Best Tent Camping near Trilby, FL
The Withlacoochee State Forest provides multiple tent camping options near Trilby, Florida, with several primitive tent-focused sites spread throughout the Croom Tract and surrounding forest lands. Crooked River Campground offers secluded tent-only sites along the Withlacoochee River with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Green Swamp East and West Tracts provide more remote backcountry tent camping experiences with designated primitive camping zones. Most sites require advance reservations through the Florida Forest Service, though a few walk-up tent sites are available on a first-come basis.
Sites within this region typically feature natural surfaces with minimal development, providing an authentic woodland camping experience. Most tent-specific areas include fire rings with cooking grates, picnic tables, and nearby water spigots, though some backcountry sites lack these amenities entirely. The Tucker Hill Forestry Primitive Sites and Croom B Loop Primitive Site are accessible via short hikes from designated parking areas, requiring all gear to be carried in. Port-a-potties or vault toilets are available at some locations, while others have no sanitation facilities. Campers should prepare for mosquitoes and ticks, especially during warmer months. According to one visitor, "The sites have a little separation with shrubbery and trees scattered between neighbors, overall not too bad as I despise open field camping."
Tent campers frequently find privacy and natural immersion at these sites, with many offering direct access to hiking trails and water features. The Croom Hiking Trail system provides extensive backcountry routes connecting different tent camping areas. Sites near the Withlacoochee River offer opportunities for paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing, with access points for small boats and canoes. Foster Bridge Primitive Site in Green Swamp West features open clearings suitable for both tents and hammocks, with the river a short walk away. During weekdays, tent campgrounds remain particularly quiet and uncrowded. A review mentioned, "Weekends have a different vibe, on the weekdays it's quiet. Each campground has its primitive camp charm all come with a picnic table, parking spot, a wooden pole you can hang your garbage, and a water spout near by."
