Central Florida's lake country surrounding Lakeshore offers a diverse range of camping experiences from primitive sites to full-service resorts. Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground stands out with secluded sites that provide privacy between neighbors, offering a glimpse of "Old Florida" with abundant wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and occasionally even panthers. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo provides a more developed experience with glamping options and yurts, while Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks caters to both tent and RV campers with waterfront access. The region balances proximity to Orlando's attractions with natural settings that feel removed from urban areas, with most campgrounds situated within 30-60 minutes of major highways.
Reservations are essential throughout the year, especially during winter months when snowbirds migrate south. As one camper noted, "This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from other sites compared to many other parks." Hurricane season (June through November) can affect camping plans with potential closures and flooding in low-lying areas. Summer brings high humidity and temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, making mosquito protection essential. Many campgrounds offer both shaded and open sites, though shade can be limited at newer facilities where trees haven't fully matured. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with better connectivity at private resorts than in more remote state parks.
Wildlife viewing opportunities rank among visitors' favorite experiences, with multiple reviewers mentioning deer sightings near their campsites. The region's lakes provide excellent fishing, kayaking, and boating opportunities, with several campgrounds offering direct water access. Bathhouse quality varies considerably between locations, with state parks generally maintaining cleaner facilities than some private campgrounds. Primitive sites in places like Lake Kissimmee State Park require hikers to carry in all supplies, including drinking water, but reward with greater solitude. As one visitor to the region observed, "The pine forests here make you think you might not be in Florida. Great for people who want Natural Florida without the tourist traps and beach towns."
$20 / night
"I live within a hours drive from this park and have been camping here for 40 plus years. This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from the other sites compared to many other parks."
"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."
$35 - $999 / night
"If you are terrified of bugs this may not be the place for you (FYI), it is in the middle of Florida and in summer the bugs love to come out."
"The property is sprawling, definitely bring a bike unless you enjoy long walks. The roads are nice & they offer morning trash pickup. The pool is huge & gorgeous! Very nice."
"This review relates to River Ranch RV Resort, which is next to the Westgate property. I would personally not stay at the Westgate RV since it is basically just an open field with RV spots. "
"Good off-roading nearby ! All the amenities you want. Nice staff"
$20 - $30 / night
"With Spanish moss draping from the Live Oak trees and bordering Kissemee Lake, it's a nice place to just sit and relax... There are 3 boat ramps ($5 fee) with some tie-ups for overnight."
"Close to lake, great for bird watching and walks/ boating. Friendly host and fellow campers. We will definitely be returning. For the price, can’t beat it."
$18 - $22 / night
"There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well."
"There are many short loop trails that take you through many ecosystems, giant trees at sizes few have seen before, lots of wildlife to."
$56 - $201 / night
"Big park so lots of walking if you don’t have the cart (or you can bring your own and/or bikes). Our grandsons loved the golf cart!"
"The best campground in Florida ! Fun beautiful and lots to do even without going to the parks Wildlife is abundant Bunnies deer turkey"
$10 - $20 / night
"We stayed at this location for 13 days. The bathroom was clean, there was a fire ban in place, but we had portable grills so utilized those."
$9 / night
"It’s a very primitive location and I survived it with my son a daughter. It was nice and quiet, given how close it is to the main road."
"There’s lots to do around the property and the rodeo is a blast. The only fault was there weren’t many signs or direction on how to do things, when things were open, costs, and things like that."
"It would be nice if one or some of the roads looped so you can just drive out. Owners are very nice. Dog kennel nearby so there are some barking dogs. Pool needs some care."
GuideGorgeous grounds, well maintained facilities, great campsites with tiki huts, two bars, two huge pools, and lots of activities for all ages! We spent 4 days here and wished we had less things planned so that we could better take advantage of all they offered. We will be back!
GuideThe family stayed there in December. It was a great way to save money while still staying in Disney! Also, we went right before Christmas, so everyone who regularly comes at this time of year, had over the top decorations in their camping areas. It was so fun and the family wants to come back!
GuideLarge dispersed camping area with good views of the airshow, included access to the ground display area, and great facilities considering how large the event is. I will certainly be back with the family.
GuideEasy access RV park close to parks and drivable for events at the Orange County Event Center. Some reviews mentioned bikes being stolen. I put a lock cable through my outside things to be safe, but never saw any signs of anything that made me concerned. Clean pool, facilities, and park. Great service provided by the hosts. I’ll be back anytime I’m in Orlando for work.
ScoutThis campground converted to a resort but still have plenty of camper amenities.
