Best Tent Camping near Vero Beach, FL

Old fishing camp being cleaned up by new management. Pontoon boats for rent, bait, tackle, and snacks in the office/store. Rv sites, permanent mobile home sites and I think tent camping. General manager Doc is so friendly. He love ensuring people are enjoying themselves.

4 miles down washboard sand/gravel road will beat your truck and trailer to death. And the sites are small!! 18’ trailer in site #6 and had to unhitch the tow vehicle as it was sticking in the road. Barely fit 22’ trailer and tow vehicle in site #1 without unhitching. That aside, it is a beautiful quiet spot that is excellent for star gazing. Bath house is clean and lots of hot water. If you are car camping or tent camping or have a camper van, this might be a good spot for you. It is a dark zone, so no lights after dark - use red lights.

All around a great location to get away and explore. This is one of the most comfortable and well-kept campgrounds I've found in FL. The staff and volunteers were very attentive and accommodating. The other campers were friendly and enthusiastic. We tent camped in the Equestrian loop, and the sites were decently spaced with plenty of room for our two tents, two cars, and 8 campers to spread out without bothering the neighbors. There are no stores or restaurants nearby, so pack well. These sites have water, electric, grill, and a table. Firewood is available for $7 cash per bundle (honor system). The dumpster is by the firewood. You can buy ice from the rangers for $2.50 during business hours. Showers are hot. Bathrooms are spacious.

I should probably mention that I'm camping spoiled. I traveled for a year or so around the country tent camping, and lived in Colorado for 10 years camping at least once a month out west. I'm from Florida, and I really didn't think there was much worth seeing here, so I stopped looking. It turns out I was wrong.

The air was so clean that we felt like we were on oxygen! The night sky was absolutely breathtaking, but catching dawn and dusk over the landscape is really nice too. The trails were well maintained and clearly planned to create a unique experience, while being just challenging enough to feel like a real adventure.

The animals just weren't afraid of humans. Our 6 teenagers were so excited to stand face-to-face, only a few feet from gentle deer, bunnies, and turkeys. We even saw some lazy baby alligators sunning on the Military Trail.

The Prairie Loop Trail took much longer than we anticipated, and the wind pushing us back was insane, but it was gorgeous and we had a lot of fun. I'll just plan better for that next time. And, the whole family agrees there will be a next time, soon!

If you are looking for a place in FL where you really feel "out in it", away from absolutely everything, while still having what you need to be comfortable, this is it.

Have stayed here twice, about 70 miles from my home. Always tented in riverland as sites close to ranger entrance are rv only. One warning if you reserve through toll free service there is a $6 charge and they put me in a terrible spot. Ranger claimed only a few others available, but it was July and almost empty. Finally got a good tent site, grass and adequate privacy. Restrooms super clean, quiet all day and night. Forgot my fan and almost eaten alive saved by Off. People in boat shop - store super friendly. Ice, wood, etc available. Took a 3 hour canoe trip , $25 well spent. Next day rented a bike. Good hiking trails too.

We called Vero Beach Camp the morning of our stay and they welcomed our reservation for 1 night. Beautiful shaded campground, nice swimming pool, clean and quiet. We will definitely come back. The rocket launch was scrubbed so we will try again!

Stayed here during a very HOT weekend May/ June 2020. We stayed in the River Campground, lot 139. This site had a small amount of shade, so it offered some relief from the heat, but compared to other places I have camped this was very exposed. The bugs are pretty bad. Bring your OFF and screened shelters. No-see-ums were bad in the evening, and flies were plenty all day. Lots of ant issues too; we never had a problem with them anywhere else. Once you get past that, there is a ton of stuff to do. A paved and off road bike trail, boat ramps and kayaking, the Florida trail cuts through the park, so there is a lot of hiking. The shower and restroom facilities were kept very clean, and we were very happy with the cleanliness of the park. The off road bike trails are very fun, but just like the rest of the park, very exposed to the sun. This park would be best when the weather cools down in fall and late winter. If you’re a boater, you could get away with it year round, as long as you’re not tent camping.

Recently took a road trip from New England to Florida with my family and had the pleasure of staying here at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

This state park accommodates RVs, tent sites, and cabin rentals with two camping areas -- one (Pine Grove Campground) located close to the entrance, right off of US Hwy 1 and seems to be more geared towards RV sites and the other (River Campground) located about four miles into the park along the Loxahatchee River. We stayed in the River Campground.

