Best Campgrounds near Laurel, FL
State parks and private campgrounds surround Laurel, Florida, creating a diverse camping landscape along Florida's Gulf Coast. Myakka River State Park, one of the largest and most ecologically diverse state parks in Florida, offers three distinct camping areas: Old Prairie, Big Flats, and Palmetto Ridge, each catering to different camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots. Oscar Scherer State Park provides a more intimate camping experience with dense vegetation between sites and access to South Creek. Nearby, Turtle Beach Campground offers beachfront camping with easy Gulf access, while Encore Royal Coachman in Nokomis features amenities like mini-golf and proximity to the Legacy Bike Trail. The region supports tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, cabins, and primitive backcountry sites.
Reservations are essential during winter months when "snowbirds" flock to the area, with many campgrounds booking up to 11 months in advance. As one camper noted, "Anyone who camps often in the winter Florida months knows spots are almost impossible to get at state parks." Summer brings intense heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms, but also increased availability. Flooding can affect certain campgrounds, particularly those near water bodies like Myakka River. Insect protection is necessary year-round, especially in densely vegetated areas. According to reviewers, "Oscar Scherer State Park camping requires being prepared for bugs. Perhaps due to the amount of lush vegetation all over this park, there were more bugs than we experienced at other Florida state parks."
Wildlife viewing opportunities rank high among visitor experiences in the area's campgrounds. Myakka River State Park receives particular praise for its abundance of wildlife. One camper described it as "a Florida safari! I've never seen so many alligators in the wild. From babies to big daddies, they lined the river and the edge of the lake." Shade varies significantly between campgrounds and individual sites, with some offering dense tree cover while others provide little protection from the Florida sun. Site privacy also varies widely, with Oscar Scherer earning praise for "lots of dense vegetation between sites" while some private campgrounds offer minimal separation. Water access for kayaking and canoeing is available at several locations, with Myakka River and Oscar Scherer both offering paddling opportunities.
