Best Campgrounds near Longboat Key, FL
Longboat Key and surrounding Manatee and Sarasota counties offer multiple established campgrounds with various accommodation options rather than primitive dispersed camping. Fort De Soto Campground in Saint Petersburg provides tent, RV, and glamping sites with beach access approximately 25 miles northwest of Longboat Key. Closer options include Turtle Beach Campground in Sarasota and Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, both providing dedicated camping areas with amenities. The region includes several privately-owned RV resorts catering to both short-term visitors and seasonal residents, with most campgrounds maintaining year-round operations.
Many campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during winter months when snowbirds migrate to Florida's Gulf Coast. Most established sites offer full hookups including water, electric, and sewer connections, with amenities like showers, toilets, and dump stations. The subtropical climate keeps the region warm year-round, though summer brings higher humidity and occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Hurricane season (June through November) may affect camping plans, and sites near water can experience higher insect activity. As one camper noted about Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort, "You can't beat the location, walkable to restaurants, a short drive or bike ride to beaches."
Waterfront access represents a key feature at several area campgrounds, with many situated along canals, rivers, or bays. Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort offers boat-in access and proximity to Anna Maria Island beaches. Several visitors praised the convenient locations that balance natural settings with access to urban amenities. A reviewer at Pleasant Lake RV Resort mentioned it was "beautiful and friendly" with "super clean" facilities, though noted connectivity challenges: "We did not have any luck getting wifi, but we have a Verizon Hotspot, and only one bar." Many campgrounds feature swimming pools, clubhouses, and organized activities. Tent campers have fewer options than RV travelers, as many properties focus primarily on RV camping with paved sites and full hookups rather than mixed-use campgrounds offering primitive tent sites.
