Campgrounds near Hialeah, Florida provide a mix of urban and natural experiences within driving distance of Miami's metropolitan area. The region includes several developed campgrounds like Davie/Fort Lauderdale KOA and Markham Park Campground that accommodate both tent and RV camping. Most facilities are concentrated south and west of Hialeah in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, offering varying levels of amenities. C.B. Smith Park and Topeekeegee Yugnee Park campgrounds feature full hookups, while more basic options exist at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, which also offers cabin accommodations approximately 20 miles southwest of Hialeah.
The subtropical climate significantly shapes the camping experience, with high humidity and temperatures often exceeding 90°F during summer months. Many mixed-use campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter (November through April) represents the prime camping season when temperatures and mosquito activity decrease. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays at popular sites like Miami Everglades RV Resort. Most developed campgrounds offer water hookups, flush toilets, and showers, while primitive camping options are limited in the immediate area. Several campers note road noise can be an issue at urban campgrounds. As one visitor remarked about a local campground, "Train tracks behind it and highway is not far so it's kinda loud at times. Great Park with big lake."
Camping areas within an hour's drive of Hialeah provide access to Florida's distinctive ecosystems. Big Cypress National Preserve campgrounds, though farther from the city (approximately 60-70 miles west), offer a more immersive natural experience with wildlife viewing opportunities. Reviews indicate high satisfaction with campgrounds that balance accessibility with natural features. Several visitors highlighted the importance of timing visits to avoid summer heat and insects. A camper staying at Monument Lake noted, "We decided to do the Florida national park tour and added big cypress even though it is a national preserve, not a park. This was a great little campground... We would return for sure, it's beautiful. We saw alligators, manatees and lots of birds." Urban campgrounds closer to Hialeah typically offer more amenities but less privacy and natural ambiance.
"This KOA was close to family and friends. Stayed for five nights. It was clean and I felt safe. Staff were very helpful getting backed in and set up."
"It's located near many attractions and shopping. Beautiful sunset viewing across the street at Vista View Park and easy highway access. You're going to love your stay at this KOA!"
"A lot of trails to walk in the middle of the nature. Mini golf. Water park wasn't open on March."
"We stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly. The lake/dock area is beautiful, and there’s a massive playground across from the campground in the main park."
"In southern Florida, campgrounds don’t usually come cheap, but we found Larry & Penny’s to be a great value with close access (30 minutes) to Biscayne National Park."
"It is close to the Encore Everglades park (about 4 miles) so we stayed here after we departed. The campground is divided into pods and each pod has about 15 or so sites. "
$35 - $57 / night
"Stayed here over a holiday weekend and enjoyed it, roads getting in the RV park are good but watch out for branches with big units outside the park to the north."
"The park is big with a paved walking path around the park. On the west side of the park there's a lot of big mature trees that give a lot shade and are just nice looking. "
"For south florida, its about as good as it gets. Also has a nice observatory on saturday nights to visit."
"It has plenty of picnic tables, a path to the lake, and woods to explore via trails. There are some pretty interesting pieces of history leftover behind the camping field."
"This place is situated in the mirror middle of acres upon acres of ornamental trees and shrubs for sale by various companies."
"They have a really nice big pool, shuffleboard, putt putt golf, arcade and walking trail. It's off the beaten path but worth the drive. The front office staff was so helpful."
$5000 - $10000 / night
"The location was peaceful and relaxing. we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommend!"
$55 / night
"Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers, but it's true. It boasts 15-miles of trails in more than 1,000 acres!"
$110 - $300 / night
"If you camp on the canal, chances are you will be right next to some amazing yachts! 7 minutes to Ft Lauderdale Beach and 7 minutes the other way to Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood!"
"The grounds and views of all the surrounding yachts are simply spectacular. Everything here is setup for convenience and comfort."
ScoutIt's great to be in Fort Lauderdale, so close to activities. RV park is old, poorly kept, and crowded. Mostly long-term campers who were very friendly. Vehicles parked onto narrow black top roads. Dead leaves blown to the side but not picked up. Peeling paint in showers. Friendly staff to our faces, but overheard them being unkind when they didn't know we could hear.
LegendJust south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.
Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.
OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.
Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?" Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.
The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.
Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!
Happy Camping!
ScoutGreat campground near Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.
ScoutOur stay here was the best! Our host, John was extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed while also respecting our privacy. The location was peaceful and relaxing. we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommend!
GuideThis is a dirt parking lot on the Tamiami Trail (Rt 41) right along the canal. Airboats run all day. We didn't go on one but it looked fun. Great fishing! No water no hookups.
ScoutFor $130/night-this place is a crowded dump with poorly maintained muddy sites.
GuideThis is our first time in the Everglades ! We love this place! Each site is private from the next site. It's very quiet here the shower houses and the restrooms are clean and well kept. Everyone is very friendly
GuideGreat spot to rest before heading into the Everglades or doing an airboat tour. About 20 minutes from shark valley visitor center this is a great spot if you want to be one of the first to get in. Not a lot of spots and some of them were a little confusing on who's area belonged to which fire pit. Probably wouldn't stay more than a night or two but fine for what we needed.
GuideThis is a good enough spot if you’re looking to overnight somewhere. If you walk down to the water facility, you might be lucky enough to see the Manatee family that lives here. There’s lots of trash here so if you’re a leave it better than you found it kind of person, bring an extra bag. There are trash cans everywhere but there’s also lots of trash.
Camping options near Hialeah, Florida range from urban parks to more natural settings within a 20-40 mile radius. Most campgrounds in this metropolitan area feature concrete or paved sites rather than traditional wilderness camping. Summer temperatures consistently reach 90°F with high humidity, while winter camping (November-April) offers more comfortable conditions with temperatures averaging 70-80°F during the day and lower mosquito activity.
