Best Glamping near South Miami, FL

Quiet Waters Park houses premium glamping accommodations within Florida's largest urban state park, offering yurts fully equipped with comfortable beds, electricity, air conditioning, and kitchenettes. Located in Deerfield Beach, about 30 miles north of South Miami, these canvas structures blend modern comfort with natural surroundings. Larry & Penny Thompson Park also provides glamping options with access to clean bathroom facilities, laundry amenities, and a swimming pool. The glamping sites at both parks feature picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to trails. One guest shared, "Very good value with a swimming pool and washer/dryers. Grounds mostly quiet with expected weekenders."

Visitors staying at these glamping locations can explore miles of hiking and biking trails directly from their accommodations. Oleta River State Park's glamping cabins provide access to 15 miles of trails spread across more than 1,000 acres of protected land. Water activities abound with kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling opportunities at Oleta River. The natural setting creates excellent wildlife viewing with minimal insects during daytime hours. According to a camper, "Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers. You can bike, snorkel, paddle, run, picnic, and rent cabins." Both parks maintain seasonal swimming facilities, with Quiet Waters Park's facilities typically open Wednesday through Sunday. The Miami Zoo sits adjacent to Larry & Penny Thompson Park, making it an ideal destination for families seeking both outdoor adventure and educational experiences.

Best Glamping Sites Near South Miami, Florida (6)

    1. Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    19 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 232-1049

    "sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide."

    "The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities. There are pull through spots for the big motorhomes and spots reserved for the handicapped."

    2. Southern Comfort RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Florida City, FL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 440-9562

    "This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size."

    "Not many frills, certainly not a resort and bathroom frequently ran out of TP, but as a relatively affordable base of vacation operations it was good."

    3. Oleta River State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    North Miami Beach, FL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 919-1846

    $55 / night

    "Hard to believe that this oasis is so close to major urban centers, but it's true. It boasts 15-miles of trails in more than 1,000 acres!"

    "This place has cabins and a shared bathroom, but it is such an amazing park right in the middle of an overcrowded city!! I love going here is like 55 bucks a night or so!!"

    4. Paradise Island RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (954) 485-1150

    "Campground in the city, great guest services, friendly staff. Near grocery store, and everything!"

    "Staff very friendly! Very respectful of COVID as well. Always appreciate that."

    5. Quiet Waters Park

    5 Reviews
    Deerfield Beach, FL
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (954) 357-5100

    "It was on the water, had a grill, electrcitiy, fire pit, tent, running water and was pet friendly. We brought our kayaks and played around. Had a lot of space to walk our dogs."

    "Good location in the middle of urban area, cabins to rent. We’ve used for daycamp without overnight, but you can do that if you want"

    6. Riptide RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Key Largo, FL
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 852-8481

    "There’s no pool but there are laundry facilities and a clean bathroom. There’s a community grill, picnic area, and chairs to enjoy the sunsets"

    "Nice pavilion down at water, nice little beach, dock, restrooms, showers and laundry"

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Recent Glamping Photos near South Miami, FL

3 Photos of 6 South Miami Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near South Miami, FL

43 Reviews of 6 South Miami Campgrounds


  • B
    Jun. 7, 2016

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    good place

    sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide. I would go back again.

  • Ashley J.
    Jul. 8, 2018

    Quiet Waters Park

    Worth a Visit

    My husband and I rented a campground flat in December. It was on the water, had a grill, electrcitiy, fire pit, tent, running water and was pet friendly. We brought our kayaks and played around. Had a lot of space to walk our dogs. It was really a great time!

  • T
    Apr. 9, 2019

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    Surprisingly pretty Park

    This is city owned and operated Park/Campground. This fact is significant. It is very pretty with lots of mature shade trees. The RV's are assigned space around several pods. Each pod has its own bathhouse with laundry facilities. There are pull through spots for the big motorhomes and spots reserved for the handicapped. The bathhouses for the RV's were in good shape and well maintained. The bathhouse for the tenters not so much. The bathhouse for the RV's is not very far to walk which I would recommend.

    The tent area is off to one side and well shaded by mature trees. It's an area rather than sites. You pick your spot, put up a tent and place a large numbered sign by your area and you've got your spot. While there isn't any electric to plug into at the tent sites, water is provided interspersed throughout the area. Picnic tables and barbecue grills are also provided throughout.

    There is a great fire ring with benches for bonfires and a great Beach volleyball court. The pool is clean and guarded by life guards. There is a lounge where you have access to WiFi and plus to charge your phones. The RVs have WiFi around their pods.

    Tenters can stay for a Max of 7 nights while RV's can stay for 180. Tenters can only pay for 3 nights at once before returning to re-up. No such rule for RVs. There is a kind of second class feel to the tenters but if you overlook that (I recommend you do) you will have a great time. Staff is very nice and the park is clean.

