Best Campgrounds near Ochopee, FL

A real gem! Not a large CG with lots of amenities, but quiet and beautiful. No water and electricity at sites. Very clean bathroom with showers at entrance; with pit toilet on loop. We were at site 26 which overlooked the field of sawgrass in Big Cypress with nice afternoon shade. It does close for season in mid-April and we were there the last two nights, so very quiet! Good location to enjoy Loop Road in Big Cypress with lots of wildlife. Also good Basecamp for visits to Shark Valley Trail as wall as Ten Thousand Islands.

A perfect primitive spot with a great location. Kind campground host and spacious spots. It is very open and you will see a lot of your neighbors, but that isn’t too much of a worry as many folks are here for hunting. It’s quiet in the evenings and makes for a great sunset spot.

Remote location, but not in a bad way easy to get to and from other large cities Great scenery in the campground clean awesome sites big !  $65 a night.  Have wood and fire rings available.  Fishing, bathhouses, new coin op laundry $2.00 wash & $2.00 to dry 4 total machines.  Will be back next year !  Nice owner & camp host !  Skunk Ape Research Center at front of campground is the check in til 5pm then the shack on the right past the gate is open 5pm/9pm.

It is a lovely secluded primitive campsite with all the advertised amenities. Very good view of the night sky for South Florida. The grass was fairly overgrown so we couldn't walk off the trails much. Ground was very dry as it hadn't rained in over a week and it was the middle of the dry season. Easily fit 4 tents at the site, 2 of which were on the raised platforms. Bugs were quite mild for a swampy South Florida location; citronella candles and the campfire did a good job of keeping them at bay. Saw some gators and spotted gar hanging at the culvert near the gate.

Great remote drive out to the primitive site “old florida” the paved road turns to dirt/gravel. One way in one way out. It is located next to marsh land. Luckily the access road was drivable with two wheel drive.

Stayed with friends.  Very expensive they offer breakfast but charge outrageous prices.  Otger things are offered but tgey charge a pretty penny.  Everyone complained about it.  The maintenance guy is rude talks about all the owners and rides around all day like he owns the place. Mosquitoes are horrible. The airboats are loud and run all day. You cant have a conversation out when they pass. I may return with my friends but I would never pay to be here

It is a well laid out Florida State Park campground In a mangrove swamp, making the mosquitoes horrible. There is access to a channel that you can rent a kayak or “Go Cat” to go all the way to the gulf, or use your own boat. The go cats are very cool and the guide you out in groups for around $150.

Many sites around a body of water

I stayed there for 13 nights. Good experience. Customer service is excellent. I stayed on a concrete pad close to the main office. Great neighbours. Tight spaces but I had no issues maneuvering my 28' RV.

Pulled up to window at check-in. Gave her my name and reserved site number. She asked me to park and come inside. Inside, she handed me a map and recited the rules. Then she asked if I had any questions. I asked, "Do you have a restroom?" She looked at me with unbelief. "Well, I guess if it's an emergency. " I told her I had been on the road for 3 and a half hours. The other lady pointed to the restroom. I don't think that I've ever had anyone deny a restroom to me at check-in. The website said the Royal Palm trail would close on April 3rd. When we went to it on March 26th, it was barricaded. Both my wife and I had cold showers that evening. When I mentioned it to the maintenance lady, she said that she had been there since November and has never had a hot shower. All the sites seem to be fairly tight with no privacy.

Stayed here for a quick overnight campout last weekend and was very pleased with the campgrounds. The site was clean and well groomed. We were close to the swamp and at night saw quite a few crayfish crawling around on the ground at night which was a first for me. If you stay here make sure you take a walk around at night that is where we ended up seeing a lot of critters which was really cool. Also make sure you take a flashlight and look in many of the waterways. We ended up seeing quite a few gators and fish like alligator gar. Also discovered that the creeping growling noises I was hearing all night was Gators mating which is wild to think about...

I was planning on having my wedding here. I have had my spots reserved for 9 months. They called me TODAY, LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM MY WEDDING To tell me they double booked me with a 3rd party service that rents out the sites at a higher rate for glamping and are telling ME that I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY SITES. They have offered no help other than"move sites, get a refund, or re-reserve through that third party site at a more expensive rate."

