R
Ron D.
Scout
ScoutLake Arbuckle Park & Campground
Site are fairly big and a rate of $20 to stay the night with water and electricity is reasonable. Bathrooms are not very clean. That's why I only gave a 3 star review.
Tent Camping near Lake Placid, FL
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campers near Lake Placid, Florida have several established options within an hour's drive, including Highlands Hammock State Park Campground, which offers both standard and primitive tent sites. The standard campground area features sites with water and electric hookups, while the separate primitive tent camping area provides a more secluded experience with portapotties nearby rather than full facilities.
Tent sites at Highlands Hammock are primarily set on natural dirt and grass surfaces with varying amounts of shade and vegetation between sites. The primitive tent area offers more separation between campsites and better tree cover for hammocks compared to the main campground area. Most sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though fire bans may be in effect during dry periods. Portable water is available in the main campground area but primitive campers should plan to fill containers before heading to their sites. A visitor noted that "the primitive campsites do not have many trees and are close together," though they do provide basic amenities including picnic tables and fire pits.
The tent camping experience varies significantly between the main campground and primitive areas. Standard sites place tent campers alongside RVs, which several reviewers mentioned limits privacy. One camper warned, "The sites are very close and not much to talk about. I was eaten alive by red ants in our site." For those seeking more seclusion, the primitive area provides better separation and natural settings. Highlands Hammock State Park offers numerous hiking trails through diverse Florida ecosystems, including boardwalks through wetlands and paths through hammock forests. Many tent campers use the park as a base for exploring these trails and viewing wildlife like alligators, deer, and various bird species. The park also maintains a camp store with basic supplies and features ranger-led activities.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Lake Placid (14)
1. Highlands Hammock State Park Campground
"We always camp in the primitive sites when we visit. The are large but have minimal shade. There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby."
"Shade and privacy can be hard to come by unless you pick the right spot."
Check Availabilityfrom $18 - $22 / night
2. Sebring Apricot Pl
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $30 / night
3. Sebring Grove RV Resort
4. Oak Hill Campground - Peace River
"Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and port-o-lets available."
"When you get to the outpost you put your gear in the trailer and they drive it to the campsite for you. They drive you in a bus with the canoes and from there you paddle down to your campsite."
5. Indian Prairie Canal RA
"Yes it was hot and sweaty but thats what the lake is for. This is very sweet free camping. Theres maybe 10 sites here and you can't quite literally take a boat to the campsite."
6. Caloosahatchee Regional Park
"No, you can't drive to your site, but really good carts are available to help you with the load, so no RV,s at the campground."
"Great paths to manicured campsites. All have fire ring, bbq, and picnic table. Primitive showers available; restrooms available. WiFi works good; but there’s miles of trails to walk."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $40 / night
7. Arbuckle Primitive Hike In Campsites — Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $9 / night
8. Upriver RV Resort
"There’s definitely some noise from the busy road even halfway back to the pool. Spots are level and cement, very clean but tight."
"wonderful clean sites. very level cement pads. garbage pick up at site. two pools. had a great stay."
9. Uncle Joe's Motel & Campground
"One of the finer older campgrounds in Florida, peaceful and serene."
10. The Bohemian Hideaway
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $45 - $165 / night
Drive Time
- 15 min from Sebring, FL
- 1 hr 8 min from Punta Gorda, FL
- 1 hr 16 min from North Port, FL
- 1 hr 23 min from Cape Coral, FL
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lake Placid, FL
28 Photos of 14 Lake Placid Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Lake Placid, FL
371 Reviews of 14 Lake Placid Campgrounds
Linda J.ScoutUpriver RV Resort
wonderful clean sites
wonderful clean sites. very level cement pads. garbage pick up at site. two pools. had a great stay.
- CCarla C.Scout
Peace River Oaks
Decent and quiet
Everything went pretty well except for one hiccup. Our first night staying there our bathroom drain got backed up with sewage that came back up from the drain which caused a terrible smell of The shower then also clogged and had to shower in puddle of water that got gross from our feet being all dirty because of the mud. I had mistakingly booked the stay without adding the hot tub.. so when we mentioned the issue to Dan(main guy in charge) we asked about the hot tub for the second day since it says it needs to be booked for a 2 night minimum. He said it would be taken care of.. so in our minds of a server and bartender and having worked in the service industry for a long time, we figured that the hot tub would be taken care of for us, considering that it's simply a$30 charge. So l then later get a text message from him asking if the card that I had on file was Ok to charge for the hot tub, and I asked if there would be any sort of compensation for the bathroom situation, he said being charged for one night instead of 2 was the compensation.. which made no sense to me since we only were getting it for one night. To top it off the hot tub was not even hot.. Was def not very impressed by that.
- EEd B.
TravelerPeace River Oaks
4 day getaway
If you like peace and quietness this is a place for you. I’m sure it is busier during the winter months. Plenty of shade with a new pool. You can rent canoes, play putt putt or paddle along the Peace river. If you’re into nature just walk the meandering trails through the woods. New concrete pads with a fire pit and picnic table. Everyone was polite and the WiFi was excellent. We stayed in lot 61. It overlooks the pasture with plenty of shade. Lot 60 and 59 also have total coverage and will be one of my next next choices. Plenty of space between your neighbors even make it better
J T.ScoutThousand Trails Peace River
Huge Campground
The place is very big and spread out , always sites available full hook ups or just water and electric (always alot of these open 20 or more) we have a pass to stay at these sites so we were put in a not so great site ,but talking with front desk (Morgan) she was more than happy to switch us to another site which we were pleased with . Pools clean ,clean bath houses and close to stores (grocery) always love going here . We have a blast . Also its centrally located a hr to coasts ( Venice beach) . Hr and 20 mins from warm mineral springs . River was nice to watch onsite also . Boat ramp also onsite
- dd I.
GuideWestgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo
Hit and Miss
Lots of amenities with plenty to do, water park was nice, ice cream shop, marina, and skeet range were cool. Staff was inconsistent - some allowed the kids to have fun but others break out the measuring stick to deny activities. Head scratching at times but will probably go back.
- dd I.Guide
Peace River Oaks
Great lil gem
Great lil place. Nice private bathrooms, mini splits in these and in tent, comfortable for family of 5. Fun turf play area near main office. Shark tooth sifting, trail hike, but the bank river fishing was tough. Owner/manager was a jack of all trades, very helpful and did it all.
Thomas B.
RangerKilpatrick Hammock Campground — Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Great If You Love The Outdoors
This site is very neat. You'll have to drive about 5 miles on an unpaved road to get to the sites. 30A hookup and water. I visited during the week in August and it was pretty empty. Nice and quiet. Lots of trails and wildlife.
Kai Z.RangerW.P. Franklin N
A Peaceful Waterfront Camping Gem
This campground is absolutely beautiful. We only stayed for one night, which honestly felt way too short in such an amazing setting. The campsites right by the water are super peaceful and perfect for relaxing. The showers and bathrooms were very clean and well maintained. The two hosts were incredibly friendly and helpful, which made us feel welcome right away. I can highly recommend this campground to anyone looking for a relaxing stay.
Guide to Lake Placid
Tent campsites near Lake Placid, Florida are situated in a subtropical climate zone where summer temperatures typically range from 80°F to 95°F with high humidity. The area sits at approximately 100 feet above sea level on the southern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, a sandy ecosystem containing several rare plant species. Summer camping often requires additional hydration and insect protection due to afternoon thunderstorms that occur almost daily from June through September.
What to do
Wildlife viewing trails: The boardwalk trails at Highlands Hammock State Park Campground showcase Florida's diverse ecosystems with opportunities to spot native wildlife. "On this trip we were treated to a night time tram ride because the 26 species of fireflies were out for a 2 week period. The area is beautiful and shady, staff very friendly, lots of critters on the trails," notes Larry M.
Fossil hunting: At Oak Hill Campground - Peace River, campers can search for prehistoric shark teeth along the shoreline. "Make sure you get a shovel and sleuth to find some shark teeth. We found over 100 just at the campsite alone," shares Deven R.
Fishing spots: For anglers seeking Lake Okeechobee access, camping locations on the rim canal provide productive fishing. David K. at Uncle Joe's Motel & Campground reports, "Located on the rim canal of Lake Okeechobee, we basically caught a Bass every time we cast a line."
What campers like
Ranger-led activities: Seasonal programming enhances the camping experience at several parks. "They also have lots of ranger-led activities like soup night, covered dish dinners, camper coffee, etc etc," notes Bran P. about Highlands Hammock State Park.
Natural surroundings: The Lake Placid area's mature trees and native vegetation create habitat for wildlife viewing. "The area is beautiful and shady, staff very friendly, lots of critters on the trails," says one visitor to Highlands Hammock.
Water access: Multiple camping areas offer direct water access for boating and kayaking. Jess from The Bohemian Hideaway shares, "We fished all day right from our site and took advantage of the extra rentals they had, kayaks and outdoor movie."
What you should know
Site spacing considerations: Many campgrounds in the area place sites close together. "The campgrounds were nice but all campsites were too close to each other," notes Sri G. about Highlands Hammock State Park.
Wildlife precautions: Proper food storage is essential at tent sites. "We had a bear visit the garbage bin during the night, so you'll have to pay attention to storing your food during the night," warns Sri G.
Weather patterns: Summer camping requires preparation for afternoon thunderstorms and heat. "It was hot and sweaty but that's what the lake is for," explains Daniel S. about Indian Prairie Canal RA, noting that water activities provide essential relief from summer temperatures.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly sites: Caloosahatchee Regional Park offers accessible camping for families new to outdoor recreation. Kenna D. recommends this location as "Great for kids and new campers! Great paths to manicured campsites. All have fire ring, bbq, and picnic table."
Playground access: Families with younger children benefit from campgrounds with play areas. "Usually there are kids playing in the playground area, so very family friendly," notes Geoff about Caloosahatchee Regional Park.
Activity variety: Locations offering multiple recreation options help keep children engaged. "Biking, fishing, swimming. Good times but the only strike for me is totting in and having to leave my car behind," shares dereck A. about Caloosahatchee Regional Park's cart-access sites.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RVers should verify site measurements before booking. Karen C. from Upriver RV Resort mentions, "Spots are level and cement, very clean but tight. There's definitely room for our awning and to sit on the paved area. Plenty of space for our 35 foot Class and car with room to spare."
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. "There's definitely some noise from the busy road even halfway back to the pool," notes Karen C. about Upriver RV Resort.
Campground navigation: Interior roads at some parks present challenges for larger rigs. "The roads in the campground are a bit narrow, traffic can go both ways (even though they are only one lane!), and the dump station is not in the best place!" advises Bran P. about navigating Highlands Hammock State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Lake Placid, FL?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lake Placid, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lake Placid, FL is Highlands Hammock State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Lake Placid, FL?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lake Placid, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Lake Placid, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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