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Just minutes from downtown Tampa, this Hillsborough River State Park Camping offers a refuge from city life with its seven miles of nature trails and ample places to cool off in the water.
Except for occasional reenactments, the cannon and guns are now silent at Fort Foster. No longer do Seminole Indians have to fight to keep a foothold in Florida, and soldiers no longer guard a strategic river crossing. The reconstructed fort and its surroundings are now part of Hillsborough River State Park.
Besides a living history lesson, visitors can kayak or canoe class II river rapids, rare in Florida, hike seven miles of nature trails and swim in an ADA accessible swimming pool.
Tucked away, only a short distance from the bustling city of Tampa, camping is a popular activity at Hillsborough River State Park.
$24 / night
Well-known for its natural spring which flows year-round, cool, clean water into the Alafia River, the Lithia Springs Park was originally purchased by Gardinier, Inc., a mining company that soon became Mosaic Phosphate, Inc. When the company leased the park to Hillsborough County as a recreational area in 1957, the 160-acre site slowly became a popular camping spot.
After setting up camp, hikers can explore the woodsy trails and its diverse plant communities, river cypress swamps, and hardwood hammocks. But it is the natural spring that serves as the park’s major attraction, which---courtesy of the water’s 72 degree temperature---provides an excellent swimming experience all year long. In addition to swimming, visitors can fish and play volleyball. There is also a bath house for the parents to rest and chat, while their kids can play at the park’s playground.
The park’s 44 camping sites---which is also suitable for RVs---include water/shower and electrical services. The campers also have access to picnic shelters and tables, restrooms, and barbecue grills. There are no reservations for these sites; everything is done on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Park rules to know:
-Picnic shelters are not rented for the months April - September. -All shelters, tables and grills and parking spaces are first come first serve -Due to the high demand of the swimming area and current conditions maximum capacity is -No rain checks / refunds
$24 / night
The preserve has recently undergone improvements to enhances visitors' experiences, including the new Terry Tomalin Campground, St. Pete's first public primitive family campground; Hammock Hall, a multipurpose building to provde rental space and programming opportunites; and a trail expansion. The 12-site campground's name honors the late Terry Tomalin, a former Tampa Bay Times outdoors writer who supported the preserve through several service projects. The campground is open to both individuals and groups.
$30 / night
Ever wonder what it would be like to stay on a deserted island? This is truly an adventure you will never forget. Once you land in paradise you will wander thru the looping trail system to find your campsite. There are (4) campsite with elevated tent platforms tucked back in the trees. Now that you are settled in, time to gather wood and build a fire in one of the (2) 8 foot wide, 2 ton concrete fire pits.
Awake a dawn with a nice kayak/canoe trip on a secluded water trail thru mangrove islands and stop for lunch at River's Edge Bar & Grill across the river from the island. Having too much fun, take a nap in hammock and rock to breeze and sounds of river.
This is an island is accessible via water only so there is some preparation to get here and stay here. Kayaks, Canoes and a shuttle are available if you don't have your own transportation. Please contact prior to booking to ensure you understand the packages, for example, if you want to rent the whole island for yourself and need transportation for your group. We offer tailored quote for package based on your needs.
$50 - $75 / night
In 1848, settler James Alderman built his homestead south of the Alafia River in Lithia. He fashioned a crossing by cutting down the steep banks of the river, creating Alderman’s Ford. This historic site is now home to Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, a hot spot for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The park's most popular attraction is a 1.9 mile paved loop that follows the north and south prongs of the Alafia River-- one of the most popular canoe spots in the state. The loop, which is hiker, dog walker, and bicycle friendly, links with a boardwalk and foot bridges, leading into shaded woods of gigantic cypress and oak trees. Visit Alderman's Ford Conservation Park and enjoy a day of birdwatching, fishing or hiking the lush woods. The park also hosts four remote campsites for anyone seeking a real wilderness experience without going too far from home.
