Best Cabin Camping near Palmetto Bay, FL

Cabin Reviews near Palmetto Bay, FL

108 Reviews of 12 Palmetto Bay Campgrounds

• T

  Tod H.

  Scout

  Apr. 9, 2019

  Larry & Penny Thompson Park

  Surprisingly pretty Park

  This is city owned and operated Park/Campground. This fact is significant. It is very pretty with lots of mature shade trees. The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities. There are pull through spots for the big motorhomes and spots reserved for the handicapped. The bathhouses for the RV's were in good shape and well maintained. The bathhouse for the tenters not so much. The bathhouse for the RV's is not very far to walk which I would recommend.

  The tent area is off to one side and well shaded by mature trees. It's an area rather than sites. You pick your spot, put up a tent and place a large numbered sign by your area and you've got your spot. While there isn't any electric to plug into at the tent sites, water is provided interspersed throughout the area. Picnic tables and barbecue grills are also provided throughout.

  There is a great fire ring with benches for bonfires and a great Beach volleyball court. The pool is clean and guarded by life guards. There is a lounge where you have access to WiFi and plus to charge your phones. The RVs have WiFi around their pods.

  Tenters can stay for a Max of 7 nights while RV's can stay for 180. Tenters can only pay for 3 nights at once before returning to re-up. No such rule for RVs. There is a kind of second class feel to the tenters but if you overlook that (I recommend you do) you will have a great time. Staff is very nice and the park is clean.

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• B

  Benjamin C.

  Guide

  Jun. 7, 2016

  Larry & Penny Thompson Park

  good place

  sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide. I would go back again.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Feb. 24, 2026

  Larry & Penny Thompson Park

  No Room @ The Inn For This Tent Camping Second Class Citizen

  Just south of ‘The Magic City’ (a.k.a. Miami), you’ll come across Kendall, which while definitely NOT a destination in and of itself, it does offer one of the ONLY real campgrounds within the Miami vicinity. Here, you’ll discover Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground, which upon arrival, immediately feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you turn in off SW 184th Street, trading bumber-to-bumper grinding traffic and endless miles of jam-packed strip malls in exchange for tall palms, shady roads and a surprisingly peaceful park setting. The campground is tucked away within a sprawling county park operated by Miami-Dade, and the vibe leans more tropical retreat than urban escape, with birds chirping, breezes moving through the trees, and a calm that makes you forget you are still very much in South Florida.

  Before I get into the ‘nuts& bolts’ of Larry & Penny Thompson Park CG, allow me to share – that I had a fairly HORRIBLE experience here. So let me share some more – not to be a ‘negative Nancy’ - but rather, in the hopes you can learn from my mistakes (or rather, the omissions of this CG) and not replicate the issues I experienced for yourself, allow me to shed some light on some concerns. To begin with, if you are a tent camper (like I was in this scenario) there is NO WAY to make a reservation. You simply have to show up and IF the folks in the park office feel like there’s enough room for you to stake out a piece of land on their garbage-strewn tent camping plot of grass, they alone have the DISCRETION to ALLOW you to pay them for the privilege. Given that ALL OF THOSE WITH RVs have reservation privileges, this relegates us tent campers to ‘second class citizens.’ Second, paying $28/ night gets you basically a patch of uneven land (with more tree roots that reminded me a lot of Stranger Things with all of those root-like moving alien arms all over the ground preventing a flat piece of outdoor nirvana to be discovered) and the right to access the community bathrooms. While there is solid shade and about a half dozen bag-lined garbage bins in the tent camping area, the picnic tables are all dilapidated (unlike those in the RV area that are nearly brand new), half of the water spigots didn’t function, there are no in-ground fire rings, the stand-up grills are a joke and there is ZERO electricity. Um, so what am I paying for you ask? Great question. But this wasn’t even the worst part. So here it is: I arrived at Larry & Penny Thompson Park Campground having driven nearly 8 HOURS all the way from St. Augustine and arrived at 5:13pm only to be greeted by incredibly RUDE county park staff who could only say “Sorry, you arrived after 5pm and we don’t allow any TENT CAMPERS to arrive after 5pm.” What I found preposterous is that NOWHERE – not online, not on TheDyrt and NOT EVEN ON-SITE – does it mention that one (OK, well at least us tent campers anyway) has to arrive BEFORE 5pm. Had that vital piece of information been shared with me during 1of the 3 phone calls I made to the property before I arrived – TRUST ME – I would have arrived 13 minutes earlier. You know what the worst part about this whole experience was? Apart from the fact that I was famished and exhausted, was nearly out of gas and my cell phone just died? There was absolutely NO REASON to deny me entry for arriving 13 minutes after their (artificial) deadline. All I can say is that I’m glad Mary and Joseph didn’t have to deal with Miami-Dade County Park staff that acted like hostile and rule-abiding ‘inn keepers’ otherwise our Lord and Savior would have had no other choice, like I did, but to check in to a nearby hotel. Thankfully, I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points to spend the night at a hotel, albeit an hour away.

