If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Marathon, look no further. You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Marathon, Florida's most popular destinations.
Orb Trail
$23 / night
$21 / night
$23 - $33 / night
$23 - $35 / night
Traveler
The Campgrounds are very nice and pads are very level, some have adequate shade, others none, we were at site 31 for 5 days. Site was very tight for our camper with slide out and awning was on the trees, Bugs were just unbearable, we tried everything. Showers were in need of repair, (men’s side)shower handle was broken , but we’re very clean, Staff were super friendly, concession stand on site had gifts as well as anything you might have forgot to pack. The views from the old bridge were breathtaking. This part of the keys was less touristy which was good/bad , so if you wanna go to a good restaurant go north toward ismorada . Family beach was excellent for little one’s , no waves, no bad currents , the sites are super hard to come by, so it will piss you off to see some on the water with nobody on them for days (Sad)
LegendWe had site 45, which may even be the least desired site, by the dumpsters and dump station. It doesn’t matter. This park is a gem. Several beaches, all different. A nice walk up the bridge. Staff super friendly. The sites are wide and offer plenty of space in buttonwood.
Legend
Perfect location for visiting the keys. Easy access and right on the water. Check in was easy and we booked a standard back in site. While they have golf cart rentals, we didn’t need them as this is a small resort and easy to walk. They have a pool area with bar and grill, and live music. The beach has inflatables for kids. The dog park is small, but still nice. The staff is all top notch! Definitely visit the jumping bridge down the street! Great hidden gem :)
Traveler
The pad for the camp suite is big gravel so bring something for your back they also had 2 hammock hookups and a grill waterfront with a great sunset
Legend
Sites are close together but all have full hookups. No shade. Has a pool and nice shower facilities. Lots of activities like kareoke and sometimes live music. Beach area was nasty with seaweed. Dogs allowed (2 max). Dog walk (not fenced) was dried up retention pond. Dog beach was small sandy area. It was nice if tide was up. Free kayaks you can check out to use on site which was nice. Good spot for home base while going to other places to fish and kayak. We were there in off season (June) and traffic was nuts along US1. Just fyi. Wifi is decent but you have to pay if you want to stream. It is one of the lower prices RV parks in the area and it was sufficient.
Ranger
Mostly enjoyed our two night stay in the Everglades. Flamingo Campground is run by a concessionaire, and its most expensive than we like to pay for campgrounds. $38-42ish per night depending on if its a weekend or week night. Mosquitos were bad the last week in April, wind helped a bit but we basically stayed in our camper the entire time.
Bathrooms were clean and bug free, hot showers available in the A loop!
RangerGreat campground within a state park offers lots of biking and beaches to choose from.
Scout
I have camped all of my life, mostly tent camping. This is the worst tent camping facility I’ve ever paid for. It is disgraceful. This place is designed for RVs and not well designed for them. The closest trash, potable water, and bath house facilities to much of the tent sites are over a block and a half away. All facilities are in the middle of the RV sites. Tent sites can be rocky. Not every site even has a picnic table. There are no fire rings or grills. Few tent campers were cooking at all. Tent campers have no privacy. You hear people farting in other tents. You can’t have a private conversation. So much for getting away from it all. The management doesn’t care about tent campers. Dennis, the main MWR manager, in his own words said “I don’t care any more” when it comes to dealing with problems reported like - people having a pit bull mix dog not tied up, tent campers expanding beyond their assigned spaces, RV school bus conversions illegally boondocking in tent site parking areas to avoid paying camping fees, no assigned parking spaces for tent sites, etc. Our 8’ wide, four person blue tent is shown in the photo. We were told tent sites were 20’ by 20’. There is no way our site was that wide. When I showed the photo to Dennis, he said to me ‘that photo doesn’t tell me anything”. I felt like saying to him, “Get off your dead a$$ and get out there and look at what is going on!” Again, it just shows the terrible attitude of the people who run the place. It really shows. Other campers do let their dogs run loose, especially at night. One evening I was charged by someone’s unchained, growling large dog that I had startled as I was out walking. Had I not stood my ground, I think the dog would have attacked me. The bath house facilities are mostly clean, but the facilities are OLD, think built in the 1950’s. The entire campground (all RVs and tents) has TWO toilets in the one men’s room. The bar and lounge are really kinda sad. Food available is mostly fried. Drinks are only ok. Prices aren’t great. The commissary and exchange which are small and not well stocked are closed all day on Sunday and Monday. There is no real place to eat a sit down meal with table service or get coffee anywhere on the base. This isn’t a “real” military base. Navy MWR runs it. Most of the time there is no on at the gate checking people coming on the base. So much for security. The entire operation is nothing short of a sh!t show. The campground is near the water. That is its only redeeming quality. Do yourself a favor. Pay more and camp somewhere else in the Keys. No matter how cheap this is, it isn’t worth it. It really sucks. Needless to say, even though we only live a few hours away we will NEVER EVER be back.
