James W.
Guide
GuideSt. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday
The bayou site are excellent. Reasonably level, nice patios, and a bit of a view. The staff are nice and helpful. They seem to have a section for those of us who are not snowbirds.
Tent Camping near Plant City, FL
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Tent camping options around Plant City, Florida include both developed campgrounds and primitive sites within several parks and preserves. Hillsborough River State Park offers tent campsites with amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, while the more secluded Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground provides hike-in tent sites along the river. The nearby Withlacoochee State Forest contains several tent camping areas including Crooked River Campground, which accommodates tent campers with basic facilities.
Most tent sites in the Plant City region require preparation for Florida's distinctive environment. Primitive sites at Green Swamp East Tract and Upper Hillsborough Preserve have limited facilities, with many lacking potable water. Several campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, but campers should bring insect repellent, as mosquitoes can be problematic, especially during warmer months. Non-potable water pumps are available at some locations like Alston Tract, but most primitive sites require carrying in all water. Tent campers should check for seasonal flooding, particularly along river corridors and during Florida's rainy season when trails and tent pads may become waterlogged.
Tent camping experiences near Plant City vary significantly between established and primitive sites. Crooked River Campground offers more privacy than many locations, with tent sites "surrounded by dense undergrowth which really added more privacy." Alderman's Ford Conservation Park provides tent-only sites with scenic river access, though a review noted that "sites were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings." Many primitive tent areas require reservations, often at no cost, and most enforce specific camping zones. The Foster Bridge Primitive Site in Green Swamp West offers a more secluded experience after a longer hike, with a camper reporting that it was "a nice pleasant location with nothing around but nature." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region's tent camping areas, with armadillos, birds, and occasionally alligators spotted near water sources.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Plant City (34)
1. Hillsborough River State Park Campground
"Lots of RV campers, sites that are quite close to each other, and rock-hard ground from being packed down by heavy vehicles day after day."
"3 full service camping loops full of sites - lots of space for RV's and Tents - 2 designated hammock camping spots."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 / night
2. Lithia Springs Conservation Park
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
"Stayed over mother's day weekend at Lithia Springs."
Check Availabilityfrom $24 / night
3. Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground
"This location is utterly beautiful! So many different environments can be seen just walking the trials."
"The camp sites are hike in only. I LOVE this. Bring a manageable pack with everything you need. There is no water, power, or restrooms at the sites."
4. Upper Hillsborough Preserve — Alston Tract
"These (this) equestrian and primitive campsite(s) have several of your standard picnic tables under a nice large covered pavilion, fire rings and multiple grills."
"Lovely space for dispersed camping with a picnic table, fire pit, an outhouse and hiking trails. We'll definitely visit again when we're in Florida."
5. Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve
"Other parks and trails are located at the Wilderness Park Off Road Loop Trail System, [Flatwoods Park](https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us"
"No hookups or dumpsites. There is a pump well for non potable water and a port a potty on site. Miles of trails and plenty of space to explore."
6. Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve
"The trails wind through beautiful natural scenery, and the quiet surroundings make it perfect for a relaxing hike."
7. Island
"The island itself is fairly spacious with many tent platforms and elevated boardwalks throughout. For me, the hilight was the small elevated cabin on one end of the island."
from $50 - $75 / night
8. Upper Hillsborough Tract
"There are 2 campsites available on this tract - Primitive site is accessible by car, back country by foot only."
9. Lake Park
"I live in an adjacent neighborhood (2 years) and walk this park daily with my doggos. I’ve biked all the trails and been here from sunrise to sunset."
"This is a great park with trails, restrooms, boating, a fun playground, nice picnic areas, volleyball, BMX, and more."
10. Foster Bridge Primitive Site Green Swamp West
"Always a nice camp with multiple access hike in points."
Drive Time
- 12 min from Lakeland, FL
- 20 min from Tampa, FL
- 1 hr 11 min from Wildwood, FL
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Plant City, FL
42 Photos of 34 Plant City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Upper Hillsborough Preserve — Alston Tract
Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive CampgroundJ
Hillsborough River State Park Campground
Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve
Upper Hillsborough Tract
Foster Bridge Primitive Site Green Swamp WestA
Green Swamp — East Tract
Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
Crooked River Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest
Terry Tomalin CampgroundB
Croom B Loop Primitive Site
Tucker Hill Forestry Primitive Sites
Tent Camping Reviews near Plant City, FL
1150 Reviews of 34 Plant City Campgrounds
- RRon D.
