Best Campgrounds near Ochopee, FL

Camping within Big Cypress National Preserve dominates the landscape around Ochopee, Florida, with several established campgrounds offering varying levels of amenities. Monument Lake, Burns Lake, and Midway campgrounds provide primitive to semi-developed sites for tent and RV campers throughout the preserve. Trail Lakes Campground stands out with more extensive facilities including electric hookups, tent sites, cabins, and unique chickee huts. The region serves as a strategic base for exploring both Big Cypress and nearby Everglades National Park, with most campgrounds positioned along or near the Tamiami Trail (US-41).

Seasonal considerations dramatically impact camping in the Ochopee area, with most Big Cypress campgrounds only open for overnight stays from August to April. Summer months bring extreme heat, humidity, and intense mosquito activity that make camping challenging. Campgrounds like Burns Lake offer primitive experiences with vault toilets and no potable water, while others like Trail Lakes provide showers and electrical hookups year-round. Reservations are essential during winter months when the area fills with visitors escaping northern climates. Cell service remains limited throughout the region, with most campgrounds receiving only 1-2 bars of coverage. As one visitor noted, "Burns Lake is about midway between Naples and Miami, making it a great location to explore either or both of Big Cypress or Everglades National Park."

Several campers highlight wildlife viewing as a significant draw to the area. Alligator sightings are common, particularly at dawn and dusk when they sun themselves near water bodies adjacent to campgrounds. The region offers excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution, with several reviewers mentioning spectacular night skies. Campers consistently recommend bringing adequate bug spray, especially for no-see-ums and mosquitoes that can be problematic even during cooler months. A camper shared that "Stars are great. Bathrooms are clean. Bring your own firewood. We didn't see any hikers or OHVers. There was an alligator swimming in the lake at dusk." Sites with water access tend to be most sought-after, though visitors should remain vigilant about wildlife safety near shorelines and follow posted warnings about alligator activity.

Best Camping Sites Near Ochopee, Florida (77)

    1. Monument Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    22 Reviews
    Ochopee, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-1205

    $24 - $28 / night

    "Pros: right off the main road through the Everglades & Big Cypress, RV sites are all around a pond, boardwalk hikes nearby (short drive), visitor center and Native American museum nearby (short drive),"

    "Campground: Monument Lake Campground, FL Monument Lake Campground is located within the Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL."

    2. Trail Lakes Campground

    12 Reviews
    Ochopee, FL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 504-6554

    $45 - $225 / night

    "Trail Lakes is a proper campground which is staffed and gated just off of Hwy 41 (Alligator Alley) on the west side in Ochopee. It's open all year long. "

    "My girlfriend and I wanted to do the spur of the moment camping trip and so, while we were driving from the east side of south Florida we tried calling multiple campgrounds to find which had last minute"

    3. Collier–Seminole State Park Campground

    31 Reviews
    Goodland, FL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 394-3397

    $22 / night

    "It is a well laid out Florida State Park campground In a mangrove swamp, making the mosquitoes horrible."

    "Even still, there are 105 camp sites tucked away on dry ground. All have electric and water, a fire pit and picnic table."

    4. Burns Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    7 Reviews
    Ochopee, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-1205

    $24 / night

    "You would need to drive a considerable distance on 41 east or west to get to a service station that might have what you are looking for. Its quiet…in a nature sort of way."

    "Burns Lake is about midway between Naples and Miami, making it a great location to explore either of both of Big Cypress or Everglades National Park."

    5. Everglades Isle Motorcoach Retreat

    5 Reviews
    Everglades City, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-2600

    "In the future we will choose non waterfront or the furthest down from the entrance! Word of caution...watch for falling coconuts. One in the pic fell right next to where we were sitting."

    "I have to say i was very impressed with the resort and staff, it was way above my expectations, very close to Marco Island and Naples. I will dedinetly come back."