Guide
Staying here for a week. It’s quiet and pretty. Sites are tight but the attendants were very helpful in getting us backed in.
There aren’t any fire pits at the sites but is one in the common area next to the small pool. There’s a pavilion where they have multiple tvs on various channels and we’re showing sports over the weekend.
There’s a huge holding pond of sorts that you can use supplied kayaks and paddles boards on but aren’t supposed to swim in it. There’s also no place for dogs to get in the water on site. There is a dog wash station that looks like it’s $10 and includes the drying station. But there aren’t any laundry facilities. It sounds like they plan to in the future. We took our laundry to Hilltop Laundry in Key West and the owner washed, dried and folded all of it for $20. We would have easily spent close to this and wasted hours of our vacation time if we had done it ourselves. He texted me within 2 hours to say it was all ready for pickup.
The location itself is isolated and we find ourselves going to other Keys to do things. But it has been an enjoyable relaxing visit so far.
TravelerSun Outdoors bought the place previously reviewed here. They have completely overhauled the site and it is beautiful!! Large community tv and bar area, live music on Saturday night, a renovated “pier” area with kayaks and paddle boards for the tidal lagoon, a walking path around the lagoon, clean comfort station, and a dedicated dog wash station complete with warm wash and blow dry station, a large community fire pit and paved access to all the sites. Fully upgraded hook-ups and sewer and beautifully done landscaping. They have added retreat cabins that are essentially well appointed vacation homes with A/C and ceiling fans. Just a beautiful and function-packed campus that’s very enjoyable to camp on. Many sites have tiki picnic areas and are paved. The sites around the lagoon are gravel (so bring your outdoor carpets!). The sunrises and sunsets are awesome.
They recently opened so they are in need of laundry facility (have to go Nextdoor to KOA for that currently) and the gravel sites need a smaller crush-n-run to be compacted and a bit more level (if keeping with the standard they’ve set). But those are MINOR downsides.
Legend
Flamingo in the Everglades: Open parklike with new and what are the absolute largest of campsite signs I have seen in 5 years of traveling. No excuse to be in the wrong site at Flamingo! I had to laugh and wonder that if they are that big, blind drivers must be frequenting Flamingo. On a serious note, the brand new visitor center is a 5 star. Spending time there will not be regretted,. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Price 2023: $ 34 w interagency pass
Usage during visit: 1/2 full
Site Privacy: Poor
Site Spacing: Fair
Site surface: Blacktop
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Not bad for an open area
Road Noise: No outside road noise
Through Traffic in campground: None
Electric Hookup: Many sites
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: Yes
Potable Water Available: Yes
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Flush toilets.
Showers: Solar. Water temperature depends on sunshine, time of day, usage , and the length showers folks take.
Pull Throughs: All
Cell Service (AT&T): 4 bars
Setting: Open park like with scattered mature trees
Recent Weather: The weather has really varied this year. Hot, cod, cloudy, windy, rainy.
Solar: Yes
Host: Paid personnel
Rig Size: The largest of rigs can be accommodated here
Sites: Last loop is best
Guide
The pros are it was an affordable campground and great staff on site. The cons, prepare to get eaten alive by bugs. These are the 'no-see-ums' you read about and the bugs are tiny, but their bites last weeks and cause a lot of discomfort. If you have dogs, not the best option because they are not allowed, anywhere. This is a small park, pretty beach, but didn't work for our stay.
