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.
"In southern Florida, campgrounds don’t usually come cheap, but we found Larry & Penny’s to be a great value with close access (30 minutes) to Biscayne National Park."
"Right next to zoo Miami"
"Miami Everglades RV Resort is in the Miami area but it doesn't feel like Miami at all. They have a really nice big pool, shuffleboard, putt putt golf, arcade and walking trail."
"This place is situated in the mirror middle of acres upon acres of ornamental trees and shrubs for sale by various companies."
"A lot of trails to walk in the middle of the nature. Mini golf. Water park wasn't open on March."
"We stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly. The lake/dock area is beautiful, and there’s a massive playground across from the campground in the main park."
$35 - $57 / night
"Stayed here over a holiday weekend and enjoyed it, roads getting in the RV park are good but watch out for branches with big units outside the park to the north."
"The park is big with a paved walking path around the park. On the west side of the park there's a lot of big mature trees that give a lot shade and are just nice looking. "
"This KOA was close to family and friends. Stayed for five nights. It was clean and I felt safe. Staff were very helpful getting backed in and set up."
"It's located near many attractions and shopping. Beautiful sunset viewing across the street at Vista View Park and easy highway access. You're going to love your stay at this KOA!"
$5000 - $10000 / night
"The location was peaceful and relaxing. we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommend!"
$55 / night
"Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers, but it's true. It boasts 15-miles of trails in more than 1,000 acres!"
"The town around has very nice restaurants in Tarpon Springs but some of the area can be a little sketchy. One thing I see is that the park itself was safe."
ScoutIt's great to be in Fort Lauderdale, so close to activities. RV park is old, poorly kept, and crowded. Mostly long-term campers who were very friendly. Vehicles parked onto narrow black top roads. Dead leaves blown to the side but not picked up. Peeling paint in showers. Friendly staff to our faces, but overheard them being unkind when they didn't know we could hear.
LegendJust south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.
Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.
OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.
Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?" Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.
The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.
Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!
Happy Camping!
ScoutGreat campground near Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.
TravelerWe brought our canoe and put in on the boat dock. It was sweet paddling all around the mangrove islands. The campground is full of greenery, which lends slightly more privacy. A nice place to land for the night.
ScoutOur stay here was the best! Our host, John was extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed while also respecting our privacy. The location was peaceful and relaxing. we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommend!
GuideThis is a dirt parking lot on the Tamiami Trail (Rt 41) right along the canal. Airboats run all day. We didn't go on one but it looked fun. Great fishing! No water no hookups.
ScoutFor $130/night-this place is a crowded dump with poorly maintained muddy sites.
GuideThis is our first time in the Everglades ! We love this place! Each site is private from the next site. It's very quiet here the shower houses and the restrooms are clean and well kept. Everyone is very friendly
GuideGreat spot to rest before heading into the Everglades or doing an airboat tour. About 20 minutes from shark valley visitor center this is a great spot if you want to be one of the first to get in. Not a lot of spots and some of them were a little confusing on who's area belonged to which fire pit. Probably wouldn't stay more than a night or two but fine for what we needed.
Camping options near Miami, Florida range from urban county parks to more developed RV resorts within a short drive of city attractions. Winter temperatures averaging 60-74°F make December through February the optimal camping season, with significantly less mosquito activity than summer months when afternoon thunderstorms are common. Most Miami campsites require advance reservations, particularly during the peak winter season.
Water recreation access: Oleta River State Park Campground offers kayaking opportunities with numerous watercraft available for rent. "You can bike, snorkel, paddle, run, picnic, rent cabins, primitive camp, and even get married. No bugs during the day," notes one visitor who appreciated the park's 15 miles of trails across 1,000+ acres.
Zoo exploration: Larry & Penny Thompson Park provides convenient access to Zoo Miami, located directly adjacent to the campground. "Near residential neighborhood but quiet. Flat sites... other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide," reports one camper who enjoyed the location.
National park visits: Use Miami as a base camp for exploring both Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. "We camped here for 6 nights as a home base while fishing the area," writes one tent camper at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, noting the "fishing was good in the pond nearby" for those staying local.
Modern amenities: C.B. Smith Park Campground offers full-hookup sites with concrete pads. One camper noted it was "very clean with full hookups and sewer directly at our camp site," making it convenient for those wanting modern comforts.
Swimming options: Topeekeegee Yugnee Park Campground features a clean swimming pool with lifeguards on duty. "The pool is crystal clear and welcoming," remarked one visitor who appreciated this amenity during hot Florida days. Another mentioned the park has a "water park for the kids" among its many recreational options.
