Best Campgrounds near Summerland Key, FL

Camping in the Florida Keys near Summerland Key encompasses several established campgrounds with oceanfront views and access to water activities. The area features a mix of RV parks, tent camping areas, and cabin rentals at locations including Big Pine Key RV Park, Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort, and Bahia Honda State Park. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering waterfront sites on canals or bays. The region's proximity to Key West (approximately 20-30 miles) makes it a convenient base for exploring the southern Keys while enjoying nature-oriented camping experiences.

Advance reservations are essential in this popular destination, especially during winter months when snowbirds migrate south. Many campgrounds require booking months ahead during peak season from December through April. "Stayed here for a week. It's quiet and pretty. Sites are tight but the attendants were very helpful in getting us backed in," noted one camper about Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf Key. Water access varies by location, with some sites offering direct canal or ocean frontage while others feature marina facilities for boaters. Weather considerations include potential hurricane impacts from June through November, with several campgrounds having rebuilt completely after Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage in 2017.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings across review platforms, with amenities ranging from basic to resort-style. The KOA on Sugarloaf Key garners praise for its post-hurricane rebuild, with one visitor describing it as "Clean, modern, excellent landscaping & site options. Beautiful pool, huge hot tub & hammock area." Campgrounds closer to Key West tend to be more crowded and command premium prices, while those on outlying keys like Big Pine Key offer more space and natural surroundings. Visitors frequently mention wildlife encounters including iguanas and marine life. Several campgrounds provide water recreation amenities such as kayak rentals, boat ramps, and swimming beaches, though rocky shorelines at some locations require water shoes for comfortable access.

Best Camping Sites Near Summerland Key, Florida (29)

    1. Buttonwood Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    32 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2353

    $36 / night

    "The Florida Keys can be an expensive place to stay so this campground is a nice inexpensive alternative. It can be buggy and of course, hot...it is Florida after all."

    "One of my favorite places in the Florida keys. The scenery is pristine. Very full most of the time it takes a few months in advance to get a spot sometimes a year out."

    2. Big Pine Key RV Park

    18 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2351

    "Good central location with access to upper and lower keys."

    "We stayed here a week our site #99 is right on the water next to the fire pit. Nice view with full hook up, a picnic table, sites are tight with no privacy."

    3. Boyd's Key West Campground

    50 Reviews
    Key West, FL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 294-1465

    "The staff instantly delivers customer service the moment you drive in. They drop your boat in water for you and show you to your spot and help you get hooked up."

    "Boyd’s campground is in an awesome location with close proximity to Key West favorites like Hogfish Bar and the Absinthe House. When they say water view, they mean it!"

    4. Encore Sunshine Key

    19 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "It is located in a great area of the keys, so it is a nice drive to Key West, or you can visit several trails close by."

    "It is a fair distance from Key West, about a half hour drive. This location does have all the amenities you wake me though."

    5. Rustic RV

    11 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    12 miles
    Website

    "This place has a breathtaking view you feel as if you are on some other island vacation when you are really just on the mainland of Florida highly recommend"

    "This place is usually on everyone's list that is driving through the Florida Keys. Absolutely gorgeous, especially during low tide."

    6. Bluewater Key RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Summerland Key, FL
    10 miles
    Website

    $100 - $300 / night

    "Plenty of room to move around.  Very relaxing and well worth the money."

    "Facilities are nicely kept. 20 minute drive to Key West. Luv luv luv!!!"

    7. Sugarloaf Key RV Resort & Cottages

    6 Reviews
    Summerland Key, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 745-1079

    "Large community tv and bar area, live music on Saturday night, a renovated “pier” area with kayaks and paddle boards for the tidal lagoon, a walking path around the lagoon, clean comfort station, and a"

    "There aren’t any fire pits at the sites but is one in the common area next to the small pool."

    8. Bayside Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    8 Reviews
    Big Pine Key, FL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 872-2353

    $36 - $120 / night

    "Clean camp sites with electric and water besides a handful of sites located in the tent only section. It is water only."

    "It is really neat to walk on the old bridge, and learning the history of it."

    9. Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort

    4 Reviews
    Summerland Key, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 745-3549

    "Most are tucked into the shrubberies so they have privacy. Wide sites with Gravel drives, new style hook-ups for water, electric, wifi and cable tv. Bathrooms and showers are very nice."

    "Perfect location for visiting the keys. Easy access and right on the water. Check in was easy and we booked a standard back in site."

    10. Venture Out

    3 Reviews
    Summerland Key, FL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 414-8936

    "The owners took us out on their boat for a sunset cruise and it was a really great location. Not too far from Key West, but you could still feel like you were in nature."

    "Nice sunset and nice sunrises from our location. There are lots of recreational activities available here. Tennis, pickle ball, swimming pool, hot tub,ping-pong, billiards, and of course, boating."

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Recent Reviews near Summerland Key, FL

319 Reviews of 29 Summerland Key Campgrounds


  • A
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Bayside Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    Beautiful but SO MANY RATS

    We’ve stayed at the other part of the campground and it was amazing. This half of the campground is beautiful but there are just SO many rats here. They get into everything and are completely shameless. You can barely scare them away! That combined with little voracious mosquitos totally overwhelmed us on our stay.