  • Michael J.
    Feb. 12, 2023

    Paradise Island RV Resort

    Stuck Without Options!

    3 campers and two RVs crammed into overflow. NO full hookups as indicated over the phone. Showers NOT in the “bath house” adjacent to these crummy sites. The dumpsite is between the office and the fence. This requires you to back into position or drive down a narrow path and make 3 tight turns. Florida has NO dump sites at rest or service areas! What????

  • Thom T.
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Southern Comfort RV Resort

    Best Park in Florida City

    This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size. The park fills up quickly come the winter time with the “ Snow Birds” but the park overall is wonderful. There is a bar/Tiki Hut on premise and a big swimming pool open year round. This is a pet friendly park but with a breed and size restriction, so call ahead if you have Fido with you.

  • sandra R.
    Jan. 21, 2018

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    Great central location, clean and safe

    This campsite is a great central base camp for those visiting Biscayne NP/ Everglades NP and Miami. Clean and safe, with spots for both rv’s and tents. Bathrooms/showers/laundry facilities on site are well maintained.

    Wish the website was clearer on length of stay - 30 days for RVs and 7 days for tent campers. After 7 days, you have to leave and can’t return for 30 days 😟. They do provide a list of other local campgrounds you can move to, though.

    Near a major street, so it can get noisy - and on weekends you can hear the music from a local bar.

  • Karen S.
    Jan. 12, 2024

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    Quiet and Peaceful Campground, trees, greenery and option for long term

    This is a very nice campground which is part of the Miami-Dade County park system.  It is close to the Encore Everglades park (about 4 miles) so we stayed here after we departed.  The campground is divided into pods and each pod has about 15 or so sites.  We were in pod 4 site 20 (420 lol).  We booked this camp with the intent to stay for a month or longer as my husband had an opportunity to Captain boats in Miami.  

    The park was very quiet.  Most of the campers were retirees, a few families with kids, but we were there in early January.  The grounds are nicely maintained with lots of places to walk and open space with trees.  They don't allow dogs off-leash and although it is adjacent to the rest of the Larry & Penny park, dogs are not even allowed in the main park, at all.  We did however find a few dog parks within four miles or so which were nice.

    They have a very nice pool which was open daily Wed- Sunday 11am - 5pm.  It was raining and rather dreary during our stay so we didn't use the pool.  They have a nice Clubhouse and it looked okay with tables, chairs, books, puzzles, but again very quiet.  Not many activities except for a few and we didn't stay long enough to participate.  After a week, we decided to make moves back home to Lake Tahoe.  It was unseasonably cold, raining so no boat work and not an ideal spot for the dogs.  They don't have WiFi and since we were planning a longer stay, purchased the Starlink system since I work remote during the winter.  Starlink worked great, but costs $500+ to get started and then $120 or so a month.  If you are looking for an affordable long term/monthly stay, it is great.  The rates were $850 a month for full hook-ups.  They had last minute space available, too.  

    If you are in the area, check out the Miami Zoo.  We were there when they had the "Zoo Lights" a super fun evening event.  They have other events at the Zoo and lots to do nearby.  You are closer to town than Everglades Encore, but still close to the agricultural area.  I recommend but not as fun or as many activities as some other places.

  • Amber H.
    Dec. 6, 2020

    Southern Comfort RV Resort

    Nice park

    Last campground before the Keys. Lots of sites. Not overly large sites so you may have trouble parking at your site. It gets crowded during the NASCAR race as the Homestead track is 5 miles down the road. Tiki bar on site, open on the weekends. Traffic noise can be loud at certain times of the day. Large pool. Decent facilities but do need updating.

  • Brittany S.
    Nov. 13, 2021

    Southern Comfort RV Resort

    Would Not Recommend, Does Not Cater to Law Enforcement

    We inquired about reserving one of their cabins for a week long stay over Thanksgiving. We let them know that we would have 2 adults and 3 children. The lady I spoke with informed us that she would need the owner’s approval for the number of occupants and an extra fee may apply. We received approval for our request October 13th, mailed the deposit per their request, and obtained an email confirming the reservation on October 17th. 

    At the end of October I attempted to reach the resort by phone and email to add my partner’s name (he is currently the chief of a law enforcement department) to the reservation, since he was going to arrive first. I received an email response a week later, asking how many people were coming again. Over the course of the next few days, I attempted calling to provide the information they were requesting. When I finally spoke with a representative and provided my partner’s information, she responded by letting me know the owner would be calling me back. I received a phone call yesterday from a representative, not the owner, stating my reservation had been canceled and there was nothing I could do about it. I pleaded my case with the representative that it was a last minute cancellation after an agreement had been reached and a deposit had been accepted, and they stated the cancellation had already been made and that my deposit would be refunded. Now we’re left to find a place a week before Thanksgiving and deal with the last minute price increases. 

