7 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Camping opportunities around Palmetto, Florida include several established campgrounds with diverse accommodation options. Encore Terra Ceia in Palmetto provides tent and RV camping with full hookups, while nearby E.G. Simmons Regional Park in Ruskin offers waterfront camping with electric and water hookups. The area features a mix of state parks, county facilities, and private RV resorts within a 30-minute drive, most supporting tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and some offering cabin rentals like Little Manatee River State Park and Canoe Outpost.
Weather and seasonal patterns significantly affect camping experiences in this Gulf Coast region. Summer brings hot, humid conditions with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while winter offers mild temperatures ideal for outdoor activities. One visitor noted, "We stayed for 4 nights. Really liked this park, but not our site. Bad mosquitoes, but to be expected. And our only site in six months that had noticeable litter." Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though reservations are strongly recommended during winter months when seasonal visitors flock to the area. Lake Manatee State Park and Myakka River State Park may experience periodic flooding after heavy rains, occasionally affecting campground availability.
State parks in the region receive particularly high ratings for their natural settings and wildlife viewing opportunities. Myakka River State Park stands out with its three distinct campground areas—Old Prairie, Big Flats, and Palmetto Ridge—offering varying levels of amenities and privacy. A camper described it as "perhaps the most ecologically diverse state park in Florida" with "lots of nature viewing opportunities." Several reviews mention abundant wildlife sightings, particularly alligators, birds, and deer. Fort De Soto Campground provides beach access and water views, while the Palmetto area's private RV resorts cater to longer-term stays with more developed amenities. Most developed campgrounds provide showers, restrooms, and picnic tables, with some offering full hookups for RVs.
"As an camper with northern roots, I have found it hard to camp in Florida. This campground helped me relieve those worries. I will start by saying that this campground is south of St."
"Nice walking/bicycle path around the edge. Bike paths also throughout the park. Sites 1-8 or so have direct beach access, but swimming is not allowed. Mangroves surround the rest of the peninsula."
from $38 - $48 / night
"Was bordered by the camp road and the bike/walking path so often noisy with no sense of privacy. Bad mosquitoes, but to be expected."
"If you’re looking for a place to camp on the west coast of Florida that is quiet and has campsites that give you privacy, Lake Manatee State Park is a great choice."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 / night
"A lot of walking trails for people and horses. A surprise was the amphitheater. Washers and dryers are located outside the bathrooms. Friendly hosts and other campers. Would came again."
"This campsite is right outside of Little Manatee River State Park. I even missed the entrance and went to Little Manatee because I missed the turn."
Available next weekend
from $22 / night
"Wonderfully situated around a lake. Good amenities and close to everything. Some highway traffic noise but nothing bad."
"One of the two pools on the property provides a lovely view of the lake and a hot tub.The recreation hall is beautiful and has a lot of activities."
"Nearly every campsite is right on the water - easy in and out for kayaks, large boat ramp and many picnic pavilions."
"Close to the boatramp. Raccoons can be annoying. Has picnic pavilions and several fishing docks"
from $24 / night
"In Palmetto, easy access to Tampa, Sarasota, Gulf Beaches, and many other areas of Florida in a few hours driving distance. Pet-friendly."
"Nice place to stay in Palmetto. I just moved into my RV and this was my very first camping stop so I had TONS of questions and needed quite a bit of help."
"You can't beat the location, walkable to restaurants, a short drive or bike ride to beaches. The park itself is well maintained and quiet minus the days they mow and pick-up the garbage."
"Location is great, close to Anna Maria Island and Cortez restaurants"
"It’s also located right off the highway, so you get all the noise. All day and all night. Now, for canoe and kayak trips, I guess it’s a good spot. There’s a lot of folk that come just for that."
"The place is tucked in and has a great vibe."
from $24 - $109 / night
"Also plenty of area to ride a bike a couple times around the park. It is also close to gas, grocery store and really good restaurants. Two thumbs up!!!"
"this place is nice they have their own private island can go fishing over there with no license nice Pier to walk across take your dog there and enjoy on the river"
"We came back to this gem and met with friends from Florida, we had our RVs next to each other and it was so much fun. We had a great time."
"You are close to everything but you still feel like being far away. Everybody is very accommodating. Great Management, great Team! We will be back soon!"
from $60 - $130 / night
GuideNice state park in a great location for visiting the area. Bathhouse near my site could use an update and newer bathhouse could use a good shower stall wash. I camp in a Travato Van so maneuvering in the campground was easy for me but larger rigs might struggle.
