Camping in Dover, Florida centers primarily around established campgrounds with a mix of RV, tent, and cabin options. Tampa East RV Resort offers full hookup sites with water, sewer, and electrical connections along with amenities like pools and on-site restaurants. The surrounding area includes Hillsborough River State Park Campground to the north and Lazydays RV Resort to the west, both providing year-round camping opportunities. Most campgrounds in the region maintain paved sites with picnic tables, while some also feature cabin rentals for those seeking more comfortable accommodations.
Temperatures in this region of Florida remain mild in winter and hot during summer months, making year-round camping viable with proper preparation. Several campgrounds require reservations, particularly during the winter season when snowbirds arrive. "Very clean park. Not a place to explore, but one for rest. They offer wifi and extremely clean restrooms with codes to access," noted one visitor about nearby Bethesda RV Park. Most developed campgrounds provide standard amenities like showers, restrooms, and trash service, though visitors should check individual sites for specific offerings as they vary considerably among locations.
Campers consistently mention the cleanliness and maintenance of facilities as standout features at several locations near Dover. The density of sites varies significantly between campgrounds, with some offering spacious layouts while others position RVs in close proximity. A visitor to Lazydays RV Resort commented, "This is a very large park with lots of daily activities and things to do. Be prepared, the sites are very tight and close together with no privacy." For those seeking more natural settings, Edward Medard Park located southeast of Dover provides a reservoir, hiking trails, and a more outdoor-focused experience. Wildlife encounters are common at several campgrounds, with raccoons frequently mentioned in reviews of parks in the Tampa Bay area.
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Round 1 of 5
$24 / night
"Then exit 7 to Highway 301 north about 10 miles to the campground. The way in which the state park and campground are set up is easy too."
"This was my first time at a campground in Florida! I was surrounded by beautiful wildlife (alligators, birds, and even a wild boar). The hiking trails were perfect for a beginner or a regular hiker."
$24 / night
"Camping is first come first serve but gives you access to the park after hours. Camp sites are bit close to one another but overall amazing experience."
"Very pretty and wooded for Florida. Great to bike around and see everything. Neat to see gators. Will definitely go back."
$61 - $83 / night
"We were less than an hour away from home at Lazydays RV Resort and it felt like we were on the other side of the planet. Got to spend uninterrupted time with my bride and it was awesome."
"Great location just outside Tampa, Fl. Wonderful facilities and friendly staff. nearby RV dealership is largest in America with huge service department and camping/RV store."
$24 / night
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
$22 / night
"Widely known in Florida for the mountain bike trails. Not much else to do in the area, but very nice space to chill out. The night sky is far enough away that you can really take in the stars."
"For Florida this is a great campsite especially for me because it's so close overall a great place for any activity"
"Lithia Springs Conservation Park is a hidden gem for camping in Florida. The campground is clean, well-maintained, and tucked away in a peaceful natural setting."
"Canoe and Kyak launch is easily accessible to enjoy the calm waters of the Alafia River. Restrooms and showers were clean and plentiful around the grounds. We will definitely be back."
$24 / night
"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"
"Colt Creek State Park is one of the newer parks in the Florida State Park System. We had the opportunity to camp at one of the handicap accessible sites recently and found it to be very convenient."
"Lots of shaded spots, 3 laundry facilities around the park (2 w/bathhouses). Large fenced in swimming pool, clubhouse with pool table, games, movies, kitchen, activities almost daily."
$38 - $48 / night
"As an camper with northern roots, I have found it hard to camp in Florida. This campground helped me relieve those worries. I will start by saying that this campground is south of St."
"Nice walking/bicycle path around the edge. Bike paths also throughout the park. Sites 1-8 or so have direct beach access, but swimming is not allowed. Mangroves surround the rest of the peninsula."
"The neighbors are super helpful and friendly, when I couldn’t locate a doggy poop station to discard dog bags, a neighbor offered to collect and take trash to (location unbeknownst to me) dumpster on my"
"Good location!"
GuideGorgeous grounds, well maintained facilities, great campsites with tiki huts, two bars, two huge pools, and lots of activities for all ages! We spent 4 days here and wished we had less things planned so that we could better take advantage of all they offered. We will be back!
GuideThe family stayed there in December. It was a great way to save money while still staying in Disney! Also, we went right before Christmas, so everyone who regularly comes at this time of year, had over the top decorations in their camping areas. It was so fun and the family wants to come back!
GuideLarge dispersed camping area with good views of the airshow, included access to the ground display area, and great facilities considering how large the event is. I will certainly be back with the family.
ScoutVery disappointing experience. We reserved a 50-amp full-service site, but upon arrival were given only a 30-amp spot with no services. Because of this, we had no choice but to leave. Despite the issue clearly being on their end, they refused to refund the unused days. Craig repeatedly postponed the refund, always pushing it to“next week,” and after a month of waiting, we gave up. On top of that, the place was not well maintained and the overall service was poor. I would not recommend staying here.
ScoutRobert the (I guess)manager is rude and disrespectful. He tries to be intimidating but is obviously a meth head; smoking his cigarettes in my face, just trying to get me to react. He refused to refund my money after 10 days of a month commitment. I didn’t even sign a contract as no one was there to check me in. Full timers kids running about with no supervision screaming and acting out. Run don’t walk from this glorified trailer park.
