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Top-Rated Tent Campgrounds near Killarney, FL

1,215 Reviews

Tent campsites surrounding Killarney, Florida range from forest sites to waterfront primitive camping, with several options clustered near natural springs and waterways. For tent campers seeking direct water access, the top-rated tent campgrounds in the region include sites along the Wekiva River system and nearby springs. Notable locations include North Shore Relic Ranch, which offers five tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables, and King's Landing with its proximity to crystal-clear springs and the Wekiva River system. Several state forest primitive camping areas, including Seminole State Forest and Green Swamp East Tract, provide more secluded alternatives for tent campers seeking quieter surroundings.

Most tent camping areas require advance reservations, with many sites being drive-in accessible followed by short walks to the actual camping spots. Facilities vary considerably, with primitive sites in Seminole State Forest featuring fire rings and picnic tables but limited other amenities. Water access is a concern at most locations, as drinking water is rarely provided at tent-only sites. A camper at Seminole State Forest noted, "The walk from where you can park to the actual site is not that long, but it can be prone to flooding, so I would wear waterproof hiking boots." Tent campers should prepare for variable weather conditions, particularly during summer months when humidity and insects can be significant challenges.

Proximity to water features characterizes many tent camping experiences in the region. Sites near springs offer unique recreational opportunities, with King's Landing providing tent campers early morning access to Rock Springs before day visitors arrive. According to a reviewer, "Being able to be the first ones on the river is awesome. The camping sites have zero shade which is not a good thing in the FL summer heat." Wildlife viewing is common throughout the area's forest campsites, with reports of deer, sandhill cranes, and occasional black bear sightings. Several primitive sites include picnic tables and fire rings, though campers should practice proper food storage as raccoons are prevalent. Tent sites at Black Bear Wilderness Area and Green Swamp require hikers to carry in all supplies, creating a more immersive wilderness experience despite being relatively close to urban areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Killarney, Florida (53)

    1. North Shore Relic Ranch

    2 Reviews
    Astatula, FL
    11 miles
    Website

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The hiking near by is great and plenty of trails near by. Also a spot to go paddling but we didn’t this trip. We will deff be back!"

    "It was great getting to learn about the north shore ranch and the abundance of trails in the area for exploring!  Stop by and leave a review with some pictures of your favorite views!"

    2. King's Landing

    5 Reviews
    Sorrento, FL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 886-0859

    $30 / night

    "The camp spaces are on a large field and each has its own fire ring. It has a very cozy communal vibe. Saturday nights they host a large fire down by the boat launch for everyone to join."

    "To begin with, there’s nearly 1,000 crystal clear springs throughout the state of Florida, so when you find one that’s pretty spectacular, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack."

    3. Outdoor World Orlando Resort

    1 Review
    Windermere, FL
    13 miles
    +1 (407) 239-8774

    "Nice level sites I've been there a few times Nice facilities and pool fun to bike around in"

    4. Camp Wewa

    1 Review
    Apopka, FL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 703-1784

    5. Hillsborough River State Park Campground

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

    $24 / night

    "I typically avoid tent camping here in the summer months– early summer the trails are heavy with mosquitoes and summer rains bring a large amount of flooding."

    "Lots of RV campers, sites that are quite close to each other, and rock-hard ground from being packed down by heavy vehicles day after day."

    6. Rebecca’s Respite

    Be the first to review!
    Clermont, FL
    7 miles
    +1 (407) 920-0126

    $40 / night

    7. Seminole State Forest Primitive Campsites

    6 Reviews
    DeBary, FL
    27 miles
    +1 (352) 589-1762

    $9 - $18 / night

    "Jumper camp is a primitive area with a picnic table and a fire ring."

    "We packed light but not that light because we like to be comfortable; it took my BF and me about 3 trips each to get everything we needed to the site, including firewood, our 4 person tent, air mattress"

    8. Lake Mills Park

    10 Reviews
    Oviedo, FL
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 665-2180

    "This was a special use event so we used the big open field areas in the day use part of the park near the lake.  This was a very, very good and well run event on everyone's part.   "

    "The good: This is a beautiful clean campground attached to a nice community park. 14 sites total some closer to each other than others, but we had no neighbors."

    9. Green Swamp — East Tract

    3 Reviews
    Dade City, FL
    26 miles
    Website

    "We stayed at Trail Ford because on the map it showed being close to a parking area. We had a wheeled cooler and a wagon with our gear so we didnt have an ideal backpacking situation."

    10. Crooked River Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest

    11 Reviews
    Nobleton, FL
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (352) 797-4140

    "Crooked River Campground is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75."

    "Tent camping only, with a picnic table, fire ring and water faucet. You have a bath house you can get to by walking and it has hot water in the fall and winter months."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Killarney, FL

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Tent Camping Reviews near Killarney, FL

1215 Reviews of 53 Killarney Campgrounds

  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2018

    Black Bear Wilderness Area

    Be ready for a hike

    To get to this camp you will have to hike in along old levy's some just over a foot wide. Much of the trail is sloped to one side or the other. Along the way you will see some beautiful sites! Many hike the loop trail as a day hike. but it is better enjoyed at a slower pace as there is so much to see if you open your eyes. The just over 7 mile trail takes you by orange trees cover in butterflies in spring, also wildflower lines trails and along the beautiful St Johns River.