GuideThe bayou site are excellent. Reasonably level, nice patios, and a bit of a view. The staff are nice and helpful. They seem to have a section for those of us who are not snowbirds.
LegendOn my never-ending pursuit of finding the most perfect campground on earth ... I may have just landed it! Fort DeSoto State Park Campground, which rests at the southernmost edge of Pinellas County, reached by crossing a series of causeways from St. Petersburg until the land simply runs out and the Gulf of Mexico (as my friend John Cougar Mellencamp recently point out - not Gulf of ‘Merika) takes over. First impressions are pure Florida magic with palm-lined roads, sweeping water views of translucent aqua blue shimmering in the sun all accompanied by a salty breeze that makes you feel like vacation has officially begun. The campground itself is spread across a low-lying coastal landscape with mangroves, dunes and open skies punctuated by cotton candy clouds, and despite its popularity, this tri-loop campground haven manages to feel relaxed and unhurried if you pick your timing right.
This archipelago is shaped like a boomerang with 3 distinct campground loops – each with its own vibe, layout, amenities and overall character (more on this later) – leaving one with the impression that Fort DeSoto is both incredibly spacious as well as incredibly well-organized, offering a mix of waterfront and interior sites with paved pads, picnic tables, stand-up grills and access to modern bathhouses that are generally clean and well maintained. Many sites offer electric and water hookups, with a dump station available for RV travelers. Navigation through the one-way loops is straightforward, pets are welcome and the overall layout feels intentionally designed to handle high traffic without feeling chaotic. While there’s but just a modest playground on-site, there are much more amenities for the kids on North Beach, but throughout the campground area, the sheer amount of open space, bike paths, beach side access to inlets that will allow you to make the most out of being this close to the Gulf more than compensates for families.
What truly sets Fort DeSoto apart is everything just outside your campsite. Miles of white sand beaches wrap around the park, including North Beach which is frequently ranked among the best beaches in the country (note: not county ... country). Kayaking trails wind through calm mangrove tunnels, fishing piers stretch into Tampa Bay, and biking loops circle the entire park. History lovers can explore the restored fort and military ruins, while birders will find plenty to admire along the shoreline. For supplies, you’re about 15 minutes from Tierra Verde Market, Publix and a Walmart Supercenter on Pinellas Bayway as well as a handful of casual eateries like Billy’s Stone Crab and Sea Hags if cooking feels optional.
Trying to find out which 1 of the 3 loops might be best for you? I’ll try to break this down. First, of all, my brother and I stayed in Area #1, so let me begin there, not only because numerically that’s where we should begin, but also because I’m the most familiar with this loop, which consists of sites numbered #1-85. If you’re looking not just for ocean views with Gulf access – because like me, you’ve brought a kayak / canoe – then Area #1 for this solo reason is why you want to book here. And while it’s true that you likely could access water in Area #2, you’ll have to go the long way around to access the Gulf. Back to Area #1, I found this simple, single loop offering sites excellent in size, with TONS of shade (no need to bring your shelter to blot out the sun, although not a bad idea to have it handy in case of rain) and decent length long ‘driveways’ with which to pull in and set up camp, whether you’re packing tents (like me) or pulling in with your RV or sprinter van. Seriously, the scenery alone here in Area #1(at least sites #1-34) cannot be beaten with direct views of the Gulf, which you can access in less than 20 paces from where you’ve pitched your tent or parked for the night.
