Top-Rated Camping Near Highland City, Florida

Campgrounds near Highland City, Florida range from state parks to private RV resorts, with several options within a 30-mile radius. Camping near Highland City spans tent sites and RV hookups at Saddle Creek Park and Campground in nearby Lakeland, cabin accommodations and RV sites at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort in Auburndale, and tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals at Hillsborough River State Park Campground. Most campgrounds in the region feature water access, with many situated near lakes or along the Withlacoochee River system.

Central Florida's subtropical climate affects camping conditions year-round, with summer months (June through September) bringing high humidity, temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winter months offer milder temperatures between 50-75°F, making December through March the peak camping season when reservations are strongly recommended. Many campgrounds in the Highland City area remain open year-round, though seasonal flooding can affect site availability, particularly at Saddle Creek Park. Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are prevalent near water, especially during warmer months. As one camper noted, "We were a short walk to the water which kept camp cool during the day but pretty buggy at night. We used repellent but were still eaten alive by mosquitoes."

Campers consistently rate water proximity as a key feature when selecting campsites in the Highland City region. Several campgrounds offer fishing opportunities, with Lake Tohopekaliga and the Withlacoochee River system being popular destinations. Sites with shade are highly valued due to Florida's intense sun, particularly during summer months. The terrain throughout the region is relatively flat, making most campgrounds accessible for all camping styles. Highway noise can be an issue at some locations, particularly those near Interstate 75. A reviewer of one nearby campground mentioned, "The biggest drawback about this location is its proximity to I-75. You're really close and you can (and will) hear the traffic noise all night long." Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting encounters with armadillos, turtles, ospreys, and occasionally alligators near water bodies.

Best Camping Sites Near Highland City, Florida (292)

    1. Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Cabana Cabins Auburndale

    20 Reviews
    Auburndale, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 455-7335

    $78 - $419 / night

    "What it lacks in shade it makes up for with 2 nice pools, one geared toward kids with a fountain and very fun twisty slide, music, TV’s etc & the other is on the lake by a tow-ski place that’s fun"

    "Very close to a long biking trail & there’s a gas station near the entrance. Beautifully landscaped & friendly staff."

    2. Hillsborough River State Park Campground

    65 Reviews
    Thonotosassa, FL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (813) 987-6771

    $24 / night

    "Then exit 7 to Highway 301 north about 10 miles to the campground. The way in which the state park and campground are set up is easy too."

    "This was my first time at a campground in Florida! I was surrounded by beautiful wildlife (alligators, birds, and even a wild boar). The hiking trails were perfect for a beginner or a regular hiker."

    3. Wilderness Shores Ranch & RV/Tent Campground

    4 Reviews
    Lakeland, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 899-5147

    $40 - $75 / night

    "Hike along the water on trails, off road biking, and up close viewing of the beautiful ranch animals ( steer and goats )."

    "Great privately owned campsite for those wanting to get away from crowds and overly-popular sites."

    4. Saddle Creek Park and Campground

    6 Reviews
    Lakeland, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 413-2399

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Thrift and bait shop nearby."

    5. Edward Medard Park

    14 Reviews
    Durant, FL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (813) 757-3802

    $24 / night

    "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."

    "Very pretty and wooded for Florida. Great to bike around and see everything. Neat to see gators. Will definitely go back."

    6. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

    130 Reviews
    Windermere, FL
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 939-2267

    $56 - $201 / night

    "Big park so lots of walking if you don’t have the cart (or you can bring your own and/or bikes).  Our grandsons loved the golf cart!"

    "The best campground in Florida ! Fun beautiful and lots to do even without going to the parks Wildlife is abundant Bunnies deer turkey"

    7. Colt Creek State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Zephyrhills, FL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 815-6761

    $24 / night

    "Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing. 5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available"

    "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."

    8. Alafia River State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Lithia, FL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 433-0287

    $22 / night

    "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"

    9. Sanlan RV & Golf Resort

    2 Reviews
    Highland City, FL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 665-1726

    10. Cypress Campground & RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Winter Haven, FL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (863) 324-7400

    "We came to Florida to escape NY in 2020, chose from a map! While here, we made good friends with other snowbirds and travelers. There is a nice pool, small playground and 2 laundry facilities."

    "First we had a late arrival, and they had left us all the documents ready for us by the entrance."

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Recent Reviews near Highland City, FL

1138 Reviews of 292 Highland City Campgrounds


  • Michael S.
    Mar. 23, 2026

    Rye Wilderness Park Campground

    Great place. First come first serve. Camping Friday to Sunday.

    Check in is at 2 PM onwards, check out by 2 pm Sunday. Lively rivers and trails to explore for kids.

  • Diana S.
    Mar. 23, 2026

    Lake Arbuckle Park & Campground

    Beautiful lake

    Our campsite is nice. It's quiet here during the week. The bathrooms need cleaning. They are kept neat just not cleaned.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2026

    Lithia Springs

    Nice cold spring

    Spring break got hit with a cold front but we got 1 day in the springs. It’s nice and clean

  • ToolMan56 T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 26, 2026

    Thousand Trails Peace River

    New management, new campground

    There appears to be new management in the campground. Procedures are completely different and much better than previous visits. It is cleaner and more organized. It is now possible to get a reservation for the full hookup section. The river and woods trails are in great shape. Hopefully they will get the mini golf course turf replaced, it is currently painted concrete and not much fun to play on.