Evidently the sites I reserved are no longer owned by the state, they're owned by the third party site through a contract. they're made into glamping sites and you cannot rent the site through anyone but the glamping company. They removed what was once a beautiful campsite from the general public and turn it into a"galmp site". How many other sites are going to be bought out like this? All the prime sites that were tent only in North loop are now EXCLUSIVELY glamping sites. If you like doing your own camping, you no longer have that option on the best spots in the park no matter how early you book.

I and my entire wedding party are beyond disappointed in how this has been handled. We are being turned away from over half of our reservations. This is so unprofessional and honestly should be illegal. They waited 9 months to notify me of THEIR MISTAKES and now, less than two months from my wedding, I have to scramble to notify my guests of the changes. I may even have to cancel my wedding because the sites seem to have already been rented through the 3rd party site and I don't want some random people in the CENTER OF MY WEDDING AND ALL ITS PHOTOS. And to top it off, they don't seem at all apologetic about ruining my wedding.

Not a fan of this campground. We stayed for five nights in February. Really hot and buggy - TONS of mosquitos. I guess that’s to be expected given the location in/near the Everglades. The mosquitos were so aggressive we got tons of bites, they covered our pups, and the first evening we smashed close to 60 of them in our van after opening the door just to get into the van. Pretty miserable. On top of that, the nature trails within the campground/visitor area was closed and overgrown. The only hiking trails that were open were close to a mile down the highway - not really accessible on foot from campground. Campground itself was ok but not as pretty as others we’ve been to. On the plus side, good location for visiting other stuff in the area and my husband liked playing pickleball daily at courts in Naples. The volunteers at the campground were really friendly and the facilities were clean.

Burns Lake: This is a fine campground. The only redeeming factor is the lake. RV sites are not that great in my opinion.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

To Do: The smallest Post Office in the USA is close by. Oasis Visitor Center has gator viewing.
Visit all the nearby boardwalks are worth a visit.
Do a Ranger led wet walk. It is out of this world.
Drive to Shark Valley and take the tram (reservations are best), bicycle the 12 mile loop or walk part of it. The gates open at 9:00 AM for park parking. Fills up, thus slowing entry into the park. However, parking is available along the highway. We parked there, just past the no parking signs. We then walked in at sunrise for enjoyment before the crowds. Some folks were biking at that time as well. Beautiful. Gators began sunning themselves by 9:30AM or so. Drive to Everglade City for a boat ride out to the bay. Fantastic experience. The BCNP Visitor Center can tell you who to contact to make reservations. We went on this trip a couple years ago.
Airboats and swamp buggy rides are popular. We did this as well, but preferred the other activities in the end. However, how can you pass up on a fun airboat experience. Unlike the Everglades the full campsite discount for seniors is offered here.

Overall Rating: 3 - not picturesque . One of our least favorites. Others we have talked to love this campground. Price 2023: $ 12 w interagency pass Security: Must drive be host site. Usage during visit: Full Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close as Monument and Midway Site surface: Grass Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet during our visit Road Noise: Less than Midway and Monument
Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At Midway Potable: Water Not available. Fill up at Midway. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit toilet Showers: At Monument Pull Throughs: all Cell Service (AT&T): 1 Bar Setting: Around Burns Lake. Lake view from all sites. Recent Weather: Unusually wet winter Solar: Solar will be great in the RV sites.
Host: Yes Rig Size: Largest is fine in RV sites.
Sites: None of the sites really appeal to me. Other people I have met love it here. #10 is the best RV site. Id rather be in the tent only area. It is nicer than Monument and Midway tent only sites. Campers and vans use these sites, I noticed.

Monument Lake, Big Cypress: This is the best of the BCNP campgrounds in my opinion. It surrounds the largest of the campground lakes in BCNP and has gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. Easy to get to. The hosts all work hard and are kind. The big downsides are: GENERATORS: Hours allowed need to be shortened. Speed limit is double of Burns Lake resulting in excessive dust.