Fishing at multiple locations: C.B. Smith Park Campground provides several fishing spots around its scenic lake. "The lake/dock area is beautiful, and there's a massive playground across from the campground in the main park," notes a camper who stayed for an extended period.
Mountain biking on established trails: Markham Park Campground offers dedicated mountain biking trails within the park boundaries. "Lots of room to roam here. Great mountain bike trails, lakes, woods, disc golf, flora and fauna. Plus amenities you don't often find like a large outdoor shooting range and an RC airplane strip," reports one visitor.
Water sports and paddling: With multiple lakes and waterways, campers can enjoy various water activities. "Stayed here for a week and loved it. The basketball court on the other side of the fence can be a little loud until about 11pm but I'm a night guy so it didn't bother me. Other than that it's quiet, clean and close to many restaurants and stores," shared one camper at C.B. Smith Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Urban parks still offer chances to observe local wildlife. "We got the absolute best spot there was. We've got the water way right behind us with a wide open grassy area. Great for fishing or if you've got a jet ski you can easily get on and off right there. There are gators in the water which is much deeper than one would think," reports a camper at Markham Park.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Topeekeegee Yugnee Park Campground receives consistent praise for its upkeep. "We were pleasantly surprised by this park. The sites were level concrete pads, bathrooms air conditioned and clean as were the showers. Park is beautiful and they have events happening- we stumbled on a Renaissance Festival. Heading back for another stay," shared one satisfied visitor.
Proximity to attractions: Located within driving distance of beaches, the Everglades, and Miami attractions, these campgrounds serve as convenient basebases. "This place is situated in the mirror middle of acres upon acres of ornamental trees and shrubs for sale by various companies. Overall I really enjoyed it. Miami and the keys from this location easily," reports a camper at Encore Miami Everglades.
Water views at select sites: Many campgrounds offer premium waterfront locations. "The sunsets over the water are spectacular. Even though I'm a local, you never get tired of watching them. My site was private and (mostly) clean. Easy pull throughs available if you're not a savvy backer-upper," notes a camper at C.B. Smith Park.
Security features: Several parks prioritize camper safety with controlled access. "Very well lit at night with security. The RV park is located in the back of the county park, so there is plenty to do: water park, outdoor gym and regular play areas for kids. This would be a great spot for a family," shares a visitor to Topeekeegee Yugnee Park.
Noise considerations: Urban campgrounds experience traffic and other city sounds. "Train tracks behind it and highway is not far so it's kinda loud at times," reports a camper at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, while another notes: "The campground does sit next to a train track I believe its a commuter line so there is an early train 4am which is startling."
Park access restrictions: Some parks have limited entry hours. "Other downside is park closes at 8, you can still enter through the exit gate until midnight and then have to call security to get in/out," explains a Topeekeegee Yugnee Park camper.
Variable tent camping options: While RV sites are plentiful, tent camping is more limited. A visitor to C.B. Smith Park Campground explains: "The tenting area is characerless, treeless, the facilities are far removed and poorly maintained, in spite of being relatively new, and not well policed. The RV section is more inviting. It is shaded, well kept, and visually appealing."
Seasonal closures and construction: Check ahead for facility availability. "Right now, nothing is open until memorial day weekend. So no beach and no pool. Also half the park is under construction, and for whatever reason all of the bathrooms and showers are closed in the whole park," reports a camper at Larry & Penny Thompson Park.
Pool and water amenities: Davie / Fort Lauderdale KOA features a refreshing pool area. "Davie KOA is beautiful, clean and very welcoming. Each site has new outdoor furniture and is clean. The pool is crystal clear and welcoming. It's located near many attractions and shopping. Beautiful sunset viewing across the street at Vista View Park and easy highway access," notes a recent visitor.
Length-of-stay regulations: Different rules apply for tents versus RVs. "Wish the website was clearer on length of stay - 30 days for RVs and 7 days for tent campers. After 7 days, you have to leave and can't return for 30 days. They do provide a list of other local campgrounds you can move to, though," shares a Larry & Penny Thompson Park camper.
Recreation options for different ages: Parks offer varied activities for children. "The staff was very nice and went above and beyond to make sure I had everything I needed. 7 minutes to Ft Lauderdale Beach and 7 minutes the other way to Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood," reports a visitor to Yacht Haven Park & Marina.
Budget-friendly amenities: Look for included recreational features. "In the park there is a water park, an outside gym, mini-golf, batting cages and driving range. There are many gazebos with tables and grills for group picnicking," notes a C.B. Smith Park camper.
Site angles and access: Many campgrounds have tight turns. "The roads getting in the RV park are good but watch out for branches with big units outside the park to the north. Had good power, good water pressure and cable but didn't use it. All paved or concrete," advises a Topeekeegee Yugnee Park visitor.
Limited pull-through availability: Back-in sites are common. "This KOA was close to family and friends. Stayed for five nights. It was clean and I felt safe. Staff were very helpful getting backed in and set up. Down side/1: all the sites are so close together," notes a Davie KOA camper.
Hookup positioning challenges: Some sites have unusual utility arrangements. "They had given us a pull in site for a bus, and we were unable to hook up to sewer, and had to run our electric cable and water hose under the camper. Luckily we were able to reach," explains a Yacht Haven Park visitor.
Concrete pad advantages: Level sites make setup easier. "The campground was very clean with full hookups and sewer directly at our camp site," shares a C.B. Smith Park camper, while another adds "The sites were level concrete pads" at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hialeah, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hialeah, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 61 campgrounds and RV parks near Hialeah, FL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hialeah, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hialeah, FL is Davie / Fort Lauderdale KOA with a 3.4-star rating from 18 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hialeah, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Hialeah, FL.
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