Join the fun near Myakka City. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Myakka City, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Located off the St. Petersburg coast, near the mouth of Florida’s Tampa Bay, the tiny islands that make up Fort De Soto County Park have a long and storied history. More than 1,000 years ago, the islands were home to the Tocobaga peoples, who sustained themselves on local plants and seafood. In the 1500s, Spanish conquistadors began exploring Florida’s barrier islands and mainland, among them, Hernando de Soto. From the Civil War in the 1860s until the conclusion of World War II in the 1940s, the islands were used as military emplacements, first as a Union blockade, then as coastal defensive batteries. The islands finally became a state park in 1963 as an effort to preserve their long history, and provide a recreation area for locals and visitors. The park was designated America’s Top Beach in 2009, and sees more than 2.7 million annual visitors.
Fort DeSoto County Park reservations offer 238 sites for tent and RV campers. It is located on the St. Christopher and St. Jean Keys, approximately 10 miles southwest of St. Petersburg. The campground is mostly wooded, and divided up into three areas: Area 1 for tents, vans, and small campers, and Areas 2 and 3 for larger RVs. All sites are equipped with electrical and water hookups, picnic tables and cooking grills. Comfort stations with restrooms, showers and laundry facilities are located in each area; a dump station is located near Area 2. The campground also features a small store, dayroom, two playgrounds, and Wifi service; bike and kayak rentals are available. Dogs are permitted in Area 2 and the designated dog park only. Alcoholic beverages and gas-powered generators are not permitted in the park. Reservations are recommended, and can be made up to six months in advance; seven months for locals. Campsite rates are $36–$42/night.
There are plenty of activities to enjoy on a visit to Fort DeSoto County Park, including visiting Fort DeSoto. Located on the southernmost point of Mullet Key, the historic military emplacement is open to the public for self-guided tours. Explore officers’ quarters, the bakery, the hospital and various other facilities. Look out across the Gulf of Mexico for the lighthouse, constructed in 1858, on neighboring Egmont Key. The park also features more than 7 miles of sparkling, white sand beaches, including East Beach and North Beach, for sunning and swimming. These can be reached via a paved, multi-use path from the campground. There are also boat launches, a fishing pier and a snack bar. As part of the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge, bird watchers can scan for some of the more than 300 species of resident and migratory birds, including waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, woodpeckers, and raptors.
A 236-site family camping area with facilities including picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas, and a campground store. Special camp sites for camping with pets.
$38 - $48 / night
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites. Each site is equipped with 50-amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
NOTE: Non-Potable Water
Effective May 11, 2023: Drinking water is temporarily unavailable at Myakka River State Park. Please remember to bring your own water. Bottled water is also available at no cost at the ranger station from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt-based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel-based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining restrooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka Outpost, a fishing deck and Wi-Fi.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle, a small playground and Myakka Friends Gift Shop. Well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds, up to four per site.
There are six primitive campgrounds (Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Honore, Panther Point, Oak Grove and Prairie) located along the hiking trails for backpackers. These rustic settings provide campers with a fire pit and post to hang items. Each campground has three campsites, and a maximum of four people may be on each site. Only Bee Island, Oak Grove and Prairie have water pumps. Water at these sites is not potable; it requires boiling/chemical treatment. Other sites do not have water; you must bring your own. The terrain is primarily prairie, and dehydration is possible even on the coolest days.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s largest parks with 37,000 acres of its own. Home to the officially designated “Wild and Scenic” Myakka River, this state park is the perfect destination for outdoor adventurers who are looking to get closer to the natural, diverse Florida wildlife.
Choose from one of over 80 campsites while Myakka State Park camping and get ready to explore!
Bring your kayak and make your way through a variety of waterways where you can spot american alligators, snook, ospreys, and countless species of birds.
Embark on one of many hiking trails to explore more of the unique environments found within Myakka River State Park. Trek to the highlands to get a look at Florida’s traditional wetlands where marshes, cypress dome trees, and grazing birds will welcome you. Go even deeper to reach the diverse array of grasses, wildflowers, and vines that grow freely in the park’s protected dry prairies. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you! Short shrubs in the dry prairies allow visitors to see for miles in any direction.
