Camping options near Key Largo provide access to both the Florida Keys and Everglades ecosystems with average winter temperatures of 65-75°F. The region sits at near sea level with a subtropical climate that attracts campers from December through April when humidity and insect levels decrease significantly. Several campgrounds offer water access within a 30-minute drive of Key Largo.
What to do
Fishing from campground docks: Jolly Roger RV Resort in Marathon offers excellent fishing opportunities right from the property. "Great place very clean and staff makes you feel at home," notes one visitor who enjoyed the resort's dock access.
Kayaking through mangroves: Explore the waterways around Larry & Penny Thompson Park, which serves as a convenient base camp for Biscayne National Park adventures. "This campsite is a great central base camp for those visiting Biscayne NP/Everglades NP and Miami," shares one camper who used the park as a starting point for paddling excursions.
Beach volleyball and swimming: The recreation areas at Larry & Penny Thompson Park provide land-based activities. "There is a great fire ring with benches for bonfires and a great Beach volleyball court. The pool is clean and guarded by life guards," according to a recent visitor who appreciated the athletic facilities.
What campers like
Waterfront sites with fishing access: Riptide RV Resort offers premium waterfront locations. "This is a small campground with mostly lot models and a small motel, but don't let that keep you away, the people are wonderful!! We spent 3 weeks there and loved it! Nice pavilion down at water, nice little beach, dock, restrooms, showers and laundry," reports one satisfied camper.
Clean facilities: Southern Comfort RV Resort maintains well-kept amenities that campers appreciate. "This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size," notes a visitor who found the campground clean and well-maintained.
Weekend social scene: Many campgrounds near Key Largo feature weekend activities. "Tiki bar on site, open on the weekends. Traffic noise can be loud at certain times of the day. Large pool. Decent facilities but do need updating," mentions a Southern Comfort RV Resort guest who enjoyed the social atmosphere.
What you should know
Mosquito preparation essential: Bug protection should be your top priority when glamping close to Key Largo, Florida. "Flamingo is one of only two campgrounds in the park, the other Lone Pine but Flamingo manages them both. Flamingo is more popular (so more people). The staff of young hosts were nice and helpful," reports one camper before adding a warning, "Only complaint are the bugs, especially the sites around the ring loop near the shrubs - they are relentless and almost unbearable."
Limited internet access: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Flamingo Campground, "There is no Verizon or T-Mobile service. There is Wi-Fi available in the Marina store area," according to a recent visitor, which can impact planning and navigation.
Water quality considerations: The drinking water at some campgrounds has a distinct taste. "There are no water spigots so if you need water, you must use the dish washing faucet (the water is potable but for drinking, you might want to bring in your own as it has a salty taste)," explains a visitor to Flamingo Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Bring bikes for kids: Larry & Penny Thompson Park offers safe riding areas. "Our son loved this because he could ride his bike all around the campground to his hearts content," shares a family who visited during the off-season.
Pack screen shelters for eating: Insects can make outdoor meals challenging. "I'd suggest bringing one of those screened in pop up shelters," recommends a Flamingo Campground visitor who struggled with gnats and mosquitoes during their stay.
Select shaded sites when possible: Summer temperatures make shade critical. "Only a handful of sites have any shade, so be sure to request shade when making reservations and you may get lucky like us," advises a camper from Flamingo Campground who appreciated the cooler temperatures.
Tips from RVers
Arrival timing matters: Jolly Roger RV Resort can be challenging to navigate for large rigs. "When we called to reserve they told me that our trailer would not fit on the designated Passport America sites, but we could have the next level site for 50% off instead," shares an RVer who found navigating site restrictions complicated.
Prepare for tight spaces: Many Florida Keys RV parks have limited room between sites. "This campground is small with tight sites (short and close together). There's no pool but there are laundry facilities and a clean bathroom," notes a visitor to Riptide RV Resort who adjusted expectations for the limited space.
Consider day trips instead of overnight stays: Some RVers prefer to base at larger mainland campgrounds. "Stayed here one night on the way to the FL Keys. The campground is tight but manageable. Pulled in late and security guard was super helpful," writes an RVer who used Southern Comfort RV Resort as a stopover during their Keys journey.
