Best Campgrounds near Miami, FL
The outskirts of Miami, Florida feature a mix of urban-adjacent campgrounds and more natural settings within driving distance of the city. Larry & Penny Thompson Park, located near Zoo Miami, offers year-round camping with both tent and RV sites arranged in pod-style layouts. Encore Miami Everglades RV Resort provides a family-friendly atmosphere with recreational amenities despite being technically within Miami city limits but surrounded by agricultural nurseries. Campers seeking more natural environments can venture to nearby Everglades National Park or Biscayne National Park, where primitive camping options contrast with the developed sites closer to the urban core.
Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the Miami area, particularly during the winter months when temperatures moderate and snowbirds arrive. Many county and state park campgrounds limit tent camping stays to 7 days while allowing RV campers to remain for up to 30 days. Summer brings intense heat, humidity, and mosquito activity, making winter the preferred camping season. As one camper noted, "It helped that the weather was perfect (74 with breeze, 60 at night) so mosquito activity was low." Road noise affects many campgrounds due to their proximity to highways and major roads, with several reviewers mentioning this as a drawback at otherwise convenient locations.
Amenities vary significantly between Miami-area campgrounds, with county parks typically offering better facilities for tent campers. Swimming pools are common features at many RV-focused properties, providing relief from the Florida heat. "Overall great value with a swimming pool and washer/dryers. Grounds mostly quiet with expected weekenders," reported one tent camper at Larry & Penny Thompson Park. Sites tend to be close together with limited privacy, a common characteristic of South Florida camping. Proximity to attractions like Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and the Florida Keys makes these campgrounds popular as base camps for regional exploration despite their urban or semi-urban settings. Cell service is generally reliable near Miami but can become spotty when venturing into the Everglades.
