Lake Alfred, Florida sits at 145 feet above sea level within Central Florida's lake district, where over two dozen lakes punctuate the landscape. This region experiences a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters, making glamping close to Lake Alfred, Florida accessible year-round. Local campgrounds operate in temperatures ranging from mid-50s in winter to upper 90s during summer months.
What to do
Wildlife observation: Lake Kissimmee State Park offers extensive wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw armadillos, turtles, large Ospreys, and a small gator by the fishing dock," notes a visitor to Withlacoochee River Park. At Lake Kissimmee, wildlife sightings include "wild turkeys, eagles, bobcats, AND the Florida Panther!"
Biking trails: Lake Louisa State Park features rolling hills unusual for Central Florida. "This park has totally awesome park roads for biking, trails for mountain biking and hiking, and equestrian trails," reports a camper at Lake Louisa State Park Campground. Another visitor adds, "Beautiful shaded sites and long biking trails."
Water activities: Wekiwa Springs provides clear 72-degree swimming year-round. "The water was beautiful!" shares one camper. The park includes "hiking, biking, day swimming, a food grill, a canoe/kayak launch and rental, plus tons of wildlife!"
What campers like
Secluded sites: Withlacoochee River Park offers a retreat from crowds. "I like the regular tent sites, not much of a walk in but secluded," mentions a visitor to Withlacoochee River Park. Another camper adds, "The sites are well shaded. (unless grounds were full when you reserved and you took option to camp in adjoining astronomy field)."
Accessibility features: Wekiwa Springs State Park accommodates visitors with mobility challenges. A camper at Wekiwa Springs State Park Campground explains, "Jane, one of the park rangers informed us about the ramp for wheelchairs, and a lift into the water! She was so helpful."
Clean facilities: Hillsborough River State Park maintains high standards. "Like all state parks the bathrooms were spotless and rivaled those of a Marriott," notes a visitor. Another camper adds, "The bathhouse had about 6 washers and dryer. It was a laundry room nothing crazy. They did have a vending machine to buy laundry detergent."
What you should know
Site drainage: Sherwood Forest RV Resort can become muddy after rain. "Recently there's been a lot of rain and rigs of all sizes are up to their rims in muck. Seems to be a draining problem as the water stands for several days," cautions a visitor to Encore Sherwood Forest.
Weekend crowds: State parks fill quickly. "If you go on a weekend, make sure you go EARLY! Line of car starts around 9am and park will close at capacity," warns a Wekiwa Springs visitor. Another adds, "On the weekend there were tons of people in the park."
Cell service variability: Coverage ranges from excellent to none. A Lake Louisa visitor notes, "We had no cell service (this actually made us cancel another stay we had planned since we needed cell service for remote work)." At Withlacoochee, campers report "perfect cell service with Verizon."
Tips for camping with families
Accessibility planning: Disney's Fort Wilderness campground provides transportation options. "Buses run very frequently and never had an issue getting a bus to the amenities," shares a camper at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. They add, "The bus drivers were very nice and knowledgeable about services and amenties in the resort."
Book early: Popular glamping sites near Lake Alfred fill months ahead. "Being a Floridian, we've experienced FL's state parks and found them to offer privacy between sites," notes one camper, while another adds, "Like many families, ours enjoys their trips to Orlando. We are not big on the theme parks so staying at campgrounds has been our way to enjoy the family vacation, but in nature."
Plan for insects: Summer brings mosquitoes. "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," warns a visitor to Hillsborough River State Park. Another camper advises, "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog."
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions: Orlando/Kissimmee KOA has limited tent space. "Site was a little small for our tent (14 x 14 foot though). Other than that, campground was great!" shares a visitor to Orlando/Kissimmee KOA. For RVs, they offer "pull-through concrete patio with fire pit!!"
Low-hanging branches: Watch for clearance issues. A Lake Louisa camper advises, "Be careful of low hanging tree branches when backing in," while at Disney's Fort Wilderness, campers note, "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."
Distance from attractions: Consider commute times when glamping close to Lake Alfred. At Thousand Trails Orlando, a visitor notes, "It's only 30 minutes from most of the Orlando theme parks and shopping/restaurants are within 5-10 minutes." Lake Kissimmee State Park is "only a 30 minute drive to legoland."
