Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Port St. Lucie? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Search nearby tent campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
$10 / night
Two backpack camps are available on segments of the Florida Trail. Maps of the trail are available at the ranger station.
One camp is 5 miles out along the trail, and the other is 9 miles out. A pitcher pump is located near each camp. Water must be treated. Pets are not permitted on this trail and/or at these camps. Collection of firewood is not permitted in Florida State Parks; be sure to pack a stove for cooking.
$10 / night
Camping is permitted during certain times of the year and only in designated campsites, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For information on when and where camping is allowed, consult the regulations summary brochure. See the J.W. Corbett WMA Recreation Guide for campsite locations.
This recreation area is part of Lake Okeechobee
Escape to this tranquil campsite nestled amongst towering pines. Enjoy stunning natural views, a catch-and-release pond, and the beauty of the outdoors. Relax by the campfire, freshen up in the showers, and enjoy the convenience of restrooms. Perfect for nature lovers and those seeking solitude.
$60 - $120 / night
Traveler
St. Lucie South is a small campground run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Located just outside Stuart, FL. the site is located on the St. Lucie lock and dam.
The park is small with only 3 primitive tent sites and maybe 10 RV sites.
The tent sites all are on the St. Lucie canal and do not have water to the sites although, water is available from the tap just across the street.
The RV sites feature water and electric hookups but no site septic. The septic dump is located close to the bathhouse and trash dumpster.
The hosts keep the grounds and bathhouse spotless and noise after hours was never an issue for us. The location lends itself to Stuart, FL and any type of food choices you may want. The park is located close to Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike for easy access.
The tent sites are on the canal and watching the boats come in to use the lock is nice however, we were warned against paddle boarding the canal due to alligators. Swimming is not permitted. Out last morning at the site, we saw a 3-5 foot alligator trolling around just off our site.
We used the park as a stop off on our way to a week long camping trip to the Florida Keys, (a straight through drive would have been close to 13 hours for us). We stayed for 2 nights going down and 1 night coming home.
TravelerThis campground is so quiet and relaxing. Tent sites are right on the water so it's nice and cool.
Traveler
This is a great place set in the middle of Florida's marshland. Park like with plenty of trees, grass and water canals. The tent sites are close together so there's not much privacy. Bathrooms, hot showers and laundry. First come first served. Grab it early. $22 per night on 3/18/2023.
ScoutGreat tent site on the river. lots of rain but that is ok. Clean restrooms, well maintained dock and site.
RangerFeatures: Boat Ramp, Picnic Shelters, Comfort Station, Parking, Dump Station, Fishing Area, Trails, Tent Sites, Playground, Showers, Picnic Area, Concrete Pads, Boat in Sites, Tent Sites, Water/Electric 30/50. Handicap Facilities. Horseshoe Pit.
On site Visitor center with history of the Lock and dams. You are able to tour the locks walk across them. Closed because of covid-19. Scheduled reopening Oct.1,2020.
The Staff are friendly and treat this place as home. Great Volunteer’s.
Free WiFi available at the visitor center during business hours, with outdoor covered seating overlooking the waterway. No swimming, several kayakers were out this trip. Wildlife and remember no feeding the gators.
Scout
The tent sites are a little small but most of them are shady and secluded with lots of trees and shrubs between! Good bathroom and shower, and lots of trails to explore, leading to a boat ramp and playground
Legend
We tent camped here. Site small and sandy but location is the key to this KOA. Right next to Lion Country Safari. We are used to hearing birds and frogs when we camp, but here it is lions...and other noises I was not able to identify. Weather great to explore park in late Winter. Kids loved it and we will be back!
LegendI stopped here because I needed a place to sleep and the nearby campgrounds were full. I was pleased to find that St. Lucie South was not only a good place to spend the night, but an enjoyable experience in its own right. This is a COE campground built adjacent to a lock. The waterway is a canal that connects Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic. The campground isn't particularly large, but it is very nicely landscaped. Plenty of grass and tall trees.
