28 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cabins in and around Sarasota provide alternatives to tent camping with varying levels of comfort and amenities. Myakka River State Park offers cabins set away from the main camping areas, providing a more secluded experience within the park. Palmetto Ridge Campground includes cabins that accommodate families looking for a wilderness experience with more comfort than tent camping. "The cabins are off the main path, tucked away and private. They are super roomy and comfortable with their own picnic tables and grills," noted one visitor. Oscar Scherer State Park Campground also features cabin accommodations with basic amenities including electricity and access to park facilities.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. The St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday features Deluxe Cabins equipped with linens, full kitchens, and private patios with grills and fire rings. A visitor mentioned these cabins were "equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay—fresh linens, a full kitchen, and even a private patio with a grill and fire ring." Most cabins require reservations well in advance, especially during winter months when northern visitors frequent the region. Pet policies vary significantly—some cabins welcome pets while others restrict them entirely, particularly in state parks where wildlife protection is prioritized.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. State park cabins typically offer more rustic accommodations with minimal kitchen facilities, often just a microwave and refrigerator. Campers should plan meals accordingly, as cooking options may be limited to outdoor grills or fire rings. Camp Venice Retreat and Canoe Outpost Little Manatee River provide cabins with electricity and water hookups but limited amenities. On-site camp stores at locations like Myakka River State Park offer basic provisions, though selection is limited. A Publix supermarket is located within half a mile of Oscar Scherer State Park for more extensive grocery needs.
"Lost of sites back up to a small river but those sites right on the river are not kid or pet friendly so be careful when you make reservations. There are a lot of trails throughout the park."
"I literally drive by it whenever I go to the grocery store or ride my bike on the Legacy Trail."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"The Big Flats & Old Prairie loops are gravel road, tight, no privacy & very small sites like for popups, vans or small campers. The Palmetto Ridge pull thrus are gigantic."
"Hidden cabins, hiking, off-road biking, boating, wildlife...so much beauty and activities to enjoy in this park! The cabins are off the main path, tucked away and private."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"This is kind of our go to Florida State Park as we live very close and really enjoy the hiking, biking and paddling the river and lake."
"Perhaps the most ecologically diverse state park in Florida, Myakka River State Park has lots of nature viewing opportunities."
from $26 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Pull through sites lack privacy and are tight. Other than that, you're within driving distance to some of the most beautiful towns and beaches."
"Really enjoyed our stay here, good size lot, #10, with electric, water, picnic table and fire ring. Clean dump station. Natural trees providing privacy between lots."
"The Car/RV camping spots are roomy, somewhat private. bathrooms are clean, almost always have camp hosts available. Access to the back country loop trail and camping is just down the road."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"Stayed here for a week in May - quiet, pretty campground with friendly staff, a petting zoo and vegetable farm on property."
"The petting zoo and obstacle course was great for our 10 y/o daughter. Staff was great. We will be back."
"The location was lovely, and the camp host was wonderfully accommodating. However, considering the $80 nightly fee for waterside parking, I anticipated that the septic would be included."
"Easy access to Vince and the great Legacy Bike trail. Beaches and parking are free."
"So I grew up camping a lot and like to be more primitive/ private. The campsites are close together, with little privacy. It’s also located right off the highway, so you get all the noise."
"Since this is Florida and its practically summer all year round I feel those are the best times. Overall, its a great set up and great camping spot."
from $24 - $109 / night
Check Availability"The pool area is well kept and heated. They also have many other recreational activities like pickle ball, basketball and a billiards room. Laundry rooms are another nice amenity."
"Pool open but no store"
"Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, and I’m excited to share my positive review! I’ve hosted friends in their Deluxe Cabins before, and they were thoroughly impressed."
"They have a heated pool, mini golf course, shuffle board,dog run. There are the typical bike rentals, four person bikes, that are found at most KOAs.
We rented. Cabin this time."
ScoutQuiet. 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
GuideNice little place. Gravel, pull-through sites, clean bathrooms, and friendly staff. Tons to do for the littles!
