Best Campgrounds near Summerland Key, FL

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.

We booked a primitive tent site for two nights during the week. It runs around 95 a night but was honestly well worth the money. The sites were quaint and surprisingly peaceful given how crowded it is. There is a laundry facility, pool, lounge area with a pool table, and a very clean shower house and bathroom with sinks for dishwashing. There is a food truck called Deluna’s on site that does breakfast-dinner and has great Cuban coffee. The staff are friendly and helpful and the views cannot be beat. Highly recommend this for those in need of a luxury primitive camping experience.

Flamingo is one of only two campgrounds in the park, the other Lone Pine but Flamingo manages them both. Flamingo is more popular (so more people). The staff of young hosts were nice and helpful. Campground is huge with one big loop section for tents and the other for RVs. Good showers/toilets. Nearby restaurant and Marina store have WiFi. Lots to do in this park: boat rides, kayak rentals, biking, hiking. Only complaint are the bugs, especially the sites around the ring loop near the shrubs - they are relentless and almost unbearable. Not just mosquitos but those tiny gnats, just horrible really (like Northern Minnesota, Scandinavia, or Siberia). I’d suggest bringing one of those screened in pop up shelters.

Amazing views of the old US1 and train tracks. The sand is white and water is so blue. The no see ums were unbearable so bring proper grade tent mesh and lots of bugs pray

The Campgrounds are very nice and pads are very level, some have adequate shade, others none, we were at site 31 for 5 days. Site was very tight for our camper with slide out and awning was on the trees, Bugs were just unbearable, we tried everything. Showers were in need of repair, (men’s side)shower handle was broken , but we’re very clean, Staff were super friendly, concession stand on site had gifts as well as anything you might have forgot to pack. The views from the old bridge were breathtaking. This part of the keys was less touristy which was good/bad , so if you wanna go to a good restaurant go north toward ismorada . Family beach was excellent for little one’s , no waves, no bad currents , the sites are super hard to come by, so it will piss you off to see some on the water with nobody on them for days (Sad)

We had site 45, which may even be the least desired site, by the dumpsters and dump station. It doesn’t matter. This park is a gem. Several beaches, all different. A nice walk up the bridge. Staff super friendly. The sites are wide and offer plenty of space in buttonwood.

The pad for the camp suite is big gravel so bring something for your back they also had 2 hammock hookups and a grill waterfront with a great sunset

Super friendly staff, always answer the phone, are available 24/7 and are so polite. Great little store with a perfect mix of souvenirs, snacks and RV equipment. Pool, onsite food truck, nearby restaurant, easy Uber/lyft to key west or golf cart rental, nice bathrooms, great tiki hang out and game room. On top of it all We weathered a tropical storm here - wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Mostly enjoyed our two night stay in the Everglades. Flamingo Campground is run by a concessionaire, and its most expensive than we like to pay for campgrounds. $38-42ish per night depending on if its a weekend or week night. Mosquitos were bad the last week in April, wind helped a bit but we basically stayed in our camper the entire time.

Bathrooms were clean and bug free, hot showers available in the A loop!

Great campground within a state park offers lots of biking and beaches to choose from.

I have camped all of my life, mostly tent camping. This is the worst tent camping facility I’ve ever paid for. It is disgraceful. This place is designed for RVs and not well designed for them. The closest trash, potable water, and bath house facilities to much of the tent sites are over a block and a half away. All facilities are in the middle of the RV sites. Tent sites can be rocky. Not every site even has a picnic table. There are no fire rings or grills. Few tent campers were cooking at all. Tent campers have no privacy. You hear people farting in other tents. You can’t have a private conversation. So much for getting away from it all. The management doesn’t care about tent campers. Dennis, the main MWR manager, in his own words said “I don’t care any more” when it comes to dealing with problems reported like - people having a pit bull mix dog not tied up, tent campers expanding beyond their assigned spaces, RV school bus conversions illegally boondocking in tent site parking areas to avoid paying camping fees, no assigned parking spaces for tent sites, etc. Our 8’ wide, four person blue tent is shown in the photo. We were told tent sites were 20’ by 20’. There is no way our site was that wide. When I showed the photo to Dennis, he said to me ‘that photo doesn’t tell me anything”. I felt like saying to him, “Get off your dead a$$ and get out there and look at what is going on!”  Again, it just shows the terrible attitude of the people who run the place. It really shows. Other campers do let their dogs run loose, especially at night. One evening I was charged by someone’s unchained, growling large dog that I had startled as I was out walking. Had I not stood my ground, I think the dog would have attacked me. The bath house facilities are mostly clean, but the facilities are OLD, think built in the 1950’s. The entire campground (all RVs and tents) has TWO toilets in the one men’s room. The bar and lounge are really kinda sad. Food available is mostly fried. Drinks are only ok. Prices aren’t great. The commissary and exchange which are small and not well stocked are closed all day on Sunday and Monday. There is no real place to eat a sit down meal with table service or get coffee anywhere on the base. This isn’t a “real” military base. Navy MWR runs it. Most of the time there is no on at the gate checking people coming on the base. So much for security. The entire operation is nothing short of a sh!t show. The campground is near the water. That is its only redeeming quality. Do yourself a favor. Pay more and camp somewhere else in the Keys. No matter how cheap this is, it isn’t worth it. It really sucks. Needless to say, even though we only live a few hours away we will NEVER EVER be back.

Flamingo in the Everglades: Open parklike with new and what are the absolute largest of campsite signs I have seen in 5 years of traveling. No excuse to be in the wrong site at Flamingo! I had to laugh and wonder that if they are that big, blind drivers must be frequenting Flamingo. On a serious note, the brand new visitor center is a 5 star. Spending time there will not be regretted,. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view from sites. Cleanliness of whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 3.5 Price 2023: $ 34 w interagency pass Usage during visit: 1/2 full Site Privacy: Poor Site Spacing: Fair Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Not bad for an open area Road Noise: No outside road noise Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Many sites Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Flush toilets.
Showers: Solar. Water temperature depends on sunshine, time of day, usage , and the length showers folks take.
Pull Throughs: All Cell Service (AT&T): 4 bars Setting: Open park like with scattered mature trees Recent Weather: The weather has really varied this year. Hot, cod, cloudy, windy, rainy. Solar: Yes Host: Paid personnel Rig Size: The largest of rigs can be accommodated here Sites: Last loop is best

We were so excited to visit this highly rated Thousand Trails Sunshine Key!  The pictures online are not exactly accurate.  The RV sites are barren with little shade - feels like a parking lot.  There are a LOT of full-timers here and they have the best sites, close to the marina and pool.  The resort has a fun/upbeat vibe with lots going on - happy hour with music, crafts and farmers market.  Our site 57 was more isolated and the park was only 2/3 full, even though the Thousand Trails website says it is full!

There is a small beach area with lounge chairs and a Tiki hut.  Our dogs ran off leash and swam in the ocean as there was no one around.  They also have a marina and dock with beautiful sunset views.  The other guests were very friendly and we wish the weather was better to hang out and meet more people.  We had one day, out of 14 with clear, sunny skies.  The other days were raining a tropical storm and the winds were insane.  This was unusual however for December.

Everyday the staff sends texts to remind you of activities - happy hour, live music, bingo, farmers market and crafts.  Friendly and welcoming and would recommend again.  I don't however, think it lives up to the hype of one of the very best Thousand Trails/Encore in the Keys.

Marathon is a laid back, Keys island with eclectic dining, shops and activities.  We had dinner one night at Isla Bella - very upscale, but expensive.  The Sombrero Beach is beautiful and dog friendly if on a leash.