Lazydays RV Resort
Beautiful clean campground with great warm pool and hot tub. Friendly staff.
13 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Port Richey offers several established RV parks with full hookup capabilities. Encore Holiday Travel Park in Holiday provides electric, water, and sewer connections with 50-amp service for larger motorhomes. Hickory Point RV Park features sandy, shelly gravel sites that accommodate big rigs up to 36 feet. "The CG is very clean, well maintained, but relatively expensive. The roads are paved, but the sites are sandy, shelly gravel," noted one visitor about Hickory Point. Encore Barrington Hills in Hudson caters to RVs with spacious pull-through sites, while Encore Topics in Spring Hill maintains year-round availability with concrete pads suitable for larger motorhomes and travel trailers.
Seasonal considerations affect availability throughout the region, with winter months seeing higher occupancy from snowbirds. Most parks near Port Richey maintain AT&T coverage ranging from adequate to excellent, though signal strength varies by location. According to reviews, Hickory Point achieved WiFi speeds up to 8 MB/s, while some parks offer only limited connectivity. Pet policies differ significantly between facilities—Hickory Point provides both a designated Bark Park and wooded walking areas, while others restrict pets by weight or number. Dump stations are available at most parks, though placement can sometimes create tight maneuvering situations, particularly for larger rigs. Propane refill services can be found at select locations, including Encore Winter Quarters Pasco in nearby Lutz.
"So a lot of snowbirds are packed up and gone. I can't say what it's like in January, but I've had no problems. The permanent residents are friendly. The amenities are plentiful."
"We were looking for a new place to spend the winter. This is an amazing park"
"There are many full time residents here. It was close enough to Tampa to use as a Homebase for the RV show."
"Nice quiet park. Spent 2 weeks here as part of our Thousand Oaks package."
"Very nice campground conveniently located right off of 589 ( Suncoast Parkway) 38 miles north of TPA. FRIENDLY neighbors, pet friendly. Nice amenities."
"We used this as a starting point to visit the local attractions Extremely quiet spot, mostly permanent sites. Very clean pool, baths."
"For now we had no internet, and used our phones for Hot Spot.
Staff are friendly and helpful.""Great location"
"The park is small, parking is crammed, and there’s a lot of older trailers but overall it’s a great location. This is our go to location when we have appointments at Bay Pines VA!"
"The beach is a 5 minute drive and pet friendly! The Pinellas bike trail is also located right behind the park and easy to get on. I will definitely come back to this campground."
"It is pet friendly and everyone seems to clean up after their pets. The pool is clean and clear and that works for me."
from $45 - $75 / night
"We recently stayed at Clover Forest RV Park in our 40ft Class A Motorhome, and overall, it was a pleasant experience."
"Would try to not park close to the main road. Just one row back is a lot quieter. Easy going vibes around the campground."
"Dog friendly and golf carts are allowed. Friendly staff. Pontoon boat rentals. Close to Three Sisters Springs where you can kayak with the Manatees."
"Excellent park, great attractions nearby! We have tried to come here each year. It is a larger park, with many residents or longer term or leave the rig weekenders."
"We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 132 for 3 days in mid April. The CG is very clean, well maintained, but relatively expensive."
"They’re all premium sites on the legend they have two cabins a few water sites. It’s Florida so it’s a tight fit in every spot. The staff we’ve met so far have been very friendly and helpful."
Beautiful clean campground with great warm pool and hot tub. Friendly staff.
Great accommodations. Clean. Some road noise but we are enjoying our stay
Beautiful pools and showers, washer and dryer on site are only like $2.50 each and very nice! They’ve done a lot of recent updates
The 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.
On 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!
This Old Florida location has a Western bent to the place with the covered wagon motif and ranch-styled main office with what looks to be a horse tie up on the porch, so whatever the theme might be, this RV enclave is a good stretch away from the I75 highway that you moseyed onto in to find this 55+ retirement one lane (OK, there’s a simple loop) cowboy retirement OK corral. You’ll access Countryside RV Park via Country Rd 489 just off of Route 470 and if you blink (you know, because of all that dust blowing off the prairie), you’d miss the turn-off, so keep your eyes peeled, pardner, and about 20 yards into the property, you’ll swing by the office on what looks to be freshly laid, small single vehicle lanes and check in with the sheriff (er, the RV manager), who will direct you to your humble piece of very flat land, which no doubt will be draped in shade provided by the scattered ancient and live oaks that are sweating Spanish moss creating a very (trust me) un-wild, wild west vibe.
