If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near New Smyrna Beach, look no further. The Dyrt helps you find campsites near New Smyrna Beach with tent camping. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
The East Camp Zone is located within Little Big Econ State Forest (Seminole County), about 40 miles east of Orlando, FL. The East Camp Zone is only accessible by boat and consists of six suggested camp zones. There is no water, electric or amenities... Recreational activities featured here are: boating, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, wildflower viewing and nature study. The Little Big Econ State Forest offers two camp areas for primitive camping. The West Camp Area is located near the Barr Street hiking trailhead and can be accessed only from the hiking trail and by canoe or kayak from the Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail. The East Camp Area can be accessed only by canoe and kayak at this time. Overnight camping is allowed by obtaining a State Forest Use Permit available at the Little Big Econ State Forest office. For more information and to get a State Forest Use Permit, please contact the forest at (407) 971-3500 or email the Little Big Econ State Forest.
About this property The Lake George Conservation Area protects more than half of the eastern shore of Lake George and its associated watershed that flows into the lake. Adjacent to property purchased in partnership with Volusia County, the conservation area also protects a wildlife corridor of more than 20 miles along Lake George and the St. Johns River. The property is primarily composed of mixed hardwood swamp and pine flatwoods and is included in the wildlife management area managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, enhancing wetlands and upland habitats. One of the special highlights of this property is its high concentration of eagles’ nests. When it was purchased, this area boasted the highest concentration of bald eagles outside of Alaska. Eagles made their nests primarily in large old pine trees that resided as single trees in the wetlands throughout the property. They are now nesting in trees that were planted outside the wetlands. Access From U.S. 17, turn west on Georgetown-Denver Road (west of Crescent City); from Seville, turn west on County Road 305 (Lake George Road); north of Pierson, turn west on Nine Mile Road. Wildlife viewing Please respect Florida’s wildlife and use caution while visiting district lands. These are wild animals. For your safety, do not approach or feed any wild animal. Species found here include Florida black bear, Sherman’s fox squirrel and southern bald eagle (one of the region’s largest concentrations). Other species include the American alligator, gopher tortoise, bobcat, hawk, heron, otter, owl, osprey and white-tailed deer. Recreational activities Seasonal hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, primitive camping at designated sites and wildlife viewing. Boating opportunities are available on Lake George.
Canaveral National Seashore is located midway along Florida's east coast where warm waters and a temperate climate meet to host species as diverse as bald eagles and alligators or bromeliads and mangroves. The national seashore was designated in 1975 to preserve and protect this special area. Visitors to the seashore will discover its rich and diverse history, from its fertile estuaries once supporting Timucuan Indian populations to the area's first orange groves in the 1830s. Today, Canaveral National Seashore offers an inviting place to relax along the shores of the Atlantic, fish in an open lagoon, enjoy a self-guided hike, watch for wildlife like the West Indian manatee or even participate in a guided sea turtle tour.
Backcountry Camping on the Islands
For visitors wishing to backcountry camp in the seashore, primitive camping is available on designated islands throughout the Intracoastal Waterway and Mosquito Lagoon. These campsites are available by reservation only and require a permit. You may reserve campsites for $20 per night and up to six months in advance. RV or vehicle camping is not permitted within the seashore.
Fourteen island campsites are available for reservation and include both natural island and spoil island campsites. All fourteen island campsites are accessible by campers with their own watercraft, such as a motor boat, kayak, or canoe. Canoe rentals are available (weather permitting) for campsites #1 - #5 only. Canoe rentals are $25 per night for individuals 18 years and older. Canoe capacity is two adults per canoe, plus gear. For canoe rentals, please inquire at the Apollo Beach Visitor Center or call (386) 428-3384, ext. 0 for more information.
Campsites - Group Size (# of People):
Orange Island - 6,
Homestead - 8,
Shipyard - 10,
Headwinds - 10,
Government Cut - 20,
Jones Canal - 20,
Brickhouse Cove - 60,
Bissette Bay - 15,
Middle Dredge - 25,
South Middle Dredge - 25,
Scout Island - 20,
South Dredge - 40,
East Winds - 20, and
County Line - 20.
