Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Lithia? It's easy to find Lithia equestrian campgrounds with the Dyrt. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Standing out from the relatively flat topography of Central Florida is Alafia River State Park, a reclaimed phosphate mine with some of the most radical elevation changes in the state. This makes it a hot spot for mountain bikers, who traverse the scenic and challenging International Mountain Bike Association trails.
Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of hilly trails through forests and flatwoods, stopping to relax and admire one of the park's pristine lakes.
Canoeing and fishing opportunities are available along the South Prong of the Alafia River with some lakes scattered throughout the park.
The park also offers picnic pavilions, a playground, a full-facility campground and a full-service bike shop.
Family campground is suitable for RVers and tent campers. Campers will find water and electrical hookups at each of the 30 campsites. Clean restrooms feature solar-heated showers. There are two large picnic pavilions in the campground.
Equestrian campers have access to 12 sites with equestrian designation and tie-outs for horses. Equestrian campers can access the barn, which is a short walk from the campground. There are 12 stables and 6 paddocks available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Extra parking for trailers can be accessed near the barn area. Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of hilly trails through forests and flatwoods, stopping to relax and admire one of the park's pristine lakes.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
$22 / night
LMR1
$22 / night
Colt Creek State Park
$24 / night
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites. Each site is equipped with 50-amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
NOTE: Non-Potable Water
Effective May 11, 2023: Drinking water is temporarily unavailable at Myakka River State Park. Please remember to bring your own water. Bottled water is also available at no cost at the ranger station from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt-based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel-based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining restrooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka Outpost, a fishing deck and Wi-Fi.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle, a small playground and Myakka Friends Gift Shop. Well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds, up to four per site.
There are six primitive campgrounds (Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Honore, Panther Point, Oak Grove and Prairie) located along the hiking trails for backpackers. These rustic settings provide campers with a fire pit and post to hang items. Each campground has three campsites, and a maximum of four people may be on each site. Only Bee Island, Oak Grove and Prairie have water pumps. Water at these sites is not potable; it requires boiling/chemical treatment. Other sites do not have water; you must bring your own. The terrain is primarily prairie, and dehydration is possible even on the coolest days.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s largest parks with 37,000 acres of its own. Home to the officially designated “Wild and Scenic” Myakka River, this state park is the perfect destination for outdoor adventurers who are looking to get closer to the natural, diverse Florida wildlife.
Choose from one of over 80 campsites while Myakka State Park camping and get ready to explore!
Bring your kayak and make your way through a variety of waterways where you can spot american alligators, snook, ospreys, and countless species of birds.
Embark on one of many hiking trails to explore more of the unique environments found within Myakka River State Park. Trek to the highlands to get a look at Florida’s traditional wetlands where marshes, cypress dome trees, and grazing birds will welcome you. Go even deeper to reach the diverse array of grasses, wildflowers, and vines that grow freely in the park’s protected dry prairies. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you! Short shrubs in the dry prairies allow visitors to see for miles in any direction.
You’ll also want to bring the camera atop the Canopy Walkway at Myakka River. Just a short walk from the main road, this suspension bridge provides a panoramic view of the entire park from a unique vantage point above the tree canopy. Every camper can find what they’re looking for at this Florida park.
$26 / night
Hardee Lakes Park is approximately 1200 acres, and has horse trails, hiking trails, handicap-accessible hiking trails, and bike trails. There are 3 restrooms located throughout the park. The restrooms in the camping areas also have showering facilities available. There are also picnic areas, a picnic pavilion, and a playground available. The park includes a boardwalk that winds around the lakes and through the woods, with an observation tower where people can watch wildlife.
The fisheries are controlled by the Florida Game and Fish commission, and fishing is allowed in all the lakes. Hardee Lakes Park contains 4 lakes in total; Lake Hardee is 120 acres, Deer Lake is 110 acres, Lake Firefly is 97 acres, and Gator Lake is 47 acres.
$25 - $28 / night
A
$24 - $120 / night
Peace River Campground offers over 100 acres of wilderness camping for your enjoyment. You can make camp anywhere you like, including many places right on the beautiful Peace River's edge. During less busy times you can spend days out of site of other campers. While there are no utilities, picnic tables, or other campground amenities, you are only a short walk to our hot showers, swimming pool, campground store and all the trappings of the "civilized" world.
$16 - $80 / night
A free camping reservation is required and must be displayed.
