Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground sits in a central Florida region characterized by wetlands, pine flatwoods, and oak hammocks. The area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and milder winters with occasional cold snaps. These campgrounds provide access to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes system, which connects multiple waterways across over 21,000 acres of fishable waters.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: At Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground, visitors can spot an impressive variety of wildlife. One camper reported, "Animals are abundant - wild turkeys, eagles, bobcats, AND the Florida Panther! While sitting in our screen gazebo, I was awed by the passing of a male panther about 25 yards from our campsite. Wild turkeys visited us daily to hang out by a fallen tree near our site. Deer passed by every evening."
Fishing access: Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks offers excellent lake access with three boat ramps. According to a reviewer, "Easy boat launch to Kissimmee Lake. Easy access, and very polite staff. For small children or those who do not have a boat, the attractions are more restricted. Clear bathroom with a good warm shower and tank disposal for RV."
Rodeo entertainment: For a unique Florida experience, the Saturday night rodeo at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo provides entertainment for all ages. A visitor mentioned, "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 but ran out of time since we still wanted to relax some."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the site separation at Lake Kissimmee State Park. One reviewer noted, "This site was very large, mostly level, with beautiful trees surrounding the site and great privacy. The park itself didn't inspire us on our drive through, so we just relaxed in our site here."
Old Florida atmosphere: Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks captures the natural beauty of central Florida. "This is an absolutely beautiful and relaxing spot. This site offers a beautiful sunrise view over the lake, and is surrounded with gorgeous moss covered oak trees all around the campsites," shared one camper.
Recreational amenities: Resort at Canopy Oaks offers extensive facilities for those wanting more than basic camping. According to a visitor, "Full hook up, water, sewer and electric. Plenty of things to do. Pizza restaurant, ice cream shop, coffee shop, store for some essentials, salon, spa, pool table, ping pong table, pickle ball, basketball, shuffleboard, tiki bar, pool and spa with waterfall."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Signal strength varies significantly across the region. At Lake Kissimmee, campers report: "Cell service is practically non existent in the park and within 10 miles from the park. Keep an eye on gas, there's one place about 6 miles from the park and town is about 15 miles away."
Temperature considerations: Central Florida heat requires planning. A visitor to Highlands Hammock State Park Campground noted, "The campgrounds were nice but all campsites were too close to each other. The restrooms were not super neat but not terrible. The walking trails at this park were all quite small and friendly for all."
Fire regulations: Fire policies differ between campgrounds. At Lake Kissimmee, one camper mentioned, "Each site has a firepit. Bathrooms were clean. Lots of small trails to explore and tall watch tower climb for observation." However, at Cypress Campground, fires are not permitted at all.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers extensive family programming. A camper shared, "We went during Spring Break! we were there four nights. We took our two grandchildren, and they had a lot of fun! It was fantastic! We had the handicapped site, plenty of room, wonderful neighbors."
Wildlife education: Help children appreciate nature with structured observation. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, one reviewer noted, "We stayed middle of July for 4 days. Only saw 3 other campers the whole time. Park is super quiet and there is a ton of wildlife roaming. Dog friendly, they provide poop bags by the dumpsters."
Insect protection: Bugs are part of the Florida camping experience. At River Ranch RV Resort, a visitor warned, "Have to watch out for the mosquitoes so bring a lot of bug spray."
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Many campgrounds have tight access roads. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, one RVer cautioned, "Two things to watch out for - be careful of low hanging tree branches when backing in, and be aware that we had no cell service (this actually made us cancel another stay we had planned since we needed cell service for remote work)."
Hookup details: Butch's RV Hideaway offers full hookups but requires planning. An RVer explained, "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. The site I was in was grass/dirt with a nice sized cement slab. Full hook up, water, sewer and electric (no cable)."
Dog friendly campgrounds near Lakeshore: For RVers with pets, Westgate River Ranch accommodates dogs in various camping options. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Lakeshore, Florida require leashing pets and proper waste disposal, with specific exercise areas available at several locations.