There’s some basic amenities here in addition to the standard pull-through parking pads and FHUs offering 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage, including: sanitary dump, impeccably clean his / her restrooms and shower facilities, picnic tables, WiFi, cable TV, coin-operated laundry, horseshoes, side X side shuffle boards that are in pristine condition, recreation room with billiards, dog park, fire pit, retention pond, on-site storage, exercise equipment and gym. There’s even a proper mail room in case you plan on staying long enough that you need to receive mail here or have it forwarded (beats waiting for the Pony Express to arrive). Due to this being a semi- or full-retirement zone, Countryside offers additional diversions and activities like bingo, Karaoke, bowling, arts & crafts as well as Bible study, in addition to learning how to lasso your very own steer (OK, I made up this last one).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If your ID or social security card doesn’t clearly state that you are 55+ you won’t have any luck at this hideout; (2) If you do manage to stay here, IMHO the best spots are those either on the western - but of course - side of this depot (#6 – 22) or eastern (#46–#59) perimeters; (3) Should you need to load up on anything while here, there’s not much nearby apart from a Dollar General and Kal’s Food Grocery, but if you don’t mind driving slightly further afield, there’s a Publix NE of here and a Winn-Dixie and Walmart due south of here towards Bushnell; and (4) In the event that you’d like to grab some local grub, there’s Big Apple Café and a Subway nearby in the small town here, or up on Lake Panasoffkee there’s Big Bass Grill Lakefront Restaurant & Marina, which I highly recommend.
Happy Camping!
Quiet. 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
Beautiful 😁
Great location
Port Richey camping options extend beyond the city limits to nearby communities like Holiday, Hudson, Spring Hill, and Tarpon Springs. Most campgrounds in this Gulf Coast region sit at elevations under 50 feet above sea level, with sandy terrain and subtropical climate conditions. Winter temperatures typically range from 50-70°F while summer months regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity.
Kayak with manatees: Crystal River offers opportunities to see manatees in their natural habitat. "Close to Three Sisters Springs where you can kayak with the Manatees," notes a visitor at Encore Crystal Isles.
Explore Greek culture: Tarpon Springs features authentic Greek restaurants and shops just minutes from camping areas. "Definitely visit the Greek village!" recommends a camper staying at Hickory Point RV Park.
Bike the Pinellas Trail: This paved recreational path runs behind several campgrounds. "The bike trail is right behind the park and has beautiful scenery," mentions a reviewer at Caladesi RV Park.
Fishing opportunities: Many rv sites near Port Richey, Florida provide access to waterways for fishing. "If you like to fish, there are nice bass in the ponds," says a camper at Encore Winter Quarters Pasco.
Pool and hot tub access: Many campgrounds maintain these amenities year-round. "The pool and jacuzzi are nice and if you like to fish, there are nice bass in the ponds," notes a camper at Encore Winter Quarters Pasco.
Community gatherings: Evening social events are common at several parks. At Hickory Point RV Park, "they have beach chairs near the water and a fire pit that they lit every evening near sunset."
Beach proximity: Several camping options near Port Richey provide quick access to Gulf beaches. "Beach is 5 miles down the road. Good fishing areas and boat rentals outside park," mentions a visitor to Encore Crystal Isles.
Dog-friendly facilities: Beyond just allowing pets, many parks offer dedicated pet areas. "In addition to the Bark Park area, there is a nice wooded area where you can walk your dog as well," says a camper at Hickory Point RV Park.
Seasonal population fluctuations: Winter brings significantly more campers. "I can't say what it's like in January, but I've had no problems. The permanent residents are friendly. The amenities are plentiful," explains a visitor at Encore Holiday Travel Park.
Traffic considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entrance access. "Be careful entering the park. Very sharp turns," warns a reviewer at Encore Vacation Village.
Mixed resident populations: Many parks combine vacation campers with long-term residents. "The RV resort wasn't too bad, except the front desk people were not very friendly and very short with me," reports a camper at Encore Barrington Hills.
Variable internet connectivity: WiFi quality differs significantly between parks. "AT&T coverage was pretty good, with 3-4 bars of 5G service and speeds up to 11 MB/s. The CG has a lot of trees, but the sites in the front of the park are pretty open," notes a camper at Hickory Point RV Park.
Pool amenities for kids: Several rv parks near Port Richey provide child-friendly swimming options. "Facilities were great. Pool was amazing as was the playground. Would stay again," shares a family that visited Encore Clover Leaf Forest RV Resort.
Sports facilities: Look for campgrounds with recreational areas. Encore Crystal Isles offers "Basketball, Kids play area, Volleyball," according to a reviewer.
Weekend activity levels: Some parks become more lively on weekends. "On the weekends this park is a lot of fun with the boaters and weekenders. This park likes to party!" notes a camper at Encore Crystal Isles.
Location convenience: Consider proximity to attractions when booking. "Located minutes from Tarpon Springs, about 30 minutes to Tampa Bay downtown," mentions a visitor to Encore Holiday Travel Park.
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have size limitations for larger vehicles. "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 132," reports a camper at Hickory Point RV Park, while another notes it can accommodate "big rigs up to 36 feet."
Surface conditions: Site surfaces vary significantly between parks. "The site itself was great, and was basically new. Very level and great hookups. Just small," explains an RVer at Caladesi RV Park.
Maneuverability challenges: Some parks have tight roads and challenging navigation. "I had a very difficult time parking my 37' foot travel trailer. If someone is parked across from you, you basically are stuck," warns a visitor to Encore Winter Quarters Pasco.
Full-time resident considerations: Parks with permanent residents have different vibes. "It's a very large park consisting of the usual pavement and concrete. There are many full time residents here," notes a camper at Encore Barrington Hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Port Richey, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Port Richey, FL is Encore Holiday Travel Park with a 3.6-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Port Richey, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 224 RV camping locations near Port Richey, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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