  • Kathy C.
    Feb. 25, 2026

    E.G. Simmons Regional Park

    Great place to relax

    Relaxing campsite, most sites have water access or view. The raccoons are a little too comfortable they will make their selves at home and borrow anything that you leave open.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 24, 2026

    Orlando/Kissimmee KOA

    location location

    Nice old KOA but businesses built around it. If you like sirens and racing cars irs ok. It is a nice camp ground but don’t park in back near the fence. lots of street noice like garbage pickup.

  • Brian K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 24, 2026

    Lithia Springs

    Highly recommend

    Welcoming staff upon arrival. Park is very clean and well taken care of. Met some great neighbors and enjoyed the quietness. The park is constantly monitored by staff giving you a sense of comfort. Beautiful spring to enjoy a warm day as the water temp is a consistent 72°. Canoe and Kyak launch is easily accessible to enjoy the calm waters of the Alafia River. Restrooms and showers were clean and plentiful around the grounds. We will definitely be back.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 23, 2026

    Hillcrest RV Resort

    55+ RV Resort

    Large, level sites. Can accommodate any size RV. Very active community. 2 activity centers, pool, pickleball, horseshoes, billiards, bingo, entertainment and much more. Clean bathrooms and showers.

  • Capt.Greg O.
    Feb. 23, 2026

    Thousand Trails Peace River

    Love the Peace River

    I think the best thing is the size of this place, there usually is always a spot to get in on. There is a nice Little River running through the very edge of the park, but it's difficult to get a spot there. Also, the laundry facility is top notch and the pool is very pleasant, they also have racquetball and some nice short trails to walk on.


Guide to Highland City

Campgrounds near Highland City, Florida vary from state park locations to RV resorts with diverse amenities. The region sits at a relatively flat elevation of 115-130 feet above sea level, with the Green Swamp to the north and the Lake Wales Ridge to the east. Most camping spots remain accessible year-round, though extreme weather events can cause temporary closures during hurricane season from June through November.

What to do

Water sports at Camp Margaritaville: Located in Auburndale, campers can enjoy water activities at two pools including a splash pad area. "We love this Margaritaville location! The staff is always friendly, they've got a great splash pad and playground for the kids, a water slide, and two larger pools for kids and adults," writes Danielle M. of Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Cabana Cabins Auburndale.

Mountain biking trails: The trails at Alafia River State Park offer technical challenges for all skill levels. "This park is close to home for me, I come here often for the Mountain Biking and the awesome humans. The facilities are clean and the MTB trails are constantly changing so we are never bored here," says Jennifer T.

Wildlife viewing: Colt Creek State Park provides opportunities to observe Florida wildlife in their natural habitat. "This park is beautiful, quiet, alive with wild life, we saw deers, owls, turtles, rabbits & a mama wild boar with her piglets," notes Barbara A. of Colt Creek State Park Campground.

What campers like

Accessibility to attractions: Many campers appreciate the proximity to Florida's theme parks. "We had a BLAST at this camping retreat 3 miles from Legoland! The owners/employees were very nice and accommodating," shares Rachel C. about Cypress Campground & RV Park.

Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers rank highly with campers in the area. "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," writes Rebecca A. about Hillsborough River State Park.

Spacious sites: Campers value the room to spread out at certain campgrounds. "The sites are awesome and very clean. They each come with a turf pad which the pup loved," Phil notes about Camp Margaritaville. Another camper at Hillsborough River State Park Campground mentions, "Camp spots are big, flat with gravel parking areas. Power and water an each site for RV camping."

What you should know

Mosquito preparation: Bug protection is essential, particularly in warmer months. "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog," warns Jake H. about Hillsborough River State Park.

Seasonal activities: Winter months bring special programming at many campgrounds. "Winter season activities, movies, game night. Near restaurants and Legoland, not far from Disney or either coast," mentions MaryAnn D. about her stay at Cypress Campground.

Fire restrictions: Policies vary significantly between campgrounds. "No Camp fires, No boats, at $20 a day $140 a week is too expensive to camp," notes Scott T. about Saddle Creek Park. Meanwhile, Wilderness Shores Ranch & RV/Tent Campground allows fires with designated areas.

Tips for camping with families

Entertainment options: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. "The pool, arcade, sing along and trading post: the pool is a nice size pool with a small water slide. There is a splash area in the back for small kids," describes Samantha O. about Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Wildlife education: Many parks offer opportunities for children to learn about local ecosystems. "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," explains Joe R. about Colt Creek State Park.

Pool crowding awareness: During peak seasons, shared facilities can become congested. "The only negative was that the pool area seemed a little small for the number of people there. Very crowded," reports Shannon S. about Camp Margaritaville during spring break.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Choose sites based on your priorities for shade, accessibility, and noise levels. "We were in 392, which is right behind the dog run and the amenities area. We don't own a dog and we were awakened by a few dog barks and a lot of owners playing with their dogs," shares Corey C. about their stay at Camp Margaritaville.

Laundry facilities: Several campgrounds offer laundry options with varying quality. "Bathrooms, laundry facilities are plentiful and very clean. Have to pay for wifi," reports Deb K. about Cypress Campground.

WiFi quality: Internet connectivity varies significantly between locations. "Awesome place. Great for kids and pets. Wifi was amazing. Staff was super friendly. Huge lots with tons of stuff to do," notes Erik P. about their experience at Camp Margaritaville.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Highland City, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Highland City, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 292 campgrounds and RV parks near Highland City, FL and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Highland City, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Highland City, FL is Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Cabana Cabins Auburndale with a 4.6-star rating from 20 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Highland City, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Highland City, FL.