Separate primitive camping areas available for individual and equestrian camping. Backcountry camping available. Campsites for cars and primitive cabins available. Groups can reserve tent site or cabins up to 90 days in advance. Reservation and fee are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance.
Equestrian and Primitive Sites: Separate sites available for equestrians and primitive camping. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills. A free reservation is required and must be displayed or available at campground.
Backcountry Camping Sites: High Bluff , Foster Bridge, Concession Stand and Gator Hole.
Restrooms and Water ADA accessible portable toilets available at campgrounds. Nonpotable water available at River Road entrance and equestrian and primitive campgrounds.
Scout
Great campground for any type of camping. All sites at Palmetto Ridge are full hookup and many sites are pull through. ATT WiFi is fast enough to stream YouTube and YouTube TV via my Apple TV box tethered to my iPhone.
Guide
We camped overnight on a Friday and were the only people in the area. Lovely space for dispersed camping with a picnic table, fire pit, an outhouse and hiking trails. We'll definitely visit again when we're in Florida.
Legend
We stayed in site 26, which was tucked back and fairly private. We planned on trail riding, but rain changed the plans. We didn’t get to explore much, but will be back. Nice long drive down to the sites. Electric and water were both great, and dump stations easy. Staff was extra friendly.
Traveler
clean, naturally and quiet
no wlan and good mobil connection
restrooms and laundry are o.k.
rangers are super and nice
playground and a small beach to put your feet into water.
Scout
Stayed in spot #8, not as much shade as I had hoped for, would've been better in 10-14. Sites are plenty large and relatively well spaced out. There was a large anthill between the spot and where you park which made packing in and out an adventure (very active colony). Otherwise, the site was level and devoid of rocks & roots. A good night's sleep despite the racoon who pilfered my SunChips during the night.
Traveler
If you are a traditional camper stay away. This place is mainly for trucks and ATV’s. There is sugar sand everywhere and my car got stuck. After they helped me get out I left.
LegendSmall spacious park. Restroom clean and showers, laundry $1.50 each. Firewood available to purchase. Lots of walking, biking, and hiking. Beautpark. Great camp hosts and ranger.
ScoutVery quiet and spacious. Wildlife in abundance. We were a 45’ motorcoach with a 20’ tow behind. Stayed in spot 3. Will return soon.
GuideThis campground is obviously quite new. Spacious and open sites that are very big rig friendly. Pads are L-shaped to accommodate the picnic table, yet because of the spacioiusness there's room to pitch a screen tent in the grass.
The demerits for us were (1) laundry is coin op only (no credit card), surprising for such a new park; and (2) no plastic bag dispenseries for dog clean up. Such amenities are nice for extended stays.
GuidePerhaps the nicest park we've stayed at. We arrived after dark in the midst of a torrential 3-inch downpour, but the next morning there was no mud or standing water. Amazing! Shower facilities are recently remodeled and impeccable, with new wall tiles and epoxy floors throughout. Laundry machines take coin or credit card. They have plastic bag dispensers for dog cleanup. Such features make Lake Louisa particularly suitable for an extended stay. All the RV lots in our loop were L-shaped pads with an extension for the picnic table. Sites are spacious and open. Nice mix of back-in and pull-through sites. Lots of paved roads outside the campsite loops for biking.
ScoutThe campsites are well-shaded and have easy access to walking & biking trails. We've visited Myakka on day trips previously, and just recently camped there for the first time. It's quiet, and there's plenty of wildlife to be seen: Lots of birds, alligators, deer, wild turkeys. Bathrooms with laundry facilities were conveniently located, but we didn't use them. Campsite was clean, level, and easy to back into.
Legend
Site 2 HC restroom directly next store 50 amp water only Paved Spacious site Partial shade Clean restrooms and showers with HC ones 2 washers and 2 dryers brand new $2.50 EACH Plenty of walking, hiking, and biking Clean cg
TravelerSo I will say this site has super clean bathrooms, nice tent campsites and freshly paved roads. The tent sites have hookups and very close to the bathrooms. The only downfall is there isn't a ton to do here so don't expect anything spectacular.
LegendSite 35 back in 50 amp FHU Good spaces between sites Morning shade Handicapped site with walkway to restrooms, showers, and laundry Paved
Guide
Very spacious camp sites with lots of room between sites. Very clean bath house.