  OK, deep breath. Let it go, I say. So I returned the next day, registered my complaints and stayed for 2 nights. With this, the rest of my experience (apart from what had been previously noted) was a fairly positive one.

  Before I move on, you're probably scratching your head saying "Why did this guy return after such a horrible experience?"  Well, because it is the reason most choose to stay here - it is nearly the ONLY campground in the Miami, so it's either shell out $200 or $300 a night for a hotel or sleep under the stars.

  The campground itself is fairly decent size with – count ‘em– not 3, not 7, but a total of 11 RV parking ‘pods’ (think small loops with about 20 slots in each) that have been thoughtfully laid out, with over 200 sites total offering full hookups, paved pads and a mix of sun and shade depending on your preference. Sites are mostly level and easy to navigate (even for larger setups) with the roads being wide enough to remove whatever stress you may be dealing with upon arrival. Amenities are strong across the board, including clean restrooms, intermittent hot showers (some days they were hot, some days they were ice cold, but no matter the day, the pressure was always incredibly low), pay-for-play laundry facilities, a few scattered playgrounds, an amenity center that offers up a large screen TV, lending library, DVDs and ample space for group gatherings. The best amenities? The amazing community pool located right next to the community center (note: only open between 10am– 5pm, so if you’ve come here because of work, that’s a bummer, unless you can work from the pool, which I couldn’t) and the freshwater lake with a sandy beach that feels like a built-in bonus for families. Oh, and during the summertime, there’s a waterslide facility that looks AMAZING! The park is pet-friendly, somewhat well-maintained if you’re not staying in the tent area (which, unfortunately, I was) and has a safe, welcoming feel throughout.

  Beyond the campground, you are perfectly positioned to explore both nature and convenience. The park itself has miles of paved biking and walking trails, plus open green spaces and water access for a relaxing afternoon. Just a short drive away, you will find grocery options like Publix Super Market, Walmart Supercenter and additional essentials along US-1 along with a Costco that’s only like 20 minutes away. If you are looking to explore further, Biscayne National Park offers boating and snorkeling opportunities, while Miami Zoo is practically next door for an easy family outing. Not too far away from here you can also find fast food and casual dining spots for a bite to eat in case you grow tired of black beans w/ hot dogs for the third meal in a row.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Aim for sites deeper into the loops for more shade and less road noise; (2) The freshwater lake and beach area are perfect for kids to cool off on warm afternoons; (3) Bring bikes as the paved trails throughout the park are ideal for cruising; (4) Keep an eye out for iguanas and wading birds around the water’s edge; (5) Shade varies quite a bit so a canopy can be helpful on sunnier sites - but if you are tent camping, you won't really need any shade, unless you want to be protected from the intermittent rains; (6) For a great nearby bite, check out Shiver’s BBQ at 28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033; (7) You will hear non-stop urban noise and traffic from anywhere in this campground, so while you may be shuddered from the noise inside your RV or camper, you won't be so lucky inside a tent, so if that bothers you, bring earplugs; and (8) OH, how could I forget!!! Don’t arrive here AFTER 5PM!!!

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  Thom T.

  Traveler

  Oct. 10, 2018

  Southern Comfort RV Resort

  Best Park in Florida City

  This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size. The park fills up quickly come the winter time with the “ Snow Birds” but the park overall is wonderful. There is a bar/Tiki Hut on premise and a big swimming pool open year round. This is a pet friendly park but with a breed and size restriction, so call ahead if you have Fido with you.

• 

  Karen S.

  Guide

  Jan. 12, 2024

  Encore Miami Everglades

  Friendly, fun and great location for exploring South Florida

  We stayed thirteen nights at this park.  We really enjoyed the stay and recommend.  The campsites are mostly nice.  There are a lot of seasonal campers and it seems those sites are nicer.  The sites closer to the cabin area are closer together.  I wouldn't recommend this campsite for actual campsite, but rather the excellent location and fun activities and amenities of the park.  

  The park has lots to do and while dated, it is kept in good shape.  The pool is lovely with lounge chairs, palm trees and a tropical feel.  They have a hot tub, too.  Everything clean and had a resort-feel.  There are an abundance of activities: pickle ball, shuffleboard, a nice mini-golf course, walking trail, clubhouse, fire pits and large open grassy space.

  We have two active dogs and they have a huge field where we were able to run our dogs off-leash and chase the frisbee.  I am not sure if it is allowed, but there were others as well so seemed okay.  This was a real benefit when camping with pets that like to run.  

