Best Tent Camping near Sunrise, FL

Tent camping options near Sunrise, Florida include several established campgrounds with varying amenities and access requirements. Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach offers tent sites with amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, showers, and toilets. For those seeking more remote experiences, primitive sites like Seven Mile Camp on the Florida Trail and Little Gopher provide free camping with minimal facilities.

Most tent campgrounds in the Sunrise area require specific access methods, with several only reachable by boat or hiking trails. Boca Chita Key and Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park are accessible only by boat, offering tent camping with basic toilet facilities but no drinking water or showers. Peanut Island Campground similarly requires boat access but provides more amenities including showers, drinking water, and trash disposal. Hikers can access primitive sites like Frog Hammock and Little Gopher via hiking trails, where no facilities are typically available. According to one visitor, "Little Gopher is a primitive campground on the Ocean to Lake trail with a large site capable of housing multiple tents and hammock setups, a firepit, and wood benches."

The tent camping experience near Sunrise varies significantly by location. Coastal sites in Biscayne National Park offer opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing, with views of Miami's skyline from some locations. Inland primitive sites provide more seclusion and wildlife viewing opportunities. Weather considerations are important when planning tent camping trips in this region. A camper noted that "Since this is in South Florida, the winter months are the best time to camp. Any other time of the year is pretty hot and full of mosquitos." Most primitive sites lack water sources, requiring campers to bring sufficient water supplies or plan for filtration from natural sources like canals, where alligators may be present.

Best Tent Sites Near Sunrise, Florida (9)

    1. Sawgrass Recreation Park

    3 Reviews
    Weston, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 424-7262

    $10 / night

    "Luckily, the weather stayed nice during our visit, making it a really pleasant trip. A $200 deposit is also pending, subject to a damage inspection of the campsite."

    "Sawgrass Recreation area primary businesses are airboat tours and petting zoo, however they have a small primitive campsite at the back as well. I was trying to ride my bicycle from Ft."

    2. Quiet Waters Park

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

    "We brought our kayaks and played around. Had a lot of space to walk our dogs. It was really a great time!"

    "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"

    3. Frog Hammock

    1 Review
    Doral, FL
    35 miles
    Website

    "Nice place to get away from everything."

    4. AD Barnes Park - Group Camping Facility

    Be the first to review!
    South Miami, FL
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 666-5885

    $190 - $250 / night

    5. Seven Mile Camp on the Florida Trail

    3 Reviews
    Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
    46 miles
    Website

    "This is a great little place to practice a hike in backpacking camping trip. It can get really hot out there on the hike in and out. There is about NO shade at the camp so plan for that."

    "The Florida Trail starts at the Oasis Visitor's Center off of US 41 and goes up through the state and finishes off in the panhandle."

    6. Elliott Key — Biscayne National Park

    4 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 230-1144

    $25 - $60 / night

    "A boat is needed to reach these campgrounds and are tent only. No reservations."

    "We saw a ton of wildlife, beautiful waters, and views. Unfortunately, there's a TON of liter (not the park's fault, just dirty people who don't care about the environment)."

    7. Boca Chita Key — Biscayne National Park

    2 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 230-1144

    $25 - $60 / night

    "There's a small trail around the wooded end of the island. 

    You can stay on your boat or pitch a tent on the island."

    "It has a beautiful waterfront view and plenty of picnic tables. Toilets are available but no showers, sinks or drinking water. We enjoyed our stay there but remember to bring bug spray!"

    8. Peanut Island Campground

    2 Reviews
    North Palm Beach, FL
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (561) 845-4445

    "There are bathrooms with shower next to the campground. All sites are tent only sites and they are very close to each other. You can get two sites instead of one when available."

    "Kayak and puddle board to snorkeling with beautiful fishes and manatee if you are lucky;)

    The best place to spend on long weekends away from crowds and technology."

    9. Little Gopher

    3 Reviews
    Canal Point, FL
    50 miles
    Website

    "A primitive campground on the Ocean to Lake trail, it is well maintained by the FTA-Lox chapter."

