Best Campgrounds near Marathon, FL

Marathon, Florida provides numerous waterfront camping opportunities with sites scattered across the Florida Keys. State parks like Curry Hammock and Bahia Honda offer established campgrounds with amenities for both tent and RV camping. Private facilities such as Encore Sunshine Key and Jolly Roger RV Resort provide additional options with full hookups and resort-style amenities. The region includes a mix of oceanfront and bayside locations, with many sites offering direct water access for swimming, fishing, and kayaking.

Reservations are essential for camping in the Marathon area, especially during winter months when snowbirds flock to the Keys. Most state park campgrounds book up 11 months in advance, though cancellations occasionally open spaces. "Curry Hammock State Park is a gorgeous Florida Keys gem; however, that implies hot, muggy, and buggy conditions during the warmer months, which are mostly all year," notes one camper. Weather conditions vary seasonally, with summer bringing high humidity, occasional storms, and insects, while winter offers milder temperatures but higher demand. Sites at private RV resorts can be tightly spaced, while state parks typically provide more vegetation and privacy between campsites.

Waterfront access represents the most sought-after feature among Marathon-area campgrounds. Several visitors mentioned that sites with ocean views command premium prices but deliver exceptional experiences. At Bahia Honda State Park, campers report being able to "snorkel off your site or launch your kayak" directly from waterfront locations. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with many reviews mentioning sightings of deer on Big Pine Key, manatees near marinas, and numerous bird species. Amenities vary widely between facilities, with state parks typically offering more natural settings while private resorts provide additional services like swimming pools, stores, and organized activities. Most campgrounds in the area feature clean bathroom facilities, though shower availability and water temperature can vary significantly between locations.

Best Camping Sites Near Marathon, Florida (41)

    1. Curry Hammock State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Marathon Shores, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 289-2690

    $36 / night

    "Curry Hammock State Park, located at mile marker 56, is just outside of Marathon in the Florida Keys on the Atlantic side of US 1."

    "Curry Hammock, Marathon, FL: Our favorite of the state parks in the Keys. (Though, I do hear that the new section at Bahia is spectacular.). Here, cleanliness, views and privacy are great."

    2. Buttonwood Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    32 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2353

    $36 / night

    "You can rent a kayak if you don't have one and paddle around the island. It's all good."

    "They have snorkel trips from camp store there & a little museum near the swim beach. Walk up on the old bridge what a great view."

    3. Encore Sunshine Key

    19 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Centrally located to Key Largo, Marathon and Key West. Has it's own beach, marina and fishing pier. Local fishing charters, parasailing and snorkeling. Love this place will def be back!"

    "We were so excited to visit this highly rated Thousand Trails Sunshine Key!  The pictures online are not exactly accurate.  The RV sites are barren with little shade - feels like a parking lot. "

    4. Jolly Roger RV Resort

    16 Reviews
    Marathon Shores, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 289-0404

    $125 - $138 / night

    "The best place centrally located in the Florida keys."

    "Loves walking near water!!!"

    5. Rustic RV

    11 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    11 miles
    Website

    "This place has a breathtaking view you feel as if you are on some other island vacation when you are really just on the mainland of Florida highly recommend"

    "This place is usually on everyone's list that is driving through the Florida Keys. Absolutely gorgeous, especially during low tide."

    6. Big Pine Key RV Park

    18 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2351

    "We stayed here a week our site #99 is right on the water next to the fire pit. Nice view with full hook up, a picnic table, sites are tight with no privacy."

    "Good central location with access to upper and lower keys."

    7. Grassy Key RV Park & Resort

    7 Reviews
    Marathon Shores, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 289-1606

    8. Bayside Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    8 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2353

    $36 - $120 / night

    "Clean camp sites with electric and water besides a handful of sites located in the tent only section. It is water only."

    "It is really neat to walk on the old bridge, and learning the history of it."

    9. Encore Fiesta Key

    17 Reviews
    Islamorada, Village of Islands, FL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great location to most of the Florida Keys. Super dog friendly and everyone seems to be loving it here. Has everything you need or want here."

    "I love coming here and just walking around the water area you see tons of fish and lobsters."

    10. Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    48 Reviews
    Islamorada, Village of Islands, FL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (855) 708-2207

    "A really great place to visit if you want a taste of Florida away from all the Disney-esque tourist spots. This park is like stepping back in time. Enjoy it and relax!"

    "Also, cannot choose site, so I was stuck next to the very loud bathroom, I could hear the toilet seats and hand dryers going. Kindof took away from the camping experience."

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Recent Reviews near Marathon, FL

339 Reviews of 41 Marathon Campgrounds


  • A
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Bayside Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    Beautiful but SO MANY RATS

    We’ve stayed at the other part of the campground and it was amazing. This half of the campground is beautiful but there are just SO many rats here. They get into everything and are completely shameless. You can barely scare them away! That combined with little voracious mosquitos totally overwhelmed us on our stay.

