Best Tent Camping near Palm City, FL
Tent campsites near Palm City, Florida include both primitive and established campgrounds located in and around Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The park features two tent-only options: Scrub Jay Primitive Campground, situated approximately five miles from the park entrance, and Kitching Creek Primitive Campground, which offers a more remote experience for backcountry tent campers. Additional tent camping can be found at DuPuis Campground and Loop 4, both providing primitive sites suitable for overnight stays.
Most primitive tent campgrounds in the Palm City region have basic amenities limited to picnic tables and fire rings. The Scrub Jay site has a water pump, though campers report it may be broken. Kitching Creek requires hikers to pack in all necessary supplies including water. Sites at Loop 4 include picnic tables and fire pits, with a water pump that one visitor noted "came out with a purple tinge and smelling of Sulphur." DuPuis Campground requires a free permit obtained through the South Florida Water Management District website, with each site equipped with a fire pit and picnic table surrounding a pond.
Tent-only sites in this region offer varying degrees of solitude and natural surroundings. The Kitching Creek Primitive Campground is particularly noted for its remoteness. A visitor described it as "beautiful as it is remote, just the way I like it. Perfect if you seek serene solitude." Loop 4 can accommodate larger groups with space for multiple tents and hammock setups. Little Gopher provides another primitive option on the Ocean to Lake trail with a fire pit and hanging poles for backpacks. During summer months, temperatures can be challenging for tent campers, though tree cover at many sites provides some shade relief. Wildlife sightings are common near many of these tent sites, with several visitors noting alligator presence in nearby waterways.
