Best Tent Camping near Palmetto, FL

Tent campers visiting the Palmetto area of Florida can choose from several established primitive campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Hillsborough River State Park Campground and Lithia Springs Conservation Park offer tent sites with varying amenities, while Terry Tomalin Campground provides a more restrictive camping experience that caters specifically to tent campers rather than RVs.

Most tent-only sites in the region include basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though fire rules vary by location. Lithia Springs Conservation Park features spacious, shaded tent sites with electric hookups and water access, while more primitive options like Alderman's Ford Conservation Park require a hike in with all necessary supplies. A visitor commented, "The primitive campsites are hike in only. Bring a manageable pack with everything you need. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites." Many locations provide trash receptacles, but campers should verify water availability before arrival as not all sites offer potable water.

Areas farther from urban centers provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking a more authentic outdoor experience. The primitive sites at Myakka River State Park require a 2.5 to 14-mile hike from trailheads and offer a true backcountry experience with limited facilities. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "Each campsite has three campsites at it, each with a fire ring and post to hang up your pack." Tent campers at Alderman's Ford will find hammock poles at several sites that can accommodate multiple hammocks simultaneously. Tree coverage is substantial at most locations, providing necessary shade during Florida's warmer months. Road noise can impact some camping areas, with reviewers noting that traffic sounds are audible throughout the night at certain locations, potentially diminishing the wilderness experience.

Best Tent Sites Near Palmetto, Florida (16)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Palmetto, FL

678 Reviews of 16 Palmetto Campgrounds


  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2017

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    A favorite for the locals

    This location is utterly beautiful! So many different environments can be seen just walking the trials. The 4 primitive campsites we found were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings. The trails are marked well but not often maintained - so you really get the feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. No traffic was heard at night and I would not camp out there alone on a weekend due to the "local party crowd". This is a hike in and hike out site. We only stayed 1 night. No amenities. Lots of birds and wildlife in the late day and early morning. Parking is a small fenced in area before turn in road - no security/lighting appx 1.5 miles from camping area that we found

    I would have given this location a 5 except for the large amount of trash we found on trails (that we carried out) and the obvious disregard for rules of no swimming and no alcohol.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 22, 2022

    Flying A Campground — Myakka State Forest

    Peaceful spot

    Nice but small primitive state forest campground. Only 10 sites and one is for the camp host. About half the sites are back-in and can hold small RVs. The rest are tent only although the parking space is large enough to put a van-sized RV in sideways.

    All the sites are quite large and well separated from neighboring sites. With the right mix of campers, you could have a super peaceful night in the forest without having to bushwhack your way in. (Our night included a site with small kids the parents kept yelling at. Ugh.)

    All sites have a fire ring and picnic table

    There are vault toilets available in the loop and there is a potable water spigot at the nearby ranger station (firewood also available there).

    Nearby hiking trails are rated easy and moderate and the trailhead is just a quarter mile down the road.

    The campground is gated (you get the lock code when you reserve a site). Note that this campground requires reservations.

    If you're self-contained and looking for a nice quiet spot to camp, this would be a good spot to choose.

    Cell service on Verizon was ok with a jetpack, better with a MIMO antenna attached. (1 bar without /2-3 bars with but data speeds with MIMO were decent).

    T-Mobile service was good but kept bouncing between 4G and 5G on phone, which made it a bit erratic. On jetpack that only does 4G, had a strong signal with good data rates.

  • J
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    Great Place!

    The camp sites are hike in only. I LOVE this. Bring a manageable pack with everything you need. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail. There was firewood for use when I went. Sites were equipped with hammock posts, picnic table, and a fire pit. There was also a trash can. I had a great time, the whole park to myself for the night. Strongly recommend if you enjoy primitive camping.

  • Cosmo L.
    May. 31, 2019

    Fort De Soto Campground

    Nice once you get in.

