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Best Tent Camping near Longboat Key, FL

570 Reviews

Several tent camping options exist within driving distance of Longboat Key, Florida, with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Notable locations include Terry Tomalin Campground, which offers tent sites with amenities like drinking water and showers, and the primitive sites in Myakka River State Park, which provide a more secluded backcountry experience. Lithia Springs Conservation Park, approximately 40 miles northeast, features tent campsites with access to water activities on the spring-fed river system.

Tent sites at Terry Tomalin Campground provide drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities, though campers should note restrictions prohibiting alcohol, pets, and smoking. Myakka's primitive tent sites require a 2.5 to 14-mile hike from trailheads and have limited amenities. Some primitive sites have pitcher pumps requiring water treatment, while others require carrying all water needs. At Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground, campers must hike in with all gear, with no water or power at the sites. The primitive tent sites here feature hammock posts, picnic tables, and fire pits, with restroom facilities located about a half-mile down the trail.

The tent camping experience near Longboat Key often involves diverse natural settings and wildlife viewing opportunities. A visitor commented that Myakka River State Park's primitive sites offer "quiet and scenic" camping with opportunities to observe Florida's wildlife. While Crowley Museum and Nature Center provides group tent camping across 191 acres of old Florida habitats with hiking trails through various ecosystems. Some locations, like Lithia Springs Conservation Park, offer tent sites near water features. One camper noted that sites at Alderman's Ford "had the whole park to myself for the night," highlighting the solitude available at walk-in tent locations. Road noise can affect some tent sites, particularly those closer to major thoroughfares, making more remote walk-in tent campsites preferable for those seeking a quieter experience.

Best Tent Sites Near Longboat Key, Florida (11)

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Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Longboat Key, FL

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Tent Camping Reviews near Longboat Key, FL

570 Reviews of 11 Longboat Key Campgrounds

  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2017

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    A favorite for the locals

    This location is utterly beautiful! So many different environments can be seen just walking the trials. The 4 primitive campsites we found were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings. The trails are marked well but not often maintained - so you really get the feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. No traffic was heard at night and I would not camp out there alone on a weekend due to the "local party crowd". This is a hike in and hike out site. We only stayed 1 night. No amenities. Lots of birds and wildlife in the late day and early morning. Parking is a small fenced in area before turn in road - no security/lighting appx 1.5 miles from camping area that we found

    I would have given this location a 5 except for the large amount of trash we found on trails (that we carried out) and the obvious disregard for rules of no swimming and no alcohol.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 22, 2022

    Flying A Campground — Myakka State Forest

    Peaceful spot

    Nice but small primitive state forest campground. Only 10 sites and one is for the camp host. About half the sites are back-in and can hold small RVs. The rest are tent only although the parking space is large enough to put a van-sized RV in sideways.

    All the sites are quite large and well separated from neighboring sites. With the right mix of campers, you could have a super peaceful night in the forest without having to bushwhack your way in. (Our night included a site with small kids the parents kept yelling at. Ugh.)

    All sites have a fire ring and picnic table

    There are vault toilets available in the loop and there is a potable water spigot at the nearby ranger station (firewood also available there).

    Nearby hiking trails are rated easy and moderate and the trailhead is just a quarter mile down the road.

    The campground is gated (you get the lock code when you reserve a site). Note that this campground requires reservations.

    If you're self-contained and looking for a nice quiet spot to camp, this would be a good spot to choose.

    Cell service on Verizon was ok with a jetpack, better with a MIMO antenna attached. (1 bar without /2-3 bars with but data speeds with MIMO were decent).

    T-Mobile service was good but kept bouncing between 4G and 5G on phone, which made it a bit erratic. On jetpack that only does 4G, had a strong signal with good data rates.

  • J
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    Great Place!

    The camp sites are hike in only. I LOVE this. Bring a manageable pack with everything you need. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail. There was firewood for use when I went. Sites were equipped with hammock posts, picnic table, and a fire pit. There was also a trash can. I had a great time, the whole park to myself for the night. Strongly recommend if you enjoy primitive camping.

  • Cosmo L.
    May. 31, 2019

    Fort De Soto Campground

    Nice once you get in.