We offer guided group camping experiences occasionally that are amazing wilderness experiences! Group reservations are required as this is not a public campground. Indian Field Primitive Camping Area Guided camping available through Not a Clue Adventures. Primitive camping is a wonderful way to observe wildlife at dawn and dusk. Reservations required. Tent/ hammock camping only. We will continue to make improvements in the future. Planned are “gear poles” and fire rings for each site, Community Chickee and more! Boy Scout and Girl Scout group camping permitted with proper reservations To make a camping reservation please call Jeanene Arrington with Not a Clue Adventures 813-789-0904
$5 - $45 / night
Experience a slice of old Florida at the Rye Preserve. You don't have to travel far, the Rye Preserve is closer than you think. Rye Preserve is a 145 acre property located just northwest of the Lake Manatee Dam. The preserve features nature trails, horseback trails, picnic areas, a playground and a canoe/kayak launch. The preserve's trail system leads visitors through four distinctive ecosystems, including sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks and the river community. A variety of interesting creatures can be seen in these areas including the rare gopher tortoise and Florida scrub-jay.
Birding, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Natural Wildlife Viewing, Playground, Swimming, Tubing
$20 - $25 / night
Located in northwestern Hillsborough County, Lake Rogers Park is the “newest” of the County’s regional parks when it opened in 2000. Owned by the City of St. Petersburg, this 272-acre park was developed as a joint venture between the City and Hillsborough County.
First time visitors will notice that the park has two public entrances along North Mobley Road, with kiosks and parking lots, while an entrance for staff access and maintenance is along Gunn Highway. Fishermen and kayakers can enjoy the two fresh water lakes that enhance the beauty of the park, including Lake Rogers, which is the one of the largest Lakes in the County and the only one that is completely under public ownership by the City.
After strolling and biking through trails flanked by pine flatwoods and oak hammocks, Campers can take advantage of the park amenities, such as picnic shelters and tables, portable restrooms, and barbecue grills.
Guide
We tent camped here for two nights. I really enjoyed our stay and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
We stayed one of the premium tent sites, but unfortunately there is a very bright street light on all night right next to premium camping. The primitive campsites with no hookups are in a much more secluded area and not affected by lighting at night.
Other than that, everything else was great.
Guide
Visited back in 2011 & 2014. We tent camped on both occasions. Took the boat tour & saw more alligators than we could count. Lots of armadillos around the campsites at night/in the evenings. Being from further North, armadillo are a pretty exciting animal to spot. The park has lots to do, & they've actually got 3 separate campgrounds. I can't recall which we stayed in, but they were decent for all your tent camping needs (can't attest to RV camping though).
The park is really lovely and being that your in FL your still close to beautiful beaches too.
Traveler
I used an RV site last year and booked a tent site this year. It is technically within walking distance to the beach.
Legend
I typically avoid tent camping here in the summer months– early summer the trails are heavy with mosquitoes and summer rains bring a large amount of flooding. Though in the fall winter and spring this park is AMAZING. We were very lucky on this trip to have snagged spot at the high part of the riverside loop. Sites 20 and 21 typically stay dry enough for tents. Sites along the river side of loops are prone to flooding some holding as much as 4-6 inches of water.
This trip was a short overnight to get rid of some pent up cabin fever. We loaded up a tent and the bikes, praying for dry weather. The mosquitoes were not bad, almost none, the the river was near flood stage and inches from overflowing its bank near the campground.
The 2.5 mile loop from main entrance is perfect for biking, be careful near the pool area that is VERY crowded in the summer as many locals visit and it will reach capacity early in the day. You can rent bikes and canoes at the concession area near the stand if you did not bring your own. The grounds are beautifully kept, campground hosts are helpful, bathrooms clean and playground areas are plentiful. There are very nice pavilions and one air conditioned building available for rent for special events. If you are visiting in the summer call to make sure the site you booked is dry.
We did see where one person got his travel trailer stuck on the mud trying to get into his site. There are very few tent campers in the summer so be prepared if you are tent camping to hear neighbors a/c running all night.
I get products to test from time to time- today I am testing the INNO INH540 Bike Rack On first impression upon receiving– this is a heavy duty rack! Shipping weight is nearly 50lbs. and came fully assembled. This bike rack will fit both 1.25 and 2 inch receivers. We first tried to mount on my Jeep Liberty but we need to get a receiver extension as our spare tire prevented installation. So we mounted on our Dodge 1500 truck. I had to have my husband help me slip it into the receiver(was a bit awkward for me to do on my own).