Urban convenience: Most Miami-area campgrounds provide easy access to city amenities. "This KOA was close to family and friends... it was clean and I felt safe. Staff were very helpful getting backed in and set up," wrote a visitor to the Davie/Fort Lauderdale KOA, highlighting the location's practicality for those visiting locals.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Miami have noise considerations. At Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, "the campground does sit next to a train track i believe its a commuter line so there is an early train 4am which is startling," according to one recent review.
Security concerns: While most Miami campgrounds are generally secure, standard precautions are recommended. One unfortunate visitor to Larry & Penny Thompson Park reported, "Our Ford F-250 King Ranch 4x4 diesel got stolen in the middle of the day from right in front of our RV at this park," reminding campers to maintain vigilance with valuables.
Stay limits: Encore Miami Everglades and other area campgrounds have varying stay restrictions. "Not the best not the worst. Totally does the job and has all the amenities," noted one camper who found the resort functional if not exceptional.
Park amenities: Miami-area campgrounds often feature recreational facilities families appreciate. "The park is big with a paved walking path around the park. On the west side of the park there's a lot of big mature trees that give a lot shade," wrote one visitor to Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, adding that "there's a water park for the kids, volleyball, many gazebos with grilling areas and more."
Wildlife concerns: Some campsites have unexpected wildlife encounters. "Beware of the feral cats and raccoons though. We spent an entire night fending them off with a slingshot and they didn't bother us again," warned a camper at Larry & Penny Thompson Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Davie/Fort Lauderdale KOA offers family-oriented facilities. "It is across the street from a massive park that is perfect for all family members. If you go to the park, make sure you see the burrowing owls," suggested one visitor who found plenty to keep children entertained.
Site spacing: Miami-area RV parks typically have compact sites. At C.B. Smith Park Campground, one RVer noted "we stayed in the back behind the lake and it was very quiet/family friendly. The lake/dock area is beautiful, and there's a massive playground across from the campground in the main park."
Off-season considerations: During summer, many facilities may be limited. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, one RVer observed, "Right now, nothing is open until memorial day weekend. So no beach and no pool. Also half the park is under construction," highlighting the importance of checking seasonal closures before booking.
Connectivity challenges: Holiday Park and other Miami-area campgrounds often have variable cell service. An RVer at Encore Miami Everglades noted "WiFi very expensive and even the guest hotspot at the club house was spotty at best," suggesting travelers should plan alternative connectivity options if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Miami, Florida?
The Miami area offers several excellent camping options. Long Pine Key Campground — Everglades National Park is a standout choice with spotless, manicured sites in a picturesque setting. Each site is carved out of the forest with good privacy despite being along the road. Another popular option is Larry & Penny Thompson Park, offering great value camping with WiFi, laundry facilities, excellent showers, and convenient access to attractions like Zoo Miami and Biscayne National Park (about 30 minutes away). The park is organized into pods with approximately 15 sites each, providing a well-structured camping experience at reasonable rates.
Are there any free camping or RV parks near Miami?
Free camping options are limited in the Miami area. Most campgrounds charge fees, but some offer affordable rates. Easterlin Park Campground provides a budget-friendly overnight option if you're traveling to the Florida Keys or Miami, with basic amenities like showers, charcoal grills, and a small playground. For RV enthusiasts, Holiday Park might offer economical options. While not free, county parks like C.B. Smith Park typically have more reasonable rates than private RV resorts. Always call ahead to confirm current pricing and availability, as rates in the Miami area fluctuate seasonally.
Where can I find safe camping sites in the Miami area?
Encore Miami Everglades offers a secure camping environment with numerous amenities including a large pool, shuffleboard, putt-putt golf, arcade, and walking trails. While it has a Miami address, it's situated in a more rural area surrounded by nurseries and farms, creating a peaceful atmosphere away from urban concerns. Another safe option is Key Largo Kampground & Marina, which features clean sites and excellent amenities including a well-maintained pool. Its proximity to Miami makes it convenient while providing the security of a well-managed facility. Both locations have staff on-site and offer family-friendly environments.
What state parks offer camping near Miami?
Oleta River State Park Campground in North Miami is one of the closest state park camping options to the city, featuring both drive-in and walk-in access with water available on-site. For those willing to venture a bit further, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground in Key Largo offers exceptional camping with access to America's first underwater park. Though not technically a state park, Everglades National Park's camping areas like Flamingo Campground provide a remarkable wilderness experience within striking distance of Miami. These parks typically require reservations, especially during the busy winter season when northern visitors flock to South Florida.
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