8 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / 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."
from $35 - $999 / night
"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"
"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."
from $20 - $30 / 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."
from $18 - $22 / night
"I love coming here even if I never step foot inside the theme parks. There plenty to do here. You can rent golf carts or bring your own. I love just driving around on the golf carts."
"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!"
from $56 - $201 / 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."
from $10 - $20 / 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."
from $9 / night
"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."
ScoutTim and Leisha were the best! Great campsite close to Disney is what we wanted.. clean and well organized. They make you feel at home and they even invited us to dinner at the pool and provided all the food. I will definitely be going back when I’m in town. They loved our kiddos too!
ScoutThe campsites are nice! They’re close together, but there are plenty of trees providing shade and privacy. The grounds are well maintained, probably thanks in part to the very strict rules (nothing tied to trees, no disturbing or touching nature, etc.).
Unfortunately, the spring was closed due to flooding during our visit, but the kids enjoyed the swings at the playground (the slides were too hot!). We rode our bikes, relaxed, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
My only real complaint was the staff and their approach to enforcing the rules. From the moment we checked in, the emphasis seemed to be more on what we couldn’t do than on welcoming us. We completely understand the importance of protecting the natural environment, but the delivery came across as unnecessarily harsh, almost rude.
To top it off, we received a written warning for checking out 45 minutes late, despite having already vacated our campsite. We were simply waiting to use the dump station. It seemed a bit excessive considering we weren’t occupying our site or holding up the next campers.
Overall, it’s a beautiful, peaceful campground with plenty of shade, and we really enjoyed our stay. A little more hospitality and flexibility from the staff would have made the experience even better.
ScoutEverything 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.
TravelerIf 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
ScoutThe 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
TravelerGrass is beyond high. Little dogs can get lost in the grass. Some of the pavers near the pool stairs are lifting to where you need to watch your step or it pinches your foot.
The pros- centrally located. Clean pool. Not too busy of a campground. Large places.
GuideLots 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.
GuideGreat 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.
GuideGreat little spot. Seemed to rain every 5 minutes where they had to shut everything down but had good contingency plans. Golf carts galore with some sites a little more rowdy than the next, but plenty of room. Kids loved the pools and crafts, adults loved the tiki bars and live music.
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 175 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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