I was very pleased to find the unit came with a hitch lock that was keyed the same as the cable lock for the bikes. Rack came with 2 keys so we each have a key on our ring and can access without looking for it.
The bars are adjustable and the rotating upper and lower cradles are well designed. The support bars also fold down when not in use. Another nice feature is locking pivot at base that will allow you to tilt the rack out of the way of tailgate to enable access without removing the entire rack.
The rack will hold 4 bikes up to 35 lbs each or a total of 140 lbs. We have mountain bikes with less space on crossbars of frame so was a bit tight to get loaded. Loading was much easier once we did it a couple times and got used to where we needed to place the cradles. Street bikes load with no issues,(we borrowed the neighbors bikes to test and to show off our new INNO bike rack– they were jealous)!
Order yours today from https://www.innoracks.com/ You will not be disappointed!
TravelerTent camped at a site in loop one. Weather was nice, though we were warned it can get a bit muddy when it rains. Crowds were a bit higher on the trails during Saturday afternoon but Sunday morning was much more quiet and we saw lots of wildlife.
Traveler
The bathrooms were very nice, and showers heated up well. The location is great for the beach, but I would not recommend tent camping near the road as we were woken up several times overnight by what sounded like cars racing on the road nearby. We'll likely stay again, but only on sites closer to the beachside.
RangerReally beautiful area. Sites w/grills that can fit 2 cars. Foliage between sites so they are visually private but can get loud depending on your neighbors. Plenty of space for hammocks.
Camp store on site has firewood, bug spray, sunscreen, all the basics.
We tent camped in July and it was truly the hottest I've ever been. Character building.
GuideTent sites are small. Ground is very hard to put tent stakes in. Bath house is clean. They have washer and dryer. People are loud all night. Unless you have a watercraft of some kind or are going to the beach there's nothing to do at the campground. We left a day early due to the heat. It was nice to have trash cans at the site.
ScoutCheck in is at 1 pm. They had a sign on there door that said be back at 1:15.They finally opened door at 1:33. I asked if we got to check out a half hour late because he was late getting back from lunch , he said no! Check out is at 11am. Just not fair. That’s why I gave them a three. Park is great though. I am tent camping.
ScoutVery friendly, helpful staff. This place was always clean and well maintained. Tent camped here for 11 days. Water access to the gulf for fishing crabbing claming kayaking etc. The pinellas county trail runs along side KOA and they rent bikes and fun little tricycles to ride the trail or use in campground. Itwas great. Plenty of trees to add shade. Nice clean pool and rec center. They even had a movie night at the pool. Cant wait to go back in my RV. Loved it here
Scout
We stayed at the tent sites and they are under a nice canopy of trees with water and electric. The staff is awesome, everyone was super friendly, they had clean facilities, the nature trail was awesome to take our dog on walks down. It's located by snook haven so we got to still hear the music and walk over for drinks. Everything about camp venice was amazing. I will DEFINITELY be coming back
GuideFort De Soto is an excellent place for beach camping. You can bring your kayaks, boats and paddle boards for an enhanced experience. We stayed two nights in the summer, tent camping (it was hot!). The bathrooms are a bit dated BUT kept very clean! The market at the entrance is very convenient. The only reason I did not give this location a 5 star rating was because of the massive amount of raccoons! They are NOT shy and are not bothered by humans one bit. It was almost impossible to fall asleep due the all the noises they were making throughout the night by digging into the campsite dumpsters or fighting each other. If you can get past that, you’ll have a great time.
Guide
Perhaps the most ecologically diverse state park in Florida, Myakka River State Park has lots of nature viewing opportunities. Located just east of Sarasota you’ll find lots to do without having to leave the park. However, because of the age and condition of the campsites, for an exceptional camping experience, you'll want to choose your campsie carefully.