ScoutEverything went pretty well except for one hiccup. Our first night staying there our bathroom drain got backed up with sewage that came back up from the drain which caused a terrible smell of The shower then also clogged and had to shower in puddle of water that got gross from our feet being all dirty because of the mud. I had mistakingly booked the stay without adding the hot tub.. so when we mentioned the issue to Dan(main guy in charge) we asked about the hot tub for the second day since it says it needs to be booked for a 2 night minimum. He said it would be taken care of.. so in our minds of a server and bartender and having worked in the service industry for a long time, we figured that the hot tub would be taken care of for us, considering that it's simply a$30 charge. So l then later get a text message from him asking if the card that I had on file was Ok to charge for the hot tub, and I asked if there would be any sort of compensation for the bathroom situation, he said being charged for one night instead of 2 was the compensation.. which made no sense to me since we only were getting it for one night. To top it off the hot tub was not even hot.. Was def not very impressed by that.
TravelerIf you like peace and quietness this is a place for you. I’m sure it is busier during the winter months. Plenty of shade with a new pool. You can rent canoes, play putt putt or paddle along the Peace river. If you’re into nature just walk the meandering trails through the woods. New concrete pads with a fire pit and picnic table. Everyone was polite and the WiFi was excellent. We stayed in lot 61. It overlooks the pasture with plenty of shade. Lot 60 and 59 also have total coverage and will be one of my next next choices. Plenty of space between your neighbors even make it better
ScoutThe place is very big and spread out , always sites available full hook ups or just water and electric (always alot of these open 20 or more) we have a pass to stay at these sites so we were put in a not so great site ,but talking with front desk (Morgan) she was more than happy to switch us to another site which we were pleased with . Pools clean ,clean bath houses and close to stores (grocery) always love going here . We have a blast . Also its centrally located a hr to coasts ( Venice beach) . Hr and 20 mins from warm mineral springs . River was nice to watch onsite also . Boat ramp also onsite
GuideTook the littles (ages 5 &4) for their first tent camping trip - had a blast once they learned what s’mores were all about! Decent space, warm days and unusually cool nights.
GuideGreat lil place. Nice private bathrooms, mini splits in these and in tent, comfortable for family of 5. Fun turf play area near main office. Shark tooth sifting, trail hike, but the bank river fishing was tough. Owner/manager was a jack of all trades, very helpful and did it all.
LegendWe had a wonderful experience at the 4-year-old Terry Tomalin Campground! The tent sites are spacious and nicely spread out, giving you plenty of room to set up camp without feeling crowded by your neighbors. The campground has a peaceful, natural atmosphere that makes it easy to relax and enjoy being outdoors. There are 6 cabins also available with electric– no ac.
One of the things that really impressed us was the bathroom facilities. The restrooms and showers were very clean and well-maintained, which makes a huge difference when you’re tent camping. It was great to be able to enjoy a more primitive camping experience without giving up the convenience of a nice bathroom and shower.
The location next to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is what really makes this campground special. Campers have access to the preserve’s pedestrian trails, making it easy to spend time exploring nature and then return to your campsite to relax.
Overall, Terry Tomalin Campground is a hidden gem in St. Petersburg and a fantastic place for anyone who enjoys tent camping and being surrounded by nature. We would definitely stay here again!
Notes: Only open on weekends, no pets, strict rules against vaping and alcoholic beverages. This location is very busy in the summertime as there are not many camping options in the area. Large group fire pits (not at each site)
TravelerSome bathrooms are better than others, but they are useable and spacious nonetheless. The spaces are large and most have some shade. The water hookup is a bit far so you definitely need about 30ft+ for some. They have a lake, playgrounds, and easy trails. I’ve seen lots of wildlife here too!
Cabin accommodations near Sarasota, Florida typically range from basic to fully equipped units, with availability dependent on season and location. Most cabins are concentrated in state parks and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of the city. Winter temperatures average 50-70°F while summer brings highs in the 90s with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, affecting cabin camping conditions from May through October.
