Lake Kissimmee State Park and Lake Louisa State Park offer family-friendly glamping near Highland City, Florida with convenient access to natural Florida environments. Lake Kissimmee's campsites feature shade trees and fire pits, while Lake Louisa provides glamping tents and cabins with proximity to multiple lakes. Between May and September, temperatures typically reach 90°F with afternoon thunderstorms common across this region of central Florida. The lower elevation marshland areas support diverse wildlife viewing opportunities while providing a natural buffer from urban development.
What to do
Wildlife observation tower climbing: At Lake Kissimmee State Park, visitors can climb the tall observation tower for panoramic views. "Lots of small trails to explore and tall watch tower climb for observation," notes Stephanie G., who also mentions seeing "deers all around even among the campsites."
Fossil hunting along riverbanks: Thousand Trails Peace River offers unique prehistoric discoveries in the water. "The highlight of this park was collecting shark and sting ray teeth along the river. You can get wire mesh baskets in the office to aid in your search," explains Laura H., who recommends bringing protective footwear for wading.
Paved and unpaved trail systems: The Withlacoochee River Park features diverse hiking options for all ability levels. "There are multiple tent camping sites dispersed on property... Next to campground you will find a historic church, a large and small cabin available for rent, 2 playgrounds, shelters, large pavilion with grill/fire pit, fishing dock, canoe launch, paved bike trail hiking trails and an observation tower," shares Jeanene A.
Class II rapids exploration: Hillsborough River State Park offers a rare Florida feature with small rapids. "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. Pretty wild," reports Joe R.
What campers like
Spacious private campsites: Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground receives praise for its secluded sites. "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit," notes Stephanie G. Another camper, Barbara J., adds, "This lovely state park in Central Florida gives campers the true feel of 'old Florida!' Campsites are private, separated by lots of flora."
Clean facilities despite high usage: Orlando/Kissimmee KOA maintains excellent standards according to visitors. "The staff is awesome and always ready to help and the campground is spotless. We felt safe staying here because there was always someone from staff walking around cleaning or checking on things," shares Andrea S. Another camper notes, "We were extremely impressed of the amenities the tent sites had. Large tables, chairs around the fire pit and covered kitchen area with sinks and electrical outlets."
Multiple lake access points: Lake Louisa State Park Campground offers visitors varied water experiences. "This stage park has lots to offer - great trails for hiking and biking, boat launches, fishing, or just relaxing," writes Cyndi B. Another visitor, Dave V., explains, "The many smaller lakes and ponds are tranquil and picturesque... Lake Louisa itself has a beach area and swimming is done there."
Night sky viewing opportunities: Withlacoochee River Park provides excellent dark sky conditions. "On new moon nights the local astronomy club uses neighboring field to gaze at the stars. This place is quiet and dark at night!" shares Jeanene A., highlighting an activity not available at more developed campgrounds closer to urban areas.
What you should know
Limited cell service in natural areas: Cell coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, Corey K. warns, "Cell service is practically non existent in the park and within 10 miles from the park. Keep an eye on gas, there's one place about 6 miles from the park and town is about 15 miles away." Similarly, at Upper Hillsborough Preserve — Alston Tract, visitors should expect minimal connectivity.
Seasonal flooding affects site availability: Water levels fluctuate significantly in Florida's wet season. "We were cut short due to flooding," reports Annie C. about Upper Hillsborough. At Thousand Trails Peace River, Laura H. notes, "Although we enjoyed our time here there were some serious concerns with flooding. Many large rigs were parked in the flood plane which encompasses a large section of the park."
Reservation systems vary widely: Each park operates differently. At Peace River, "Every day about 1pm you go sign up for the lottery system to shuffle your RV to a sewer site if you're lucky enough to get it. They failed to tell us you have to show up daily," explains Laura H. For Withlacoochee River Park, Rich S. advises, "Restrooms are very sparse, however. Only one in the entire camping area."
Insect protection essential in summer: Multiple reviewers mention mosquito prevalence. At Hillsborough River, Jason D. warns, "The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them." Jake H. adds humorously, "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog."
Tips for camping with families
Reserve shade sites during summer months: At Lake Kissimmee, family campers recommend specific sites. "We stayed in site 19 for one night in early February. This site was very large, mostly level, with beautiful trees surrounding the site and great privacy," shares Denise. For summer visits, shaded sites become even more crucial due to intense heat.
Look for campgrounds with dedicated kids' activities: Orlando Southwest KOA Holiday provides specialized family amenities. "Clean, well kept campground. I thought it would be noisy, but it wasn't. Pool and clubhouse is clean and nice. Shop is well stocked," notes Jeff, making it suitable for families needing entertainment options beyond hiking.
Plan around afternoon thunderstorms: Summer visitors should schedule morning activities. "We were there four nights. We took our two grandchIldren, and they had alot of fun!" shares Lauren W. about Lake Kissimmee, recommending early fishing and hiking followed by afternoon shelter time during typical storm patterns.
Bring wildlife identification materials: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers unique wildlife viewing alongside amenities. "We are not Disney people but our kids wanted to go to universal... This place is great. I really felt like I was at a campground and not at a Disney resort," explains Samantha O., noting that wildlife sightings enhance the experience for children beyond park attractions.
Tips from RVers
Check voltage during peak usage times: At Thousand Trails Peace River, Thomas E. advises, "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours droped to 108v for a couple hours, i choose to run the gen during that time." This precaution helps protect sensitive electronics in RVs.
Be prepared for tight maneuvering spaces: Campground layouts vary significantly in spaciousness. At Fort Wilderness, Samantha O. warns, "There is not a lot of room in the loops to pull your rv into the spot. There is plenty of room between your rv and your neighbor next to you but not a lot of room across from your spot. We have a 27' rv that is 33' from top to top. Holy moly did it take a lot to get this into our spot."
Consider site selection based on hookup needs: When glamping near Highland City with an RV, research hookup availability. At Thousand Trails Orlando, Brandie B. explains, "The Orlando RV Resort(Thousand Trails) has over 1000 sites thanks to their newest section opening November 2020... The older sites could use some resurfacing," indicating that newer sites typically offer better hookups and surfaces.
Check for low-hanging branches in wooded sites: Tree canopy can pose challenges for taller rigs. At Lake Kissimmee, Corey K. advises, "If you have a tall rv low hanging branches in the camp area might be an issue." Similarly, at Lake Louisa, Denise recommends, "Be careful of low hanging tree branches when backing in."
