Tent camping options near Windermere, Florida remain limited with most camping concentrated at established RV resorts within 30 miles. While state parks like Wekiwa Springs offer primitive tent sites, the central Florida region primarily caters to RV campers with concrete pads and full hookups. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, creating challenging conditions for tent campers without adequate shade or cooling.
What to do
Downtown exploration: Winter Garden RV Resort puts you within biking distance of downtown Winter Garden's charming shops and restaurants. "We loved being close enough to ride our bikes to downtown Winter Garden. The kids enjoyed ice cream, the bike trail, and the splash pad, all while the parents enjoyed the brewing company and coffee shop (Axum)," notes one camper at Winter Garden RV Resort.
Swimming options: Natural springs provide refreshing alternatives to campground pools. "You can swim in pool or swim in lagoon. Rent a canoe or kayak and explore the Wekiva River," explains a visitor to Wekiva Falls RV Resort. Water temperatures at these natural springs remain around 72°F year-round.
Old Town Kissimmee: Several campgrounds provide easy access to this entertainment district. "The campground is 1/4 mile from Old Town. There they have bike nights on Thursday evenings. Friday and Saturday evenings have old car shows and cruises," shares a camper from Encore Tropical Palms.
What campers like
Central location: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for area attractions. "This is a great campground if you want to visit Orlando/Kissimee attractions without paying an arm and a leg," reports a camper about Encore Tropical Palms, noting its strategic location near multiple theme parks.
Wildlife viewing: Despite being in developed areas, many campgrounds maintain natural habitats. "Plenty of deer to watch throughout the day," mentions one reviewer about Tropical Palms, while others note spotting sand hill cranes and other Florida wildlife at various properties.
Recreational amenities: Beyond swimming pools, many rv sites near Windermere, Florida offer extensive recreation options. "They have a pool but the hot tub is broken... There is another pool in the third section but that has been closed forever," explains a recent visitor to Encore Southern Palms, highlighting the importance of confirming which amenities are operational before booking.
What you should know
Cell service challenges: Despite proximity to urban areas, connectivity varies significantly. "This park is in Clermont, FL and it's not a huge town but decent sized town. There isn't great cell service. The park is further from a tower and there are so many RVers in the area that don't count towards the population, it becomes a bandwidth issue," explains a camper at Thousand Trails Orlando.
Site conditions vary widely: Many campgrounds feature a mix of site types and quality. "The pictures on the website do not represent what the park looks like. They seldom even rake the leaves, missing patches of grass and weeds galore," reports one reviewer about Encore Sherwood Forest.
Noise considerations: Traffic noise affects many campgrounds in this area. "It's hard to get a decent night sleep with very noisy cars racing up and down all night and very loud trains blowing their horns all day," notes a visitor to Mill Creek RV Resort, highlighting a common challenge at rv sites near Windermere.
Tips for camping with families
Pool availability: Confirm pool hours and conditions before booking, especially during off-peak seasons. "When we arrived we were guided back to our site and we were offered help backing in. There were a lot of full timers living in the park and I have to say many of those sites looked run down," notes one camper at Southern Palms.
Playground options: Not all campgrounds offer play areas for children. "If you have young ones or teenagers this place gives them lots to do," explains a reviewer at Wekiva Falls RV Resort, one of the few locations with designated play areas for different age groups.
Safety considerations: Large campgrounds with mixed-use traffic require extra vigilance. "Golf carts allowed and side by sides. This mixed with drunken visitors was a bit nerve wracking. Definitely didn't trust kids to ride around on bikes safely," cautions a visitor to Wekiva Falls RV Resort.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Request specific site types based on your needs. "Some of these sites for large RVs and even 5th wheels appear to be a bit too small - several were either parked beyond the asphalt limits on the grass, or the width was too large and overhung the concrete pad itself, creating unstable situation for some RVs."
Water quality concerns: Several campgrounds use well water with distinctive characteristics. "The springs swimming area water has a smell of sulfur, stay up wind," advises a local camper about Wekiva Falls, pointing out an issue common to several campgrounds in the region.
Electrical capacity: Many older campgrounds have limited electrical systems. "We kept tripping the 30A breaker with AC on and a hot plate or microwave. But in the end price seemed reasonable for what it was. They did have a note saying electric lines were being improved and power may intermittently go out," explains a camper at Winter Garden RV Resort.