You’ll also want to bring the camera atop the Canopy Walkway at Myakka River. Just a short walk from the main road, this suspension bridge provides a panoramic view of the entire park from a unique vantage point above the tree canopy. Every camper can find what they’re looking for at this Florida park.
$26 / night
A
$26 / night
1
$22 / night
Peace River Campground offers over 100 acres of wilderness camping for your enjoyment. You can make camp anywhere you like, including many places right on the beautiful Peace River's edge. During less busy times you can spend days out of site of other campers. While there are no utilities, picnic tables, or other campground amenities, you are only a short walk to our hot showers, swimming pool, campground store and all the trappings of the "civilized" world.
$16 - $80 / night
$120 / night
LMR1
$22 / night
The family campground offers water and electric hookups, a dump station, access to restrooms with shower facilities, laundry and dishwashing areas.
Currently, there is no free Wi-Fi in the campground; however, Wi-Fi is available at the Hammock Inn Concession, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during peak season months. During the slow summer season, daily availability and hours of operation may vary for the Hammock Inn camp store. Call 863-402-0061 for details.
Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings. Sites vary from being open and sunny to partially or fully shaded and range in length from 20 to 50 feet. Maximum RV length = 50 feet.
Three paved campsites, designated as American Disability Act sites, are near an ADA-accessible restroom. A maximum of eight people with two tents are allowed per site. RV sites are allowed to have the RV and one tent.
The recreation hall, a park rental facility with a full kitchen, stage, large seating area, restrooms, barbecue grill and playground, is used for family reunions, weddings, parties, meetings and other events. Reservations may be booked through the ranger station 11 months in advance.
The campground is a short walk from the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum and the picnic area. The bike path, nature trails and playgrounds are within proximity and easily accessed. Ranger-guided programs and interpretive walks offered during the busy winter season are suspended during the summer.
$18 - $22 / night
Thousand Trails Peace River RV & Camping Resort is a 75-acre RV camp in Florida nestled among the woods on the outskirts of Wauchula. The Peace River runs a half mile around the border of the preserve, offering canoeing, kayaking, fishing, fossil hunting in the river, nature trails and wildlife. Whether you prefer the water or the woods, Peace River provides the RV camping experience you desire all from a conveniently located RV camp in southwest Florida. At Thousand Trails Peace River RV Camping, our setting is ideal for guests who want to explore the surrounding local attractions. Big-city sports arenas, amusement parks and art districts are a pleasant drive away. This RV camp in Florida also touts close proximity to the well-known powder white beaches of the Gulf Coast, only a brief 45 minutes to an hour away. Naturally Beautiful RV Camp in Florida Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Peace River RV & Camping Resort. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
Guide
This campground is a County Park in Pinellas County. Well maintained with some of the best beaches in the US. There are three loops one for guests with pets. BRING YOUR RABIES VACCINE PAPERS!
Many sites are waterfront and are mostly well separated. Great bike trails. Restrooms are dated but well maintained. Electric amd water. 2 dump sites on property.
Good cell coverage with wifi at the office.
Scout
People- 5 Stars Wildlife Viewing- 5 Stars Moise- Negative 10. On the weekends, the airport noise is painfully deafening and hurts your ear drums even with ear pods. Wish it could be better, but with the headaches and pain in my ears and lack of sleep here make it a no go ever!
Scout
Camp hosts were wonderful. Down to earth and friendly. Bathrooms and trash cans tended well. Springs with fossil finds! All the sites are pretty close together but unless it's crowded I didn't care. Plenty of big trees on every site for cover, and if you don't mind wandering in the woods, there's lots of potential to gather firewood. They do offer bundles of cut/dried for a reasonable price.
Scout
Beautiful location with plenty of things to do. A natural Spring, with a large playground area and nice bathroom/shower facilities
Guide
This place is brand new and very clean. The owners/operators are extremely friendly and helpful. The have glamping tents that are very cool. This isn’t the ordinary crunched in resort camping. All of the sites are spacious with large cement pads. The overall feel is laid back and quiet. There are many activities and games if you choose to participate.
Traveler
Nice open area with some trees and lots of palm tree bushes. Well maintained white dirt road. Racoons stalk u at night lol. Parking is away from campsites.
GuideI couldn’t make a reservation on the website so I strolled in hoping to reserve a site at the front desk. The lady was very helpful and got me a great site. Had a lovely stay, enjoyed the sunset and a few twinkling stars. Hopefully will be back in the future.
