Tent camping near Lutz, Florida offers access to subtropical wilderness areas with multiple river systems at around 60 feet above sea level. The region sits at the edge of the Green Swamp water basin, which feeds the Hillsborough River watershed through a series of connected conservation lands. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, while winter brings more moderate 50-75°F temperatures.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Lake Park features both a lake and canoe access points for exploring local waterways. "So much to do here.....camp, BMX, canoe, fish, RC cars, horseback riding and more," notes Christy C.
Archery practice: Lake Rogers Park maintains an archery range for visitors to use, though equipment isn't provided. "It has an archery range which is cool, but I believe its a bring your own equipment kind of affair, they don't rent gear out," explains George M.
Mountain biking trails: Hillsborough River State Park Campground offers both paved and unpaved biking routes. "We needed a campsite near Tampa FL for a few days to meet friends visiting the area from up north. Weather was cool in February that allowed for comfortable hiking and biking," shares Rick G.
Wildlife observation: Crooked River Campground at Withlacoochee State Forest provides river access with abundant wildlife. "Lots of wildlife abounds and it's right along the river with a launch area. We enjoyed a group paddle down the river for a few hours," reports Tracy L H.
Geocaching adventures: Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract features dozens of geocache locations throughout its trail system. "The property's roads and trails meander through pine flatwoods, consisting of both slash and longleaf pine overstory, palmetto/gallberry understory and hydric hammock and floodplain swamp along the river," describes Elliott B.
What campers like
Natural spring swimming: Lithia Springs Conservation Park offers a refreshing 72-degree spring for cooling off. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded. Bathhouse are clean," writes Nate D.
Private tent sites: Crooked River Campground provides secluded camping spots separated by dense foliage. "The spacious, private campsites were a plus. It truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest and the kids loved getting to explore," says Danae N.
Firefly displays: Hillsborough River State Park features seasonal firefly activity in early summer. "At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," Jason D. observes.
Multi-county hiking: Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract sits at a county intersection, allowing hikers to cross county lines. "An interesting note is that on a short hike, one can travel through three different counties," points out Elliott B.
Wildlife corridors: Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park connects to regional ecological corridors. "Over 150 species call Starkey home either full or part time. There is something here for everyone," Jeanene A. mentions.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Lake Park camping is restricted to organized youth groups only. "Unfortunately you can only camp here with an organized nonprofit youth group," Kristen W. cautions.
Seasonal flooding: Upper Hillsborough Preserve trails can become impassable during rainy periods. "Parts of these trails can be filled with water (large puddles). The campground and associated trails are closed during different hunting dates," notes Elliott B.
Summer insects: Hillsborough River State Park experiences significant mosquito activity in warmer months. "The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them," warns Jason D.
Road conditions: Access to some tent camping areas involves driving on rough unpaved roads. "The drive is very rough due to teenagers mudding out there," states Nate D. about Upper Hillsborough Preserve.
Non-potable water: Most primitive tent sites near Lutz provide minimal water access. "Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills and there are ADA portapotty and non-potable water available," mentions Elliott B. about Alston Tract.
Tips for camping with families
Hammock-friendly sites: Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park offers trees suitable for hammock camping. "Campsite #14 is practically on top of 13 and 15 giving very little privacy. The site was spacious and many trees to hammock from," reports Shaun C.
Weekday scheduling: For a quieter experience at popular sites, avoid weekends. "Weekends have a different vibe on the weekdays it's quiet," advises Tianay F. at Crooked River Campground.
River access for children: Look for sites with easy water access for cooling off. "The walk to the river from our site was so worth it. We loved exploring the trail and then letting the kids play in the water," shares Danae N.
Playground proximity: Crews Lake Wilderness Park features playground facilities near camping areas. "Awesome park with well maintained trail. There are a lot of other small trails that lead off into the woods," mentions Marquee M.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature centers with youth programs. "Nature education center for children. Playgrounds and pavilions for get togethers," notes Tim L. about Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.
Tips from RVers
Power availability: Lithia Springs Conservation Park provides electrical hookups for RVs. "The sites are nice and spacious, have really excellent tree coverage. They all have fire rings, tables and power," states Elliott B.
Site spacing considerations: Hillsborough River State Park has limited space between RV sites. "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places.. and this is a bit peoply. That said it was very comfortable everything was clean and super convenient," explains Gail W.
Water and hookup access: Most dedicated RV sites provide basic utilities. "There was 30 amp as well as 50 amp water there's a dump station clean bathrooms nice showers even dedicated dishwashing sinks and a washer and dryer," adds Gail W.
Road conditions: Access roads to some camping areas may be difficult for larger rigs. "Small tight spaces in the campground. Most with no coverage between sites," notes Billie S. about Hillsborough River State Park.
Seasonal availability: Winter months (January-March) typically have higher RV occupancy rates. "Being a Floridian, we've experienced FL's state parks and found them to offer privacy between sites. We weren't disappointed with Hillsboro River State Park," shares Rick G.