There are 3 separate and distinct campgrounds at Myakka River State Park. Depending on whether your tent camping or have an RV, you really want to pay attention here. Old Prairie Campground(sites 27– 48) and Big Flats Campground(sites 1– 26) are the oldest. These sites were not necessarily built for large RV’s although you can get into some of them with an RV up to 30 feet. Palmetto Ridge Campground(sites 49– 90) is the newest and will accommodate RV’s of any size and has sewer hookups. The other 2 campgrounds do not.
We can’t imagine going to another Florida State Park and seeing more of nature than we did here. While riding our bikes along Park and North Drive, and taking a drive early one morning to the Outpost to get some cell service, it was a Florida safari! I’ve never seen so many alligators in the wild. From babies to big daddies, they lined the river and the edge of the lake. We saw black vultures by the dozens, turkey vultures, turkeys, and deer. There was a family of raccoons that visited each night to see what we might have left out for them. They had no luck. And the variety of birds in and around the lake was amazing. There were several that we hadn’t seen before.
To read our complete review visit https://lifestyleover50.com/myakka-river-state-park-campground-review/
Scout
Lots of great spots right on the banks of the river. RVs are in the main campground near the pool, bathroom/showers and store. Tent sites are further back by the river. They're not marked so you just find a good one and set up camp. It is a big atv campground so expect lots of noise and mud if you go down by the one section of the river but everyone is really good at stopping at night. The restrooms/showers are old but have hot water and are clean. They usually have activities like bingo in the evenings. Close to grocery stores if you need something and the nearest town is cute.
Guide
I live in an adjacent neighborhood (2 years) and walk this park daily with my doggos. I’ve biked all the trails and been here from sunrise to sunset. The connecting trail (from my neighborhood) has a parking lot, and there are a few throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. There are lots of little loops in the woods, sometimes flooded out, but just be prepared during rainy season. One section is an old grove and during citrus season, there are oranges available for snacking, while exploring. There is a few large clearings set for tent camping, with fire pits and some small built gazebos for shelter. Not sure if you can drive in, but they are located at the end of an easy, few mile, walk. There are a few ponds surrounding the large lake and I’ve seen gators in several of them. If you live nearby, definitely take advantage of the free parking and miles of trails, paved and non!!
RangerI have been a regular here for some time. It is definitely more glamping than anything but always a fun stay and the staff is always kind.
Everything you could ever need to be comfortable camping and easygoing including a convenience store to free wi-fi. There’s a massive pool and two hot tubs. One is fenced off in the back for adults only which can be nice when there are a lot of loud kids.
The sites are very well kept and have very nice views of the water way. A couple of the sites are not up against the water but you still get a nice look at it all.
If you’re traveling around, it would be a great place to stay and be comfortable. Walmart/Publix/Wawa all within a 10 minute drive. The beach is maybe 15 minutes away also. 
There are two tent sites. One considered primitive because there is no water and electricity hook up but there’s a phone charging station at the site. 6 sites. Then there is 2 sites available with water and electricity in between a section on RVs by the waterfront.
Rangerclose to the breweries in art district of St Pete Florida, Fort Desoto Campground has everything you could want for a long weekend or quick getaway. There's a general store if you want to stock up on snacks, fishing tackle, pool floats, or ice cream, or just catch a little air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The General Store also has a nice balcony overlooking the water and some oyster beds.
The campsites are suitable for car camping, hammock camping, tent camping, or RVs. Be sure to bring your rain gear and rain flies, as Florida thunderstorms are brief but no joke. You can rent bicycles down closer to the actual Old Fort where there's also a huge fishing pier and plenty of old military installations to explore. However don't rely on using the bikes to get back to the campground as there's no drop-off on the other side.
It can be a bit of a long walk from the campground itself to the Old Fort, which shouldn't be a problem unless you didn't pack the right clothes or shoes. If, like me, you find yourself a little under-prepared, there is Lyft and Uber in the area and in a pinch you can use that to get back and forth between the campground and the fort.
Our neighbors at the next campsite over we're, unfortunately, a bit of a party crowd, which made for a loud night and very little sleep. That said the restrooms were nice and easy to reach and all of the amenities or what you would expect at a bigger busy or campground.