Scout
The resort was nice, clean and quiet. Many amenities including pickleball. Good communication and a very secure park. The people staying there were very nice. In
Scout
Winter Quarters Manatee is a beautiful resort with a lot of activities and amenities (which include 2 heated pools and a spa). The staff have been great and the clubhouse is beautiful. Very close to beaches, Anna Marie Island, Sarasota, and Tampa. The only downside is that you are close to I75, and there is construction currently underway.
Scout
I stayed with 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8. We stayed two night in 40 degree weather. This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping!
Super clean campsites and great easy trail out to the site. Very safe area. The rangers made sure there was plenty of fire wood in the wooden hut. There are trash cans at every site and campsite 1, 3 and 4 have hammock poles able to fit 3 hammocks at a time. The bathroom is a short hike with a water spout.
Only downfall is that there is a lot of road noise throughout the entire night. Definitely took away from the “nature” experience.
Such a great time! Highly recommend.
Scout
The campgrounds were nice but all campsites were too close to each other. The restrooms were not super neat but not terrible. The walking trails at this park were all quite small and friendly for all. We had a bear visit the garbage bin during the night, so you’ll have to pay attention to storing your food during the night.
Scout
Checked in to site 36 and discovered some very comfortable folks letting their gear go over multiple spots. They weren't happy we had actually showed up and "took their extra parking spot", so they parked blocking the road. No privacy, no barriers between spots. No wifi, no AT&T. Literally 3 yards away from their open fire, which also isn't legal in these dry conditions. When I asked for help with the site, I was told I was lucky to even have one at all. Ok......
Traveler
We love our stay as we didn’t have any plans to go to Florida we found this resort and love it. Nice amenities, large campsites, nice pool and clubhouse, maybe a bit noisy from the road…
Guide
Nice park. Lots of trails. Convenient location right off of highway 41, but sites are far enough in that it's quiet. Beaches are close. Restaurants are close. Power and water, but no sewer connections at sites. There is a dump station and dumpsters near the entrance of the camping area.
Scout
Very Clean Quiet and Very Helpful and Friendly Staff
Scout
Great campground for any type of camping. All sites at Palmetto Ridge are full hookup and many sites are pull through. ATT WiFi is fast enough to stream YouTube and YouTube TV via my Apple TV box tethered to my iPhone.
Traveler
We're beyond excited for the grand opening of Palm Breeze Luxury RV Resort and have already booked our stay for 2025! The amazing amenities, combined with the family-friendly and pet-friendly atmosphere, make it the perfect getaway for everyone. The reservations team was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the new management company is doing a fantastic job. We can't wait to experience everything this resort has to offer!
ScoutThis was the first time we had camped at Fort De Soto and I was so excited because we planned it for my 61st birthday. However, the bugs were so bad. We set up camp with our tent and all our gear, the bugs became so bad we took it all down and went home.I love the fact that my two dogs could come, but the bugs are a no go. It was absolutely miserable. Other than that it’s a beautiful area so maybe we will try again in the winter. I live north of here in Pasco County and frequently bring my dogs down to the dog beach, which is absolutely beautiful. A shame the campground is so infested.
Scout
I recently had a wonderful experience at the St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, and I’m excited to share my positive review! I’ve hosted friends in their Deluxe Cabins before, and they were thoroughly impressed. The cabins were equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay—fresh linens, a full kitchen, and even a private patio with a grill and fire ring. And they had a great view of the lush mangrove lined Long Bayou.
They loved the blend of cozy and convenient, making their getaway truly enjoyable. At the end of the road driving out of this campground is a great restaurant called Doe Doe's that makes a delicious homestyle breakfast if you don't want to cook it yourself.
Wanting to be close to them I opted for one of the small tent sites at the end of the park where I car camped in my Subaru Outback. It was a peaceful and charming spot, perfect for a relaxing camping experience - and away from more of the centrally located activities that people camping with children enjoy.
Overall, the amenities were top-notch, including the heated outdoor pool, bike and kayak rentals, and clean and large facilities. They have something called KampK9 which is a fenced in dog park area. Less than a mile away is Bay Pines Park which is nice to jog or ride your bike through and there is also a super Walmart nearby so you can stock up for your drive to the next campground. You also have easy access to the Gulf Coast's stunning beaches and the scenic Pinellas Trail.