I stayed in one of the three primitive tent sites. Each of these comes with a tree, a gravel tent pad, and a small picnic shelter. There is a water spigot nearby, and bathrooms with flushing toilets, hot and cold running water, and showers are located up the road a ways. These were fairly clean when I visited.
There were lots of interesting animals to observe here, including flying fish, big tree lizards, big frogs that hopped out of the canal and onto my tent at night, and something that I'm fairly certain was a gator but never got a good look at. Unfortunately, there was also a large mosquito population that made things not so fun after nightfall.
My neighbors here were also a bit distracting. They were a very loud family who appeared to be living at the tent site next to mine.
GuideFirst of all, this was a great location to visit the lion country safari. We stayed in a tent site.
Pros: The facilities were well kept and nice enough for a campground. People were not too noisy. The lions were plenty noisy, and it was so cool to hear them in the morning!
Cons: There was no privacy whatsoever between sites and the sites were very close together. The lampposts were plentiful and bright which isn't so great when sleeping in a tent. Also, no fire rings.
Legend
4 miles down washboard sand/gravel road will beat your truck and trailer to death. And the sites are small!! 18’ trailer in site #6 and had to unhitch the tow vehicle as it was sticking in the road. Barely fit 22’ trailer and tow vehicle in site #1 without unhitching. That aside, it is a beautiful quiet spot that is excellent for star gazing. Bath house is clean and lots of hot water. If you are car camping or tent camping or have a camper van, this might be a good spot for you. It is a dark zone, so no lights after dark - use red lights.
Traveler
Have stayed here twice, about 70 miles from my home. Always tented in riverland as sites close to ranger entrance are rv only. One warning if you reserve through toll free service there is a $6 charge and they put me in a terrible spot. Ranger claimed only a few others available, but it was July and almost empty. Finally got a good tent site, grass and adequate privacy. Restrooms super clean, quiet all day and night. Forgot my fan and almost eaten alive saved by Off. People in boat shop - store super friendly. Ice, wood, etc available. Took a 3 hour canoe trip , $25 well spent. Next day rented a bike. Good hiking trails too.
TravelerAll around a great location to get away and explore. This is one of the most comfortable and well-kept campgrounds I've found in FL. The staff and volunteers were very attentive and accommodating. The other campers were friendly and enthusiastic. We tent camped in the Equestrian loop, and the sites were decently spaced with plenty of room for our two tents, two cars, and 8 campers to spread out without bothering the neighbors. There are no stores or restaurants nearby, so pack well. These sites have water, electric, grill, and a table. Firewood is available for $7 cash per bundle (honor system). The dumpster is by the firewood. You can buy ice from the rangers for $2.50 during business hours. Showers are hot. Bathrooms are spacious.
I should probably mention that I'm camping spoiled. I traveled for a year or so around the country tent camping, and lived in Colorado for 10 years camping at least once a month out west. I'm from Florida, and I really didn't think there was much worth seeing here, so I stopped looking. It turns out I was wrong.
The air was so clean that we felt like we were on oxygen! The night sky was absolutely breathtaking, but catching dawn and dusk over the landscape is really nice too. The trails were well maintained and clearly planned to create a unique experience, while being just challenging enough to feel like a real adventure.
The animals just weren't afraid of humans. Our 6 teenagers were so excited to stand face-to-face, only a few feet from gentle deer, bunnies, and turkeys. We even saw some lazy baby alligators sunning on the Military Trail.
The Prairie Loop Trail took much longer than we anticipated, and the wind pushing us back was insane, but it was gorgeous and we had a lot of fun. I'll just plan better for that next time. And, the whole family agrees there will be a next time, soon!
If you are looking for a place in FL where you really feel "out in it", away from absolutely everything, while still having what you need to be comfortable, this is it.
