Best Dispersed Camping near Land O' Lakes, FL
Dispersed camping near Land O' Lakes, Florida centers primarily on water management areas and coastal preserves rather than traditional forest service lands. Upper Hillsborough Water Management Area provides primitive camping opportunities with pull-through sites suitable for both tents and RVs. Two island preserves—Anclote Key Preserve State Park and Shell Key Preserve—offer boat-access-only dispersed camping experiences along the Gulf Coast, approximately 30-50 miles west of Land O' Lakes.
Access to these dispersed sites varies significantly by location. Upper Hillsborough features basic pull-through sites with fire rings and shade trees but no water facilities. Both Anclote Key and Shell Key are accessible only by watercraft—kayak, paddleboard, or motorboat—requiring campers to transport all supplies and equipment across open water. Shell Key requires a free camping permit from Pinellas County, while Anclote Key requires online reservations. All locations operate under strict pack-in, pack-out principles with minimal or no facilities.
The primitive island camping experience provides unique opportunities for wildlife observation and natural immersion. At Shell Key, campers can expect complete isolation after day visitors depart. "We saw sting rays, a baby turtle, many different birds and other wildlife within 5 minutes of parking the boat," notes one visitor. Anclote Key offers similar seclusion: "By about 4pm we basically had the island to ourselves. Beautiful sunset and sunrises with crystal clear water." Both preserves feature white sand beaches and opportunities for fishing, swimming, and paddling. Upper Hillsborough provides a more accessible mainland option with "large open area with great shade trees" that remains relatively quiet and undeveloped.