GuideCampground in & amongst trees & scrub brush. Easy RV back-in parking. Also, tent sites. Clean laundry & bathroom facilities, including hot showers. Dump station & potable water available. Ranger led walks & swamp buggy rides. Awesome isolation, so hit the grocery before you camp here. Dark zone is great for telescopes. The road in is a little bit washboard, so just slow down & allow extra time. 2 week maximum stay. Rangers helpful & friendly.
TravelerStayed just one night on March. Great tent sites and mostly private. Facilities are clean with showers. Water and power at the site. Beautiful walks and lakes, Lots of birds and rabbits.
Only issue was the early morning traffic on the nearby highway (#27) was noisy.
ScoutI'd like to give you the positives. Crisp, clean, manicured, food and bar pretty good, well-appointed amenities. We had a pretty good week, having found a quiet pool area. Saw a bald eagle and a swallow-tail kite. I’d like to tell you about that, but that’s not the review.
Here’s the review: if you book here, you will be checking into a bizarre combination of tropical paradise, tailgate party, spring break, and a middle school playground. On St. Patrick's Day, we had been doing some sightseeing. We came back to our site, and the folks who had arrived behind us fired up their music. I don't have a problem with music or other noise prior to"quiet time," so long as it's not over the top. This was way over the top. Kim was on the phone with the nursing home about her 91-year old mother and she couldn't hear the other end of the call.
We called Security and asked for help, they came around and talked to the offenders. Whereupon the offenders started yelling around"who complained about our music?" And, they sent their preteen daughters on their bicycles going around and asking"did you complain?” Let's just say it was downhill from there. They jacked the volume even more, and started taunting us. Kim lost her temper and started yelling at them to quiet down. They responded by threatening her. She told me to call security, but since they hadn’t helped, and the on-duty rent-a-cop had no interest in helping, I called 911(which the campground rules said to do in an emergency). Apparently, that was a mistake. The rent-a-cop was pissed off that we called 911 when he was supposed to already be on top of it(which he wasn't). So there was a conclave of police cars, and the night manager, and the three large guys from the offending site, etc.
Bottom line: management demanded that WE leave, in half an hour, or be arrested. It’s 10:30 pm, and I told the rent-a-cop that I was in no shape to drive. “Figure it out,” he said, and walked away. So two 70-year olds had 30 minutes to get everything packed up and drive to some alternative place.
While we were striking the site, the kids at the offending site were chanting"we won, we won." And they started playing"Hit the Road You Jack" quite loud. And the adults were yelling"we're Republicans. We can do whatever we want." They noted our Maine license plates and told us to"go back to Canada where you belong."
We ended up in a wicked expensive hotel in the next town over, paying spring break prices($340 a night!!). And we lost the cost of two nights at the campground.
So if you’re a party animal, this may be your kind of place. Just don’t complain about anything, or you will be asked to leave.
It’s interesting to note which rules are enforced and which aren’t. For instance, there’s a poolside bar, and lots of signs between the bar and the pool saying“no food or drink beyond this point.” Not only was there lots of food and drink around the pool, there were wait staff taking orders and delivering it.
In retrospect, the fact that they have a rent-a-cop cruising the premises every night should have been a red flag. I’ve never seen that before, but apparently they expect rowdiness. They just don’t want to deal with the negative repercussions.
ScoutOur campsite is nice. It's quiet here during the week. The bathrooms need cleaning. They are kept neat just not cleaned.
Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground offers secluded sites that provide privacy between sites, with wildlife including deer and wild turkeys commonly seen. Most camping spots near Lakeshore, Florida are within a 25-30 minute drive of Lake Wales, where campers can find supplies and groceries. The campgrounds around Lakeshore range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV resorts, with varying levels of amenities depending on the location and price point.
Fishing access: Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks provides boat ramps with $5 launch fees and some overnight tie-ups for anglers. "With Spanish moss draping from the Live Oak trees and bordering Kissemee Lake, it's a nice place to just sit and relax... There are 3 boat ramps with some tie-ups for overnight. Bird-life is abundant and bass fishing is productive," notes Gerry C.
Water recreation: Kelly Rock Springs Campground features natural springs perfect for tubing. "Beautiful place for floating down the spring. Enjoy drifting over river pebbles at the clear bottom of the spring. Tubes can be rented right outside of park," reports Amelia W. The spring maintains a consistent 67-70 degree temperature year-round.
Hiking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer trail systems for day hiking. "Beautiful shaded sites and long biking/trails," mentions Alexandra E. about Lake Kissimmee State Park. Highlands Hammock State Park provides multiple shorter trails accessible to all ability levels. A visitor noted, "The walking trails at this park were all quite small and friendly for all."
