Best Tent Camping near Lacoochee, FL
Tent campers in the Lacoochee area have multiple options within the Withlacoochee State Forest and surrounding conservation lands. Crooked River Campground offers tent-only camping with secluded sites surrounded by dense vegetation, while primitive sites like Croom B Loop Primitive Site and Tucker Hill Forestry Primitive Sites provide more backcountry experiences. Most tent areas are situated within natural Florida ecosystems featuring mixed hardwood forests and occasional river access.
The primitive tent sites throughout this region typically include basic amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and occasionally water spigots. Crooked River provides flush toilets and warm showers, while most other tent camping areas offer only vault toilets or no facilities at all. Many tent sites require reservations through the Florida Forest Service, though some areas like Upper Hillsborough Preserve allow free camping with a displayed permit. According to reviews from The Dyrt, sites at Crooked River Campground are "spacious, private campsites" where "it truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest."
During summer months, tent campers should prepare for heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. Sites near water features like the Withlacoochee River provide cooling relief but may increase insect activity. The primitive camping zones in Green Swamp East and West Tracts allow tent camping only within designated areas marked by yellow-banded trees. Foster Bridge Primitive Site can be accessed by a 12-mile hike from McNeil Trailhead. Tent campers particularly value the seclusion of these sites—one visitor described Crooked River as having "dense undergrowth which really added more privacy" where "you are really nestled into the underbrush." Fall through spring offers more comfortable temperatures for tent camping in this region, though some areas may flood during heavy rain seasons.