Backcountry Overnight Primtive Island Camping Fees: .$20night .Island Capacities vary from6-60 people Refund and Cancellation Policy Full refunds will only be given in the event of park closure due to inclement weather or adninistrative purposes: Otherwise,refunds are as follows: .For cancellations requsted 30 days or more from date of reservation, guest will receive full refund . For cancellations request 29-8 days prior to reservation guests will receive refund of 1/2 the value of the reservation. Cancellations requested seven days or less prior to the resrvation date will not receive a refund. Reservation Changes: Once your permit is printed no changes will be allowed (refer to cancellation policy) changes in the number of people with the same dates and campsites are allowed when available and completed prior to printing your permit. Changing the date of entry requires a new reservation. Cancel your current permit and reserve a new permit. No-Shows: No refunds will be given in the event of a no-show
$20 / night
Guide
Very convenient campground to go for a hike along the florida trail and cool off in the gorgeous blue spring waters. It does get crowded so plan accordingly.
Traveler
Friendly staff and well maintained Park and facilities with great fishing and an amazing view of Lake George.
Traveler
Wonderful staff and well maintained Park, sites and facilities. Great fishing and kayaking in the lagoon with a view of Cape Canaveral.
Legend
Here at Sand Pine Campground inside of Blue Springs State Park, you’ll find that while this is a fairly large campground, the substantial amount of vegetation, along with the flow of how the campground is organized, the individual campsites give off a vibe of privacy, intimacy and solitude. Upon entry to this SP, you’ll meet likely some of the friendliest park rangers of any FL state park (although, honestly, the very GREAT rangers @ Rodman Campground ultimately win the battle!), who will provide you with all of the great information you need to have a great experience here.
As for the pet-friendly campground specifically, each of the 51 sites has its own picnic table, water and electric as well as fire ring, while the ground itself is laden with powdery grey sand (so leave your boots or flip flops at the door of your tent or RV). The individual slots are somewhat tight and narrow to navigate, but most RVs should be OK to back into these sites. What you will appreciate the most about Sand Pine is that just about every site offers a substantial amount of privacy with solid, thick Floridian jungle putting decent distance between you and your neighbors. The only downside is that it is a solid hike from this campground to the spring itself, which will require you to drive there or take a decent bike ride.
The amenities are pretty amazing with the two bathroom and laundry room facilities appearing to be nearly brand new and there are designated dump stations scattered throughout making disposal of trash and recyclables EZ. The restroom facilities had vending machines as well. As for the sand pine scrub nature you are surrounded by, but the real gem here of course is the fresh crystal spring that is teaming with manatees, which are best to view and swim alongside between the winter months of November and February. For my float-seeking friends, there’s a solid kayak / canoe launch and if you don’t want to get some oaring in, you can partake in a guided river boat cruise.
If you’re looking to get away from it all and enjoy some privacy, then this is a great little campground for you to consider. And if you miss anything from the non-natural world, have no fears, a short drive into town to grab a pizza or load up on groceries is easy enough to manage. What I love most about camping here at Blue Springs SP is that during heavier tourist season, a reservation will guarantee you access to the spring, which sometimes gets full and therefore requires the rangers to stop traffic flow into the park, so if you've got a place guaranteed for the night, then, well, you need not worry about the morning rush when most will just worry about getting in the park.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you find yourself out-of-luck in finding an available campground site to reserve, try your luck at booking one of the 6 often overlooked cabins, which BTW, come with their own set of parking spaces; (2) When you grow weary of digging through your onboard mini-fridge or roto-molded Cordova cooler, then check out some of the local fare where nearby in town, there’s a sweet little Argentinian joint called Rincon del Sabor, classic pie palace called Blue Springs Pizza and another ethereal dive called Taste of Soul – neither of which you’ll wanna write home about, but will definitely give you a break from ‘frank & beans’ for the night. And if neither of those places do the trick for you, there is also a few other restaurants you might wanna check out like Gram’s Kitchen for low country breakfast cooked up all day, Mi Tierra Authentic Mexican as well as Fire on the Bayou for some nice, spicy Cajun; (3) Should you need to stock up on any supplies, nearby Blue Springs SP has a 'grade A' Publix as well as a Walmart nearby, so you should have no problems being stocked up while staying here; and (4) When the kiddos get restless and the pristine nature that you find yourself surrounded by isn’t enough of a distraction, then head due east to Family Fun Town, which is a family-friendly amusement center with batting cages, mini-golf, arcade games and go cart racing. Yahoo!
