with lots of room between sites. Very clean bath house.
GuideStayed at a site in Old Prairie. Very peaceful and great access to trails. Was able to walk to see large amount of gators and quick access to fishing. It was my first visit here and I will definitely be bringing my bike next time.
Guide
We stayed in April of 2023 during the week. I think there might be 10 sites full. Verizon 3 bars
LegendWe were fortunate enough to get here before the hurricanes destroyed parts of this campground. It is so peaceful and naturally beautiful. Plenty of places to walk and ride bikes to. Our site was shady and a really good size. Bathhouse was always clean. Cannot wait to go back.
GuideI was really excited to stay here. I heard so many great things about this park, but we were incredibly disappointed in our site. The site looks like a bulldozer drove thru here and knocked down all the trees and brush last month and left all the debris around the perimeter to rot. Most other sites do not look like this and I’m including photos of ours and another empty one for contrast. We are here for 4 days during spring break but the site is so ugly we won’t be hanging around camp much. Most of them are beautiful so it’s the luck of the draw, I guess. The check-in was easy and the staff at the gate was super sweet. Camp office has ice and firewood but they close at 5 so plan ahead. Bathhouse is new and really nice. Because I think the rest of the park is so nice I’m still giving 4 stars but make sure to look at site photos and avoid mine, which is 17. The other photos in my review are of site 22 and it’s beautiful.
Edit: I came back to remove a star because I went back in n the website to see if any other sites were available since a ton of spaces around us were empty. I could only see availability for “tomorrow” and I could see that a spot that is available tomorrow and the rest of our time here is also empty today. I called the front gate to ask if we could move because of the condition of our site. The lady was VERY offended and said the debris is from a hurricane 6 months ago. I get it. That’s not the issue. The issue is that had I known the site was this bad, I wouldn’t have booked. That shouldn’t have made her mad. But it sure did. She told me I’d have to go online to make a change to my reservation, which I had already tried to do. After talking it over we decided to leave early so I called back a few minutes before 5. She answered an told me she was helping someone in front of her and she’d come back. She came back after 5 and when I told her I wanted to leave early and the website wouldn’t let me cancel my reservation early she said was closing because it was now after 5 and I’d have to call her tomorrow or I could call the main reservation line. I did. They said only the local camp office can help. We will not be back to this park. We drove from out of state to camp 2 days in basically a trash pile and be told we should be happy about it.
ScoutSmall state park, with really large sites and great facilities. The only thing missing are sewer hookups. 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. We have stayed at most of the state parks in Florida. We liked this one a lot.
GuideThis is our 2nd time at Myakka River State Park and it doesn't disappoint. We stayed at the PR section with full hookups. Site was spacious and the park even had smiling gators.
GuideThis was our first time in this park. Absolutely enjoyed it!
Traveler
Got out late at night on a Friday and pulled into a offshoot. The next day found a very nice campsite spot to set up at. Very private, great views and the neighboring campers were very respectful! Not much in terms of single track for mountain biking, however we had fun exploring the dirt roads in our Forester. Be mindful of going after/during a good rain, it floods pretty easily. Port-a-potty was alittle run down and needed refreshing. Overall, a great little spot to camp!
ScoutThis is a great park. Best campground I have stayed in so far. Very quite and relaxing. Trails around lakes that can be driven to view nature and wildlife.
LegendThere are 3 separate campgrounds in Myakka State Park. This review is for Old Prairie Campground. It's a small loop with a host on site. One washer and one dryer is available at the campground, as well as clean free hot showers. There's a garbage dumpster and a recycling bin. There are no sewer hookups at the sites but there is a dump station. The sites have a simple fence between them and nothing else for privacy, but the campground is so beautiful and lush that it didn't bother us.
Good cell reception.
This state park is great because there are so many things to do here. You can rent a canoe or a kayak, there are hiking trails throughout, you can bike through the park, there is a canopy walkway and a bird watching boardwalk. There's also a store with souvenirs and basic snacks and a food truck. We rented a canoe for the day (reasonably priced at $20 for the first hour and $5/hr after that) and saw many alligators, turtles, wild pigs, and so many birds. There's also a boat tour that was in operation when we stayed there in January.
TravelerAfter a simple on-line reservation and finding someone at the Publix, across the road, to show me where the entrance was, I couldn’t believe how nice it was for a free camp spot. I stayed in the primitive side, where there was only 3 sites and I had so much privacy. It was so quiet, I only heard an owl one night, during my 6 night stay. The sites have picnic tables and fire rings. It was perfect!
Traveler3.2 mile hike through mostly open Florida pine forest with the occasional swamp. Perfect time of year to come. Site has great shade and opens up at the fire pit for great star gazing. Only downside is that you are under the flight path for Tampa Intl. so you get the occasional jets above. We had a small spike buck come into our camp at night and he didn’t even flinch at us from 20 yards. Awesome experience for my son. Weather was absolutely perfect. For being generally surrounded by urban areas this place is a win for ease of access. Good cell service with T-Mobile as well. We will definitely be doing this again!
ScoutVery welcoming staff, clean peaceful campground. Great privacy between sites
Traveler
We had a quick stop here. It was a great place. Clean, quiet and lots to do. We didn't have much time, but we will visit again.
TravelerMy wife and I decided to take a little overnight camping trip here. The weather was perfect and we had a very relaxing time.
The gate on the drive in stays locked at all times and you get the combination when you make your reservation. Other than a picnic table and fire ring at each site there's not much more so you'll need to bring your own water and pack out your trash.
We will definitely camp here again!
TravelerNice little park. Campgrounds were lade out well. Showers clean and well kept.
ScoutWe stayed here a couple of years ago and loved the piece and quiet! My husband enjoyed riding his fat tire along with our dog. We are hoping to visit again in February!
GuideAmazing place to camp if you want to catch a thrill on your bike in FL. You can bring your own bikes but we like to rent the ones there because they are made for that specific terrain (sand,stumps, etc). The biking trails are man crafted meaning HILLS in FL!
All in all a great place for an adventure and camping was quaint. Nothing special, open spaces, clean.
GuideNice place to spend a couple days. Food shopping right across the street, Publix. Also a couple take out places. Campground itself was clean, quiet, a little road noise, oh well. Otherwise, peaceful. Bring your own water. No electricity. Vault toilet. That wasn't cleaned for a while, it stunk pretty bad. #2, Publix across the street. I'd stay again. 15 minutes from Hudson Beach ⛱. I love the beach. Tarpon Springs, half hour away. Oh yeah, gas is right next door, Racetrack. Everything else 10 minutes away.
TravelerThis campground is 2 miles from the main road therefore very quiet and peaceful. We saw turtles, rabbit and deer.
Horse camping in Florida offers a unique way to explore the state's beautiful landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds that cater to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gulfport, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gulfport, FL is Little Manatee River State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gulfport, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Gulfport, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