    6. Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    17 Reviews
    Ochopee, FL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-1205

    $24 - $30 / night

    "Midway Campground- Ochopee, FL: We were here a few years ago and had to come back. This is a great campground in Big Cypress Wilderness Reserve at mile marker 52 on route 41 Tamiami trail."

    "I appreciated that he was around as it make me feel safer if I were to travel alone."

    7. Chokoloskee RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Everglades City, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-2414

    8. Outdoor Resorts-Chokoloskee Island

    1 Review
    Everglades City, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 695-2881

    9. Backcountry Crooked Creek Chickee — Everglades National Park

    1 Review
    Everglades City, FL
    7 miles
    Website

    $23 / night

    "Stay quiet and look under the platform, tarpon, snook and drum were always around. Bugs were tough sunset and sunrise. Perfect overnight if you’re doing the water trail."

    10. Watson's Place Wilderness Campground — Everglades National Park

    2 Reviews
    Everglades City, FL
    14 miles
    Website

    "The confrontation was about bodies of some of Watson's farm workers that had been found in the creek at/near The Watson Place. "

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Recent Reviews near Ochopee, FL

206 Reviews of 77 Ochopee Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Collier–Seminole State Park Campground

    Nice place for camping

    Staying only for a night and until the checkout next day (1 pm), seems like enough of activities to do for longer stay, but located well even for the overnighting

  • Anthony B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Naples/Marco Island KOA Holiday

    Nice park but drainage issues

    We stayed here last weekend, and while the park is nice enough, there are severe drainage issues. We live in Florida and fully understand rainy season, but there’s no excuse to wake up to 4 inches of water FLOWING through your site. Site L18 is not recommended.

  • Ernesto H.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 24, 2025

    Monument Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Naturaleza salvaje

    La primera vez que fui me impactó muchísimo porque desde la entrada veías los caimanes a la orilla de la calle fuera del agua y bastante cerca de las tiendas de campaña. Hay baños y algo se señal de T-Mobile

  • Rob C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2025

    Monument Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Clean Quiet

    Enjoyed my 2 day stay here! Amazing thing while I was there is there were Thousands of Green Grasshoppers all on the Trees, Ground and the camper wheels, not eating, just like they were waiting for something!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2025

    Panther Camp — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Great spot to disconnect. Primitive. Free.

    I have hammock camped twice at this location. There is no cost to stay, no reservations needed. You can fill out a permit from the website. However I have never been asked for it. The trail in can be muddy depending on the time of year. 5 miles from the entrance on the Blue trail, it is a tree grove with a picnic table and firepit. Large and maintained by the FTA, space for 10+ tents and hammocks. There is a water hole in the back of the camp which can be filtered. However a gator generally lives there. Better to pack your water in. Strong cell signal due to cell towers at the rest stop.

  • E
    May. 19, 2025

    Bear Island Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Very isolated location.

    This location is at the end of a 41 mile dirt road. We stayed on the loop that contains sites 1 through 12. There is no privacy between sites, except #4. The sites are large and you shouldn’t feel crowded. The area was well maintained and the vault toilet was clean. There is some great fishing in the canal alongside the road.

  • j
    May. 12, 2025

    Koreshan State Park Campground

    Nice place.

    Grounds are nice, and staff are great. I’d suggest avoiding site 37 until it’s renovated. Big tree in the middle, and soft sugar sand is hard to level. Also, just know there are paths in the back where you want to keep eyes open. Saw rattlesnakes.


Guide to Ochopee

Camping near Ochopee, Florida centers on a subtropical ecosystem at just a few feet above sea level, where freshwater marshes meet mangrove estuaries. Winter camping temperatures typically range from 50-75°F, while summer brings high humidity with overnight temperatures rarely dropping below 75°F. Cell service throughout the area remains spotty, with most campers reporting only 1-2 bars of coverage even at campgrounds with more developed infrastructure.

What to do

Wildlife photography opportunities: At Monument Lake Campground, campers can capture unique photos of local fauna. "The first time I went I was really impressed because from the entrance you could see alligators at the edge of the street outside the water and quite close to the tents," notes Ernesto H.