ScoutLake Arbuckle Park & Campground
Site are fairly big and a rate of $20 to stay the night with water and electricity is reasonable. Bathrooms are not very clean. That's why I only gave a 3 star review.
- ddavid F.Scout
Orlando/Kissimmee KOA
Tim and Leisha were the best! Great campsite close to Disney is what we wanted.. clean and well organized. They make you feel at home and they even invited us to dinner at the pool and provided all the food. I will definitely be going back when I’m in town. They loved our kiddos too!
Stuart K.
LegendFort De Soto Campground
The Most Perfect Campground in Florida?
On my never-ending pursuit of finding the most perfect campground on earth ... I may have just landed it! Fort DeSoto State Park Campground, which rests at the southernmost edge of Pinellas County, reached by crossing a series of causeways from St. Petersburg until the land simply runs out and the Gulf of Mexico (as my friend John Cougar Mellencamp recently point out - not Gulf of ‘Merika) takes over. First impressions are pure Florida magic with palm-lined roads, sweeping water views of translucent aqua blue shimmering in the sun all accompanied by a salty breeze that makes you feel like vacation has officially begun. The campground itself is spread across a low-lying coastal landscape with mangroves, dunes and open skies punctuated by cotton candy clouds, and despite its popularity, this tri-loop campground haven manages to feel relaxed and unhurried if you pick your timing right.
This archipelago is shaped like a boomerang with 3 distinct campground loops – each with its own vibe, layout, amenities and overall character (more on this later) – leaving one with the impression that Fort DeSoto is both incredibly spacious as well as incredibly well-organized, offering a mix of waterfront and interior sites with paved pads, picnic tables, stand-up grills and access to modern bathhouses that are generally clean and well maintained. Many sites offer electric and water hookups, with a dump station available for RV travelers. Navigation through the one-way loops is straightforward, pets are welcome and the overall layout feels intentionally designed to handle high traffic without feeling chaotic. While there’s but just a modest playground on-site, there are much more amenities for the kids on North Beach, but throughout the campground area, the sheer amount of open space, bike paths, beach side access to inlets that will allow you to make the most out of being this close to the Gulf more than compensates for families.
What truly sets Fort DeSoto apart is everything just outside your campsite. Miles of white sand beaches wrap around the park, including North Beach which is frequently ranked among the best beaches in the country (note: not county ... country). Kayaking trails wind through calm mangrove tunnels, fishing piers stretch into Tampa Bay, and biking loops circle the entire park. History lovers can explore the restored fort and military ruins, while birders will find plenty to admire along the shoreline. For supplies, you’re about 15 minutes from Tierra Verde Market, Publix and a Walmart Supercenter on Pinellas Bayway as well as a handful of casual eateries like Billy’s Stone Crab and Sea Hags if cooking feels optional.
Trying to find out which 1 of the 3 loops might be best for you? I’ll try to break this down. First, of all, my brother and I stayed in Area #1, so let me begin there, not only because numerically that’s where we should begin, but also because I’m the most familiar with this loop, which consists of sites numbered #1-85. If you’re looking not just for ocean views with Gulf access – because like me, you’ve brought a kayak / canoe – then Area #1 for this solo reason is why you want to book here. And while it’s true that you likely could access water in Area #2, you’ll have to go the long way around to access the Gulf. Back to Area #1, I found this simple, single loop offering sites excellent in size, with TONS of shade (no need to bring your shelter to blot out the sun, although not a bad idea to have it handy in case of rain) and decent length long ‘driveways’ with which to pull in and set up camp, whether you’re packing tents (like me) or pulling in with your RV or sprinter van. Seriously, the scenery alone here in Area #1(at least sites #1-34) cannot be beaten with direct views of the Gulf, which you can access in less than 20 paces from where you’ve pitched your tent or parked for the night.