GuideThis campground has great reviews and we were looking forward to our visit. Our site was right on the water, facing the overseas freeway. We loved the location but we could not sleep, it was so loud with the traffic, trucks and cars. Our site was 15 and faced the highway. The park was lovely, the grounds and the beaches beautiful. However, if you have dogs, it's a no-go. No dogs allowed and they have to stay at your camp. We were disappointed because potentially, we could return and stay for 14 nights, but with two nights of zero sleep, we were ready to go. The nearest town is Big Pine Key and there's a Winn Dixie, UPS store, bagel shop and a dog park. The dog park was packed so not an option. Maybe check out other campsites that don't have the freeway noise.
LegendCurry 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.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or a view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.
Overall Rating: 4.25 because of nice ocean views from some sites and vegetative barrier between most sites.
Price 2023: $36 in 2023
Security: Two gates w code for entry
Usage during visit:
Site Privacy: Most sites are pretty good. (Site 10 picnic area is the least private of all. See below.
Site Spacing: Close
Site surface: Paved
Reservations: Yes . Competitive .
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: Well off the highway.
Through Traffic in campground: None
Electric Hookup: Yes
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Dump Station: Yes
Potable Water Available: At site
Bathroom: Much pride must be taken in their cleanliness! Superb
Pull Throughs: None Cell Service (AT&T): Varies from 1 to 3 bars. Setting: Along the shore with lots of low growing plants between sites. Recent Weather: Rain, wind and more of each. Unusual for this time of year. Solar: Yes Host: Two for this 28 site campground is pretty nice. They do a good job as this is such a clean campground all the way around. Rig Size: Probably all sites can handle a big rig. 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. Our view in # 11 had a great view. #1 is not super private due to line of site to the bathhouse. #10 is the least private picnic area of all. Most sites have nice vegetation in between. 10,12,14,18,20: Some or all of these sites can see the ocean from the front window of their RV.
LegendThis is all brand new. And pricy. There is a 2 night minimum and sites start at $160/night (and go up). They had extensive damage from hurricane Irma in 2017 and have rebuilt everything. They have only been reopen 2 years. There is still some construction ongoing. Sites are nice. Most are tucked into the shrubberies so they have privacy. Wide sites with Gravel drives, new style hook-ups for water, electric, wifi and cable tv. Bathrooms and showers are very nice. There is a “resort style” pool, (whatever that means), a private beach (not dog friendly), hot tub, boat dock & marina, a small dog park, and kayak rental and they rent three-wheel bikes for kids to terrorize everyone. They are about 27 miles from Key West. They have a pub with “live music” till 10pm weekends. It was annoying but we found a nice little restaurant at the Geiger Key Marina, and thankfully the “music” stopped about 9:30.
TravelerThe store by the marina is well stocked and the marina itself is pretty big though we did not use it. The sites are cozy and pretty close together and the bathrooms were well kept. The water in the showers gets about lukewarm. There’s a little beach nearby too. We were able to buy firewood at the site and help was easy to find if it was needed.
Ranger
Large sites, beautiful landscaping, private tikis and docks, it really doesn’t get any better. Can’t wait to come back!