Paddle the mangroves: Many campgrounds offer kayak rentals to explore the waterways. At Trail Lakes Campground, "Kayak and canoe rentals are available as well as a swamp buggy ride. We brought our own kayaks and were told where to enjoy them," writes Michelle S.

Night sky viewing: The limited light pollution makes for exceptional stargazing opportunities. "It was a full moon the night we stayed and the stars were still incredibly bright as there is very little light pollution. Sunset was beautiful," reports Laura K. about Trail Lakes Campground.

Loop Road drive: The 26-mile scenic byway offers access to remote areas. "The 26 mile loop road is very close and a great way to experience Florida & Big Cypress backcountry and wildlife from your car or bike," explains Kevin A.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, bathrooms at many sites are well-maintained. "Very clean facilities. Potable water. Lake had Alligators in it. Fire ban. Great hosts. Another great stop in Big Cypress," says Paul W. about Monument Lake Campground.

Unique accommodations: Chokoloskee RV Park offers distinctive lodging options. "The park has bathrooms, a small playground, chickee for lounging outdoors, with a fire pit nearby, and a pavilion for gathering with friends and family," describes Jean C.

Fishing access: Many campgrounds provide boat access to prime fishing spots. "Fishing is epic, even from the chickee. Stay quiet and look under the platform, tarpon, snook and drum were always around," writes Paul W. about Crooked Creek Chickee.

Off-grid experience: The isolation appeals to those seeking quiet. "Burns Lake is about midway between Naples and Miami, making it a great location to explore either or both of Big Cypress or Everglades National Park," explains Stephanie Z.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Several campgrounds close during summer months. "Burns Lake is open all year long for day use (it's a big area for ATVs), but unfortunately you can't overnight there during the summer season," warns Stephanie Z.

Bug preparation: Biting insects can be intense, especially at dawn and dusk. "I would advise to bring extra TP just in case it hasn't been restocked. There is a bathroom (hole in the ground with a toilet on top); totally fine," explains Liz M. about Burns Lake Campground.

Water access: Potable water isn't available at all locations. "Burns Lake Campground is primitive. Bring your own water, period. Most of these primitive campgrounds in Big Cypress are used by hunters or recreational vehicle owners," notes Dave V.

Wildlife awareness: Alligators are common residents at most water bodies. "The Lake is not for swimming…period! This is gator country and while you may not see one in the lake, they are present," cautions Dave V.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose sites further from highways when possible. "This is a great site for families or groups as the sites are close together so one could reserve 2 and have a lot of room for multiple tents/cars," suggests Liz M. about Midway Campground.

Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer recreational areas. "The park has a small playground by the river and a few historic markers to explore. The location is about 30mins to the beach depending on traffic," mentions September H. about Collier-Seminole State Park.

Educational opportunities: Many sites provide interpretive exhibits. "The camp ground is set up to accommodate off-road vehicles, and you've got to drive down a dirt road a little ways to access it," explains Stephanie Z.

Safety considerations: Keep children away from water edges and be mindful of wildlife. "Keep small pets and children away from the water's edge and within reach," advises Dave V.

Tips from RVers

Site access: Some sites have challenging entry points. "Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. Stayed 5 nights in 35 foot RV+tow car in 3 different sites," notes Christina about Midway Campground.

Hookup limitations: Electrical connections are available at select sites only. "All sites have electric and water, a fire pit and picnic table," reports Kevin A.

Generator hours: Be aware of quiet hours for generator use. "Generators must be off at 10:00 pm. Fishing allowed in lake. Campsites are quite level," reports Kathy about Monument Lake Campground.

Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer this facility. "When we went to leave we were told we couldn't use the dump station because it was full," mentions Christina.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Ochopee, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Ochopee, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 77 campgrounds and RV parks near Ochopee, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Ochopee, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ochopee, FL is Monument Lake Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ochopee, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Ochopee, FL.

What parks are near Ochopee, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Ochopee, FL that allow camping, notably Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park.