Rodeo entertainment: Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo hosts a weekly rodeo event on Saturday evenings. "We went to the rodeo on Saturday night, did a swamp buggy ride, skeet shooting, petting zoo and rode a mechanical bull... and there was still more we could have done," shares Tina S. The resort combines camping with western-themed entertainment.
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site separation as a major benefit at certain campgrounds. "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit. Bathrooms were clean. Lots of small trails to explore and tall watch tower climb for observation," writes Stephanie G. about Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities directly from campsites. "Laid back camping. Nice spot to just get away and relax. Lots of hiking trails and some wildlife. Deers all around even among the campsites," according to Robert T. The diverse ecosystems support varied wildlife.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses and common areas. Perry J. shared about Lake Kissimmee, "Like all state parks the bathrooms were spotless and rivaled those of a Marriott. We enjoyed the common areas, the observation deck and the hiking."
Pool and recreation amenities: Resort at Canopy Oaks offers extensive recreation facilities. "The pool is huge & gorgeous! Very nice. Same for the tiki bar, we had some great nights there. There are free cornhole boards, places to fish (catch and release), a playground that was nice, game areas, a little store and a nice deli/pizza spot," writes Amanda W.
Seasonal crowds: Park capacity varies dramatically by season. At Kelly Rock Springs, a camper noted, "I was here during the winter so the park was quiet, I've heard it can be very busy in the summer." Summer weekends often reach capacity early in the morning.
Limited shade at newer facilities: Some recently developed campgrounds haven't established mature tree cover. Amanda W. explains about Canopy Oaks, "The sites are very big & clean but ZERO shade. It's a newer resort so the palms and small trees were just planted & offer no sun relief."
Cell service limitations: River Ranch RV Resort and similar rural campgrounds often have spotty service. A guest at Butch's RV Hideaway reported, "We have T-Mobile and there is zero signal, no bars for T-Mobile in this park." Some Lake Kissimmee campers mentioned having to drive 10+ miles for reliable service.
First-come, first-served policies: Coleman Landing operates without reservations. "First come/first serve..." reports Gerry C. This requires flexible planning, especially during peak winter months when snowbirds arrive.
Bug protection essential: Florida's subtropical climate supports active insect populations. "The park is sprawling, definitely bring a bike unless you enjoy long walks. The roads are nice & they offer morning trash pickup. Have to watch out for the mosquitoes so bring a lot of bug spray," advises a River Ranch RV Resort visitor.
Kid-friendly water features: The natural springs at Kelly Rock Springs Campground appeal to families with children. "Such a great place for families to camp!! The campground is nice and has bathrooms and showers, plus being able to go to the springs is so much fun and beautiful!!" shares ReBeCcA F.
Children's activities: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers extensive programming for kids. "The sing along was fun. Chip and dale walk around to everyone. They ask that you don't leave your spot and they will come to you and really they do. They stopped at every spot to take pictures," reports Samantha O.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. About Coleman Landing, Connie T. mentions, "Walking distance to a huge playground over near the spring." These facilities provide convenient recreation options without leaving the campground.
Educational opportunities: Highlands Hammock offers ranger-led programs. "They also have lots of ranger-led activities like soup night, covered dish dinners, camper coffee, etc etc," notes Bran P. These programs combine entertainment with learning about local ecology.
Site selection: Look for adequate turning radius when booking. At Butch's RV Hideaway, an RVer observed, "Dirt road going into the gate area, once inside our site would've been a tight right turn as soon as you get past the gate and that is not possible when pulling a 32' trailer."
Hookup quality: Most campgrounds offer water and electric, but sewer connections vary. Corey K. notes about Lake Kissimmee State Park, "Only 30amp hook up and no sewer, but there is a dump station. The spots are pretty level and the pads are crushed shells."
Low-hanging branches: Tree canopy can create clearance issues. "If you have a tall rv low hanging branches in the camp area might be an issue," warns a Lake Kissimmee visitor. Always scout overhead clearance when entering wooded campgrounds.
Amenity access: Consider travel distances within larger resorts. Amanda W. advises about Canopy Oaks, "The property is sprawling, definitely bring a bike unless you enjoy long walks." At some expansive properties, walking to amenities can take 15+ minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lakeshore, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lakeshore, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 173 campgrounds and RV parks near Lakeshore, FL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Lakeshore, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lakeshore, FL is Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lakeshore, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Lakeshore, FL.
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