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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
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