To Do: The smallest Post Office in the USA is close by. Oasis Visitor Center has gator viewing.
Visit all the nearby boardwalks are worth a visit.
Do a Ranger led wet walk. It is out of this world.
Drive to Shark Valley and take the tram (reservations are best), bicycle the 12 mile loop or walk part of it. The gates open at 9:00 AM for park parking. Fills up, thus slowing entry into the park. However, parking is available along the highway. We parked there, just past the no parking signs. We then walked in at sunrise for enjoyment before the crowds. Some folks were biking at that time as well. Beautiful. Gators began sunning themselves by 9:30AM or so. Drive to Everglade City for a boat ride out to the bay. Fantastic experience. The BCNP Visitor Center can tell you who to contact to make reservations. We went on this trip a couple years ago.
Airboats and swamp buggy rides are popular. We did this as well, but preferred the other activities in the end. However, how can you pass up on a fun airboat experience. Unlike the Everglades the full campsite discount is offered here. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. ) Overall Rating: 4 (should be a 5, but for poor generator usage rules. This negatively affected our stay this time, our 4th time here.) Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass Security: None except visitors must drive by host sites. Usage during visit: Heavy Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close Site surface: Grass Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet except for one long running generator.
Road Noise: Some. Through Traffic in campground: Little. Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At Midway. Potable Water Available: At bathrooms Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Clean flush toilets.
Showers: Yes. Clean Pull Throughs: No Cell Service (AT&T): 3 bars. Setting: Open, around lake.
Recent Weather: Cool and rainy. Solar: Some sites are better than others Host: 3 or 4 Rig Size: Large rigs present. Sites: 27 - 34 e side of lake. Less shade, better solar. Beautiful sunset views. View of the grass prairie. 34 fine, but faces to pit toilet .
35 - 38: sunset view with day use area in front of lake view 1-3 west side of lake. Sunrise view .
14 - 26 north side of lake with better shade. 26 has a nice view of the grass prairie w shade. One of the best sites in my opinion.

This was a great spot if your camping in south Florida between spots and has great hiking.

Overflow CG, Okaloacoochee FLSF: We had a peaceful experience staying here for 5 days.

To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter . Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good.

Wildcow Rd beginning at the campground is a nice walk. Three walks with only 1 vehicle during our walk.

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. ) Overall Rating: 4.5 for mostly large sites, but no privacy in between. Price 2023: $ 11 about w taxes Security: None Usage during visit: 1/2 Site Privacy: Open Site Spacing: most of the 6 sites are large Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Very quiet.
Road Noise: Wildcow, a backcountry road, runs along campground. Not busy during our visit, but can be more busy I hear. Could be a dust problem when there is less rain. Through Traffic in campground: Along Wildcow. Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Ram gets report as non-potable water at Hunt Camp, .25 miles. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Chemical toilets.
Showers: No Pull Throughs: No Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: 3’ tall native grass in between sites. Recent Weather: Sunny, not too hot Solar: The best Host: No Rig Size: Any size. Sites: 1 is best. 6 is second, but closer to the road which was infrequently used during our stay. 3 and 4, unfortunately back up to each other.

Wildcow Group Campground in , Okaloacoochee FL State Forest: gate is locked 1.9 miles from the campground. Accessible by vehicle. Gate code is available, I am told . CG is located at the end of the road. This is primitive camping, tent only. This is a nice campground with two picnic tables, one grill, two elevated tent pads. Looks like a horse trail/old road begins at the end of the campground. Currently covered w long grass. I do not know how long this road is. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. .

Overall Rating: 4.5 for a nice remote group camp experience. Hiking trail is overgrown with grass. Due to a rainy dry season, probably. Price 2023: $ 20 per night Security: Locked gate Usage during visit: empty Site Privacy: 2 elevated tent pads, have a semi shrub barrier. Two other areas tents could’ve pitched Site Spacing: adequate. Site surface: Wooden tent pads Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Very, very quiet Road Noise: none. Through Traffic in campground: at the end of the Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: no none Potable Water Available: hand pump Generators: No posting denying use Bathroom: none Showers: no Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: Wong, Pine Forest, oak trees, and palm trees Recent Weather: unseasonably cool Solar: not at the camp site. Could set up panels on road. Plenty of sunlight there. Host: no. Rig Size: I would think a small trailer or easily a van could park next to the one tent pads. Sites: two sites total. With raised wooden platform. One or two spots where tents can be pitched on the ground.