Each site is equipped with electric and water and for RVs needing sewage, there’s a spot as you exit prior to arriving at the ranger station that will accommodate you. The restroom and shower facilities in Area#1 are the best that I’ve ever seen in the state of Florida (which is saying something as I’ve camped in more than 100 spots here in the Sunshine state) – and wonder if this is because CG Hosts (versus FL state employees) are charged with keeping the CG clean?! – with very hot water (sometimes TOO hot) and lots of pressure would be an accurate description. Area #2 IMHO is somewhat cramped, very RV populated, with sites that are fairly crowded, yet heavily shaded with amenities that are similar to Area #1, albeit slightly more outdated; however, if you come with pets in tow, this is the ONLY area that will welcome you here at Fort DeSoto CG. Lastly, Area #3 has AMAZING water views, but given the seawall that surrounds this portion of the island, you won’t be able to actually access the water unless you dock your boat somehow to the wall and don’t mind jumping up 4-6 feet down to access your vessel. I found the sites here to be fine, although like Area #2, somewhat crowded, but yet still offering very good shade with restroom and shower facilities to be on par with the rest of the park. The best sites over here would be those from #197– 233 that look northernly towards the Gulf offering nothing short of AMAZING sunsets on the water.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Waterfront sites in Loop 2 and Loop 3 are the most coveted for sunset views and breezes, but they book fast; (2) Bring bikes as this park is tailor-made for cruising on two wheels with flat, scenic loops in and around the campground area, but the best biking will be had once heading out past the ranger station to explore the larger areas of the island, where East Beach is worth a glide by (especially to watch the kite surfers where wind is at its strongest), but it’s North Beach that will have you stopping for a longer spell; (3) Kayaking through the mangroves on a calm morning is a must, especially for wildlife sightings; however, our absolute favorite moment of the entire trip was crossing the strong currents of shipping lanes to make it all the way to Shell Key, which apart from a few pensioners getting sunburnt in their beach chairs and an errant fishing boat or two, we had the entire island to ourselves … EASTER EGG: I’m a fairly solid kayaker and love oaring and with these strong currents, it IS manageable to cross, but you’ll want to plan on at least 1 hour of non-stop, albeit scenic oaring to make it to Shell Key; (4) Afternoon storms roll through quickly in summer, so plan beach time early and camp dinners later; (5) North Beach on the northernmost edge tends to be quieter and more family-friendly than the busier east-facing beaches near the fort; (6) If you’re visiting during peak season, weekday stays are noticeably calmer than weekends; and (7) When heading to the restroom facilities you will come across what is likely the largest sign I have ever seen in any campground WARNING YOU OF RACCOONS and, trust me, you want to HEED THIS SIGN as these black-eyed bandits are EVERYWHERE and not afraid to come right up to your tent and look in or right up to you sitting next to your campfire while looking for something to eat or steal, so be incredibly careful and PACK UP EVERYTHING whenever it’s not being used EVEN IN DAYLIGHT HOURS.
In sum, I absolutely loved this campground and will now be comparing every single one I visit to Fort DeSoto Campground.
Happy Camping!
ScoutHaven't been camping here. Based on the photos, it looks like it is a beautiful place. Looks like somewhere to have a fun, crazy, spontaneous camp experience. I prefer natural nature. Cutting the trails, fire wood, catching dinner, fighting mosquitoes without harsh chemicals. Preserving the world. Maybe make a reservation. Leave the dogs with a sitter and not have a care in the world.
ScoutShowers and bathrooms are closed
ScoutQuiet. Definitely skewed toward equestrian. Sites are well spaced. Outer loop is best. Restroom/showers are very well kept. Not much for kids. Short trails are ok. Cayaking is best option if you're in to that. Relax here, enjoy the peace and have your favorite beverage
ScoutBeautiful 😁
ScoutGreat location
GuideNice little place. Gravel, pull-through sites, clean bathrooms, and friendly staff. Tons to do for the littles!
Camping spots near Palmetto, Florida dot the coastline and surrounding areas within a 30-minute drive radius. The region sits at near sea level with several waterfront options along Tampa Bay and the Manatee River. Winter temperatures typically range from 50-70°F while summer brings humid conditions with average highs above 90°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms that can flood low-lying campsites.
Kayaking the Little Manatee River: Little Manatee River offers paddling experiences for all skill levels with equipment rentals available on-site. The river provides wildlife viewing opportunities with minimal current in most sections. One visitor reported, "We rented canoes & kayaks, and had a fun day on the river. Employees were very nice & helpful!"
Wildlife viewing at Myakka State Park: Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park features 39 miles of hiking trails with abundant wildlife spotting opportunities. The park contains lakes, rivers and extensive wetlands. A camper noted, "Tons of great hiking & even some elevated bridges for site seeing. Tons of gators, birds, deer etc."
Beach access near Siesta Key: Turtle Beach Campground provides direct beach access with white sand shoreline just steps from campsites. A free trolley stops at the campground entrance for transportation to other beach areas. As one camper shared, "Direct access to the ocean where lots of shells can be found. Local trolley takes you to bars and restaurants."
Fishing in shallow bays: E.G. Simmons Regional Park offers multiple fishing spots along mangrove-lined canals and Tampa Bay access. Shore fishing and boat launches available for anglers. A visitor mentioned, "Good fishing back in the canals and Cockroach Bay is up the road good kayaking and fishing there."