GuideWhat isn't there to do at Myakka River SP. First of all, this place is huge. I think it took me about 10 minutes to drive from one end to the other, but it is full of wonderful things to do along the way. There are two entrances to the park because it is so large, but one entrance is not always open, so its important to check that online before heading over. The main entrance has a nice Welcome Center right at the front with a small store shop. There are three different loops to camp in, one is specific to tent camping and is not open year round called Big Flats Campground. Its further back in the park and surrounded by beautiful trees. The other two are tent/RV, one being very shady called Old Prairie and the other having drive through sites called Palmetto Ridge which does not have many trees for shade. There are also cabins and these are remodeled versions of the original cabins that were built back when the park first opened in the 30s.
The activities on site vary. because the park is so large, its great for long morning jogs and bike rides. The view is beautiful only the Myakka river and your bound to run into wildlife (i saw deer, gators, hogs and so many different birds)! There are also 39 miles worth of hiking trails, which all vary in distance. Some even have primitive campsites for those that enjoy backpacking. Along one of the hiking trails, is an observation desk with a canopy walkway. The tower soars 76 feet high so you have a great view of the park! There is also a pretty bird watching area for those that enjoying this activity. Even if you don't the view is amazing and a great place to sit and watch for wildlife.
The last part of the park I want to touch on is the Pink Gator restaurant/gift shop. I think it is one of the largest shops I have ever been in. The food at the cafe was wonderful! I had the chicken salad (way too good!). And they have a small Edys IceCream Parlor. This part of the park also allows access to the river, where you can canoe/kayak or what ever water sport you are into. The one thing that stood out to me is the Airboat ride. This boat hold about 30 people and takes you out on the the lake for a tour. I don't think I have ever seen an air boat that large.
The facilities were all very well taken care of as well and I cannot think of one complaint! I definitely recommend visiting this park.
LegendStayed two nights here. Arrived in the afternoon and found site number (38) easily. The tent sites on the outer side of the loops are bedded in sand, and the ones on the inner side are bedded in crushed shells and are nearer the restrooms and facilities. The back side of number 38 leads to a grassy area lined by trees on the far side that block the sunset. Recommend site 30 or below so that the back side of your site leads to the water and beautiful sunsets. Be prepared to deal with mosquitoes and raccoons. On the first night, a raccoon approached the table without regard and tried to open the portable trash can! They're active and large, and can be seen at night throughout the campground raiding the trash bins. Went on a bike ride the following day, and upon returning saw that a raccoon had opened the Coleman 52-gallon cooler, taken out the carton of eggs, cracked all six eggs, and eaten each egg yolk, leaving the whites and the shells strewn about the picnic table and ground nearby. Thankful that it had not touched the Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Resolved to put the cooler inside the car when absent henceforth. There is a campground store near the entrance with everything from ice to wood to tuna, milk, fishing supplies... it's a mini-market. There is a souvenir shop and food shop near the fort part. Didn't go to the fort or museum. Had a delicious fish and chips meal at the food shop. The bike paths are wide along the main vehicular roads. The highlight of the site is the North Beach. It's ample and clean. White sands. Shallow shores. Pleasant, perfect.
Legend
This location is at one of the most unpredictable water level spots along the Peace River - this is not the wide deep Peace River you will find further south, but it is a very popular location for the locals and fossil hunters! water levels here controlled by rainfall and can range from 4 inches to 6 feet easily. I believe this is the most beautiful stretch of the river - from here to Brownville.
Located on the corner of U.S. Highway 17& S.R. 64 it is an easy and quick stop for an unplanned overnight for RV travelers - Over 30 ft rigs - sights are laid out like a parking lot with no trees and there are pull through sites. Under 30 ft rigs there is a wooded area available. Electric is available, a dump station and pay per use showers ($2.00). The road noise can be pretty loud the closer to the road you are till after dark.
Tent camping is much better! Primitive dispersed and under the trees. Watch for snakes in heavy cover areas and if it has been raining avoid low areas. there is a place to get water but I chose not to drink it.... No Hammocks, 2 pets per campsite 10 ft max leash at all times. No swimming anywhere in park (yes there are gators). Simple boat ramp good for canoes and kayaks if river is up. If water very high you may see some john boats and skiffs being launched
Bathrooms are onsite but last I saw they were charging for showers.