    Reservations months in advance required. Nice dog beach. No alcohol allowed so keep it inside along with music. No hookups.

  • L O.
    Sep. 6, 2020

    Fort De Soto Campground

    Breathtaking beaches, get the low, tent-site numbers.

    Stayed two nights here. Arrived in the afternoon and found site number (38) easily. The tent sites on the outer side of the loops are bedded in sand, and the ones on the inner side are bedded in crushed shells and are nearer the restrooms and facilities. The back side of number 38 leads to a grassy area lined by trees on the far side that block the sunset. Recommend site 30 or below so that the back side of your site leads to the water and beautiful sunsets. Be prepared to deal with mosquitoes and raccoons. On the first night, a raccoon approached the table without regard and tried to open the portable trash can! They're active and large, and can be seen at night throughout the campground raiding the trash bins. Went on a bike ride the following day, and upon returning saw that a raccoon had opened the Coleman 52-gallon cooler, taken out the carton of eggs, cracked all six eggs, and eaten each egg yolk, leaving the whites and the shells strewn about the picnic table and ground nearby. Thankful that it had not touched the Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Resolved to put the cooler inside the car when absent henceforth. There is a campground store near the entrance with everything from ice to wood to tuna, milk, fishing supplies... it's a mini-market. There is a souvenir shop and food shop near the fort part. Didn't go to the fort or museum. Had a delicious fish and chips meal at the food shop. The bike paths are wide along the main vehicular roads. The highlight of the site is the North Beach. It's ample and clean. White sands. Shallow shores. Pleasant, perfect.

  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Oak Hill Campground - Peace River

    Ranger Review: ICEMULE Cooler at Peace River

    Campground Review: If you are looking for a clean, remote, large camping area, with large spread out sites and few amenities - this is it. Reservations for the Oak Hill campground can only be acquired through the Peace River Canoe Outpost. They maintain, clean and patrol the sites in addition to hauling your gear/firewood there so you do not have to paddle down the river with it. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and port-o-lets available.

    You can hike around the peninsula of Oak Hill and explore, look for fossils and sharks teeth at the waters edge or just site back and enjoy the peace and quiet. We had no trouble from squirrels or raccoons (we hung our trash out of reach just in case). Kids will find a way to keep busy exploring but there is space for a bit of catch or game of Frisbee.Manhunt was popular on our trip! These sites are very popular with scouting troops and locals - call easily to schedule your trip especially on weekends!

    Product Review: As a “Ranger” for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time – this weekend I tested the ICEMULE Pro backpack cooler. This cooler was the large model (23L) in my favorite color green! Product was put through it’s paces on a hot spring day in Florida while kayaking on the Peace River. We packed a couple frozen water bottles and a few chilled bottles and everything for breakfast casserole for 11 the next morning, 2 small icepacks and a quart size back of loose ice cubes. Everything held temperature. We barely had room to fold over top 3 times as suggested and we did inflate just a small bit to add to the insulation properties per instructions using small valve on side of bag. Backpacking straps were a bonus for carrying to the launch and back to camp!

    This cooler is so well built and tough! All seams are well put together and sturdy exterior fabric will surely last though quite a bit of abuse. I did not test to see if it floats when full as advertised. This cooler rolls up nice and small when empty and for storage – but mine will not see much storage time – this cooler will be going out on the water with me all summer! The ICEMULE Pro outperformed 2 other coolers persons in our party brought… they will be purchasing one like mine soon!

  • Colin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2023

    St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday

    Great time and very clear facilities.

    We tent camped here for two nights. I really enjoyed our stay and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

    We stayed one of the premium tent sites, but unfortunately there is a very bright street light on all night right next to premium camping. The primitive campsites with no hookups are in a much more secluded area and not affected by lighting at night.

    Other than that, everything else was great.

  • Meghan O.
    Jul. 4, 2018

    Fort De Soto Campground

    Busy Campground With Nice Ammenities

    close to the breweries in art district of St Pete Florida, Fort Desoto Campground has everything you could want for a long weekend or quick getaway. There's a general store if you want to stock up on snacks, fishing tackle, pool floats, or ice cream, or just catch a little air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The General Store also has a nice balcony overlooking the water and some oyster beds.