Each site is equipped with electric and water and for RVs needing sewage, there’s a spot as you exit prior to arriving at the ranger station that will accommodate you. The restroom and shower facilities in Area#1 are the best that I’ve ever seen in the state of Florida (which is saying something as I’ve camped in more than 100 spots here in the Sunshine state) – and wonder if this is because CG Hosts (versus FL state employees) are charged with keeping the CG clean?! – with very hot water (sometimes TOO hot) and lots of pressure would be an accurate description. Area #2 IMHO is somewhat cramped, very RV populated, with sites that are fairly crowded, yet heavily shaded with amenities that are similar to Area #1, albeit slightly more outdated; however, if you come with pets in tow, this is the ONLY area that will welcome you here at Fort DeSoto CG. Lastly, Area #3 has AMAZING water views, but given the seawall that surrounds this portion of the island, you won’t be able to actually access the water unless you dock your boat somehow to the wall and don’t mind jumping up 4-6 feet down to access your vessel. I found the sites here to be fine, although like Area #2, somewhat crowded, but yet still offering very good shade with restroom and shower facilities to be on par with the rest of the park. The best sites over here would be those from #197– 233 that look northernly towards the Gulf offering nothing short of AMAZING sunsets on the water.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Waterfront sites in Loop 2 and Loop 3 are the most coveted for sunset views and breezes, but they book fast; (2) Bring bikes as this park is tailor-made for cruising on two wheels with flat, scenic loops in and around the campground area, but the best biking will be had once heading out past the ranger station to explore the larger areas of the island, where East Beach is worth a glide by (especially to watch the kite surfers where wind is at its strongest), but it’s North Beach that will have you stopping for a longer spell; (3) Kayaking through the mangroves on a calm morning is a must, especially for wildlife sightings; however, our absolute favorite moment of the entire trip was crossing the strong currents of shipping lanes to make it all the way to Shell Key, which apart from a few pensioners getting sunburnt in their beach chairs and an errant fishing boat or two, we had the entire island to ourselves … EASTER EGG: I’m a fairly solid kayaker and love oaring and with these strong currents, it IS manageable to cross, but you’ll want to plan on at least 1 hour of non-stop, albeit scenic oaring to make it to Shell Key; (4) Afternoon storms roll through quickly in summer, so plan beach time early and camp dinners later; (5) North Beach on the northernmost edge tends to be quieter and more family-friendly than the busier east-facing beaches near the fort; (6) If you’re visiting during peak season, weekday stays are noticeably calmer than weekends; and (7) When heading to the restroom facilities you will come across what is likely the largest sign I have ever seen in any campground WARNING YOU OF RACCOONS and, trust me, you want to HEED THIS SIGN as these black-eyed bandits are EVERYWHERE and not afraid to come right up to your tent and look in or right up to you sitting next to your campfire while looking for something to eat or steal, so be incredibly careful and PACK UP EVERYTHING whenever it’s not being used EVEN IN DAYLIGHT HOURS.
In sum, I absolutely loved this campground and will now be comparing every single one I visit to Fort DeSoto Campground.
Happy Camping!
- aalan F.Scout
Hillsborough River State Park Campground
Showers and bathrooms are closed
- GGordon S.Scout
Little Manatee River State Park Campground
Quiet. Definitely skewed toward equestrian. Sites are well spaced. Outer loop is best. Restroom/showers are very well kept. Not much for kids. Short trails are ok. Cayaking is best option if you're in to that. Relax here, enjoy the peace and have your favorite beverage
Julio B.ScoutFort De Soto Campground
Beautiful 😁
- dd I.Guide
Bradenton / Hunsader Farms KOA
Nice little place. Gravel, pull-through sites, clean bathrooms, and friendly staff. Tons to do for the littles!
Gail S.ScoutZephyr Colony RV Park
Present it will be a great place to live.
Zephyrhills colony has new Management. It's like a breath of fresh air.A weight is lifted from our shoulders of constant harassment and being hawked at on a daily basis. The parking pads are beautiful.The construction crew did an excellent job and the yellow stripes on the roads are amazing.We are so thankful for this improvement in our park that we can be proud and happy at once and for all. I thank God for answered prayer personally.Now I can breathe now.I can live amen
Guide to Plant City
Tent camping options near Plant City, Florida range from standard sites with bathhouses to remote backcountry locations requiring longer hikes. The area sits within Florida's subtropical climate zone, with year-round temperatures conducive to camping except during summer thunderstorm season when flooding can affect riverside sites. Most campgrounds in this region lie at elevations under 150 feet, providing access to the Hillsborough River watershed and several conservation areas.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing on the Withlacoochee River: Several campsites provide direct river access for paddling adventures. At Crooked River Campground, "We shuttled some cars down that way so we could paddle far down and ride back. And have a lunch at the campsite afterwards. Perfect area for this," according to one visitor who enjoyed the river access.
Swimming in natural springs: Cool off in crystal-clear spring water at Lithia Springs Conservation Park, where campers can access the spring for a small fee. "Nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person. Most campsites are very shaded," notes one camper who found relief from Florida's heat.