Spacious sites offered: water, electricity, a picnic table, & a fire ring… and grounds include two well kept bathhouses with laundry facilities. Trees were sparse in some sections so be prepared to create shade. Our site was visited by a young raccoon who didn't seem fazed by us at all; just wanted what we were cooking.

We only stayed for one night, so we weren't able to take in all the park has to offer, but we did walk some of the nature trails along the river towards the newly built amphitheater and swimming area. Unfortunate for us, the swimming area was closed during our stay -- which would have made the stay twice as nice… but the views were still incredible!

If we ever find our way back to south Florida for camping, we'll definitely come back here.

Really had a fantastic time at this campground, I'm typically a tent camper and had great facilities. The cost of camping in Florida isn't cheap though this one actually had the value in it given that you could also rent boats and paddle up river alongside manatees to the wild man encampment. Amazing hiking nearby, the tower to check out, even a little mini museum with reptiles. I enjoyed it so much I would go back.

We sold our house in West Palm Beach and relocated to Vero Beach for work, choosing to stay in our RV at this park while awaiting our new home to be built. Initially, we were excited, but the management at this park turned out to be a nightmare. Despite the reasonable and straightforward rules, we faced constant harassment. We have two dogs that we walk multiple times a day. There are no trash cans or doggy bags on the property except in the dog park, so we took the initiative to buy an outdoor trash can and a bulk supply of dog waste bags to ensure we cleaned up after our pets. Yet, we received weekly notices accusing us of not cleaning up after our dogs. Each time I went to the main office to discuss these notices, I was told to“just ignore it” as it was likely a“pesty neighbor.” Additionally, when family visited us for the day and parked at our RV slot, we received notices about parking violations. After discussing this with the office, we were advised to have our visitors park in the lot by the restaurant, which we did. Despite this, we continued to receive notices for various infractions, such as improper water hookup and not stopping completely in the neighborhood. This felt like borderline harassment. As responsible adults who strive to follow regulations, we were perplexed and frustrated by these continuous and unfounded accusations. Each time we sought clarification from the office, they dismissed our concerns, blaming"nosey neighbors" and suggesting neighborly disputes were at play. Ultimately, we were given a 30-day notice to vacate the property. This experience is particularly disappointing because we had suggested this park for our upcoming family reunion, which would have brought 47 rentals for a week. Now, I can't wait to leave this place. For anyone considering a short-term stay, this park may suffice. However, I strongly advise against bringing pets unless you want to be harassed and falsely accused. For those seeking a long-term rental, avoid this park at all costs, as you will face weekly harassment. Furthermore, we had several packages confirmed as delivered to the“receptionist/front desk,” which mysteriously went missing, apparently mishandled by the staff. Our initial excitement to be part of the Road Runner community has completely dissipated. I am eager to leave and will never return. I do not recommend this park and will be warning others. 0/10.---

The place is gorgeous and if you want shade or sun it offers both. Quiet, relaxing, good trails that lead over to Hickory Hammock campground. Audrey is a excellent camp host.

They keep it very clean and is very helpful in showing you the campsites. It is right off the main road so no dirt road to get there though you have some road noise but you can get back away from most of it.  Lots of wildlife in the woods, nothing bothered the campsite.

There are bathrooms but no showers. They are a ways away from the campground. Its still shocking you can camp in Florida like this for free. Hope we can keep it this way for a long time.

Different from other areas of Florida the Prairie area is open and vast. I found it quiet, and enjoyable place to be alone with my thoughts and hiking. I was met with groups of wild turkeys and other animals and enjoyed peaceful wondering. Great set up for this tent camper and would love to go back again.

If you love camping, wildlife, and stargazing but still want the convenience of amenities (i.e electricity, running water, bathroom, shower) then this is the place for you.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is part of IDA International Dark-Sky Places. The park has little light pollution and also a stargazing pad where you can also camp on.

The campgrounds aren't large but the campsites are good for tents and RVs. The one site we stayed at had water and electric hook-ups and a firepit. We were close to very clean restroom area that also had showers, washer and dryer. They do have primitive campsites for the more rustic individuals. The campgrounds are about 45 minutes from town, but the ranger station sells ice for $2.50 and firewood purchase is by honor system. We also saw other campers with their dogs so pet-friendly as well.

Lots of hiking trails and so much wildlife. We saw deer grazing near our campsite!

Make sure to bring lots of mosquito repellent, especially in the summer months. Otherwise you'll get bit...a lot! But it is Florida after all.