Guide
It’s a five day stay, Awesome RV Campground. We have an Oceanfront site, that have an awesome general store, the pool has a chiller and it is cool an refreshing. Out of 5 stars I give them a 6!! Only downsides were water pressure was a little weak and WI-FI signal was weak too
Guide
Very nice people and great fishing community
Scout
Beautiful little spot with only 4 sites, all of which are strangely side by side in this massive park and require a 100 yard walk across a boardwalk to get to from your car. Setting up our tent we were attacked by noseeums, tiny little gnats whose bites turn into blisters for some (my daughter). The bugs went away when the wind picked up. We enjoyed being by the water, basically alone, watching the moon rise reflecting over the water. We planned out our next day to make a trip to key west and return for our second night. While preparing for bed, I found the washrooms didn’t have lights, not a huge issue. My wife saw a rat stealing some food wrappings, so be sure to clean up quickly. Read other reviews of them getting into cars and chewing stuff up. Come bed time, the noseeums were back with a vengeance, and they feasted on us. I bathed in deet bug spray to no avail. We were up basically all night itching and scratching and trying to covers ourselves in our sleeping bags. Woke up to find the only other camper had left, likely fed up with the bugs as well. We packed up and left early as well. We went in early May, will never go back, but man that place would be nice without those bugs
Traveler
I am so happy I found this beautiful piece of paradise and didn’t let bad reviews sway my decision. Every person has different experiences and unfortunately most people only write reviews when it’s negative. Alana and the Manager Jim have been so accommodating and helpful to me. As a first time RVer, Jim greeted me and helped me set up my whole RV and taught me how to clean out my tanks! He was so patient with how I wanted my RV to face the sunrise as he pulled me into the perfect spot with his forklift! I was so grateful for his help, it was unexpected as I was planning on opening my tutorial videos! Alana, knowing Hurricane Ian wiped out my home and business was thinking of ways to help me start up my paddle boarding business again down in The Keys. She has been so kind and patient with me! My favorite thing about Blue Fin is starting my mornings on the water, watching the sunrise on my paddle board just steps from my front door!
GuideLoved the campground. I stayed during the week and it was mostly quiet. This is the place to be if you like to fish, kayak or want to be alone.. I can’t say enough about the fishing. Many Crocodiles. The 1.5 hour boat tours are both well worth the 35$. Make sure you ask for a site with shade‼️
TravelerGreat Campground. The rules can be a bit confusing at times. There are dry camping and FHU sites. Great views over the water with great sunset views. You can swim in front of the campsite, but have to walk over large rocks to get to the water and the bottom is rocky and grassy. No real beach area available. The Campground is very clean with good shower and laundry facilities.
TravelerWe had a spot on the canal for our first visit. It included an outdoor shower, outdoor living space, and a dock for getting in and out of our kayak. We loved it so much that we just booked our reservation for a second stay, this time on the bayfront side!
ScoutWe thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Flamingo Eco-tents. We appreciated being able to camp without brining in the typical supplies since we were visiting from out of state - the tent includes your bedding, towels, etc.
Even in January bugs were intense as soon as the sun went down - don't plan to sit around a campfire here, even doused in bug spray. Instead, eat an early dinner and then head back to your tent for sunset.
When booking, request a bay side tent (7,8,13,14,17,18) to have an uninterrupted water front view from your porch.
Guide
This is the third time we've been to this site, but we chose it because we wanted to see the new platforms which were installed this past year. The platform is a little shorter than the last one (closer to the water), but looks nice and has ladders. However, the decking used on the new Hells Bay chickee hurts ones feet after just a few minutes of walking on it, and tears up socks. Shoes are a necessity. The two platforms are also significantly closer together than before which is less than ideal. I certainly missed the angled walkways that made the old platforms feel more separate. We were happy to be the only ones on the platforms that night. The cooking table is definitely better than the previous one; it is stable and quite wide. It you relied on the overhead crossbeams on the older style chickees to store fishing poles or tie up hammocks, you're out of luck. The new roofs do not have these. There's still places on either side, but not the multiple slats like the older chickees. The new posts are made of metal, so they feel a little more secure than previously. Lastly, the porta-potty was not updated. It still does not lock and is currently held close with a carabiner when not in use. It was also so incredibly full and was in desperate need of being emptied. The southern platform definitely got wafts of the port-potty due to the fullness and how close the new platforms are. Overall, we will continue to visit this chickee, but the type of decking and how close the new platforms are to each other is a less than ideal. I hope Everglades NP talks to users before updating any of the other chickees.
GuideClean bathrooms, showers and grounds. Super friendly and helpful people who run the campground. It has a waterfront and boat access. It has a short trail out of camp and short quiet bike ride on road. It is a bit expensive but I think most of them are. It is close to the main road and a bridge. It’s only drawback I can find is the noise from the main road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Marathon, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Marathon, FL is Long Key State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Marathon, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