ScoutThis place has many pros and a few cons... I'll get the cons out of the way first... it is just 3 miles out of Zephyrhills Hills, FL so there is plenty of noise from nearby busy road. A train runs through this property several times a day/night and is loud. It is right next door to a mobile home community and these homes are visible from parts of the campground. Pros? It is close to town if you need something. A train runs through it so not many people come to camp here. There are several picnic tables and firepits. There are 3 port-a-pottie, all clean. It is beautiful, especially deeper in the property along the trails. This is a strictly boondock, pack it out location... no electric, no dump station and only non-potable water via a hand pump at a sink near the staff shack (staff only pr a sent during hunting days). There is. Good mix of sun and shade with a generous oak tree canopy. I could keep my class b in the shade and run my portable solar panels in the sun or keep my rig in the sun as well. Dogs are allowed on leash. There are no numbered sites, just set up where you please, there is plenty of flat spots.I had good cell reception with TMobile. Reservations are required and gate lock code given.Even with the train etc I enjoyed my time there, I REALLY enjoyed having the place to myself all but one day.
ScoutWe were looking forward to staying here, but when we arrived the gate was locked and we did not have the code. We called the phone number at the gate, but nobody answered so we were left scrambling for somewhere else to stay at 9pm.
I'm sure it is a lovely park, but I didn't see anything on their website or here about the gate being locked.
TravelerStayed just one night on March. Great tent sites and mostly private. Facilities are clean with showers. Water and power at the site. Beautiful walks and lakes, Lots of birds and rabbits.
Only issue was the early morning traffic on the nearby highway (#27) was noisy.
ScoutWe stumbled upon this little gem this spring break. Our campsite backs up to the lagoon and seems quite private! Bathrooms are super clean, pool is festive, and staff are awesome! Would definitely come back!
Dover, Florida camping options extend well beyond established campgrounds, with natural areas and conservation parks offering more immersive experiences within a 30-minute drive. The region sits on relatively flat terrain with elevations generally below 100 feet, creating favorable conditions for tent camping near water features. Summer temperatures regularly reach into the 90s with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons.
Hiking trails: Edward Medard Park provides several hiking opportunities with wildlife viewing. "Beautiful park with a lot of wild life. The campground had bathrooms and showers available at a short walking distance," notes one visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Mountain biking: Alafia River State Park features some of Florida's best mountain biking trails built on former phosphate mining land. "I was probably the only hiker at this park and there were a ton of mountain bikers. I loved that they had a ton of different trails to choose from, some just hiking or biking, and some mixed ones," states a reviewer at Alafia River State Park Campground.
Spring swimming: Lithia Springs Conservation Park offers a natural spring for swimming at $2 per person. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded. Bathhouse are clean. Has dumpstations," reports a camper who visited the park.
Fishing and boating: Multiple lakes and rivers provide fishing opportunities. "Great location just outside Tampa, Fl. Wonderful facilities and friendly staff. nearby RV dealership is largest in America with huge service department and camping/RV store," mentions a visitor to Lazydays RV Resort.
Shaded sites: Many campers appreciate the tree coverage at Hillsborough River State Park. "The campground here is very nice! The bathrooms are well kept and clean. The park itself is very nice, with some hikes and kayak rentals! You can kayak in the river, which is really neat to do," shares a reviewer at Hillsborough River State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The area's parks offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. "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," reports a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Water access: Several campgrounds provide river or lake access. "We had a great time while staying here. There was a total of 8 of us including children. And with the paved bike trails, Easy access fishing, and decent size sites, we were always busy," says a visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Clean facilities: Many reviewers note the well-maintained facilities. "This park just reopened a couple of weeks ago from the hurricanes. They are slowly bringing the sites back up to par, but it is still an awesome place. Everything is kept up, and several short trails to see The only class 2 rapids in Florida," states a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Mosquito preparedness: Insects can be intense, particularly in summer months. "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog," warns a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
First-come, first-served sites: Some parks don't accept reservations. "Camping is first come first serve but gives you access to the park after hours. Camp sites are bit close to one another but overall amazing experience," explains a visitor to Edward Medard Park.
Weather considerations: Summer heat and storms can impact camping comfort. "We needed a campsite near Tampa FL for a few days to meet friends visiting the area from up north. Being a Floridian, we've experienced FL's state parks and found them to offer privacy between sites. Weather was cool in February that allowed for comfortable hiking and biking," notes a camper at Colt Creek State Park Campground.
Accessibility: Many campgrounds provide varying levels of accessibility. "Colt Creek State Park is one of the newer parks in the Florida State Park System. We had the opportunity to camp at one of the handicap accessible sites recently and found it to be very convenient. Path and pad on site were roomy and fire pit was higher than usual for safety," shares a visitor at Colt Creek State Park.
Playground facilities: Several parks feature play areas for children. "We love this park. The long and windy ride in gives you a trip back to some real Florida. The campground is well maintained and has large, level sites," reports a camper at Colt Creek State Park.
Swimming options: Natural springs provide safer swimming than lakes. "I stayed with 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8. We stayed two night 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," shares a visitor to Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground.
Safety considerations: Many parks have ranger presence. "The park rangers constantly ensured our safety and were very friendly and helpful. They made sure to keep us up to date regarding changes in weather and flooding," notes a camper at Lithia Springs Conservation Park.
Site sizes and access: Some parks accommodate large rigs better than others. "Paved roads and pads, concrete patio, FHU 50A throughout. Sites are close together but have nice grass in the park. We stayed on site 287. Indoor swimming pool. Nice laundry area and conference room," reports an RVer at Lazydays RV Resort.
Hookup availability: Water and electric are standard at most developed sites. "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!" shares a camper at Hillsborough River State Park.
Dump stations: Most parks provide dump stations, though not all sites have sewer hookups. "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. There was 30 amp as well as 50 amp water there's a dump station clean bathrooms nice showers even dedicated dishwashing sinks," notes a visitor at Hillsborough River State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dover, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dover, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 327 campgrounds and RV parks near Dover, FL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dover, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dover, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 64 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dover, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Dover, FL.
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