    Again, it’s really beautiful and quiet over there, but it’s hard to enjoy when each night is filled with the sounds of fighting rats and each morning starts with cleaning rat droppings off our things and inspecting the previous night’s damage. Camp in the main campground instead!

  • Amanda W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort

    Way better than Boyds!

    Clean, modern, excellent landscaping & site options. Beautiful pool, huge hot tub & hammock area. Extremely friendly & helpful staff. Only 15 mins north of Boyd’s and a thousand times better. Boat ramp, kayak launch, private beach, small dog park/run. Full hookups, laundry & shower/bath house. Trash pickup all day.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    Nice Campground in a great place

    We stayed at flamingo in late June at the start of the hot/rainy/buggy season.  We stayed in the camper loop (T loop) of the campground.  Because it was the off season there were times when we were the only ones in that loop of the campground.  During the evening a couple other campers would come in, but there were stretches during the day that it was empty.  Our son loved this because he could ride his bike all around the campground to his hearts content.  

    We did not find the bugs to be too terrible (although the gage on the wall of the visitor center had them just slightly into the "horrible" range).  We live in Michigan's U.P. so we have a fairly high bug tolerance.  There were some portions of the park that a bit of bug spray worked just fine, but others where we were glad we had bug shirts.

    The bathrooms were decent, although the water was never quite hot due to it being solar heated.

    The overall park amenities were nice.  We enjoyed our visit and got to see a lot of the famous wildlife.

    Nice place, would happily visit again.

  • aThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 19, 2025

    Leo's Campground

    Nice campground

    This was a very nice and clean campground. The lots were a little tight but it worked. Close to Key West. There are no bath houses or laundry but there were several tiki huts with outdoor games and fire pits placed around the campground. Overall a great place to stay

  • Ernesto H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2025

    Long Key State Park Campground

    Es tranquilo pero no se puede hacer mucho

    Es tranquilo pero no se puede hacer mucho. No se puede acampar allí desde hace años por "reparaciones" y en la Web dice que esta cerrado desde el 2018 hasta el 2050? No entiendo eso, es de risa. Hay baños, la entrada son 5 dólares por vehículo, puedes acampar durante el día y hace barbecue. Hay cestos de basura.

  • Denis P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 19, 2025

    Curry Hammock State Park Campground

    Peaceful Shore Access, Well-Designed Sites, Some Bugs in June

    A well-kept campground with just enough greenery between sites to suggest a whisper of privacy — rare and welcome. The real charm, though, is the direct access to the shoreline. Not exactly a swimmer’s paradise, but perfect for sitting in quiet contemplation, watching the light play on the water and pretending — briefly — that time isn’t real.

    The sites are leveled, clean, and smartly set up. I had barely started wondering how I’d stake down the tent against the wind when I noticed the perimeter already fitted with anchor rings. A small detail, but one that says: “We’ve thought this through.”

    Power and water? All good. Bathrooms and showers? Clean, well-maintained, no notes. There’s no A/C, only a ceiling fan — which worked fine until the midday sun decided to get philosophical about what "shade" really means.

    We camped with a tent in June, and while the breeze was nice, the ants liked our car and the mosquitoes liked us, sprays or not. Still, it’s a solid campground — quiet, thoughtful, and worth the stay. I’d absolutely recommend it.

    Starlink - excellent coverage

  • Paul Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    Good location for coastal Everglades, kayaking, fishing - but little shade and potential water issues.

    MAKE SURE YOU TAKE EXTRA WATER, OR FILL YOUR TANKS. We stayed three nights in T-loop, site 42 in mid-April. Only a handful of sites have any shade, so be sure to request shade when making reservations and you may get lucky like us. No water at sites, any only some have electricity. Potable water at bathroom unless pump goes out. It was towards the end of the busy season, so only one of two bathrooms were open. But the one bathroom was clean. Lots of angler groups, so a little noisy at night, but all in all they were respectful. Out last night the water went out and all bathrooms in all loops were closed. Apparently this can be common with pump going out. Understand things happen, but communication was horrible. Just a sign on bathroom that it was closed, no water. No indication that we should go to the visitor center for toilets, sinks. And the next morning the water was back on, but only put up boil advisory sign at CG entrance, not at bathrooms. So people using sinks without knowing water was compromised. Again, awful communication, especially when this happens with some regularity. ONLY AT&T SERVICE, with Wi-Fi at visitor center one mile away.

