Best Tent Camping near Wellington, FL
Tent campsites near Wellington, Florida offer outdoor experiences ranging from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with amenities. Little Gopher provides hike-in tent camping on the Ocean to Lake Trail with a primitive setup, while Peanut Island Campground offers a unique boat-access camping experience with more developed facilities including showers and picnic tables. Kitching Creek and Scrub Jay primitive campgrounds in Jonathan Dickinson State Park provide additional backcountry tent camping options within reasonable driving distance.
Most tent camping areas require some planning as amenities vary significantly between locations. DuPuis Campground offers free camping with basic amenities like fire pits and picnic tables surrounding a pond, though advance permits through South Florida Water Management District are required. Primitive sites like Little Gopher have no drinking water on site, requiring campers to filter water from nearby sources or pack in their own supplies. Sawgrass Recreation Park maintains only two tent sites with limited facilities, and access may be challenging during rainy periods when the ground becomes muddy.
Walk-in tent sites at Jonathan Dickinson State Park provide natural settings away from vehicle traffic. The Kitching Creek primitive area offers toilet facilities but requires hikers to carry in all camping gear and supplies. Loop 4 campground features two picnic tables with fire pits and accommodates hammock camping with numerous trees for setup. One camper noted that Loop 4 "is large, can easily accommodate 30+ people and is well maintained" with occasional cell service. Peanut Island's tent camping areas require boat transportation but reward campers with unique water-based recreation opportunities. According to reviews on The Dyrt, the island offers "great camping experience" with opportunities for "kayak and paddle board to snorkeling with beautiful fishes and manatee if you are lucky."