Fort De Soto Campground provides glamping options near Elkton, Florida on Tampa Bay with access to pristine beaches, nature trails, and wildlife viewing. The campground features three separate camping loops, including one designated for visitors with pets. Sites are well spaced with privacy created through natural vegetation barriers. Temperature variations range from warm summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms to mild winters that attract the highest visitation.
What to do
Kayaking among wildlife: Launch directly from waterfront sites at Fort De Soto Campground to explore mangrove ecosystems. "We were greeted by dolphins, sting rays and manatees," notes camper Joe R., who enjoyed taking an inflatable raft directly from his site.
Shark tooth hunting: Visit Thousand Trails Peace River for a unique treasure hunting experience. "I found a ton of shark teeth," reports Jennifer L. The campground office provides special wire mesh baskets to help with your search along the riverbanks.
Elevated viewpoints: Explore the canopy walkway at Palmetto Ridge Campground for panoramic wetland views. "The lookout tower was beautiful because you could see far across the park," explains Anthony S., who visited the observation structure that rises above the tree canopy.
Biking on multi-use trails: Access 16 miles of partially wooded roads at Upper Hillsborough Preserve where trails connect through three different counties. "Nice and quiet," reports camper Nate D., noting that the preserve offers both shaded and open trail sections for varied biking experiences.
What campers like
Waterfront privacy: The best waterfront sites at E.G. Simmons Regional Park feature direct water access and natural site separation. "Nearly every campsite is right on the water - easy in and out for kayaks, large boat ramp and many picnic pavilions," shares Jeanene A., highlighting the waterfront camping experience.
Clean bathhouse facilities: Newly renovated bathroom facilities enhance the glamping experience near Elkton. "The bathhouse's are nice & kept very clean," states B M. from E.G. Simmons Regional Park, while noting the park has two separate camping loops with different bathroom access points.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Dawn and dusk offer prime viewing times for native Florida species. "We saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of tons of Birds!" reports Brennan H. from Fort De Soto, emphasizing the diversity of wildlife accessible directly from camping areas.
Hammock-friendly sites: Hillsborough River State Park Campground offers numerous trees suitable for hammock camping. "Nice campsites, clean bathrooms, friendly campers. I hung my hammock and have had no trouble," shares Jake H., clarifying that hammocks with 1-inch thick webbing are permitted on thick trees despite contrary information on some park materials.
What you should know
Seasonal insect variations: No-see-ums (tiny biting midges) can be problematic during certain seasons. "Hot, hot, hot. and not in a good way. not a lot of shade. lots of no-see-ums so bring a bug repellent and apply religiously, or else," warns Nate D. about E.G. Simmons Regional Park.
Electricity fluctuations: During peak usage times, some parks experience voltage drops. "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours dropped to 108v for a couple hours," reports Thomas E. from Peace River, who ran his generator during that period.
Flooding concerns: Low-lying areas can experience seasonal flooding. "Many sites are waterfront and are mostly well separated. Many large rigs were parked in the flood plane which encompasses a large section of the park," notes David G., highlighting potential hazards for larger RVs during rainy periods.
Permit requirements: Some wilderness areas require advance permits with limited daily allocations. "After hearing of the wilderness preserve we decided to go ahead and get the permit. You drive about a mile down the road from the main state park entrance to find the wilderness preserve entrance which is code protected," explains Christina L. about accessing protected areas.
Tips for camping with families
Site spacing considerations: For families needing more space, select sites away from compact camping loops. "The Palmetto Ridge pull thrus are gigantic. I would say the vegetation gives semi privacy but they aren't on top of each other so it's not like you're looking right at your neighbor," shares Amanda W. from Palmetto Ridge Campground.
Pool availability varies: Check pool operating status before promising swimming to children. "Don't come expecting the pool to be open, just consider it a lucky bonus if it happens to be. They look for any reason possible to close it, and it seems to be closed almost all the time," cautions Jason D. from Hillsborough River State Park.
Evening insect protection: Plan indoor activities for after sunset when mosquitoes increase. "The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them," warns Jason D., emphasizing the need for proper protection especially for children.
Wildlife safety precautions: Keep children away from water edges where alligators may be present. "Went to drain the tanks yesterday morning and a large sounding gator started to growl territorially at me. So heads up with your pets please," warns Jenelle J. from Palmetto Ridge Campground about potential wildlife encounters.
Tips from RVers
Site reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds use lottery systems rather than traditional reservations. "Every day about 1pm you go sign up for the lottery system to shuffle your RV to a sewer site if you're lucky enough to get it. They failed to tell us you have to show up daily," explains Laura H. about Peace River's unique approach to full-hookup site assignments.
Road conditions within parks: Interior roads at some campgrounds pose challenges for larger units. "It had just rained a lot due to Hurricane Eta and there are huge potholes. So go slow!!!! The back part of park is closed b/c of drainage issues," advises Sherry P. from Peace River RV Resort, highlighting seasonal road condition concerns.
Campground navigation challenges: Tight turns and narrow roads require careful maneuvering. "I am in the pull thru sites which are a little tight and can be challenging to park on in big rigs. Roads are narrow with lots of turns," cautions Don from Horseshoe Cove RV Resort, recommending dropping towed vehicles before attempting to park.
Electric service variations: Some sites offer 50-amp service while others are limited to 30-amp. "My site was 50 amp. Not sure how many are," notes Amanda W., highlighting the importance of confirming electrical compatibility when making reservations for luxury glamping experiences near Elkton.
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