    The lack of integrity, communication, and consideration considering how long this reservation has been in place speaks volumes about their business practices. We would not recommend doing business with this company and apparently they don’t care about doing business after finding out a law enforcement family had made reservations.


Guide to South Miami

Glamping in South Miami, Florida provides access to subtropical landscapes where average annual temperatures hover around 76°F with minimal temperature variation throughout the year. The region receives approximately 60 inches of rainfall annually, primarily during the summer wet season from May to October. Sites typically sit on flat terrain at near sea level elevations, with most locations having sandy or limestone-based soil composition.

What to do

Biking on urban trails: Oleta River State Park Campground offers 15 miles of trails across more than 1,000 acres of protected land. A camper noted, "Some bike trails get flooded and are closed sometimes. The website gives the latest updates."

Fishing opportunities: Larry & Penny Thompson Park provides a stocked pond for anglers. "Fishing was good in the pond nearby. Beware of the feral cats and raccoons though. We spent an entire night fending them off with a slingshot and they didn't bother us again," shares one visitor.

Water recreation access: Riptide RV Resort provides waterfront relaxation with basic facilities. "There's a community grill, picnic area, and chairs to enjoy the sunsets," mentions a camper who appreciated the simple waterfront amenities.

Zoo visit convenience: The proximity to Miami Zoo from Larry & Penny Thompson Park creates easy access for wildlife viewing. A visitor commented, "We camped here for 6 nights as a home base while fishing the area... Bathrooms were clean and staff was friendly."

What campers like

Clean facilities: Southern Comfort RV Resort maintains functional bathhouses and amenities. One camper noted, "For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size. There is a bar/Tiki Hut on premise and a big swimming pool open year round."

Urban convenience: Paradise Island RV Resort offers city-based camping with full amenities. A visitor shared, "Campground in the city, great guest services, friendly staff. Near grocery store, and everything! Full hookup sites, spots are big and concrete roads, amenities like restrooms and showers are clean."

Affordability: Larry & Penny Thompson Park provides budget-friendly accommodations. A camper mentioned, "In southern Florida, campgrounds don't usually come cheap, but we found Larry & Penny's to be a great value with close access (30 minutes) to Biscayne National Park."

Wildlife encounters: The natural setting creates opportunities for animal sightings. According to a tent camper, "This is a tent area rather than sites. You pick your spot, put up a tent and place a large numbered sign by your area and you've got your spot."

What you should know

Stay duration limits: Quiet Waters Park and other local facilities have specific length-of-stay restrictions. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, "Wish the website was clearer on length of stay - 30 days for RVs and 7 days for tent campers. After 7 days, you have to leave and can't return for 30 days."

Urban noise levels: Being near metropolitan areas means sound pollution can be an issue. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, "Near a major street, so it can get noisy - and on weekends you can hear the music from a local bar."

Site allocation process: Tent camping follows different protocols than RV camping. One camper explained, "The tent area is off to one side and well shaded by mature trees. It's an area rather than sites. You pick your spot, put up a tent and place a large numbered sign by your area and you've got your spot."

Security considerations: Urban proximity brings concerns about property security. One unhappy camper at Larry & Penny Thompson Park reported, "Talking to neighbors today we found out that theft of bicycles and other items is common here."

Tips for camping with families

Pool access scheduling: Southern Comfort RV Resort has specific pool hours that families should plan around. A visitor noted, "Large pool. Decent facilities but do need updating."

Wildlife protection measures: Food storage precautions prevent animal encounters. One camper advised, "We spent an entire night fending them off with a slingshot and they didn't bother us again."

Educational opportunities: Proximity to Miami Zoo creates learning experiences. A camper shared, "This campground is a great central base camp for those visiting Biscayne NP/ Everglades NP and Miami. Clean and safe, with spots for both RV's and tents."

Water activities for children: Oleta River State Park offers family-friendly paddle sports. According to a visitor, "You can bike, snorkel, paddle, run, picnic, rent cabins, primitive camp, and even get married. No bugs during the day."

Tips from RVers

Gate closure timing: Paradise Island RV Resort and similar facilities have specific entry hours. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, "gates locked at 8pm" as one RVer noted when describing the park's security measures.

Site layout challenges: Southern Comfort presents navigation difficulties for larger rigs. An RVer mentioned, "The entrance is a little hidden and tight but doable. We were towing a 36' travel trailer."

Hookup specifics: Oleta River State Park Campground has limited RV facilities despite its glamping options. One visitor clarified, "Called to inquire pricing and was told they do not have RV sites."

Traffic patterns: Accessing certain glamping sites near South Miami requires careful driving. According to an RVer, "If heading south and coming off the FL Turnpike, you have to get over several lanes in a short distance to make the left turn on to Palm Drive. Lucky for me, there were some understanding FL drivers that let me over."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near South Miami, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near South Miami, FL is Larry & Penny Thompson Park with a 3.4-star rating from 19 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near South Miami, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 glamping camping locations near South Miami, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.