There are many building that can be rented for special events. For Pioneer Park building rentals, please call 863-473-5076.
The Cracker Trail Museum and Wildlife Refuge are 2 locations on site that you can visit for an additional fee of $2-5 each The phone number for the Museum is 863-473-5076. The phone number for the Wildlife Refuge is 863-473-4892.
ScoutI recently had a wonderful experience at the St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, and I’m excited to share my positive review! I’ve hosted friends in their Deluxe Cabins before, and they were thoroughly impressed. The cabins were equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay—fresh linens, a full kitchen, and even a private patio with a grill and fire ring. And they had a great view of the lush mangrove lined Long Bayou.
They loved the blend of cozy and convenient, making their getaway truly enjoyable. At the end of the road driving out of this campground is a great restaurant called Doe Doe's that makes a delicious homestyle breakfast if you don't want to cook it yourself.
Wanting to be close to them I opted for one of the small tent sites at the end of the park where I car camped in my Subaru Outback. It was a peaceful and charming spot, perfect for a relaxing camping experience - and away from more of the centrally located activities that people camping with children enjoy.
Overall, the amenities were top-notch, including the heated outdoor pool, bike and kayak rentals, and clean and large facilities. They have something called KampK9 which is a fenced in dog park area. Less than a mile away is Bay Pines Park which is nice to jog or ride your bike through and there is also a super Walmart nearby so you can stock up for your drive to the next campground. You also have easy access to the Gulf Coast's stunning beaches and the scenic Pinellas Trail.
Driving on the main road, and seeing the somewhat industrial area you pass through on your way down the small side street to this campground, you wouldn't expect much - but this KOA has been there for decades and is one of the nicest family campgrounds in the middle of a city I have experienced.
Guide
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. However, even though this camp is tiny, there is a lot to do. There is an area for tents, hammocks, campers and cabins are also available. One area of tents sites is a group site, which has a platform, tables with a pavilion, and a large campfire area, so if you have a group you want go with, this is great place to do so!
One of the highlights of this site is the canoeing. You can come in for day canoeing and the employees will pick you and the canoe up at a stop and bring you back to the site. You can also bring your own canoe while you stay and they will do the same thing for you at the pick up site down the river. One activity that I did not have a chance to do is the Moonlight Canoeing. This looked like so much fun because you go out canoeing at midnight and have snacks, drinks, s'mores, and listen to music around a campfire.
One last thing is the owners. They are super friendly and take care of the campers and the campsite. They also have peacocks that run around, so its fun to see them. I would definitely recommend this site to anyone looking for a place to camp in the Tampa area.
Guide
If you live on the Gulf Coast of Florida and don’t want to travel too far, or are just traveling through the area, this campground is a nice stopover. It’s quiet and offers some nice hiking and biking trails. But after spending 3 nights camping at Oscar Scherer State Park, we come away with a mixed opinion.
These campsites are small. In fact, they are the smallest we’ve encountered in a Florida state park so far. We had just enough room for our popup camper which is approximately 20 x 10 feet plus another 10 x 8 feet with the awning extended. Some are wider but the only sites that seem longer are the pull-in sites in Section 5 which is closed.
Keys to Choosing to your Campsite at Oscar Scherer
Given that only sections, 1 through 3 are available currently, you may see that the Reserve America reservations page will show a water icon on some campsites that appear to be along the creek. But you will not see the creek from your campsite. The vegetation in the park is quite dense and certainly so in the campsites in sections 1– 3. The shade is always important when camping in Florida, especially in the summer. The description on the Reserve America website regarding shade isn’t accurate. Our site,#2, was described as ‘full shade’. Not so, I’m afraid. From about 10 am to 4 pm we baked in the Florida sun. However, our friends had site#3 next door and had shade though out the day. Even though that site enters from the east, as do all sites along the creek, they had trees the canopied over the entrance and eastern side of the site. However, sites 22– 28 do have a lot of shade and are located on the opposite side of the campground from South Creek. If we were to go back, we would stay on that side of the Oscar Scherer Park.