  The park is in a beautiful, agricultural area in the town of Redlands.  It is very tropical with farms, nurseries and lots of tropical fruit stands and interesting parks.  It feels rural but it is close enough to town to go to the Miami beaches or other activities.  If you go, check out all the agricultural farms, the Fruit and Spice stand, the 'Robert is Here' fruit stand and the Knaups Berry Farm for world class cinnamon rolls.  The lines were too long for us to wait, but we heard they were the best.

  This is one of the most friendly parks I have stayed.  We were there on Christmas and New Years and had a total blast.  They had music, karaoke, dancing and potluck dinners. The staff was nice too, we met Jason who was super helpful.  My friend flew in to visit and she rented one of their deluxe cabins.  It was really nice, with a fireplace, fenced patio, loft, kitchen.  The entire experience at this resort was enjoyable and felt like being at camp.  Highly recommend a visit.

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• 

  Maria E.

  Guide

  Apr. 10, 2025

  John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground

  Lots to do!

  Had a nice experience at John Pennekamp. There is so much to do we biked to nearly everything including nearby restaurants, we hung at the beach, kayaked and did trail walks with the dog. Water was a bit cold for us to snorkel but lots of folks did. Nice quiet campground, no issues whatsoever. Site 20 was great, full hookups, only issue was the no see ums - make sure you bring a thermacell bc they are no joke! Only complaint was the set up for women’s showers - there were 2 side by side and you have to come out of the shower into a common area with the other to get to your dry clothes. Luckily no one else was showering when I was there. If you have a shower in your camper this wont be an issue for you.

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• 

  Elliott B.

  Legend

  Jun. 1, 2017

  John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground

  Really small sites with no privacy…

  These sites are an ok size for tents, but they’re separated out and leveled with the broken cocina shell ground cover which makes having a ground tarp essential if you don’t want to end up damaging your tent. There is power and picnic tables, but you might initially be confused as to who’s table is who’s depending on how people before you have arranged things to fit their RVs….or at least we were for a few moments. These sites are right on each other with tiny strips in between to separate them, but that’s about it. The restroom facilities were nicely maintained like most Florida State parks

  Stayed at the park a while ago with a friend as we were road tripping down to Key West. Wish we had taken a tour out to the main reef and done some scuba or snorkeling, but we had an amazing time renting a kayak and exploring the coves through the mangroves and doing some snorkeling there. We could swim around with some huge Tarpin which could have cared less about us being in their home.

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• 

  Alex M.

  Legend

  Aug. 2, 2022

  John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground

  Not for tent camping

  Considered purely as a campground, this place was a big disappointment. It's basically an RV park, and a mediocre one at that. The spaces are tight and close together. You get a gravel pad with little to no shade or privacy, an old picnic table in one corner, and... that's about it. Full hookup, but not terribly useful to me as a tent camper.

  I had much higher expectations for this place, given the reviews. I thought I had lucked out when I showed up without a reservation and they told me there had been a cancellation so yes, there was a site available (so, it was booked almost solid on a Monday night in August). But the fee was sky high for what I got. Haven't been this let down by a campground all summer.

  The only redeeming qualities from my perspective were the nice bathrooms and the walking trails. Otherwise, the rest of the park was in sorry shape as well. Bathrooms closed, playground closed, boardwalk closed. Wouldn't recommend this campground unless you're mainly there to go snorkeling or to take a glass bottom boat tour.

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• 

  Brittany S.

  Scout

  Nov. 13, 2021

  Southern Comfort RV Resort

  Would Not Recommend, Does Not Cater to Law Enforcement

  We inquired about reserving one of their cabins for a week long stay over Thanksgiving. We let them know that we would have 2 adults and 3 children. The lady I spoke with informed us that she would need the owner’s approval for the number of occupants and an extra fee may apply. We received approval for our request October 13th, mailed the deposit per their request, and obtained an email confirming the reservation on October 17th. 

  At the end of October I attempted to reach the resort by phone and email to add my partner’s name (he is currently the chief of a law enforcement department) to the reservation, since he was going to arrive first. I received an email response a week later, asking how many people were coming again. Over the course of the next few days, I attempted calling to provide the information they were requesting. When I finally spoke with a representative and provided my partner’s information, she responded by letting me know the owner would be calling me back. I received a phone call yesterday from a representative, not the owner, stating my reservation had been canceled and there was nothing I could do about it. I pleaded my case with the representative that it was a last minute cancellation after an agreement had been reached and a deposit had been accepted, and they stated the cancellation had already been made and that my deposit would be refunded. Now we’re left to find a place a week before Thanksgiving and deal with the last minute price increases. 

  The lack of integrity, communication, and consideration considering how long this reservation has been in place speaks volumes about their business practices. We would not recommend doing business with this company and apparently they don’t care about doing business after finding out a law enforcement family had made reservations.

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