    Reservations months in advance required. Nice dog beach. No alcohol allowed so keep it inside along with music. No hookups.

  • L O.
    Sep. 6, 2020

    Fort De Soto Campground

    Breathtaking beaches, get the low, tent-site numbers.

    Stayed 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.

  • Sue G.
    Dec. 30, 2024

    Cypress Creek Preserve

    Free camping

    There aren't many free spots in this area of Florida. Of course, they provide nothing other than a spot to camp with fire ring and old table, and an outhouse. We are in a 24' class C and found a nice private area that was surprisingly level. Trailers are accommodated at the equestrian campground. I suggest you arrive before dark as the road is a bit rough and narrow, with no light.

  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Oak Hill Campground - Peace River

    Ranger Review: ICEMULE Cooler at Peace River

    Campground Review: If you are looking for a clean, remote, large camping area, with large spread out sites and few amenities - this is it. Reservations for the Oak Hill campground can only be acquired through the Peace River Canoe Outpost. They maintain, clean and patrol the sites in addition to hauling your gear/firewood there so you do not have to paddle down the river with it. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and port-o-lets available.

    You can hike around the peninsula of Oak Hill and explore, look for fossils and sharks teeth at the waters edge or just site back and enjoy the peace and quiet. We had no trouble from squirrels or raccoons (we hung our trash out of reach just in case). Kids will find a way to keep busy exploring but there is space for a bit of catch or game of Frisbee.Manhunt was popular on our trip! These sites are very popular with scouting troops and locals - call easily to schedule your trip especially on weekends!

    Product Review: As a “Ranger” for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time – this weekend I tested the ICEMULE Pro backpack cooler. This cooler was the large model (23L) in my favorite color green! Product was put through it’s paces on a hot spring day in Florida while kayaking on the Peace River. We packed a couple frozen water bottles and a few chilled bottles and everything for breakfast casserole for 11 the next morning, 2 small icepacks and a quart size back of loose ice cubes. Everything held temperature. We barely had room to fold over top 3 times as suggested and we did inflate just a small bit to add to the insulation properties per instructions using small valve on side of bag. Backpacking straps were a bonus for carrying to the launch and back to camp!

    This cooler is so well built and tough! All seams are well put together and sturdy exterior fabric will surely last though quite a bit of abuse. I did not test to see if it floats when full as advertised. This cooler rolls up nice and small when empty and for storage – but mine will not see much storage time – this cooler will be going out on the water with me all summer! The ICEMULE Pro outperformed 2 other coolers persons in our party brought… they will be purchasing one like mine soon!

  • Colin R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2023

    St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday

    Great time and very clear facilities.

    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.

  • S
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Thousand Trails Peace River

    Enjoyed our stay

    This was our second Thousand Trails stay. Unlike The Oaks at Point South you have to find your own spot. It's a little unnerving. Fortunately, we had a few to choose from as soon as we arrived. There are a few paved roads but others are not. It had just rained a lot due to Hurricane Eta and there are huge potholes. So go slow!!!! We chose D14, back in. All of their sites are back in and they stress that over and over. FHU, no shade at our site, picnic table, fire ring with flip grill, grass pad. Fire rings are close to your neighbors camper b/c of mowing. Just move it. No cable or WiFi. Great Verizon. Pool was suppose to be open but they had to redo the pool deck. It was open the last day we were there and it's very nice. There is road noise, with air on not a problem. The back part of part is closed b/c of drainage issues. The site next to us the electricy didn't work which was great for us. Extra room! The sites are very spacious. In the winter when it's crowded they have a system of getting sites. Our water hookup didn't have a handle. Notified the office and it was fixed. You don't see staff out much at all. In a week, I saw 2 employees drive by.


Guide to Palmetto

Tent campsites near Palmetto, Florida offer diverse primitive camping options on both small water bodies and larger conservation areas. Most sites cluster along rivers like the Alafia and Hillsborough, providing opportunities for water activities during Florida's consistently warm climate. Several locations require advance permits or have specific camping restrictions unique to Florida's delicate ecosystem.