    The campsites are suitable for car camping, hammock camping, tent camping, or RVs. Be sure to bring your rain gear and rain flies, as Florida thunderstorms are brief but no joke. You can rent bicycles down closer to the actual Old Fort where there's also a huge fishing pier and plenty of old military installations to explore. However don't rely on using the bikes to get back to the campground as there's no drop-off on the other side.

    It can be a bit of a long walk from the campground itself to the Old Fort, which shouldn't be a problem unless you didn't pack the right clothes or shoes. If, like me, you find yourself a little under-prepared, there is Lyft and Uber in the area and in a pinch you can use that to get back and forth between the campground and the fort.

    Our neighbors at the next campsite over we're, unfortunately, a bit of a party crowd, which made for a loud night and very little sleep. That said the restrooms were nice and easy to reach and all of the amenities or what you would expect at a bigger busy or campground.

Guide to Longboat Key

Tent camping locations near Longboat Key offer varying environments from coastal settings to inland preserves. Many sites require a short hike from parking areas, with distances ranging from half a mile to several miles depending on the campground. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for overnight stays.

What to do

Fossil hunting along riverbanks: At Oak Hill Campground - Peace River, campers can search for prehistoric treasures. "Make sure you get a shovel and sleuth to find some shark teeth. We found over 100 just at the campsite alone," notes reviewer Deven R.

Paddling to secluded sites: Island Retreat Florida offers water-based camping adventures. "We fished all day right from our site and took advantage of the extra rentals they had, kayaks and outdoor movie," shares Jess.

Wildlife observation: The region's natural areas support diverse ecosystems. "The Crowley property covers 191 acres of old Florida habitats loaded with native plants, animals, insects, and birds," according to Jeanene A. who camped at Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

What campers like

Secluded tent sites: Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground offers private sites away from crowds. "I had a great time, the whole park to myself for the night. Strongly recommend if you enjoy primitive camping," writes Joe.

Natural swimming areas: Lithia Springs Conservation Park features a popular spring for cooling off. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded. Bathhouse are clean," reports Nate D.

Hammock-friendly sites: Many tent locations include dedicated hammock facilities. "Campsite 1, 3 and 4 have hammock poles able to fit 3 hammocks at a time," mentions Katelynn L. about Alderman's Ford.

What you should know

Gear transport assistance: Some locations provide equipment transportation services. At Oak Hill Campground, "you put your gear in the trailer and they drive it to the campsite for you. They drive you in a bus with the canoes and from there you paddle down to your campsite," explains Deven R.

Varied water availability: Water access differs significantly between sites. "The primitive sites are hike in only...There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail," notes Joe about Alderman's Ford.

Seasonal crowds: Terry Tomalin Campground can be less crowded during weekdays. "We had other plans but made last-minute plans to stay here for a night and they were pretty empty on a Friday night," shares Becky M.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Shorter hikes to campsites work well for families new to tent camping. "This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping! Super clean campsites and great easy trail out to the site," recommends Katelynn L. about Alderman's Ford.

Structured group experiences: Crowley Museum and Nature Center Group Camp offers educational opportunities. "Along with camping you can arrange a living history tour at an additional fee," mentions Jeanene A.

Noise considerations: Road sounds can affect some locations. "Only downfall is that there is a lot of road noise throughout the entire night. Definitely took away from the 'nature' experience," notes Katelynn L. about her stay at Alderman's Ford.

Tips for RVers

Tent-only restrictions: Several of the best tent camping areas near Longboat Key, Florida don't accommodate RVs. "Please be aware that this is a very restrictive campground. You can only tent and you are not allowed to smoke anything, vape anything, drink anything alcoholic," explains Kevin W. about Terry Tomalin Campground.

Limited hookup options: RV sites with amenities are less common in this area. "Centrally located to be able to scout around," notes Debbie D. about Lithia Springs, one of the few locations offering some RV accommodations with electric hookups.

Grocery proximity: Some campgrounds offer convenient access to supplies. "Grocery stores within 2 miles which was great because the wife ran out of wine," mentions Ryan about the accessibility at Lithia Springs Conservation Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Longboat Key, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Longboat Key, FL is Rye Wilderness Park Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Longboat Key, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Longboat Key, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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