Be Prepared for Bugs
Oscar Scherer State Park camping requires being prepared for bugs. Perhaps due to the amount of lush vegetation all over this park, and the proximity to the South Creek, there were more bugs than we experienced at other Florida state parks. Even though we take precautions including a very effective bug spray we came home with a lot of bug bites. So, bring your best bug spray and citronella candles. They are especially a problem in the morning until the sun comes up over the trees.
To read our full review visit https://lifestyleover50.com/oscar-scherer-state-park-camping-review/
ScoutGreat campground for any type of camping. All sites at Palmetto Ridge are full hookup and many sites are pull through. ATT WiFi is fast enough to stream YouTube and YouTube TV via my Apple TV box tethered to my iPhone.
LegendThis is kind of our go to Florida State Park as we live very close and really enjoy the hiking, biking and paddling the river and lake. We typically book last minute as“In-Season” campsites are often difficult to find. In addition, the lower campground is sometimes flooded out or closed for repairs putting even more pressure on the two campgrounds closer to the main park entrance which is further from the lake and general store.
I may have reviewed this park before but always find different things to share. Their are three main campgrounds:
(1) Old Prairie where we usually stay. This is an older campground with a more rustic, state park vibe. Maybe 20 sites typically hosting smaller trailers, vans and tents etc.
(2) Palmetto Ridge is more more or less across from Old Prairie with a more open and modern looking vibe and where you will see more of your typical RV crowd of Big Rigs and larger trailers
(3) Big Flats is about 3 miles down the road from the entrance close to Lake Myakka where the tour boat, boat ramp, general store etc is found. We have never stayed here as it has been closed for repairs, maintenance and flooding on numerous occasions. Perhaps something to consider if you are booking way in advance.
The reason Myakka is so popular to Florida visitors is it has outstanding beauty, a real Jurassic Park feel but is very near Sarasota with all the beaches, museums, restaurants and activities literally less than 1/2 hour away. Lots of people vacationing Florida on the cheap like to set up home here“in-season” and jump from site to site and stay as long as they can. Summers are much easier to find a site.
We are lucky to live so close. We are here more in the summer and swing seasons. This park makes an excellent 2 or 3 day adventure or a great Basecamp for your Florida vacation. You won’t be disappointed.
NOTE: Some of the public facilities have been closed due to COVID including the “Canopy Walk” which is very cool so you may want to check if that sort of thing interests you.
It is always interesting to me how all the Florida State Parks are a little different as the park manager seems to have some autonomy. Certain parks have public facilities closed like the Canopy Walk here at Myakka but another Florida State Park might have their observation tower open even though the structures are similar. Go figure.
RangerLovely and hugs state park with a mix of prairie and forest (palm, oak with Spanish moss and other epiphytes). We stayed at Old Prairie Campground site 38 and it was a lovely spot at back of the loop. The OP. Amp hound is a bit tighter than the Palmetto campground in terms of space, but I really liked the feel of the campground and people were all friendly. Clean bath house and laundry facilities (bring quarters). Weather was in the 80s in early February. We did the nature trail (short), the canopy walk, and also got permits for the wilderness preserve. The hike there is beautiful - about five miles round trip. Feels like the Serengeti - wide open prairie with occasional trees. There’s a lake with TONS of alligators and lots of amazing birds. You have to get a permit from the ranger station at 8 am and they only give out enough for 30 people each day. Well worth it. The only bummer with this campground is that there isn’t trail access from the campgrounds themselves (at least not from Old Prairie or Palmetto). I like state parks where you can access the trail network straight from the campsite. Other than that it was beautiful.
RangerWe stayed here 6 nights in Palmetto Ridge Campground which had full hookups. It is an extremely well maintained park with large roomy sites in the campground we stayed in. There are two more campgrounds available in the park, but they were not sewer equipped and also too small for our 40' 5er. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and will definitely be going back in the future. It is about a half hour drive to either Siesta Key Beach or Turtle Beach from the park so it is very convenient for that.
Tent camping near Palmetto, Florida offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot for your outdoor adventure.
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Palmetto, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Palmetto, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 63 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Palmetto, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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