    "little nice quiet camping spot away from civilization"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Sunrise, FL

164 Reviews of 9 Sunrise Campgrounds


  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 28, 2020

    Mitchell Landing Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Primitive Campground in a National Preserve

    This is a primitive campground off the loop road south of Tamiami trail through Big Cypress National Preserve. The first couple of sites have large parking pads for campgrounds hosts that were unoccupied when I was there.  Sites are first-come, first served and you'll have a choice of sites that are tucked away behind brush and trees or large, more open sites. There's no drinking water available. There are vault toilets available that were clean. Few of the sites were occupied in late January. At the back of the campground there is airboat access to backcountry trails in the Stairsteps section of the Big Cypress Preservel elsewhere along the loop road you may be able to use swamp buggies and ATVs. There are extensive rules and permitting to take your vehicle on these trails as well as online training requirements, so check them out on the Big Cypress website. 

    Sites are $24/night, half price if you have a Senior pass or Access pass, though to be honest I didn't see any envelopes for payments and the campers I spoke with indicated they weren't paying anything. You can stay 10 nights during peak season (Jan-Apr), 14 consecutive nights the rest of the year. They  have picnic tables (look at the end of the table for the site number), fire rings, and lantern poles. Bearboxes provide food protection if you don't have a hardsided vehicle. You're in a panther habitat.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 29, 2020

    Pinecrest Group Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Large clearing for group camping

    The only indication that you have reached the turn off for Pinecrest group campground is the brown tent sign. The sign for the campground itself is parallel to the road, so you won't see it until you are upon it. You'll need to reserve a campsite online in advance. Otherwise the gate to the campground is locked. Each of the 4 sites can accommodate 15 campers/8 tents as they are paired in such a way that sites 1&2 are together and 3&4 occupy a separate corner, perfect if you're group requires two sites.. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and half of a bear box; extra tables were gathered in the center. There are vault toilets, but no running water. Plenty to do in the area...fishing, birding, boating, hinting. Explore the preserve or neighboring Everglades. It's off the gravel loop road south of Tamiami Trail Rd.

  • Liz M.
    Mar. 22, 2021

    Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Good for families/groups; lots of road noise

    This site was beautiful and well kept. The gentleman (park ranger?) who greeted everyone and made sure the rules were followed was very nice and answered all of our questions. I appreciated that he was around as it make me feel safer if I were to travel alone. This is a great site for families or groups as the sites are close together so one could reserve 2 and have a lot of room for multiple tents/cars. On the other hand, if you are looking to get away from people, this is not it. The sites are close to each other with little to no barriers/designation lines between them. This is a great site for those testing camping with their dogs or small children. Not too far of a trip, great walking space, and the ranger is great about making sure all dogs are kept on leash. It is near to the Oasis Ranger Station and the Florida Trail, as well as loop road and Shark Valley. The stars were absolutely incredible being so far from major cities. Other than how close the tent sites were, my one big negative is the amount of road noise. The closest campsites are maybe 100 meters from the Tamiami Trail so if you're a light sleeper, it is less than ideal.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2024

    Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    All RV Sites Around a Small Lake

    Midway in Big Cypress: This is our forth time here. We love this campground, though the sites are open. All trailer sites look over the lake which is in the middle of the campground. This campground seems to be very conducive to meeting people. (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: 4.5 for the lake view Price 2023: $ 15 w interagency pass Usage during visit: RV sites full every night. Tent sites accommodate vans, rooftop tents…. Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Fair Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Tent area - defiantly.
    Road Noise: Tent area - defiantly. From # 21, yes. Through Traffic in campground: Folks might come in to have picnics at tables around the lake. Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes, at the dump station. Generators: Allowed. Bathroom: Flush toilet. Only one stall in the men’s. Clean. Showers: At Monument Lake CH, 20 minutes. Pull Throughs: None in RV Loop Cell Service (AT&T): Site 21 usually has 1 bar. Sites at the near the end have weaker reception. Setting: All RV sites are situated around the lake
    Recent Weather: High 50s to 80s. Rain Solar: Plenty in the tent sites Host: Three Rig Size: Largest bus RVs are here Sites: 19 - 26 are best shaded sites. 13 and 14 are corner sites with less shade . 1 is near a shed, but a fine site. Picnic tables along the lake and in between these sites: 22&23, 3&4, 11&12, 16&17. (On nice weekend days you can expect small groups using these spots for day usage.)

