Tent camping near Merritt Island, Florida offers access to diverse ecosystems where freshwater and saltwater environments meet, creating unique camping opportunities. The region sits at sea level with relatively flat terrain that experiences high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms during summer months. Water levels on trails can fluctuate seasonally, affecting both hiking conditions and mosquito populations at many primitive campsites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Mills Park provides access to a fishing pier where visitors can catch various freshwater species. As one camper noted, "Most of the kids in the group tried to fish, some for the first time. We used worms and cut up hot dogs. We caught 7 fish in the short amount of time we were there before dinner."
Mountain biking trails: Wickham Park Campground offers dedicated trails for mountain biking enthusiasts. A visitor shared, "It's a great place with lots of bike/walking paths and wide open, quiet spaces. Hope to take advantage of the fishing ponds, mountain bike trails and archery range in future visits."
Wildlife viewing: The trails at Geneva Wilderness Area provide excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. According to one review, "The trails are filled with wildlife! Gopher tortoise, raccoon, shore birds, deer and so much more. The wildflowers in the spring and fall are eye catching."
Bird watching: Bissette Bay in Canaveral National Seashore is accessible only by boat but rewards visitors with abundant bird sightings. A camper reported, "The lake is a birders paradise if you're into that. All along are big osprey nests in the trees."
What campers like
Secure camping environments: Lake Mills Park offers extra security features appreciated by solo campers. One visitor mentioned, "I loved that the park gate closes and locks at night (with a code for campers to exit and enter) and the campground itself has a gate that is always locked as do the bathrooms so they stay fairly nice."
Accessible primitive experiences: Hal Scott Preserve provides an entry-level backcountry camping experience. A camper shared, "It's a long walk to a primitive site, but totally worth it. There's no real way of knowing if the sites are already taken, so be prepared for that. There's a fire pit, table and plenty of space for tents."
Nature center access: Geneva Wilderness Area offers educational opportunities. As described by a visitor: "There is an Education Center: Ed Yarborough Center on the property near the group site that was open for our group and was amazing."
Special events: Wickham Park hosts seasonal festivals that enhance the camping experience. One review mentioned, "We stayed here because we work the Brevard Show, and it was amazing! We loved the fallen tree, and so do kids to climb! It was a nice hidden surprise."
What you should know
Weather preparations: Summer thunderstorms can impact tent camping conditions throughout the Merritt Island region. At East Camp — Little Big Econ State Forest, "The second site, about 2 miles in, has a storm shelter nearby for those sudden afternoon thunderstorms."
Campsite availability challenges: Many primitive sites don't accept reservations and have limited availability. One camper at Hal Scott Preserve stated, "There's no real way of knowing if the sites are already taken, so be prepared for that."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby establishments. At Lake Mills Park, "There is an adjacent country bar, or 'honky-tonk' if you will with the sound system that was set up we could clearly hear everything that was going on there."
Transportation limitations: Some island camping sites require boat access. For Bissette Bay, a camper explained, "Launch at river breeze park, book through Canaveral National Seashore. 20 bucks a night your own island."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lake Mills Park offers recreation facilities for children. A camper mentioned, "This is a nice place to introduce kids to camping. It's not very far removed and there is a nice bathroom and a playground. There is a walking path and nice views of lake mills."
Fishing for beginners: Bissette Bay provides excellent fishing opportunities even for novice anglers. One successful camper shared, "By 6pm, I had 3 different fish being fired up on my campsite - red drum, silver mullet and spotted sea trout."
Educational opportunities: Geneva Wilderness Area includes nature programs. A reviewer noted, "They host family camp outs in this area 2 times per year."
Trail difficulty: Little Big Econ State Forest offers accessible hiking for families. A camper observed, "You could spend an entire day just getting lost around the trails. So much fun. Not a very difficult trial though."
Tips for RVers
Short-term stays: Wickham Park Campground accommodates RVs for both extended and brief visits. One camper stated, "The location of this park is perfect for us. We have family in Melbourne so we love staying here when we visit. Everything is kept clean, nice fishing ponds and nice and quite."
Site selection considerations: Choose locations away from long-term residents. A camper advised, "The sites are nice by the ponds. Good spacing between them and clean looking. The back sites (sect C) had rigs that have been there a while."
Amenity access: Hal Scott Preserve County Park offers limited RV facilities but proximity to natural features. A visitor noted, "The group site has a porta potty. The sites all have fire rings and two sites have pitcher pumps for water you can filter."
Full-time accommodations: Some locations welcome extended stays. One reviewer mentioned, "We're full timers so we took advantage of the community garden here for a season. Disc golf, food trucks, farmers market, playground the list goes on!"