What to do

Paddling adventures: At Island Retreat Florida, campers access tent sites by boat only. "This island adventure includes camping and water activities at its finest. Whether you relax and take in the breeze on the island with a book, venture out to Beer Can Island, or paddle in dinner and drinks at the Bar/Restaurant across the river, you are guaranteed to have a nice time," notes Eric E.

Archery practice: Lake Park provides dedicated archery facilities for tent campers. "This park has a really great walking trail around a lake with exercise stations. I've seen some horses on the trails also. There's a cool BMX and rc car track too!" explains Robin M.

Wildlife viewing: The Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve offers peaceful settings for spotting local species. "The trails wind through beautiful natural scenery, and the quiet surroundings make it perfect for a relaxing hike. It's a great place to slow down, take in the fresh air, and enjoy the simple beauty of nature," says Zackary C.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Tent camping areas at Hillsborough River State Park Campground maintain well-kept bathrooms. "To start with, the state park employees were fantastic!! Our site was spacious. It did not flood when we had torrential downpours for a few hours one night. Bathhouse was clean. They offer recycling, which is a great plus!" reports Lorilee S.

Firefly sightings: Specific tent camping spots offer unique nighttime displays. "A beautiful park that is a real taste of old Florida, with a campground that is completely shaded by oak trees. At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy," shares Jason D.

Water recreation: Many tent camping spots provide water-based activities. "Nice trails, great river canoeing. Close to Tampa and Busch Gardens. Small tight spaces in the campground. Most with no coverage between sites," says Billie S.

What you should know

Camping restrictions: Terry Tomalin Campground has specific rules for tent campers. "Please be aware that this is a very restrictive campground. You can only tent and you are not allowed to smoke anything, vape anything, drink anything alcoholic. If you do any of those things you won't want to be here," Kevin W. advises.

Site selection matters: When booking tent sites, location within campgrounds varies significantly. "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places... and this is a bit peoply. That said it was very comfortable, everything was clean and super convenient," notes Gail W.

Weather preparedness: Florida's climate affects camping experiences year-round. "Unfortunately, the fireflies aren't the only bugs. The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them," Jason D. warns.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Simple tent sites work well for first-time family campers. "I stayed with 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8. We stayed two nights in 40-degree weather. This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping! Super clean campsites and great easy trail out to the site," reports Katelynn L. about Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground.

Educational experiences: Several parks offer learning opportunities for children. "On the property you will enjoy goats, cracker horses, cracker cattle, pigs and other farm animals. Along with camping you can arrange a living history tour at an additional fee," explains Jeanene A. about group camping options.

Hammock camping: Some sites specifically accommodate hammock setups. "Nice campsites, clean bathrooms, friendly campers. The windshield placard they give you says don't hang things from the trees, however the parks website says it's fine if you're hanging a hammock with 1" thick webbing, and it's on a thick tree," says Jake H.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing concerns: Lithia Springs Conservation Park offers tent sites that work for some smaller RVs. "We enjoyed a two night stay at site 28. This site is set deep from the road and can accommodate a large rig. Completely secluded from neighbors. Very quiet at night. 24hr access," Ryan notes.

Grocery proximity: RVers and tent campers appreciate nearby supplies. "Grocery stores within 2 miles which was great because the wife ran out of wine," Ryan mentions, highlighting the practical advantage of camping near civilization while still enjoying natural surroundings.

Off-peak timing: Avoid crowds by strategic scheduling at popular tent camping spots. "Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs. The sites are nice and spacious, have really excellent tree coverage. I felt that the spaces in the back loop were a little more secluded and were really nice because they were closer to the water. Overall, I'd try going back when it wasn't so busy," recommends Elliott B.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Palmetto, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Palmetto, FL is Terry Tomalin Campground with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Palmetto, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Palmetto, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.