Biking through forest trails: The extensive trail systems throughout the region's conservation areas provide ample cycling opportunities. At Lake Park, visitors report "miles of trails, paved and non" with "lots of little loops in the woods," making it ideal for day excursions from tent campsites near Plant City.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings offer prime wildlife viewing times. The Foster Bridge site in Green Swamp West provides immersive nature experiences, with one camper noting, "The insects and frogs put on an amazing chorus after a rain." Watch for alligators near water sources and bring binoculars for bird watching.
What campers like
Privacy between campsites: Many tent camping locations near Plant City offer secluded spots with natural barriers. At Crooked River Campground, "every site was surrounded by dense undergrowth which really added more privacy." Another camper appreciated that their "kids were able to run around and be noisy and we weren't worried about annoying our neighbors."
Clean facilities: Despite being in remote locations, several campgrounds maintain quality facilities. At Hillsborough River State Park, "the bathrooms are well kept and clean," and campers appreciate that "they offer recycling, which is a great plus!"
River access for cooling off: Florida's heat makes water access a prized amenity. One family camping at Crooked River noted, "The walk to the river from our site was so worth it. We loved exploring the trail and then letting the kids play in the water while we tried to catch some bass."
Proximity to urban conveniences: Unlike more remote camping areas, tent campsites near Plant City provide wilderness experiences without complete isolation. Lithia Springs campers value that it's "centrally located to be able to scout around" and "close to restaurants grocery stores," with one mentioning, "Grocery stores within 2 miles which was great because the wife ran out of wine."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding affects trails: During Florida's rainy season (typically May through October), many campsites experience water issues. At Lake Park, trails can become "sometimes flooded out, but just be prepared during rainy season." Similarly, the Green Swamp West area requires careful planning as "trails can get pretty wet in the rainy season."
Insect preparation is essential: Mosquitoes and ticks are abundant, particularly during warmer months. One camper at Hillsborough River State Park warned, "The mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog." At Foster Bridge Primitive Site, a visitor emphasized that "insect repellent is a must have!" with particular attention to "an abundance of ticks to be found in the brush."
Limited water sources at primitive sites: Many backcountry locations require carrying in all drinking water. At Upper Hillsborough Preserve, campers note only "a port o let on site and sparse picnic tables" with no potable water facilities. Plan accordingly for water needs, especially during warmer months.
Reservation requirements vary: While some sites operate on a first-come basis, others require advance planning. A camper at Upper Hillsborough Preserve explains, "A free reservation is required for either and must be displayed or available - so make sure you take a copy with you."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with water access: Children particularly enjoy swimming opportunities during hot weather. At Lithia Springs Conservation Park, "the spring fed swimming area is clean and well kept," making it ideal for families looking to cool off.
Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise disruptions. For those seeking quiet family experiences, avoid sites near busy roads or train tracks. One camper at Upper Hillsborough Tract was "extremely disappointed in the fact site is literally 50 feet from an active train track with trains sounding the horn all night long."
Look for spacious sites: Families need room to spread out. Crooked River Campground offers generous tent sites that one camper described as "huge and secluded!" adding, "It was spacious and did not flood when we had torrential downpours for a few hours one night."
Bring multiple cooling options: Florida heat requires preparation. Beyond water activities, pack portable fans, cooling towels, and shade structures. A family at Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground noted, "We stayed two night in 40 degree weather. This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping!"
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most primitive sites near Plant City don't accommodate larger RVs. Lithia Springs campers with RVs appreciate that "sites are nice and spacious" but note the limited hookups. Upper Hillsborough Preserve's Alston Tract allows RVs but requires self-sufficiency, with one camper noting they "use a quiet run generator and bring in 50 gallons of fresh water for weekend stays."
Road conditions can be challenging: Access roads to primitive sites are often unpaved and poorly maintained. An RVer at Alston Tract warned that "the drive is very rough due to teenagers mudding out there," while others mention seasonal flooding making some roads impassable.
Boondocking preparation: For those bringing RVs to more primitive sites, extensive preparation is necessary. At Hillsborough River State Park, one boondocker mentioned, "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places.. and this is a bit peoply. That said it was very comfortable everything was clean and super convenient."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Plant City, FL?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Plant City, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Plant City, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 65 reviews.
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Plant City, FL?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Plant City, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Plant City, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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