Happy Camping!
Guide
Nice spots for tent camping. Got surprisingly cold when I visited. Would’ve been 5 stars if it weren’t for obnoxiously loud and rude neighbors that were yelling/screaming until midnight. If you camp here, expect to hear lots of partying.
Scout
I asked my parents to book this RV site because it has a pool and WiFi. First things first, you have to pay for WiFi. I spent $15 on WiFi for ONE DAY for 7 people because if you make only one account it allows only 3 devices to sign it with it. Doesn’t mention anything about that on their website or on here. The plants here and the views are really pretty. The pool was okay, and the one day and night we stayed there we met some friendly people who were staying there as well. The next morning, (40 minutes before checkout time) they were already calling my mom and asking us when we were leaving. Are you serious? Put an earlier check-out time on your business if you want people to leave earlier. It sucks because I recommended this site to my parents, and they treated my mom very crummy. We won’t be back here again.
Scout
I love this site and have camped there twice (most recently Feb 2024). We packed light but not that light because we like to be comfortable; it took my BF and me about 3 trips each to get everything we needed to the site, including firewood, our 4 person tent, air mattress, camp stove, cooler, etc. The walk from where you can park to the actual site is also not that long (about a quarter mile away), but it can be prone to flooding, so I would wear waterproof hiking boots and have some gaters handy when you arrive in case you have to walk through some muddy spots or puddles as we did on this last trip.
Traveler
This place was a good place for a beginner camper like me. It’s close to a Walmart, to get things I forgot. It has a few trail heads and lots of boat docks. I enjoyed fishing and wild cranes.
Scout
Have been camping there many times quiet and peaceful
Traveler
This is an excellent place to pitch a tent and spend time in nature without traveling far. Great hiking trails and the Pelicer Creek is available for fishing. Bring a kayak.
The camp sites are huge. The tent sites are elevated which should help keep the soil dryer in case of rain.
Keep in mind that there is no water available at the camping sites or the entire park for that matter. Potable or non potable so you have to bring in all drinking water and water for washing dishes if you plan on doing some cleanup. Also, there are bathrooms but they’re pretty far. The campsites do have nearby porta potties.
Traveler
Camp ground host was a pure dick over a matter that could have been handled differently.
GuideNice park and amenities. Maintained well enough. Spaces are closer together but the amount of trees and foliage make it seem more private. Don’t ask for an early check in. Even if your spot is empty. The staff was extremely rude and unfriendly. I understand policy is policy but being rude doesn’t help enforce the policy.
Scoutits nice to relax .. if you are a camper ... for first time it dont have nothing plan its not good...
Traveler
This park was really nice to camp at, you got hookups for water and electricity. Hot showers in the bathrooms, each bathroom has its own sink , mirror , toilet , and hot showers the water doesn’t go cold on you. Pretty quite in the distance you can hear the power plant but not as bad as I thought it would be it’s a muffled noise so if you got tv or ear plugs you are in real good shape lol ! For rent campers atleast!! Clean grounds, has a soda machine near the playground very nice to launch boats out as well , I also see on here it’s listed @$15 it’s not $15 thru the number it’s like $25 plus tax (: worth it for the hookups
Ranger
Located on the river across from Kennedy Space Center, it's a great spot to view launches with 20 or so spots along the river.
Water/electric sites only, but there are two dump stations available. Boat launch just outside the campground as well. Bath houses were clean and there is a small camp store.
Spots are all first come, first serve. Only available to KSC/NASA employees and military though (and requires an annual membership of $15-20). The campground does update open sites on their facebook page daily (https://www.facebook.com/KARSPark).
GuideThe spring is walking distance from campground - we saw turtles, otters, and many fish while swimming in the spring. For the price, no electric or water hookups and the facilities were not well maintained. Sites are close together and campground can get noisy. Front desk staff are amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. The springs are worth a visit, but campground is too expensive for what you get.
Guide
This is a beautiful campground with proximity to the Florida Scenic Trail. Ideal for tent camping, as the forest service roads were a little rough for our RV. Campground is along a beautiful and unique wet prairie. No cell service, no electric or water hookups. Worth a stay in a tent! Recommend using entrance off route 19 via forest service road 86.