    The camp site is used often by scouts and folks wanting to start training for longer hikes North of Florida. The campsite it self is very nice. there is a covered shelter, fire pit, benches and a picnic table. Many trees for hammock camping and lots of room for tents. Sadly with no toilet facilities back along the edges of the campsite you will find evidence of human use and abuse. PLEASE leave no trace. Also if you go take the time to pull a few of the invasive Caesar Weed plants that are trying to take over the camp (they are the ones with seeds that act like Velcro).

    You MUST have a reservation to camp here. If you have a pet it MUST be kept on a lease at all times and picked up after. there are feral hogs and snakes on the property....and you must practice bear safety using a bear proof container for food and hanging from tree at night. We saw no bear sign when we hiked - but that is not saying they are not around.

  • Tracy L H.
    Dec. 31, 2019

    Sawgrass Island Preserve

    Old Florida!

    Sawgrass Island Preserve is a unique piece of property.  I love hiking on the north side of the property it looks so much like Old Florida.  I like to go across the causeway and down the Bog Button Trail and over to the Hammock Trail and along the Cactus Trail and down around the ponds and back out the Bent Pine Trail.  This is around a five mile hike and can be stretched out by doing the North Loop Trail also .  I have seen several whitetail deer, sandhill cranes, lots of other birds, quail, and some turkeys while hiking.  I also saw a black bear up a tree in the marsh.  It is a hidden gem for sure.  The south side is nice but gets super sandy in places due to horseback riders.  And if you have horses the preserve allows riders and even has a spot or two with water for the horses and some picnic areas with hitching post to tie off horse and have some time to eat.  Some trails are narrow and give the feel of actually walking in, in the woods!  I haven't camped there but they have two primitive campsites on the Hammock Trail near the marsh with a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern post.  There is also a horse campsite along the Cactus Trail down near the ponds and there is an open pole barn with two roomy stalls for horses and picnic tables and a fire ring with benches.  Also room to pitch tent under barn too.  There is no water available at any of the campsites.  Could be a fun adventure waiting in Old Florida.  There is a camping application to fill out on line at www.lcwa.org and a  small fee, but if everything checks out ok at the end of the stay after a Ranger has had a chance to check out the site your fee is refunded.

  • James A.
    Sep. 9, 2020

    Colt Creek State Park Campground

    Tired Tree Primative Site

    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 for purchase (located at the site) -$5 arm loads -Fire ring, Picnic Table, Bench, and Garbage pail at the site

    Walked the long way in (3.25miles), instead of the 1 mile route. The entire hike is through typical open grass “roads” cut and maintained in the Florida brush. The site itself had a nice vibe and is far away from any other sites at the park. A large open clearing could easily allow for a dozen tents, unfortunately, I brought my hammock,.. and this site is not set up for hammock camping.

    With a little rigging and placement over a dried up gator hole, I found a spot that I could hang my hammock and shelter for the night.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the spot, other than the lack of clearing for a hammock, and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable... I am aware that it was rainy season in Florida, near a WMA named Green Swamp, but I went home with hundreds and hundreds of bites, despite my preparedness.

    I would camp here again, maybe when it’s a little cooler and more dry, and also would hike in with a tent, or potentially take the shorter route and pull a wagon full of gear, to enjoy a bit more “glamped” feel.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground

    Primitive Camping in Lake Kissimmee State Park!

    We decided to book a group primitive campsite in this state park. We were in the primitive group campsite on the Buster Island Loop. It was about 3 miles to hike in to the site. The path is very clear with markers and when you arrive at the site, there is a clear indicator to follow. The path to the site is right off the main trail.

    Since this is a primitive site, there are no facilities and keep in mind you need to bring your own water for drinking, cooking, cleaning etc. At the site there were two picnic tables and a fire ring which was enough for our group. The area was cleared with a lot of space to set up all of our tents. We were here in late April when the weather was getting warmer so remember to bring mosquito repellent and enough water for your whole group to stay hydrated!

    The hiking trails are loops about 6 miles long where you can experience different types of Florida environments and boating on the lake. And there are also history demonstrations showing the old Florida cowboys at the park.

    All in all, this park has many options and activities. Whether you are into water sports or biking and hiking, this park has it all.

  • A
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Hog Island Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest

    Spacious camp sites!

    We loved the large sites. And pretty private. Wooded areas between sites. Nice clean restrooms and showers. Only 2 showers in the ladies bath house. It's old but clean. But it's sapose to be no pets. And a camper near us had a very large dog in a cage that barked all day. Very annoying. Bad area for ticks. Rangers check sites several times a day and are very nice. Also there is water but no electricity. We will go back. No generator after 10pm.

  • Alex M.
    Jul. 1, 2019

    Mutual Mine Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest

    Wide open spaces, very quiet!