  • Napunani
    Jun. 21, 2023

    Torry Island Campground

    Cheap with Tight Sites and Roadway

    PROS 

    Cindy very helpful with reservations and check-in 

    Quiet. No traffic noise. Train whistles in distance 

    Insecticide fogging truck ran thru campground each evening around 7pm when no winds

     Site 351 100% grass 

    Site 351 backed up to a canal 

    Moveable metal fire ring at site 351 

    Climate controlled, Individual shower/toilet/sink rooms with four to every 100 campsites. 

    Very nice complimentary pancake breakfast on a Saturday morning 

    Lots of birds 

    Security gate always closed. Must buy keycard to open gate. 

    CONS 

    Numerous pages of COVID liability release forms had to be signed and notarized at checkin 

    General Liability release forms had to be signed at checkin 

    Very tight roadways. 

    No turn around at end of roadway so plan accordingly. 

    Most larger trailer had the front of their trailer on the roadway edge 

    Had to park tow vehicle next to camper so limited outdoor space. We did not have sufficient space to deploy our awning 

    Two power failures in less than 12 hours. One was 5 hours long. 

    Site 351 unlevel 

    No picnic table at site 351. Sites with picnic table were hit or miss. 

    Insufficient supply of TP in park restrooms 

    Black ash from nearby sugar cane field burning raining down on everything---what a big mess. 

    Lots of construction workers staying in park who leave in their diesel trucks starting at 5am 

    Park WIFI 1 bar 

    Dont Miss in Belle Glade  

    Margaritas Restaurant 

    Banyan Tree Restaurant Nice 

    Winn-Dixie Grocery on Main Street

  • Stephanie Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2019

    Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Year Round Camping with Alligators

    Midway Campground is half way between Naples and Miami and a great central point if you're planning to explore both Everglades National Park and Big Cypress Preserve.

    The campground is both RV and Tent friendly, and unlike the other nearby campgrounds, this one is open all year round -- although you're likely to have it mostly to yourself in the summer. 

    The campground is set up wide open as a big loop around a lake. There isn't any privacy between sites which isn't a problem in the winter. In the summer, be prepared to get to know your neighbors.

    The site is close to the Big Cypress Nature Trail as well as the Everglades Bird Trail.

    There isn't anything available at the campground- so be sure to pack everything in with you-- especially you're mosquito repellant.

  • paul W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 8, 2023

    Mitchell Landing Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Loved this place

    I was the only one camping. Loved it. Saw a bobcat and a billion alligators. The best fresh water fishing around is close to this campground. No water. Clean vault. Great hosts, very knowledgeable about the area, Brent and Tim. Beautiful country. Fire ban has been in effect in Big Cypress. End of the campground there is an airboat launch that was cool to watch. Did I mention fishing❓‼️ Peacock bass galore. Largemouth,warmouth, bowfin, gar and many imports. Hope you enjoy this area as much as I did

  • Kevin A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 4, 2021

    Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Great Campground---Great Location

    Midway Campground- Ochopee, FL: We were here a few years ago and had to come back. This is a great campground in Big Cypress Wilderness Reserve at mile marker 52 on route 41 Tamiami trail. No water or sewer hookups, but there is electric at the site, fire pit, picnic table and good sized spaced out sites. Dump station and potable water available. Host was very friendly and checked on campers regularly. The 26 mile loop road is very close and a great way to experience Florida & Big Cypress backcountry and wildlife from your car or bike. Plenty of hiking trails in the area as well.


Guide to Sunrise

Tent camping near Sunrise, Florida offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed spots nearby, campers can find the perfect setting for their outdoor adventures.

Local Attractions and Scenic Views

  • Experience the beauty of nature at Quiet Waters Park, where you can fish and explore the park's trails.
  • Enjoy the serene environment of Frog Hammock, a hidden gem perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
  • Visit Elliott Key — Biscayne National Park for stunning waterfront views and a chance to see diverse wildlife.

Tent Camping Amenities

Activities for Outdoor Enthusiasts

  • Kayak and snorkel at Peanut Island Campground, where you might spot manatees and colorful fish.
  • Hike the trails at Little Gopher, a primitive campground that provides a peaceful retreat away from civilization.
  • Engage in fishing and wildlife watching at Quiet Waters Park, a well-maintained park ideal for nature lovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sunrise, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sunrise, FL is Sawgrass Recreation Park with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Sunrise, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Sunrise, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.