Several campgrounds near Mulberry, Florida offer distinctive camping experiences within 30-45 minutes of town. The region's subtropical climate provides year-round camping opportunities with mild winters and humid summers. Camping elevations range from 100-200 feet above sea level, with most sites situated among oak hammocks and pine flatwoods that characterize central Florida's landscape.
What to do
Hiking through diverse ecosystems: Upper Hillsborough Preserve — Alston Tract offers 16 miles of trails through pine flatwoods and floodplain swamps. One camper noted, "On a short hike, one can travel through three different counties." The tract includes dozens of geocache locations for treasure hunters.
Fossil hunting along riverbanks: Peace River RV and Camping Resort provides access to the Peace River where visitors search for prehistoric shark teeth. "I found a ton of shark teeth," one camper mentioned. The park office offers wire mesh baskets to assist with the search.
Wildlife observation: Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground features abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons of Birds!" one visitor reported. Another camper shared, "Wild turkeys visited us daily to hang out by a fallen tree near our site. Deer passed by every evening."
Stargazing: Withlacoochee River Park hosts astronomy events in their field during new moon nights. As one visitor described, "This place is quiet and dark at night!" The park includes an observation tower for daytime views of the surrounding wilderness.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Lake Louisa State Park Campground offers well-separated camping areas. A camper remarked, "This park has very spacious sites with beautiful views and an exceptionally clean property." The park's multiple lake views create peaceful settings for overnight stays.
Clean facilities: Fort De Soto Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms were clean. They clean them daily, so they are not bad," noted one visitor. Another mentioned, "The bath house is pretty central and literally across the road from our site. We had expected a much further walk based on the map, but it was just a 1 minute walk."
Waterfront access: E.G. Simmons Regional Park features sites directly on the water. "Nearly every campsite is right on the water - easy in and out for kayaks, large boat ramp and many picnic pavilions," one camper observed. Another mentioned, "We had site # 65 on the water with water and electric hook up & there is a dump station onsite."
Nature immersion: Withlacoochee River Park provides a secluded natural experience. A visitor stated, "This lovely county run park you will find at the end of a 15 min drive down a back country road. The campsites are well shaded."
What you should know
Bugs can be intense: Most campsites experience seasonal insect activity. At Fort De Soto, a camper advised, "Bring good bug spray lol." At E.G. Simmons, another warned, "You really cannot stay outside at dusk. Citronella torches, spray, fans, Avon skin so soft...none of these work for the no see-ums."
Weather considerations: Florida's subtropical climate affects camping conditions. "We stayed here for a few nights but our reservations were cut short due to flooding," reported a visitor at Upper Hillsborough Preserve.
Reservation systems vary: Some parks require advance planning while others operate differently. At Peace River RV and Camping Resort, a camper explained their lottery system: "Lots are not first come first served the do a lottery no matter what time you arrive, first it was at noon, then moved to 1, then to 2."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies across parks. One Lake Kissimmee visitor noted, "Cell service is practically non existent in the park and within 10 miles from the park."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Withlacoochee River Park offers family-friendly amenities. "Next to campground you will find a historic church, a large and small cabin available for rent, 2 playgrounds, shelters, large pavilion with grill/fire pit, fishing dock, canoe launch," shared one visitor.
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming areas for children. Fort De Soto has "a public swim area and picnic area," while Lake Louisa features multiple lakes with swimming access.
Educational opportunities: Lake Kissimmee provides historical learning experiences. The park's cow camp demonstrates Florida's ranching heritage, though one camper noted, "Cow camp is only open Oct-May."
Wildlife viewing with kids: Hillsborough River State Park offers safe wildlife observation opportunities. "The nature trails are amazing," reported one family, while another mentioned seeing "green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy."
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Hillsborough River State Park can present maneuvering difficulties. One RVer explained, "There is not a lot of room in the loops to pull your rv into the spot. There is plenty of room between your rv and your neighbor next to you but not a lot of room across from your spot."
Hookup considerations: Not all parks offer full hookups. At Peace River, a camper advised, "There are some sewer available sites but there is a strange lottery system. Every day about 1pm you go sign up for the lottery system to shuffle your RV to a sewer site if you're lucky enough to get it."
Electrical reliability: Power fluctuations can occur during peak usage periods. One camper at Peace River observed, "Watch the electricity during high usage the voltage drop, ours droped to 108v for a couple hours, i choose to run the gen during that time."
Low clearance warnings: Several parks have overhanging branches. At Lake Kissimmee, a visitor cautioned, "If you have a tall rv low hanging branches in the camp area might be an issue."