Paddling opportunities: At Camp Venice Retreat, cabins provide direct river access. "You can launch your kayak or canoe right from your spot," notes Joshua B. The Myakka River offers multiple wildlife viewing options for paddlers staying in riverside cabins.
Wildlife viewing trails: Cabin guests at Little Manatee River State Park Campground can access "lots of great walking & hiking trails" according to Teresa S., who also mentioned seeing "deer, hogs, alligators (safe places to view) lots of birds including eagles & turkeys." The park maintains trail systems ranging from 1-4 miles.
Farm activities: Unique to the area, Bradenton / Hunsader Farms KOA offers cabin accommodations with on-site agricultural activities. Jan S. reports, "we enjoyed the produce market, but you could also go in the fields and pick your own," adding that the property includes "a petting zoo and vegetable farm."
Canopy walks: Cabins at Old Prairie Campground provide access to elevated nature features. According to Kathy L., "we did the nature trail (short), the canopy walk, and also got permits for the wilderness preserve. The hike there is beautiful - about five miles round trip. Feels like the Serengeti - wide open prairie with occasional trees."
Privacy levels: Palmetto Ridge Campground — Myakka River State Park cabin sites are noted for their vegetation barriers. Amanda W. describes the pull-through sites as "gigantic" and mentions "the vegetation gives semi privacy but they aren't on top of each other so it's not like you're looking right at your neighbor."
Proximity to urban amenities: Cabin guests appreciate nearby grocery options. For Oscar Scherer State Park Campground, Paul noted in his review there's a "gate closed at dusk, call ahead to get the gate code" and added that "Publix [is] about 1/2 mile from the front gate of the park."
Seasonal flooding: Water levels affect cabin areas seasonally. According to Craig M., who stayed at Encore Ramblers Rest, "when it rains frequently (summer months) the ground tends to become saturated with water. Many times we had 2" plus of standing water outside of our RV."
Wildlife encounters: Cabin campers should secure food properly. Denise at Oscar Scherer State Park Campground reported, "There were armadillos foraging behind the site at night, and a very brave raccoon that didn't seem to care I was shining my flashlight at him or telling him to leave... We had to keep our dog inside after sunset."
Reservation windows: Most cabins require advance planning. During peak season (January-March), cabin availability becomes extremely limited. In some parks like Myakka River State Park, Dale G. noted "spots are almost impossible to get at state parks" during winter months.
Legacy Trail access: Families staying in Sarasota-area cabins can use the multi-use path. Rachel G. shares that Oscar Scherer State Park "is located about half way on 10 mile paved multi use trail-Legacy trail. This was a great trail for biking. Multiple stops along the way but mostly in full sun."
Swimming options: Cabins near water features provide cooling opportunities. Kim S. mentions that Oscar Scherer has "a small beach/swimming area which was great cause it's hot!!" This provides families with children a natural alternative to pools during hot summer days.
Family-friendly campground atmosphere: St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday offers cabin camping with activities for children. Joy H. noted they "even had a movie night at the pool" and that the KOA has "nice clean pool and rec center" with "water access to the gulf for fishing crabbing claming kayaking."
Cabin alternatives: RVers with larger vehicles should check site accessibility. At Myakka River State Park, Christina L. observed "Old Prairie and big flats were regular ground surface electric/water (no sewer). These also had a little less privacy."
Hookup location challenges: Cabins and RV sites may have unusual utility arrangements. Denise warned about Oscar Scherer sites: "The electric hookup is in its normal spot, but be aware that the water is in the woods on the opposite side (one pedestal feeding two sites). Make sure to bring a longer hose."
Noise considerations: Road proximity affects some cabin locations. At Canoe Outpost Little Manatee River, Kathy L. observed cabins are "right next to a highway/large road with TONS of traffic noise" which might disrupt light sleepers or those seeking quieter accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Sarasota, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Sarasota, FL is Oscar Scherer State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Sarasota, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 cabin camping locations near Sarasota, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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