Best Tent Camping near Lakeshore, FL

State parks and conservation areas surrounding Lakeshore, Florida provide diverse tent camping opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring offers both standard and primitive tent campsites within one of Florida's oldest state parks. Alderman's Ford Conservation Park features hike-in tent-only sites along the river, providing a more secluded backcountry camping experience. Lake Wales Ridge State Forest maintains primitive hike-in campsites at both the Arbuckle and Walk In The Water tracts, while Hal Scott Preserve County Park near Orlando provides free hike-in tent camping in shaded oak hammocks.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Primitive tent sites at Highlands Hammock include fire rings and picnic tables, though campers report minimal shade at some locations. Alderman's Ford's walk-in tent sites require packing gear approximately 1.5 miles from the parking area to reach riverside campsites. Vault toilets or portable facilities are available at most locations, though their condition and cleanliness vary considerably. Many primitive tent camping areas require advance reservations, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Summer months bring mosquitoes and potential afternoon thunderstorms, making spring and fall preferable for tent camping in this region.

According to reviews, tent campers seeking solitude should consider specific site selection carefully. One camper at Alderman's Ford noted, "The camp sites are hike in only. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail." At Highlands Hammock, a visitor recommended, "We steer clear of the family camping area and stick to the wilderness (tent) area for more peace and quiet." Road noise affects several primitive tent campgrounds, with multiple reviewers mentioning this drawback. The tent-only areas generally offer better spacing between sites than the mixed-use campgrounds, though shade availability varies significantly by location. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, particularly in early morning and evening hours.

Best Tent Sites Near Lakeshore, Florida (16)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Lakeshore, FL

610 Reviews of 16 Lakeshore Campgrounds


  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2017

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    A favorite for the locals

    This location is utterly beautiful! So many different environments can be seen just walking the trials. The 4 primitive campsites we found were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings. The trails are marked well but not often maintained - so you really get the feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. No traffic was heard at night and I would not camp out there alone on a weekend due to the "local party crowd". This is a hike in and hike out site. We only stayed 1 night. No amenities. Lots of birds and wildlife in the late day and early morning. Parking is a small fenced in area before turn in road - no security/lighting appx 1.5 miles from camping area that we found

    I would have given this location a 5 except for the large amount of trash we found on trails (that we carried out) and the obvious disregard for rules of no swimming and no alcohol.

  • J
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    Great Place!

    The camp sites are hike in only. I LOVE this. Bring a manageable pack with everything you need. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail. There was firewood for use when I went. Sites were equipped with hammock posts, picnic table, and a fire pit. There was also a trash can. I had a great time, the whole park to myself for the night. Strongly recommend if you enjoy primitive camping.

  • James A.
    Sep. 9, 2020

    Colt Creek State Park Campground

    Tired Tree Primative Site

    Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing.

    -$5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available for purchase (located at the site) -$5 arm loads -Fire ring, Picnic Table, Bench, and Garbage pail at the site

    Walked the long way in (3.25miles), instead of the 1 mile route. The entire hike is through typical open grass “roads” cut and maintained in the Florida brush. The site itself had a nice vibe and is far away from any other sites at the park. A large open clearing could easily allow for a dozen tents, unfortunately, I brought my hammock,.. and this site is not set up for hammock camping.

    With a little rigging and placement over a dried up gator hole, I found a spot that I could hang my hammock and shelter for the night.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the spot, other than the lack of clearing for a hammock, and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable... I am aware that it was rainy season in Florida, near a WMA named Green Swamp, but I went home with hundreds and hundreds of bites, despite my preparedness.

    I would camp here again, maybe when it’s a little cooler and more dry, and also would hike in with a tent, or potentially take the shorter route and pull a wagon full of gear, to enjoy a bit more “glamped” feel.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground

    Primitive Camping in Lake Kissimmee State Park!

    We decided to book a group primitive campsite in this state park. We were in the primitive group campsite on the Buster Island Loop. It was about 3 miles to hike in to the site. 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.

    Since this is a primitive site, there are no facilities and keep in mind you need to bring your own water for drinking, cooking, cleaning etc. At the site there were two picnic tables and a fire ring which was enough for our group. The area was cleared with a lot of space to set up all of our tents. We were here in late April when the weather was getting warmer so remember to bring mosquito repellent and enough water for your whole group to stay hydrated!