Scout
Ice park
GuideVisited to see Manatees from the land. Cooler temps best for manatee numbers.
Campground sites feel secluded with vegetation but can be challenging for backing up into spots.
Had electric and water but trash is upon exit along with dump station
Nice paved road around campground and short trail to main park area. Canoe and kayak rentals available.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
TravelerHas been wonderful clean and quiet. We have a truck tent.
Traveler
This campground has a split personality. The west side has nice wide concrete sites, the east side is on dirt and gravel and not so nice. When I made my reservation I missed the pick your site($30 add on?), but given the difference between the two sides, it would have been worth it. This is definitely a KOA Journey, hookups work, good for a night or two, but not a destination. I didn't think it is quite as close to the Space Center as described.
Some long term residents, many on the east side, and the roads aren't very wide. The gentleman who escorted us to our site took us off the road and out into the grass to get around a tree to make the turn workable. Most of the staff was friendly and helpful.
Oh, if you look at this campground on Google's satellite view, be aware that there is a different campground that wraps the KOA on the west, and south. If you see tennis courts, you're looking at the wrong campground.
Given the history of this area I had high expectations. If you get one of the nice new sites, then I think it's worthwhile, otherwise this is one of the few KOAs that I don't think I will recommend for more than a night maybe two.
Traveler
For what it is, this place is perfect. I stayed nearly three weeks here in December before heading back to the cold north, and I couldn’t have asked for much more. Staying out on the inlet, although primitive, does offer a bit more privacy compared to inside the campground. It also gives front row seats to the ships coming to port as well as any launches from cape Canaveral which are much more frequent now. The staff was very friendly and I would absolutely stay here again.
Traveler
Lake Mills has 14 sites to choose from, some being bigger than others. All sites were clean and very well cared for. The whole park was nice. Kids enjoyed the playground and fishing from the dock. We will definitely be back! Great for first timers, quick get away, or even an extended stay. Other reviews mentioned the park being too loud at night due to the local bar and traffic. We were on site number 1, which is right by the entrance and road. No complaints whatsoever. Bathrooms are currently being remodeled, but there was a temp trailer bathroom that was kept cleaned by a local company.
Legend
Clearwater Lake, Ocala NF: This is a beautiful campground with clean facilities and great staff (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer. ) To Do: Bird wWatching , Hiking, Enjoy the nice beach.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price 2023: $ 23 (including taxes) w interagency pass
Security: Locked gate after 4PM. Code is provided.
Usage during visit: 40% during the week. Almost full over the weekend.
Site Privacy: Some sites do not offer any visual privacy from adjacent sites.
Site Spacing: Most sites have good spacing.
Pad surface: Blacktop
Reservations: Required.
Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: Not loud from campsite
Through Traffic in campground: There is a day use area in Loop A. However, it was only minimally used during our stay.
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no
Dump Station: yes
Potable Water Available: Scattered faucets. There is a fill up spigot just past the check in booth.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Amazingly clean. Nearby Juniper Springs along with the Everglades NP campgrounds should come here for training!
Showers: Nice with doors.
Pull Throughs: No
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars.
Setting: Long Pine and Oak Forest with under brush
Recent Weather: Cooler than usual for this time of year.
Solar: Not good enough to reach 100%, but enough to cut down on generator usage.
Host: Yes
Rig Size: Maybe 40’ max
Sites: Loop A:
More secluded sites:7,9,,12
Sites w nice views of the lake from site: 8, 13*, 15*,16,18, 19 (nice view of the lake but faces parking area), 22 (our site, nice view of the end of the lake, which is not as pretty as the other areas of the lake. However, the site sits off by itself.)
Loop B:
a bit more secluded sites.: 25,26 28, 38,
Lakeview sites: 34*,36*
Scout
We spent a week at Harris Village RV Park and the owners were very helpful and the campground was a quiet respite during my visit. I plan to return when I have the opportunity again. Thanks to Phil for going above and beyond the call of duty.
Marilyn
Camping near New Smyrna Beach offers a mix of beautiful scenery, fun activities, and a chance to unwind in nature. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around New Smyrna Beach is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while being close to the beach and other attractions. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near New Smyrna Beach, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Smyrna Beach, FL is Little Big Econ State Forest Primitive Camping - East Camp Zone with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near New Smyrna Beach, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near New Smyrna Beach, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
