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.

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

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. Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf Key

    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. 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."

    9. Bayside Campground — Bahia Honda State Park

    7 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."

    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."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 29 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Summerland Key, FL

318 Reviews of 29 Summerland Key Campgrounds


  • Amanda W.
    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

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 9, 2025

    Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf Key

    Nicely upgraged

    Booked a reservation and extended more nights after seeing the park. We were upgraded to a waterfront lot near restrooms. Lot was graveled surface. Did offer deluxe lots having concrete pads with tiki hut. The amenities were newly installed. Pool area was spacious with clear water. Were a couple common areas with gas fire ring, huge tiki hut. A converted Airstream was in place and staffed to offer beverages, snacks, appetizers, and pizza. Very reasonably priced. The staff was friendly and accomodating. Park Is located about 18 miles from downtown Key West, so very drivable in 35-45 minutes, traffic dependent. Restrooms were well maintained. Decent AT&T cell service.


Guide to Summerland Key

Camping near Summerland Key, Florida, offers a unique blend of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from that cater to different needs and preferences.

What to do:

  • Explore the beaches: Bahia Honda State Park is known for its stunning beaches. One visitor said, "Great beach on the oceanfront and Bayside. It is really neat to walk on the old bridge, and learning the history of it."
  • Water activities: Kayaking and snorkeling are popular here. A camper at Buttonwood Campground — Bahia Honda State Park mentioned, "If you’re lucky enough to get a waterfront site you can snorkel off your site or launch your kayak."
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Big Pine Key RV Resort, offer easy access to fishing spots. One camper noted, "It has a waterfront and boat access."

What campers like:

  • Friendly staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of the staff. A review for Boyd's Key West Campground highlighted, "Super friendly staff, always answer the phone, are available 24/7 and are so polite."
  • Clean facilities: Clean bathrooms and well-maintained grounds are a big plus. A visitor at Curry Hammock State Park Campground said, "Spotless facilities and on the ocean!"
  • Great location: Many campers appreciate being close to Key West. One reviewer at Grassy Key RV Park & Resort mentioned, "We had a water front space and the view was amazing."

What you should know:

  • Noise levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to traffic or other campers. A camper at Buttonwood Campground — Bahia Honda State Park warned, "This campground has great reviews... Our site was right on the water, facing the overseas freeway. We loved the location but we could not sleep, it was so loud with the traffic."
  • Reservations are key: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Bahia Honda State Park shared, "I got lucky when I stayed at Bahia Honda - typically they are booked 12+ months in advance."
  • Bug spray is essential: Be prepared for bugs, especially no-see-ums. A camper at Curry Hammock State Park Campground advised, "Bring LOTS of bug spray and no dogs allowed."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One family at Encore Sunshine Key enjoyed, "The resort has a fun/upbeat vibe with lots going on - happy hour with music, crafts and farmers market."
  • Plan for meals: Some campgrounds have food options nearby. A visitor at Big Pine Key RV Resort mentioned, "There are many wonderful amenities including a pool, laundry room, recreation area with ping pong and a pool table."
  • Check for pet policies: If you're bringing pets, make sure to verify the rules. A camper at Leo's Campground noted, "Pets allowed, which is a big plus for families."

Tips from RVers:

  • Site size matters: Some campgrounds have tight spots. A reviewer at Leo's Campground said, "Just barely squeezed a 27-ft trailer and heavy-duty truck in there. It's Tetris."
  • Check for amenities: Look for campgrounds with full hookups. A camper at Bluewater Key RV Resort appreciated, "It has it all from private boat slips to your own large tiki hut."
  • Be prepared for weather: Florida weather can be unpredictable. A visitor at Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina mentioned, "We had one day, out of 14 with clear, sunny skies."

Camping near Summerland Key, Florida, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. With the right preparation, you can enjoy everything this beautiful area has to offer!

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.