    We hiked extensively in this tract and used Mutual Mine campground as one of our stop-overs. Very nice, open, flat areas to pitch tents and close to hiking trails. Fire ring at each site, options to hang your hammock. Bathrooms but no showers. Free potable water. You can also pull in a trailer but this is not a full-commercial type campground. More a cross between that and primitive camping…….perfect for backpackers!!

  • Shannon S.
    May. 28, 2023

    Moss Park Campground

    Finally, a quiet campground!

    Maybe it’s the no pets rule, but this campground was the quietest we’ve been to and we camp nearly every weekend.

    The sites are spacious with the fire rings being in the way back. This is a no alcohol park. They didn’t have any fire or ice, which is a negative. We love camping at spots that have that for purchase. The nearest Publix is about 5 minutes or so away and does have both.

    They don’t allow you to have anything on the trees, which I found a little off putting. We had solar lights hung from them, just wrapped around, not attached, and were told by the camp host (? Didn’t introduce himself) they needed to come down. Staff rode around a few times and said nothing but, okay.

    The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Lots of open space to run around, kick a ball, two playground sets, and a beautiful walk to Lake Mary Jane.

    Quiet hours were observed, which was so nice.

    I brought my T-Mobile home router and had plenty of signal to work, stream, etc.

    We will be back!

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2024

    Moss Park Campground

    Quiet, lots of trees, away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando

    This is a 54 site campground with hook ups at each site, fire ring, and picnic table. The trees provide a good amount of privacy from adjacent campers. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. This is about 15 min from the airport yet very removed from Orlando. Water on three sides, gates that close and lock from 6pm to 8 am (Nov-March) but an easy access code is given at check in to be able to come and go after hours. No pets, no alcohol, and quiet after 10. I will stay again! It was a mix of RVs, trailers, camper vans, car camping, and tents when I stayed. The personnel were very nice and helpful at check in.

  • Monte W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2020

    Green Swamp — West Tract

    Peaceful and free!

    Stayed here for a night in November of 2020. We stayed at the Ashley campsite. It is free but had to register at watermatters.org - (Southwest Florida Water Management). They provide you with a code to unlock the gate once registered. At the campsite there were about 15 sites. Most had non-potable water. All had a picnic tables and fire ring. My site had a covered picnic table. A vault toilet was also provided and was pretty clean. The campsite was about half full when I was here and it was pretty quiet even though you can see your neighbors. You are permitted to collect fire wood as long as it has fallen from the tree. For a free campsite, I can’t complain. I would stay here again.

Guide to Killarney

Tent camping near Killarney, Florida offers diverse wilderness experiences within the extensive Ocala National Forest region, where elevation rarely exceeds 100 feet above sea level. Campsites range from remote hike-in locations requiring permits to accessible primitive spots with basic facilities. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons for most visitors.

What to do

Paddle the spring-fed waterways: King's Landing provides direct access to Rock Springs and the Wekiva River system. "Kings Landing is absolutely breath taking. It has to be the most beautiful place in FL. The springs are crystal clear, especially when you're the 1st one out there in the a.m." according to Chad N. at King's Landing.

Explore hiking trails: The trail system at Little Big Econ State Forest offers various difficulty levels across multiple trailheads. "You could spend an entire day just getting lost around the trails. So much fun. Not a very difficult trial though," shares Hannah S. who camped at Little Big Econ State Forest Primitive Camping.

Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper at North Shore Relic Ranch noted, "The hiking near by is great and plenty of trails near by. Also a spot to go paddling but we didn't this trip."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Crooked River Campground offers secluded tent camping with natural barriers. "These are tent only primitive campsites with the standard uncovered picnic table and fire ring with a grate and/or a grill," explains Elliott B. at Crooked River Campground. "It truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest."

Water access: Most popular camping spots feature direct river or spring access. Luis L. at King's Landing shared: "Place was great and peaceful. Kayaking was fun and a beautiful, specially when your coming down stream."

Communal campfire experiences: Some campgrounds organize group activities. Rishi B. noted that at King's Landing, "Saturday nights they host a large fire down by the boat launch for everyone to join."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most tent sites require advance booking, with walk-up availability limited. "You can drive to the site with a permit. There is good shade from some big oak trees," notes Billy A. about Seminole State Forest Primitive Campsites.

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes and other insects can be overwhelming, especially after rains or near water. Jake H. at Hillsborough River State Park warns: "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog."

Water issues: Many sites experience flooding during rainy periods. One camper mentioned about Seminole State Forest, "The walk from where you can park to the actual site is also not that long, but it can be prone to flooding, so I would wear waterproof hiking boots."

Shade availability: Some tent sites lack adequate tree cover. At King's Landing, a reviewer mentioned: "The camping sites have zero shade which is not a good thing in the FL summer heat."

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation options: Hillsborough River State Park offers structured swimming areas suitable for children. According to one reviewer, "Nice trails, great river canoeing. Close to Tampa and Busch Gardens."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Killarney, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Killarney, FL is North Shore Relic Ranch with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Killarney, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 53 tent camping locations near Killarney, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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