Pinecrest: Group camp. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 3.5 for a group campground Security: None. Isolated.
Usage during visit: Empty Site Privacy: None - Two defined areas Site Spacing:
Site surface: Grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: No e Through Traffic in campground: No reason Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: At Midway CG Generators: Yes Bathroom: Pit toilet Showers: No Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Open grass area surrounded by trees Recent Weather: 50s to 80s. Some high winds. Tornado warnings Solar: Yes Host: Not on premises Rig Size: Can accommodate large rigs Sites: See pics

Mitchell’s Landing: this isolated campground has an airboat launch area. I met a man, Bill, who grew up on this property, owned by his Miccosukee family until the mid 70s. According to him, the department of the interior, reneged on their promise that this land would stay in his family. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 4 Price 2023: $ w interagency pass Security: No - Remote Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: about half the sites are spread out in an open park lake area. Are very nice. Some sites are very nice. I was those below. Site Spacing: the nicest sites are pretty good in this regard Site surface: grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet when we were here Road Noise: too remote. Through Traffic in campground: None while I was visiting. Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no, no Dump Station: at Midway campground. (30 minutes). Potable Water Available: The closest water is at Midway CG (30 minutes). Generators: allowed Bathroom: pit toilets. Moderately clean Showers: no. Pull Throughs: some Cell Service (AT&T): three Setting: surrounded by trees Recent Weather: very mixed this year. 50s into the 80s. Solar: some Host: yes Rig Size: 30 footers are here. Be careful with site you choose for that size Sites: my favorite – 4,5,6,7,10, 8 Okay:15

Midway in Big Cypress: This is our forth time here. We love this campground, though the sites are open. All trailer sites look over the lake which is in the middle of the campground. This campground seems to be very conducive to meeting people. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 4.5 for the lake view Price 2023: $ 15 w interagency pass Usage during visit: RV sites full every night. Tent sites accommodate vans, rooftop tents…. Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Fair Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Tent area - defiantly.
Road Noise: Tent area - defiantly. From # 21, yes. Through Traffic in campground: Folks might come in to have picnics at tables around the lake. Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes, at the dump station. Generators: Allowed. Bathroom: Flush toilet. Only one stall in the men’s. Clean. Showers: At Monument Lake CH, 20 minutes. Pull Throughs: None in RV Loop Cell Service (AT&T): Site 21 usually has 1 bar. Sites at the near the end have weaker reception. Setting: All RV sites are situated around the lake
Recent Weather: High 50s to 80s. Rain Solar: Plenty in the tent sites Host: Three Rig Size: Largest bus RVs are here Sites: 19 - 26 are best shaded sites. 13 and 14 are corner sites with less shade . 1 is near a shed, but a fine site. Picnic tables along the lake and in between these sites: 22&23, 3&4, 11&12, 16&17. (On nice weekend days you can expect small groups using these spots for day usage.)

We accumulated several nights in our travel trailer at Collier-Seminole in the November/December time frame, staying at a total of 5 campsites (76, 45, 84, 22, and 66).  The standout for us was the quick and helpful response of the staff.  Ex:  As we were moving into site 84, we spotted a fire ant problem, and they attended to it right away.  Ex: As we were moving into site 21, we saw that the middle board of the picnic table top was rotted out.  I brought this to the attention of a Ranger passing by, and we had a different table within 15 minutes.  Ex:  We had the misfortune of locking the keys in a friend's vehicle, which caused us to have two vehicles on site overnight.  The staff was very understanding, and even suggested an empty campsite nearby for parking our second vehicle overnight   Ex:  Because our initial bookings were late, we did a quite a bit of "jumping" between sites.  The staff proactively stopped by to tell us we could move to our next site early.

Other reviews cover the mosquito situation.  I would add that dealing with the mosquitos was routine for a grizzled Minnesotan such as myself, but the aggressive biting noseeums were something new.

Some "insider" information: 

(1) campsites 22 and 24 are the only sites with paved pads.  The rest are gravel.  ALSO, campsite 22 is actually a double wide paved pad (used to be sites 22 and 23, but they combined them into one).

(2) While you are limited to one vehicle per campsite, you can park an extra vehicle down by the boat landing.

(3) There is a lot more shade over the grounds than the view from Google Earth would suggest.

(4)  There are washers and driers that take credit card payment.  Nice.  The bath house in the A-loop has two washers and two driers for doubling up.

(5) This campground has several bag dispensers for dog clean up that are always well stocked.  GREAT for those of us on an extended stay.