Best Tent Camping near Hudson, FL
Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park offers several tent camping options within a 30-minute drive of Hudson, Florida. This 8,300-acre conservation area features both drive-in tent sites and primitive backcountry camping areas accessible via hiking trails. Additional tent camping can be found at nearby Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill, which provides tent sites with access to water and restroom facilities.
Tent campsites at Starkey Wilderness Park include 15 numbered drive-in sites with varying levels of shade and privacy. Sites 9-14 are positioned closer together with less privacy, while sites like 8 provide more space but less shade. Most tent areas include picnic tables, fire pits with cooking grates, and access to restrooms with showers. The park also maintains three primitive backcountry tent sites approximately 3-5 miles from the main trailhead, requiring hikers to carry all supplies including water, as the park no longer provides water stations along trails.
Tent campers at these parks benefit from extensive trail networks through Florida pine forests and occasional wetlands. Starkey offers over 50 miles of hiking and biking paths, with the primitive sites providing greater seclusion for those willing to hike in with gear. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer sometimes approaching campsites. While the parks feel remote, some noise from nearby roads or flight paths may be noticeable. A camper noted that "primitive site #1 is a heavily shaded and flat site with plenty of room and privacy," though they also cautioned that "signage is poor after the 4-mile mark" when hiking to more distant sites. Reservations are required for all tent camping and can be made through the Pasco County Parks website up to 90 days in advance.
