Tent camping near Lake Panasoffkee, Florida offers primitive sites across several water management districts and state forests within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at about 75 feet above sea level with a subtropical climate averaging 80°F during summer months and mild winters rarely dropping below 50°F. Many campsites border the Withlacoochee River system, which connects numerous lakes and provides water-based recreation opportunities.
What to do
Paddling adventures: The Withlacoochee River provides excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities from several camping areas. At Potts Preserve - River Primitive Campground, campers enjoy direct river access. One visitor noted, "The float into Gum Slough is right there at the edge of the campground, simply an awesome trip."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best opportunities to spot native Florida wildlife. At Flying Eagle Preserve, the secluded setting provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper observed, "Amazing is all I can say. Hiking trails horse area. Fire rings and picnic tables."
Trail hiking: Multiple trail systems connect throughout the area's preserves. The Croom Tract features stacked hiking loops with varying distances. As one visitor to Tucker Hill Primitive Sites explained, "Hiking Trails: A Loop is 7.39 miles, B Loop is 8.97 miles, C Loop is 8.09 miles."
What campers like
Natural privacy: Many campsites offer significant natural screening between camping areas. At Crooked River Campground, a visitor explained, "The spacious, private campsites were a plus. It truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest and the kids loved getting to explore."
Water access: Direct river access ranks highly among camper priorities. Another Potts Preserve camper mentioned, "It's still a great part of the river, there is access to the river from the primitive area and there is a ramp sort of. The airboats are loud, probably on the weekend it's rather distractive."
Budget-friendly options: Several preserves offer free or low-cost camping with reservation systems. At Flying Eagle Preserve, a camper shared, "You make a free reservation and receive the gate code to get in. We had a wonderful time and ran into very few people."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most primitive sites require advance reservations, even for free camping areas. For Colonel Robins Group Area, "Reservations must be made in advance with Division of Florida Forestry. We will be using this camp much more in the future!"
Access challenges: Many camping areas have complicated access roads not correctly mapped on GPS systems. For Flying Eagle Preserve, one visitor advised, "Waze, google, and Apple Maps are all wrong. To get to the camp site: 1) go to the Circle K linked below, 2) use google maps walking directions to get to Flying Eagle Preserve. Essentially just head east down Eden Dr across the bike path and keep going straight."
Site limitations: Vehicle access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Potts Preserve, a recent change affected accessibility: "Still a very nice primitive campground, the access and sites have changed drastically. The large open pasture/meadow is no longer a vehicle area, same with the 5 sites within that area. There is a designated area to leave vehicles, and the sites on the river are walk in only."
Tips for camping with families
River swimming spots: Several areas offer safe, shallow swimming access for children. At Crooked River Campground, a parent shared, "The walk to the river from our site was so worth it. We loved exploring the trail and then letting the kids play in the water while we tried to catch some bass... The kids really loved cooling off in the river and catching frogs, they all agree that this was their favorite part."
Insect protection: Mosquitoes and ticks can be problematic, especially during warmer months. One camper at Hillsborough River State Park advised, "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog."
Wildlife education: Incorporate wildlife identification into your camping trip. Many sites post information about local species. A visitor to Crooked River Campground mentioned, "Lots of wildlife abounds and it's right along the river with a launch area. Very nice primitive campsites."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for RVs: Limited RV access exists at some primitive areas. At Idlewild Lodge and RV Park near Lake Panasoffkee proper, RVers have more amenities: "Found this beautiful quiet little resort while taking an airboat tour. The owners are simply amazing. They went the extra mile to make sure everything was perfect for our stay."
Water and dump facilities: Most primitive sites lack hookups and dump stations. At Hillsborough River State Park, an RVer noted, "There was 30 amp as well as 50 amp water there's a dump station clean bathrooms nice showers even dedicated dishwashing sinks and a washer and dryer."
Generator restrictions: Check if generators are allowed before arrival. Most primitive sites prohibit their use. One RVer at Hillsborough River State Park shared, "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places... and this is a bit peoply. That said it was very comfortable everything was clean and super convenient."