Waterfront campsites: Fort De Soto Campground offers premium waterfront sites with marine wildlife viewing opportunities from your campsite. A camper described, "We had neighbors on both sides and across (this places always sells out) and it was still fairly secluded. They did a great job at keeping a lot of natural growth to maintain privacy and a true tropical feel."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Lake Manatee State Park maintains regularly cleaned bathhouses and level camping pads. The campground offers water and electric hookups with a dump station on premises. One reviewer stated, "Shower and facilities clean. Well kept park, level pads. No sewer or 50amp, but great anyways."
Proximity to beaches: Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort positions campers within walking distance to shorelines and waterfront restaurants. Sites are paved and level with full hookups available. A visitor noted, "You can't beat the location, walkable to restaurants, a short drive or bike ride to beaches."
Shade coverage at select parks: Little Manatee River State Park Campground provides ample tree cover at most sites with natural vegetation between campsites for privacy. A visitor commented, "Natural trees providing privacy between lots. A lot of walking trails for people and horses. A surprise was the amphitheater."
Insect activity varies by location and season: No-see-ums and mosquitoes can be problematic, especially at dusk near water. Many waterfront sites experience more intense insect activity. At E.G. Simmons Park, a camper warned, "you really cannot stay outside at dusk. Citronella torches, spray, fans, Avon skin so soft...none of these work for the no see-ums."
Highway noise affects some campgrounds: Encore Terra Ceia and other parks near I-75 experience constant traffic noise that may disturb light sleepers. Sites farther from highways provide quieter environments. As one visitor to a nearby park stated, "We were woken up several times overnight by what sounded like cars racing on the road nearby."
Campground flooding occurs after heavy rain: Several parks experience temporary flooding on interior roads and low-lying sites during summer rainy season. A Lake Manatee visitor observed, "The only negative about the campground is we were there during heavy rain and the main road does flood severely."
Limited site privacy at some parks: Winter Quarters Manatee RV positions sites close together with minimal separation. More established parks offer better vegetation barriers. A camper noted, "Arrived to find it very tight to get into our site, thankfully the nearby neighbors moved there vehicles so my husband could manouver the 5th wheel in."
Playground access: Fort De Soto offers a playground with safety features near camping loops. As one parent observed, "There is a playground with good swings and also a sturdy playground that offered plenty of opportunity for my four year old to blow off some steam. The ground is all recycled rubber, which I love as a parent."
Swimming options: Canoe Outpost Little Manatee River provides river access suitable for family swimming with rental equipment available. A visitor shared, "We had originally only booked 1 night here but ended up staying an extra night so that we could kayak down the river. Beautiful old oak trees with lots of shade."
Wildlife education opportunities: Myakka River State Park offers educational programs about local ecosystems with ranger-led activities during peak seasons. A visitor described it as "perhaps the most ecologically diverse state park in Florida with lots of nature viewing opportunities."
Beach day trips: Multiple campgrounds provide convenient staging areas for beach visits to Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key and other Gulf beaches within 15-20 minutes. One camper at Buttonwood noted, "Great location and place to stay...This place is 20 minutes away from several beaches and the TB Rays stadium."
Site selection guidance: Larger rigs should request specific loops at state parks to ensure proper clearance and hookup access. A Lake Manatee visitor advised, "The Big Flats & Old Prairie loops are gravel road, tight, no privacy & very small sites like for popups, vans or small campers. The Palmetto Ridge pull thrus are gigantic."
Hookup variations: Power options range from 30-50 amp service depending on park and specific loop. Many parks offer water and electric only with dump stations. One RVer at Little Manatee noted, "We stayed at the Palmetto Ridge campground which were gravel and had the full hook ups."
Water quality concerns: Some RVers report variable water quality at certain parks with mineral content affecting taste. A reviewer at Winter Quarters Manatee warned, "Don't drink the water here."
Reservation timing: Peak season (January-March) requires bookings 6+ months in advance for popular waterfront sites. Some parks open limited weekend spots on rolling schedules. As one Fort De Soto camper advised, "Note that they do start booking 6 months out and open up 10% of the sites for the weekend each friday at 7am if you want to try and get lucky."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Palmetto, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Palmetto, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 170 campgrounds and RV parks near Palmetto, FL and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Palmetto, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Palmetto, FL is Fort De Soto Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 148 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Palmetto, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Palmetto, FL.
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