Best Tent Camping near Safety Harbor, FL

Tent Camping Reviews near Safety Harbor, FL

688 Reviews of 26 Safety Harbor Campgrounds

• 

  Jeanene A.

  Legend

  Jun. 12, 2017

  Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park

  Anything but stark...

  Part of the Starkey Wilderness Preservethis location is full of multi use trails, has primitive cabin rentals (no electric) and tent camping available. Front country (car camping) and back country camping (hike in only). There are specific equestrian camping sites as well.

  Cabins are pretty close to each other. All sites need to be reserved.Tent, cabin, shelter and pavilion reservations: Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, (727) 834-3247. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided. Pavilions are also available to rent and they take reservations for large groups as well.

  We chose car camping for our visit to check the place out. A favorite for hiking and biking. This place has gotten busier as development has been growing steadily over the years. Many of the trails are without shade and the recent fire season hit the back part of the tract pretty hard (Spring 2017) but you would not see any signs of this unless you hiked out the furthest trails from entrance.

  Bring your bikes, hiking shoes, horses, or telescopes. Birders bring your binoculars! Over 150 species call Starkey home either full or part time. There is something here for everyone.

  As always in Florida bring bug spray, sunblock, hat, and please leave no trace!

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• 

  Jeanene A.

  Legend

  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.

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• J

  Joe

  Scout

  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.

• 

  James A.

  Guide

  Sep. 9, 2020

  Colt Creek State Park Campground

  Tired Tree Primative Site

  Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing.

  -$5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available for purchase (located at the site) -$5 arm loads -Fire ring, Picnic Table, Bench, and Garbage pail at the site

  Walked the long way in (3.25miles), instead of the 1 mile route. The entire hike is through typical open grass “roads” cut and maintained in the Florida brush. The site itself had a nice vibe and is far away from any other sites at the park. A large open clearing could easily allow for a dozen tents, unfortunately, I brought my hammock,.. and this site is not set up for hammock camping.

  With a little rigging and placement over a dried up gator hole, I found a spot that I could hang my hammock and shelter for the night.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the spot, other than the lack of clearing for a hammock, and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable... I am aware that it was rainy season in Florida, near a WMA named Green Swamp, but I went home with hundreds and hundreds of bites, despite my preparedness.

  I would camp here again, maybe when it’s a little cooler and more dry, and also would hike in with a tent, or potentially take the shorter route and pull a wagon full of gear, to enjoy a bit more “glamped” feel.

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• 

  Cosmo L.

  Scout

  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.

• 

  Monte W.

  Legend

  Nov. 7, 2020

  Green Swamp — West Tract

  Peaceful and free!

  Stayed here for a night in November of 2020. We stayed at the Ashley campsite. It is free but had to register at watermatters.org - (Southwest Florida Water Management). They provide you with a code to unlock the gate once registered. At the campsite there were about 15 sites. Most had non-potable water. All had a picnic tables and fire ring. My site had a covered picnic table. A vault toilet was also provided and was pretty clean. The campsite was about half full when I was here and it was pretty quiet even though you can see your neighbors. You are permitted to collect fire wood as long as it has fallen from the tree. For a free campsite, I can’t complain. I would stay here again.

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• 

  Elliott B.

  Legend

  Jul. 15, 2017

  Crooked River Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest

  Old-Florida-style camping at its best.

  Crooked River Campground is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75. Thankfully the furthest away from the interstate which remains busy 24/7. The complex is on the shore of Silver Lake, which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, this campground is part of the Silver Lake Recreation Complex. The Withlacoochee travels around the different campgrounds here and there is a large day use boat ramp onto the lake away from the campgrounds.

  At Crooked River (The Native American name for the Withlacoochee) it seemed like every site was surrounded by dense undergrowth which really added more privacy. You can see from my campground and another random site I took a photo of that you are really nestled into the underbrush. If you want to get to the water there is a staircase which provides access to the Withlacoochee River for small boats. I took my folding kayak out and the water was very nice and refreshing against the unbearable heat of Florida. I think there was only 1 maybe 2 other campers while I was there and saw more people on mountain bikes going around the roads than anyone else.

  Local Features and Activities

  · Nature trail and boardwalk.

  · Fishing

  · Canoe trail

  · Sorry, no pets allowed

  Facilities

  • These are tent only primitive campsites with the standard uncovered picnic table and fire ring with a grate and/or a grill.
  • Flush restrooms and warm/hot water showers
  • The campground also is available for organized youth groups, but requires a reservation. You can’t do this online (at ReserveAmerica) like the normal sites. For reservations call (352) 797-4140.

  Directions: Take I-75 Exit 301 onto US98/SR50. You'll then turn east (away from Brooksville) and go about 1 mile until you reach the second stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north. Follow the signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area and turn right into the complex and follow the signs to the campground.

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• 

  L O.

  Legend

  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.

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• 

  Elliott B.

  Legend

  Apr. 5, 2018

  Cypress Glen Campground

  Wilderness camping, not too far from the Interstate and near some amazing bike trail systems

  Large sites, and well-maintained. Perfectly located just off the exit for Brooksville off of I-75, and right off the Withlacoochee Rails to Trail bike/hiking path and near the Croom Mountain Biking Trails. Friendly camp host and many like-minded cycling neighbors make this is a great spot to stop for the night! Watch out for curious rabbits, armadillos and enthusiastic (loud) screech owls if you are in a tent/bikepacking. All of the spaces are nicely spread out and are mostly shaded (needed here in Florida), there is electrical & water hook-ups and many of the sites have a partial view of Silver Lake. Water & electric at these sites are useful if you’re in an RV. However, if you’re in a tent I’d recommend the option of no electricity at Crooked River Campground just a wee bit farther into the recreation area and much nearer the river. While these are large shaded site with water, electric, and your standard picnic table, and a fire ring. The facilities were rustic and clean but by the end of the day they did need cleaning and the paper towels ran out. Would like it if they had reservations for the camp sites so I can use my credit card instead of bringing cash, though I know they will be switching to that later in the year!

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