RangerGiving 3 stars for now. I read a review in this and is at my backdoor. Never new about this place. Hiking trails, boat ramp, fishing, on the Sebastian Waterway. There are 30 sites that are for tent or a small pop up. Sites are large include a concrete picnic table and fire ring. There are several locations to get water from. Bathhouse is for camping guest only and you need a combo code to get in. There are 4 sites that are for Rv’s that have water hookup and 30amp service. This is a first come first serve campground. Reservations are not taken. Tent camping you would be fine the Rv sites I think on weekends you would be out of luck. Today on a Tuesday there was 2 taken and all the 30 other tent/pop up were available. Close to a lot of shopping. Plenty of wildlife and plants to discover.
GuideStayed here during a very HOT weekend May/ June 2020. We stayed in the River Campground, lot 139. This site had a small amount of shade, so it offered some relief from the heat, but compared to other places I have camped this was very exposed. The bugs are pretty bad. Bring your OFF and screened shelters. No-see-ums were bad in the evening, and flies were plenty all day. Lots of ant issues too; we never had a problem with them anywhere else. Once you get past that, there is a ton of stuff to do. A paved and off road bike trail, boat ramps and kayaking, the Florida trail cuts through the park, so there is a lot of hiking. The shower and restroom facilities were kept very clean, and we were very happy with the cleanliness of the park. The off road bike trails are very fun, but just like the rest of the park, very exposed to the sun. This park would be best when the weather cools down in fall and late winter. If you’re a boater, you could get away with it year round, as long as you’re not tent camping.
TravelerRecently took a road trip from New England to Florida with my family and had the pleasure of staying here at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
This state park accommodates RVs, tent sites, and cabin rentals with two camping areas -- one (Pine Grove Campground) located close to the entrance, right off of US Hwy 1 and seems to be more geared towards RV sites and the other (River Campground) located about four miles into the park along the Loxahatchee River. We stayed in the River Campground.
Spacious sites offered: water, electricity, a picnic table, & a fire ring… and grounds include two well kept bathhouses with laundry facilities. Trees were sparse in some sections so be prepared to create shade. Our site was visited by a young raccoon who didn't seem fazed by us at all; just wanted what we were cooking.
We only stayed for one night, so we weren't able to take in all the park has to offer, but we did walk some of the nature trails along the river towards the newly built amphitheater and swimming area. Unfortunate for us, the swimming area was closed during our stay -- which would have made the stay twice as nice… but the views were still incredible!
If we ever find our way back to south Florida for camping, we'll definitely come back here.
GuideThis campground that sits just outside of the only drive through animal safari with over 1,000 different types of animals, is great for families to enjoy. This has all the amenities as a typical KOA campground except you get a bonus by hearing the Lions roar in the morning. The campground is gated during evening hours with the gate closing at 10:00 pm, so you will need to get a gate key card with a $20.00 deposit which will be refunded when you turn the key back at the end of your stay. The staff are very friendly and the campground is very clean. They also do a great job with abiding by the CDC guidelines for Covid-19. The Raccoons like to come out in the evening, so make sure you pick up you garbage at night. The rabbits were having fun playing in the primitive camping area every evening and early morning hours. They offer cabin and platform tent rentals for slightly more than a tent site. There are many seasonal campers from the North along with weekend campers trying to escape the everyday stress in their lives. We live 1 hour south of this campground but we will definitely be going back fir weekend trips.
RangerThe staff at check-in was the best. I talk with several over my 5 day stay sharing ideas and stories. Very helpful. The spots are laid out perfect. Easy to backend. Concert pads, gravel fire pit and covered picnic tables. No bad views i was in 3 different sites during my stay. Grounds are kept clean, cut, trim and edged. Reception good on t.v. Antenna and dish satellite. No wifi on sites but free wifi at reception area. Great river views. 3 bars on T-mobile. Your right at the locks so watch the boats pass from the gulf to the Ocean. Horseshoe pits. Clean showerhouse. Tent camping is primitive m. All RV sites have water 30 and 50 amp service. Sites on river will hold 45’ class A. Close to shopping. All sites have 30/50 amp service and water. Sewer is not available. Dump station near exit on way out, Because of the cleanest of the campground and the friendly staff I rate this a five. they make up for the only downfall of being allowed to dump once per week or there is a fee of $20.00. there is no charge for a honey wagon dump. I would assume the extra fee is to encourage water management since there has been issues with algae growth in the waterways.
Legend
General: Small family-run KOA campground (33 sites) located 1.5 miles north of Fort Pierce on Highway One. All sites are FHU with a combination of regular, premium, and extra-large sites. There is also a tent site area.
Site Quality: All sites are level and gravel with a fire pit and a brick patio area with a picnic table. Typical RV park layout with minimal to no privacy separating sites.
Bathhouse: Two unisex all-in-ones that were clean and air-conditioned. The shower had immediate hot water and good water pressure.
Activities/Amenities: There is a small playground and pet area plus a clean spacious laundry area. It is close to town. There is a manatee center and Navy Seal Museum (but we didn’t explore either one) close by in addition to shops and restaurants in Fort Pierce. I was able to enjoy a 3-mile run to town and back on sidewalks.
This campground was more expensive than we usually like to spend but it was a convenient location for us to have dinner with a family friend. We arrived after the office was closed so did not have any interaction with staff but our check-in paperwork was readily available. We appreciate that we were tucked in at the rear of the property which lessened the road noise (and we didn’t have neighbors on either side of us). I would rate this three stars for our purposes but as it was well-kept and for others may suit their needs, it merits four stars in general.
GuideReally had a fantastic time at this campground, I'm typically a tent camper and had great facilities. The cost of camping in Florida isn't cheap though this one actually had the value in it given that you could also rent boats and paddle up river alongside manatees to the wild man encampment. Amazing hiking nearby, the tower to check out, even a little mini museum with reptiles. I enjoyed it so much I would go back.
Traveler
The place is gorgeous and if you want shade or sun it offers both. Quiet, relaxing, good trails that lead over to Hickory Hammock campground. Audrey is a excellent camp host.
They keep it very clean and is very helpful in showing you the campsites. It is right off the main road so no dirt road to get there though you have some road noise but you can get back away from most of it. Lots of wildlife in the woods, nothing bothered the campsite.
There are bathrooms but no showers. They are a ways away from the campground. Its still shocking you can camp in Florida like this for free. Hope we can keep it this way for a long time.
Traveler
This campground is only an hour away from most spots in South Florida, but it feels much further removed. We were able to get a reservation for tent/van camping the same day. There are obviously some folks who have planted down long-term here, and it helps the campground feel like a community. The gorgeous water views and walking trail are the perfect way to spend an early morning. I look forward to coming back here, it is a real gem for South Florida residents.
GuideDifferent from other areas of Florida the Prairie area is open and vast. I found it quiet, and enjoyable place to be alone with my thoughts and hiking. I was met with groups of wild turkeys and other animals and enjoyed peaceful wondering. Great set up for this tent camper and would love to go back again.
Scout
Small tent area enough for about 4 tents close together... but clean and very nice!
ScoutThey have to parts. First one is few miles from main hwy with premitive sites for tents and small RVs.( can rent kayaks there) We stayed there 10 years ago.
Last month we stayed in the Tent in the section closer to the highway.Very nice and clean. Had fire and bbq with kids. Great park for mountain bikeing.
TravelerTent campers beware- this is a cute little spot with full hookups available at most sites and charging station available for the rest. Mosquitos are pretty crazy onc the sun goes down and the wind is in believable. I had my tent tied in every way imaginable to try and keep in from blowing away. I have 2 nights left here and I really don’t think it’s going to survive.
TravelerThe bathrooms closest to tents os closed and floods a lot
Traveler
We went on a weekday spring 2018, there was only one other tent camper there at the time. Tent area is a big open grass field, no shade trees. No water or electric on site but is available at nearby pavilion. This is close to home and convenient for us. Rented canoe, went fishing and for a hike. Family enjoyed our 2 nights there. Staff was friendly. Campground is nothing fancy but we had fun. In the marshes, near the beach.
Discover the beauty of tent camping near Port St. Lucie, Florida, where lush landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts. With a variety of campgrounds offering unique amenities and experiences, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Port St. Lucie, FL is Loop 4 with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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