    Again, it’s really beautiful and quiet over there, but it’s hard to enjoy when each night is filled with the sounds of fighting rats and each morning starts with cleaning rat droppings off our things and inspecting the previous night’s damage. Camp in the main campground instead!

  • Amanda W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort

    Way better than Boyds!

    Clean, modern, excellent landscaping & site options. Beautiful pool, huge hot tub & hammock area. Extremely friendly & helpful staff. Only 15 mins north of Boyd’s and a thousand times better. Boat ramp, kayak launch, private beach, small dog park/run. Full hookups, laundry & shower/bath house. Trash pickup all day.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    Nice Campground in a great place

    We stayed at flamingo in late June at the start of the hot/rainy/buggy season.  We stayed in the camper loop (T loop) of the campground.  Because it was the off season there were times when we were the only ones in that loop of the campground.  During the evening a couple other campers would come in, but there were stretches during the day that it was empty.  Our son loved this because he could ride his bike all around the campground to his hearts content.  

    We did not find the bugs to be too terrible (although the gage on the wall of the visitor center had them just slightly into the "horrible" range).  We live in Michigan's U.P. so we have a fairly high bug tolerance.  There were some portions of the park that a bit of bug spray worked just fine, but others where we were glad we had bug shirts.

    The bathrooms were decent, although the water was never quite hot due to it being solar heated.

    The overall park amenities were nice.  We enjoyed our visit and got to see a lot of the famous wildlife.

    Nice place, would happily visit again.

  • aThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 19, 2025

    Leo's Campground

    Nice campground

    This was a very nice and clean campground. The lots were a little tight but it worked. Close to Key West. There are no bath houses or laundry but there were several tiki huts with outdoor games and fire pits placed around the campground. Overall a great place to stay

  • Ernesto H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2025

    Long Key State Park Campground

    Es tranquilo pero no se puede hacer mucho

    Es tranquilo pero no se puede hacer mucho. No se puede acampar allí desde hace años por "reparaciones" y en la Web dice que esta cerrado desde el 2018 hasta el 2050? No entiendo eso, es de risa. Hay baños, la entrada son 5 dólares por vehículo, puedes acampar durante el día y hace barbecue. Hay cestos de basura.

  • Denis P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 19, 2025

    Curry Hammock State Park Campground

    Peaceful Shore Access, Well-Designed Sites, Some Bugs in June

    A well-kept campground with just enough greenery between sites to suggest a whisper of privacy — rare and welcome. The real charm, though, is the direct access to the shoreline. Not exactly a swimmer’s paradise, but perfect for sitting in quiet contemplation, watching the light play on the water and pretending — briefly — that time isn’t real.

    The sites are leveled, clean, and smartly set up. I had barely started wondering how I’d stake down the tent against the wind when I noticed the perimeter already fitted with anchor rings. A small detail, but one that says: “We’ve thought this through.”

    Power and water? All good. Bathrooms and showers? Clean, well-maintained, no notes. There’s no A/C, only a ceiling fan — which worked fine until the midday sun decided to get philosophical about what "shade" really means.

    We camped with a tent in June, and while the breeze was nice, the ants liked our car and the mosquitoes liked us, sprays or not. Still, it’s a solid campground — quiet, thoughtful, and worth the stay. I’d absolutely recommend it.

    Starlink - excellent coverage

  • Paul Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    Good location for coastal Everglades, kayaking, fishing - but little shade and potential water issues.

    MAKE SURE YOU TAKE EXTRA WATER, OR FILL YOUR TANKS. We stayed three nights in T-loop, site 42 in mid-April. Only a handful of sites have any shade, so be sure to request shade when making reservations and you may get lucky like us. No water at sites, any only some have electricity. Potable water at bathroom unless pump goes out. It was towards the end of the busy season, so only one of two bathrooms were open. But the one bathroom was clean. Lots of angler groups, so a little noisy at night, but all in all they were respectful. Out last night the water went out and all bathrooms in all loops were closed. Apparently this can be common with pump going out. Understand things happen, but communication was horrible. Just a sign on bathroom that it was closed, no water. No indication that we should go to the visitor center for toilets, sinks. And the next morning the water was back on, but only put up boil advisory sign at CG entrance, not at bathrooms. So people using sinks without knowing water was compromised. Again, awful communication, especially when this happens with some regularity. ONLY AT&T SERVICE, with Wi-Fi at visitor center one mile away.

  • Joe S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort

    Amazing 6 night stay

    KOA Patio with premium water view. Beautiful campground. More like a resort. Nice pool, bar and good food. Well equipped store. Beach area too! Landscaping is immaculate.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Big Pine Key RV Park

    Perfect Location for fisherman

    We were here two weeks and enjoyed the stay. Good central location with access to upper and lower keys. Very laid-back with two basins and a boat ramp walk-in access to Fishing under the bridge where you can frequently see 5 to 6 foot tarpon swimming near the pilings


Guide to Summerland Key

Camping sites near Summerland Key, Florida range from basic tent areas to full-service RV resorts, positioned within the unique coral island ecosystem of the lower Keys. The camping area sits at just a few feet above sea level, making all sites vulnerable to storm surges during hurricane season. Wind protection varies significantly between bay-facing and canal-side locations, with bayside spots experiencing stronger consistent breezes.