    The hiking trails are loops about 6 miles long where you can experience different types of Florida environments and boating on the lake. And there are also history demonstrations showing the old Florida cowboys at the park.

    All in all, this park has many options and activities. Whether you are into water sports or biking and hiking, this park has it all.

  • Nick C.
    Sep. 22, 2020

    Highlands Hammock State Park Campground

    Limited Primitive Camping- Nice Trails

    The reservable campsites here are very close to each other and not shaded very well, no privacy. We changed to the primitive sites that are first come first served. The are a bit more private and have trees for hammocks etc. it’s nice out there. You can sometimes hear the nearest road and see a power line from camp so you don’t feel that far from the city unfortunately. Sites have a fire ring/grill and picnic table. There is an outhouse out there and on the road in a faucet to get some drinking water, they say it’s clean even though it may be discolored. There are a bunch of short trials to hike in the park. Through some woods, swamps etc. very pretty.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Highlands Hammock State Park Campground

    5 stars for the primitive sites

    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. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well. There are no hookups at the primitive sites. Behind the primitive sites is a road so you do hear cars and trucks driving by at night.

    We were interested in visiting this park because it is one of Florida's oldest state parks. There are many trails you can visit while you are here. These trails are pretty cool because they are all different so you will never get bored. You can either bike, drive or walk there yourself, but there is also a tram tour you can take. There is also a museum in the park as well if you want to learn more about the area.

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2024

    Moss Park Campground

    Quiet, lots of trees, away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando

    This is a 54 site campground with hook ups at each site, fire ring, and picnic table. The trees provide a good amount of privacy from adjacent campers. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. This is about 15 min from the airport yet very removed from Orlando. Water on three sides, gates that close and lock from 6pm to 8 am (Nov-March) but an easy access code is given at check in to be able to come and go after hours. No pets, no alcohol, and quiet after 10. I will stay again! It was a mix of RVs, trailers, camper vans, car camping, and tents when I stayed. The personnel were very nice and helpful at check in.

  • Shannon S.
    May. 28, 2023

    Moss Park Campground

    Finally, a quiet campground!

    Maybe it’s the no pets rule, but this campground was the quietest we’ve been to and we camp nearly every weekend.

    The sites are spacious with the fire rings being in the way back. This is a no alcohol park. They didn’t have any fire or ice, which is a negative. We love camping at spots that have that for purchase. The nearest Publix is about 5 minutes or so away and does have both.

    They don’t allow you to have anything on the trees, which I found a little off putting. We had solar lights hung from them, just wrapped around, not attached, and were told by the camp host (? Didn’t introduce himself) they needed to come down. Staff rode around a few times and said nothing but, okay.

    The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Lots of open space to run around, kick a ball, two playground sets, and a beautiful walk to Lake Mary Jane.

    Quiet hours were observed, which was so nice.

    I brought my T-Mobile home router and had plenty of signal to work, stream, etc.

    We will be back!

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Kilpatrick Hammock Campground — Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

    Certified Dark Sky viewing and lots of beautiful trails & wildlife

    We first stumbled upon Kissimmee Prairie because we wanted to camp someplace where we could see really stunning stars at night and boy were we surprised. Having been here multiple times since, we are never disappointed with the starry views. We stayed in the equestrian campgrounds twice. The equestrian sites have hook ups similar to the regular campground sites and there is also primitive camping as well as sites for astronomy. There are miles of trails going through the beautiful prairie landscapes and we saw a lot of wildlife as well. We've seen wild turkeys, deer, and even heard wild boars at night going through the campground. The equestrian sites are shaded by large lovely trees. There are no showers here but you can drive over to the regular campsites and use their shower. There is only a composting toilet. Each site has hookups and a fire ring and picnic table.

    Please note that this campground is very far from the closest stores. You can buy firewood from the camp office but it is definitely worth the drive.


Guide to Lakeshore

Tent camping near Lakeshore, Florida offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $30

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lakeshore, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lakeshore, 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 Lakeshore, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Lakeshore, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.