ScoutThese campsites, average about $45 a night. The bathrooms are very clean and upgraded! The laundry room takes credit cards and coins! They have electric and water sites, highly recommend! 
Traveler
We stayed in Cumpressco Campground first, and then Ashley. This campground is free to stay in for 7 days, 6 nights. You can leave for a day and come back but you can only book 30 days per calendar year!
Not many campers on the Cumpressco side but tons on the Ashley. Beware however of mating season for the caterpillars! They were everywhere!! No potable water at either site. Bring your own! There is a Porto at the Cumpressco site and an outhouse on the Ashley campsite.
Other than that, it’s beautiful! lives on site if you ever need him! Super nice guy! See you next year!
Guide
We stayed in April of 2023 during the week. I think there might be 10 sites full. Verizon 3 bars
ScoutThe camping here is literally all RVS, theres zero privacy, no walkable trails you have to drive to get there. Clean bathrooms thought I will give them that.
RangerWe were fortunate enough to get here before the hurricanes destroyed parts of this campground. It is so peaceful and naturally beautiful. Plenty of places to walk and ride bikes to. Our site was shady and a really good size. Bathhouse was always clean. Cannot wait to go back.
RangerI absolutely love this park! There are so many trails and places to ride our bikes. It was really nice just relaxing on the dock to watch the birds in the lake. Bathhouse was always clean. Our site was really nice. We had a really long driveway. Campers around us were very friendly. I would absolutely go back! We loved riding down to see the horses.
TravelerQuiet, clean,
GuideI was really excited to stay here. I heard so many great things about this park, but we were incredibly disappointed in our site. The site looks like a bulldozer drove thru here and knocked down all the trees and brush last month and left all the debris around the perimeter to rot. Most other sites do not look like this and I’m including photos of ours and another empty one for contrast. We are here for 4 days during spring break but the site is so ugly we won’t be hanging around camp much. Most of them are beautiful so it’s the luck of the draw, I guess. The check-in was easy and the staff at the gate was super sweet. Camp office has ice and firewood but they close at 5 so plan ahead. Bathhouse is new and really nice. Because I think the rest of the park is so nice I’m still giving 4 stars but make sure to look at site photos and avoid mine, which is 17. The other photos in my review are of site 22 and it’s beautiful.
Edit: I came back to remove a star because I went back in n the website to see if any other sites were available since a ton of spaces around us were empty. I could only see availability for “tomorrow” and I could see that a spot that is available tomorrow and the rest of our time here is also empty today. I called the front gate to ask if we could move because of the condition of our site. The lady was VERY offended and said the debris is from a hurricane 6 months ago. I get it. That’s not the issue. The issue is that had I known the site was this bad, I wouldn’t have booked. That shouldn’t have made her mad. But it sure did. She told me I’d have to go online to make a change to my reservation, which I had already tried to do. After talking it over we decided to leave early so I called back a few minutes before 5. She answered an told me she was helping someone in front of her and she’d come back. She came back after 5 and when I told her I wanted to leave early and the website wouldn’t let me cancel my reservation early she said was closing because it was now after 5 and I’d have to call her tomorrow or I could call the main reservation line. I did. They said only the local camp office can help. We will not be back to this park. We drove from out of state to camp 2 days in basically a trash pile and be told we should be happy about it.
RangerVery clean, nice park. Super clean facilities, bathrooms, sites. Lovely park. Large hiking trail network. Lots of lakes. Saw at least one gator in the lake by campground so be careful and watch your kids & pups. Most sites have only partial shade at best and it was very hot when we were there (high 80s and into the 90s in Feb). It’s a dryer ecosystem with lower brush and trees than parks that have the big live oaks. Plan for heat. Perhaps it used to be a citrus orchard because there are wild tangerines growing on the hike around the lake. Nice place.
ScoutSmall state park, with really large sites and great facilities. The only thing missing are sewer hookups. Widely known in Florida for the mountain bike trails. Not much else to do in the area, but very nice space to chill out. The night sky is far enough away that you can really take in the stars. We have stayed at most of the state parks in Florida. We liked this one a lot.
ScoutClean bathrooms and lots of hiking and biking trails
LegendColt Creek is an awesome park! Huge sites, long driveways, clean and well maintained. Clean restrooms and washers/dryers at $1.50 each. Plenty of hiking, walking, and biking! Rangers are fantastic! 50 amp and water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lithia, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lithia, FL is Alafia River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lithia, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 equestrian camping locations near Lithia, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
