Cabin rentals near Lithia, Florida offer access to natural Florida landscapes along river systems and reclaimed lands. The cabins range from primitive accommodations to modern units with varied amenities. Winter temperatures typically remain mild in the 50-70°F range, making the region popular for outdoor activities year-round.
What to do
Water recreation: The Little Manatee River provides kayaking opportunities with abundant wildlife viewing. "Extremely helpful rangers who warned that some of the trails were still not cleared from Hurricane Irma. Even with the down trees, it was a wonderful hike filled with Black Swallowtail butterflies," notes a visitor at Little Manatee River State Park.
Mountain biking: Alafia River State Park features dedicated mountain biking trails for various skill levels. "I was probably the only hiker at this park and there were a ton of mountain bikers. I loved that they had a ton of different trails to choose from, some just hiking or biking, and some mixed ones," shares a reviewer who appreciated the trail system.
Shark tooth hunting: Unique fossil hunting opportunities exist at Peace River RV and Camping Resort. "The highlight of this park was collecting shark and sting ray teeth along the river. You can get wire mesh baskets in the office to aid in your search," explains a camper who enjoyed this distinctive activity.
What campers like
Natural shade: Mature oak trees provide cooling shade at many campgrounds. "A beautiful park that is a real taste of old Florida, with a campground that is completely shaded by oak trees. At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," reports a visitor at Hillsborough River State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Several parks offer opportunities to see native Florida species. "This is such an awesome place! I go here every year to see all of the various birds that migrate here, as well as to enjoy a little bit of mountain biking," notes a regular visitor to Alafia River State Park.
Lake access: Cabins with lake views offer peaceful settings. "Stayed at a non-electric site right on the lake. Fire pit is great and camp hosts even recommended a local small biz that will bring you firewood," shares a camper at Hardee Lakes Park, highlighting the accessibility to water features.
What you should know
Mosquito preparedness: Summer months bring increased insect activity. "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog," warns a hammock camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Seasonal crowds: Winter months bring increased visitation from December through March. "Cell reception: minimal, it is in the country for Florida, and the neighboring town is small. So there is signal but bandwidth is low because of so many RVers not counting towards the population of the area," explains a visitor to Peace River RV Resort.
Site selection considerations: At some parks, obtaining full hookup sites requires participating in a daily lottery system. "Not all hookups are full. Must enter lottery to get full hookup site. Wasted 3 hours pulling into one spot. Have to sign up, enter lottery, look at spot, go back hope your name is called," advises a camper about the reservation process at Peace River.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Multiple parks offer kid-friendly splash areas and pools. "We love this Margaritaville location! The staff is always friendly, they've got a great splash pad and playground for the kids, a water slide, and two larger pools for kids and adults," explains a family at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort.
Nature programs: Several parks offer educational activities. "This park offers lots of beautiful nature trails, kayaking, biking & bird watching," notes a camper at Little Manatee River State Park.
Activity planning: Weather conditions may impact family activities. "When we had torrential downpours for a few hours one night. Bathhouse was clean. They offer recycling, which is a great plus! It's nice and dark at night," shares a visitor about Hillsborough River State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain or drainage issues. "Sites and facilities are nice and clean. Sites were decent size. Good for RVs and tents. However, sites are not shaded at all and because of the quarry and stagnant water the mosquitoes were RIDICULOUS!" advises an RV camper at Alafia River State Park.
Power management: During peak usage times, power fluctuations can occur. "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours dropped to 108v for a couple hours, I choose to run the gen during that time," suggests an RVer at Peace River.
Navigating park roads: Be cautious after rain events. "There are a few paved roads but others are not. It had just rained a lot due to Hurricane Eta and there are huge potholes. So go slow!!!!" warns a camper at Peace River about driving conditions that affect RVs.