What to do

Snorkeling from shore: At Bahia Honda State Park, the waters provide excellent visibility for beginning snorkelers. "There is a really pretty nature trail as well. Beautiful area that is close to Bahia Honda state park, sombrero beach, and key west," notes Nicole B. from Big Pine Key RV Park.

Kayak launching: Many campgrounds offer private water access for paddlers without boat ramps. "Our site was right next to their gorgeous nature trail on the ocean. The site was directly on the water, we could hear the ocean all night and we had wonderful views," reports Ashlee L. about the rustic camping area.

Beach activities: Bahia Honda offers multiple beach access points. "There are major rip currents that occur on the south side during low tide because of all the water is being sucked through the bridge. Cool place to take a kayak out to explore the area," explains Tyler M. who camped at Rustic RV.

Wildlife observation: Key deer frequently visit campgrounds on Big Pine Key. "The kayak fishing heaven," mentions Charles B., who encountered abundant marine life while camping. "We had a site on the water and enjoyed a beautiful view of the water... you can visit several trails close by," adds Darla from Encore Sunshine Key.

What campers like

Private ocean access: Waterfront sites provide direct swimming and fishing opportunities. "Each spot in the Sandspur campground has a fenced-in area separating it from other sites. Although you can see your neighbors, there is a decent amount of separation between sites and the waves provide a noise buffer," notes Lee D. who visited Bahia Honda State Park.

Nighttime stargazing: Clear skies and minimal light pollution create optimal viewing conditions. "They do a campfire every night and the stars were amazing," shares Anna F. from Big Pine Key RV Park, noting the social atmosphere.

Beach proximity: Several campgrounds offer direct beach access. "We tent camped 2 nights across road from the ocean... Ocean beaches were great as was kayaking and Spotted Eagle Ray sighting," reports John H. who stayed at Bahia Honda State Park but noted timing considerations.

Swimming facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain pools for when ocean conditions aren't ideal. "They have a pool area with bar and grill, and live music. The beach has inflatables for kids," reports Joe R. who stayed at Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Resort.

What you should know

Water quality varies: Some campgrounds experience issues with water supply. "Because of the rain, the water coming into our camper was dirty," reported Chad W. from Lazy Lakes Campground.

Site surfaces: Most campgrounds feature coral rock or gravel pads. "Ground is hard packed limestone so bring a hammer and heavy stakes. Can get really windy," advises Charles B. about camping in the area.

No-see-ums: These biting insects can be problematic, especially without breeze. "It can get super hot in July/Aug... I've camped here a few times. Pros: Cheapest way to stay in the keys. Above average beach for the keys. Cons: Can be noisy. The ground is all hard, pokey coral (bring a serious air mattress for tent camping)," Lindsay B. notes about bayside camping at Bahia Honda.

Space limitations: Most sites throughout the Keys are compact. "Campsites are tight—and I mean tight, tent and RV alike. The interior tent sites are tiny. A 3 person tent is about all that will fit as you must also park your car there as well," explains Portia H. from Boyd's Key West Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Accessibility options: Some campgrounds provide equipment for those with mobility needs. "This place was just amazing for my family member in a wheel chair! Everywhere was wheelchair accessible, and they even had a beach wheel chair that we were able to checkout," shares Jill R. who visited Buttonwood Campground.

Recreation facilities: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. "Very family friendly. Had a pool, game room with a pool table and ping pong. Lots of board games and a tv watching room," notes Nicole B. who brought children to Big Pine Key RV Park.

Beach safety awareness: Currents can be challenging for young swimmers. "Even though the Atlantic beach had the stench of sea grass, the water was crystal blue and filled with families enjoying the water. The bayside beach had a roped off swim area with patches of sea grass and also rock jetties. Both were teeming with various fish. Be careful of the current near the rope," warns Denise K. about Buttonwood Campground.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Oceanfront sites typically cost more but provide the best experience. "We stayed in spot 10 on the canal side and loved it. The cabana was recently remodeled and had a nice fireplace and TV along with a kitchen and bar. Next time I think we would prefer to stay on the ocean side though!" advises Jenny W. from Bluewater Key RV Resort.

Utility hookups: Water pressure and electric service quality vary significantly between campgrounds. "This is a very friendly atmosphere. Staff are all courteous. Residents, by and large are helpful to guests like us," shares Roger W. about Venture Out, noting the full hookup availability.

Size considerations: Many campgrounds have tight turning radiuses and limited space. "We had a helluva time maneuvering our 35ft tt into space- had to have four neighbors move their vehicles and lots of help. Landscaping is pretty but trees on each site aren't really slide out friendly. For a smaller rig, it wouldn't be a problem," warns Erika R. about navigating larger RVs at Sunshine Key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Summerland Key, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Summerland Key, FL is Buttonwood Campground — Bahia Honda State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 32 reviews.