  • Joe S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort

    Amazing 6 night stay

    KOA Patio with premium water view. Beautiful campground. More like a resort. Nice pool, bar and good food. Well equipped store. Beach area too! Landscaping is immaculate.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Big Pine Key RV Park

    Perfect Location for fisherman

    We were here two weeks and enjoyed the stay. Good central location with access to upper and lower keys. Very laid-back with two basins and a boat ramp walk-in access to Fishing under the bridge where you can frequently see 5 to 6 foot tarpon swimming near the pilings


Guide to Marathon

Marathon, Florida sits at only 5 feet above sea level, positioned midway through the Florida Keys archipelago. The area features a tropical climate with average winter temperatures around 70°F and summer highs reaching into the 90s. Campgrounds in this region typically operate year-round, though peak season runs from December through April when temperatures and humidity levels are most favorable.

What to Do

Kayaking through mangroves: At Curry Hammock State Park, visitors can explore a designated kayak trail. "There's a neat kayak trail through the Mangroves which is cool to do and you can kayak into the Atlantic out to the sandbar it's beautiful," notes one camper who enjoyed collecting "derelict crab bouys in the mangroves."

Snorkeling from shore: Many campgrounds offer direct water access for swimming and snorkeling. At Bahia Honda State Park, "The beach is wonderful, the store has all you will need & the snack bar is so much more than that," according to one reviewer who visited the park's multiple beaches.

Bridge exploration: The Keys feature several historic bridges worth exploring. At Big Pine Key, "There is a really pretty nature trail as well. Beautiful area that is close to Bahia Honda state park, sombrero beach, and key west," reports a camper who stayed at the fishing lodge campground.

What Campers Like

Waterfront access: Direct ocean or bay views rank as a top priority for most campers. At Grassy Key RV Park & Resort, "We stayed here for a week, its a little pricey but so is everything in the keys. We had a water front space and the view was amazing," writes one reviewer who particularly enjoyed the peaceful setting.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Keys offer abundant wildlife viewing. At Big Pine Key RV Park, "There are also key deer in the campground. They are super curious and will come right up to you! We just made sure not to pet or feed them," notes a camper who appreciated the unique wildlife encounters.

Clean facilities: Across multiple campgrounds, reviewers consistently mention cleanliness as a significant factor. At Jolly Roger RV Resort, "The bathrooms are clean" and the campground features "a nice pool, great sunset location," according to a recent visitor who enjoyed the quieter location with less traffic.

What You Should Know

Reservation timing: Many campgrounds require planning far in advance. For Bahia Honda's Sandspur Campground, a visitor reports: "We attempted to make reservations here 11 months in advance (as soon as they opened up) and were shut out. Lucky for us, we checked on a whim two days before our stay and there was a cancellation for an oceanfront site."

Insects: No-see-ums and mosquitoes can be problematic, especially during warmer months. A camper staying at Flamingo Campground noted: "We did not find the bugs to be too terrible (although the gage on the wall of the visitor center had them just slightly into the 'horrible' range). We live in Michigan's U.P. so we have a fairly high bug tolerance."

Water access variations: While many sites advertise water access, the quality varies significantly. One camper at Encore Sunshine Key observed: "I felt cheated on my booking online process. When I booked, the sites available were the premium ones. I specified that I didn't want to stay if it would be on the sites across the street, only on the oceanfront... instead, they gave me a spot OceanFront that was OCEAN HIDDEN."

Tips for Camping with Families

Pool access: For families with children, campgrounds with pools provide relief from the heat and salt water. At Encore Fiesta Key, "We loved our stay here! We had a spot on the water and enjoyed a beautiful view of the water! The staff were friendly, professional, and helpful. The campground is very well kept."

Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with organized programs. One Encore Fiesta Key visitor shared: "We loved Fiesta Key! Some of our favorite parts of this resort were the weekly farmers market, the Easter egg hunt on Easter, the restaurant, snorkeling from the shore, and the how they pickup your trash for you right at your site."

Safety considerations: When camping with children near water, supervision is essential. A family staying at Curry Hammock State Park reported: "The recreation area has a lot of kite surfers and can be busy. It's nice to watch them sail around. There is a kayak launch near the beach and they rent Kayaks there too. The park was aware of it and looking for it."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: RV sites vary significantly in size and privacy. At Curry Hammock State Park, one RVer notes: "Sites: Ocean Side and most have a nice view of the ocean: 9,11,13,15,16,17,19,21,22. Views are not always available from chairs or the picnic table due to low growing vegetation. Also, apparently these sites have a nice cooling breeze in the summer."

Hookup availability: Services vary between state parks and private resorts. At Jolly Roger RV Resort, a reviewer mentioned: "I enjoyed our site, full hookups and very good wifi. We had an issue with our vehicle and the lady at the front office was very helpful in helping us call tow companies and mechanics."

Maneuverability challenges: Some of the best places to camp near Marathon, Florida have tight spacing. A Big Pine Key RV Park visitor warned: "Only complaint is how incredibly tight it all is. We had a helluva time maneuvering our 35ft tt into space- had to have four neighbors move their vehicles and lots of help. Landscaping is pretty but trees on each site aren't really slide out friendly."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Marathon, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marathon, FL is Curry Hammock State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.