Driving on the main road, and seeing the somewhat industrial area you pass through on your way down the small side street to this campground, you wouldn't expect much - but this KOA has been there for decades and is one of the nicest family campgrounds in the middle of a city I have experienced.
Traveler
The park is fantastic! The park rangers constantly ensured our safety and were very friendly and helpful. They made sure to keep us up to date regarding changes in weather and flooding. Oh, and the pricing to stay per week is amazing! It's a must-visit!
GuideI stay for 5day during the last week of July 2024. It was beautiful, I stayed at site 34 in had water view and access. So I was able to wake up early and walk 10step and I was on my SUP. Plenty of wild life & I was able to do some fishing and got a few spotted sea trout. Staff at the front desk, store and grounds were friendly and attentive. My site had water and electric and walking distance to a clean restroom.
Legend
This is an all around winner. On the beach with shells, sunsets, waves and all that the beach has to offer. PLUS nice wide sites - wider than I was expecting. We’ve got a drivers side slide and gave it plenty of room plus the picnic area. Love the foliage dividing sites. Nice laundry, great bathrooms, tons of rinsing and washing opportunities. The cherry on top - the bathroom/showers has an AC!! Everyone hates to get sticky after a shower and the AC took that muggy edge right off in August! Unexpected awesomeness.
Legend
We stayed for a long overnight on our maiden voyage with our new RV. It was a wet second day, but lots of fun. The kids enjoyed the slide (limited hours…ask ahead), and the warm pool was refreshing. Drinks were fair price ($8 for a Bloody Mary and $23 for a double gin and vodka cranberry). Food was good for apps at the pool.
We didn’t utilize the amenities outside of the pool, but will be back to play! We wish the sites (ours was q03) were more shaded, but worth having a nice easy pull thru spot. The guide to the site was a bonus!
Traveler
This is a beautiful Class A only resort. 100 sites on the Myakka River with Amazon
sunsets. Sites are typically 70’ x 50’ . Large roads easy access.
Extremely active community in season, a peaceful retreat in the off season.
Sites are individually owned, some with Casitas, some with outdoor kitchens etc. Great Wi-Fi, individual cat 5 cable to each site. Boardwalk along the river, fishing pier, kayak launch. They have 5 pickleball courts. Large heated resort pool with attached lap pool. Two large dog parks.
Water aerobics in season. Small gym. Yoga, on spite massages and facials in season. Extremely active social calendar, open to everyone. Beautifully remodeled clubhouse, with a large subset deck overlooking the river. Close to everything, multiple beaches 20 minutes away, great shopping and restaurants are close by. Extremely friendly owners, they treat renters like members of their family. We travel in a Newmar Ventana.
Scout
Beautiful property, well maintained and staffed. I did feel out of place though, a lot of snooty looks as we walked around. I wouldn't recommend
TravelerTucked away between Englewood and North Port, this primitive site is only eight dollars to stay at. Not too bad, but the campsite looked like it wasn't maintained at all. There was a big dilapidated bin of random trash that looked like it had been there for quite some time (site 3), a ton of cigarette butts, melted plastic pieces everywhere, etc. We even found an... adult toy about ten feet outside of the area of our site.
That being said, it was quiet, and you couldn't beat the scenery and nature once we cleaned up the area a bit. The sites are spread apart enough that it doesn't feel like your neighbor is on top of you, which was a huge plus.
Out of all the sites, 3 had the most privacy and had great views of the forest. If we decide to go again, we will definitely stay at this site. The other sites seemed a little bare and less private.
For the price, you can't complain too much. Just make sure to lock the gate behind you because by the many many signs posted, they're threatening to shut the sites down permanently if you don't.
Guide
The location was lovely, and the camp host was wonderfully accommodating. However, considering the $80 nightly fee for waterside parking, I anticipated that the septic would be included. The heated pool was a pleasant amenity. While the bathrooms were clean, they would benefit from a remodel, and it was disappointing to find no handicap-accessible showers available.
Camping near Myakka City, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Myakka City, Florida, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Myakka City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Myakka City, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 175 campgrounds and RV parks near Myakka City, FL and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Myakka City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Myakka City, FL is Fort De Soto Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 136 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Myakka City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Myakka City, FL.
What parks are near Myakka City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Myakka City, FL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring
