Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground provides water and electric hookups at spacious, shaded sites suitable for horse owners camping with trailers. Located about 90 minutes west of Rockledge, the park offers multiple hiking and bridle trails through natural Florida landscapes. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with clean bathhouses nearby. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound with frequent deer, turkey, and armadillo sightings throughout the camping areas. The park features several miles of multi-use trails appropriate for horseback riding through diverse ecosystems including pine flatwoods and wetlands.
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, situated southwest of Rockledge, offers more developed accommodations for equestrians with full hookup RV sites, tent camping, cabins, and glamping options. The resort allows horses and provides access to riding areas on the property. The destination features regularly scheduled rodeo events where visitors can watch professional riders compete. Boat access is available for those wishing to combine equestrian and water activities during their stay. Visitors should make reservations well in advance as the facilities are popular year-round. The park's location along the Kissimmee River provides scenic riding opportunities through natural Florida landscapes.
"I live within a hours drive from this park and have been camping here for 40 plus years. This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from the other sites compared to many other parks."
"The path is very clear with markers and when you arrive at the site, there is a clear indicator to follow. The path to the site is right off the main trail."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"This review relates to River Ranch RV Resort, which is next to the Westgate property. I would personally not stay at the Westgate RV since it is basically just an open field with RV spots. "
"Good off-roading nearby ! All the amenities you want. Nice staff"
"You can’t get more centrally located that bill Frederick. Located In metro west, this park is close to both the theme parks, and a commutable distance to north Orlando."
"if you choose primitive campground (10$) you will have to walk a little bit. the car parking is far away from the actual campsite. huge plus arw free showers with hot water. area is beautiful!"
from $20 - $100 / night
"Vero Beach Equestrian Club is new to the Dyrt and accepting reservations! Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!"
Available this weekend
from $40 - $80 / night
GuideLots of amenities with plenty to do, water park was nice, ice cream shop, marina, and skeet range were cool. Staff was inconsistent - some allowed the kids to have fun but others break out the measuring stick to deny activities. Head scratching at times but will probably go back.
TravelerThey used to have a primitive sites near the boat ramp but since they don't really make money on that it went byebye. I asked the front gate what happened & the rude lady was like "we never had that". Ok so all these websites are lying AND there used to be a sign with a literal tent in it lol either she's lying or clueless. Also reservations have to be made two days in advance You can't even do it a full day in advance. So If you're out of state and want to stay at this campground, you're going to have to sleep in your car for a night or two because of their policies LOL what a joke.
ScoutThe park is beautiful and well kept but the staff is so rude and the pool is always closed. We had a bad pedestal but no one came out to fix it when we call multiple times about it. Site 18 was level and easy to back into but too close to other campers.
LegendSpent five nights at this beautiful campground. It is absolutely so peaceful. Tons of deer all over, all the time. The campground is definitely nice and pitch black at night. We walked over to the observation tower and could see the cow camp from there. We rode our bikes to the cow camp and snooped around. That was really interesting. Our site was really nice and big. All the palms around the site give it some privacy. Most of the trails are still flooded. Our rainy season just ended and we’ve had a lot of rain towards the end of it.
Laundry is $1.25 per load. Bathhouse was clean each time we used it. Park rangers were friendly each time we saw them.
TravelerNice spot to just get away and relax. Lots of hiking trails and some wildlife. Deers all around even among the campsites. Some tours available close by for airboats. We will be back here again.
TravelerVery rude lady at the front gate. Online it said they have primitive camping by the lake THERE'S EVEN A SIGN for it. She said they stopped doing that a long time ago. Soooo why does it still say it online and the sign still up. Now they closed the entire campground?? This campground really needs to get it's sh*t together. Get Better workers & management. The actual campground is fine.
GuideBeautiful shaded sites and long biking/ trails
TravelerWe loved our tent camping experience at Lake Kissimmee. Our site was 22 in Loop 1 and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that we had our own direct path to the bathroom, which wasn’t something featured on the FL State Park booking site. On-site store was only open on specific days of the week and did not carry ice, but they did have small bundles of firewood. We look forward to booking the same spot when we come back to visit during the colder months.
RangerTons to do on property including little stores, bbq restaurant, pizza, ice cream etc. Horseback riding, petting zoo, rock climbing. BUT, my only complaint is the noise level of the area. Lots of boat noise, gas golf carts (big property) & it just happened that my neighbors loved their gas blowers & pressure washing lol. Lots of great sites to choose from. Nice staff. Pet friendly.
Lake Kissimmee State Park and Westgate River Ranch Resort offer dedicated equestrian camping options near Rockledge, Florida. Located in central Florida about 1.5 hours west of Rockledge, these destinations provide campers with opportunities for trail riding through natural Florida ecosystems. The region's subtropical climate allows for year-round equestrian activities with average winter temperatures around 65°F and summer temperatures reaching the mid-90s with high humidity.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Lake Kissimmee State Park campers report abundant wildlife sightings throughout the camping areas. "Animals are abundant - wild turkeys, eagles, bobcats, AND the Florida Panther! While sitting in our screen gazebo, I was awed by the passing of a male panther about 25 yards from our campsite," reports Barbara J. at Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground.
Rodeo attendance: The weekly rodeo at Westgate River Ranch Resort provides entertainment for horse enthusiasts. "We really enjoyed the rodeo," notes Susan K., who visited Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo. Another visitor mentions, "The boys loved the rodeo that was held on the weekend. They even got to participate in chasing the calf to win a prize."
Trail riding: Multiple biking and horse trails wind through both parks. "Beautiful shaded sites and long biking/ trails," writes Alexandra E. about Lake Kissimmee State Park. The park features several miles of multi-use trails through pine flatwoods and wetlands.
Private, spacious campsites: Campers consistently praise the generous site spacing at Lake Kissimmee. "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit," notes Stephanie G. Another camper mentions, "This site was very large, mostly level, with beautiful trees surrounding the site and great privacy."
Clean facilities: Visitors appreciate the well-maintained amenities. "Like all state parks the bathrooms were spotless and rivaled those of a Marriott," writes Perry J. about Lake Kissimmee State Park. At Bill Frederick Park, despite being in an urban setting, visitors note "free showers with hot water" as a "huge plus."
Family-friendly activities: Beyond horseback riding, these parks offer numerous recreational options. A visitor to Westgate River Ranch shares, "We went to the rodeo on Saturday night, did a swamp buggy ride, skeet shooting, petting zoo and rode a mechanical bull... and there was still more we could have done but ran out of time."
Limited connectivity: Cell service can be unreliable in more remote equestrian camping areas. One Lake Kissimmee visitor warns, "Cell service is practically non existent in the park and within 10 miles from the park. Keep an eye on gas, there's one place about 6 miles from the park and town is about 15 miles away."
Seasonal operations: Some amenities operate on limited schedules. "Cow camp is only open Oct-May. Only 30amp hook up and no sewer, but there is a dump station," explains Corey K. The Cracker Shack store at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake also operates on limited hours.
Cost considerations: Prices vary significantly between basic equestrian camping and resort experiences. "The prices are a little expensive, other than that lots of fun," notes Jennifer K. about Westgate River Ranch. Budget-conscious campers might prefer state parks, with primitive sites at Bill Frederick Park costing as little as $10 per night.
Rental options: Consider golf carts for larger equestrian facilities. "Bring your bikes as everything is a bit of a walk from the campground," suggests Ilena R. Another visitor confirms, "You need a golf cart or bikes to get around," noting the expansive layout of Westgate River Ranch Resort.
Educational experiences: Horse-oriented demonstrations provide learning opportunities. "The idea of cowboys in Florida was unexpected, but added a unique element to the park," shares Sara S., who visited Lake Kissimmee State Park. The park's historical cowboy camp offers insights into Florida's ranching heritage.
Activity planning: Schedule structured activities between trail rides. "We were able to fish right off the dock at our site, there was a fit pit and grill, as well as seating outside," notes Tina S. about her family's experience combining equestrian and water activities.
Site selection concerns: RVers should check for low-hanging branches when selecting horse camping sites. "If you have a tall rv low hanging branches in the camp area might be an issue," warns Corey K. Another camper advises, "Be careful of low hanging tree branches when backing in," specifically for sites at Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Utility limitations: Many equestrian camping areas have partial hookups only. "Most of the spots are fully shaded with trees. Spot 9 is fully concrete," notes a reviewer about Lake Kissimmee. For those requiring full hookups, "You can get a RV site through Westgate which is more of a field or through River Ranch RV Resort which has full hook-ups."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rockledge, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rockledge, FL is Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Rockledge, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Rockledge, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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