Best Tent Camping near Winter Haven, FL

Tent campers exploring the Winter Haven, Florida area have access to several primitive camping options within an hour's drive. Highlands Hammock State Park offers tent-specific sites with varying levels of amenities, while Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground provides a more secluded experience with hike-in only access. The Upper Hillsborough Preserve and Green Swamp tracts also maintain primitive tent sites that provide alternatives to developed campgrounds.

Most primitive tent sites near Winter Haven require advance reservations, though some operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Alderman's Ford features walk-in tent sites equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and hammock posts, but no drinking water or electric hookups. The primitive sites at Highlands Hammock State Park include fire rings and picnic tables with vault toilets nearby, though campers note limited shade in some areas. Green Swamp East Tract offers more remote tent camping with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, but requires campers to bring their own water and supplies.

The tent camping experience varies significantly across these locations, with some offering greater seclusion than others. Alderman's Ford provides a true wilderness feel despite being relatively close to urban areas. One camper noted, "The 4 primitive campsites we found were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings. The trails are marked well but not often maintained - so you really get the feel that you are in the middle of nowhere." At Highlands Hammock, the primitive tent sites are more open with less privacy between sites, though they offer good access to the park's extensive trail system. Green Swamp's Trail Ford campsite provides a more isolated backcountry tent camping experience, with a camper sharing that it was "definitely worth the hike" despite taking almost an hour to reach from the parking area.

Best Tent Sites Near Winter Haven, Florida (22)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Winter Haven, FL

833 Reviews of 22 Winter Haven Campgrounds


  • Jeanene A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2017

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    A favorite for the locals

    This location is utterly beautiful! So many different environments can be seen just walking the trials. The 4 primitive campsites we found were along the river and we did not see bathrooms or picnic tables or fire rings. The trails are marked well but not often maintained - so you really get the feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. No traffic was heard at night and I would not camp out there alone on a weekend due to the "local party crowd". This is a hike in and hike out site. We only stayed 1 night. No amenities. Lots of birds and wildlife in the late day and early morning. Parking is a small fenced in area before turn in road - no security/lighting appx 1.5 miles from camping area that we found

    I would have given this location a 5 except for the large amount of trash we found on trails (that we carried out) and the obvious disregard for rules of no swimming and no alcohol.

  • J
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground

    Great Place!

    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. There is a restroom facility about a 1/2 mile down the trail. There was firewood for use when I went. Sites were equipped with hammock posts, picnic table, and a fire pit. There was also a trash can. I had a great time, the whole park to myself for the night. Strongly recommend if you enjoy primitive camping.

  • James A.
    Sep. 9, 2020

    Colt Creek State Park Campground

    Tired Tree Primative Site

    Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing.

    -$5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available for purchase (located at the site) -$5 arm loads -Fire ring, Picnic Table, Bench, and Garbage pail at the site

    Walked the long way in (3.25miles), instead of the 1 mile route. The entire hike is through typical open grass “roads” cut and maintained in the Florida brush. The site itself had a nice vibe and is far away from any other sites at the park. A large open clearing could easily allow for a dozen tents, unfortunately, I brought my hammock,.. and this site is not set up for hammock camping.

    With a little rigging and placement over a dried up gator hole, I found a spot that I could hang my hammock and shelter for the night.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the spot, other than the lack of clearing for a hammock, and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable... I am aware that it was rainy season in Florida, near a WMA named Green Swamp, but I went home with hundreds and hundreds of bites, despite my preparedness.

    I would camp here again, maybe when it’s a little cooler and more dry, and also would hike in with a tent, or potentially take the shorter route and pull a wagon full of gear, to enjoy a bit more “glamped” feel.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground

    Primitive Camping in Lake Kissimmee State Park!

    We decided to book a group primitive campsite in this state park. We were in the primitive group campsite on the Buster Island Loop. It was about 3 miles to hike in to the site. The path is very clear with markers and when you arrive at the site, there is a clear indicator to follow. The path to the site is right off the main trail.

    Since this is a primitive site, there are no facilities and keep in mind you need to bring your own water for drinking, cooking, cleaning etc. At the site there were two picnic tables and a fire ring which was enough for our group. The area was cleared with a lot of space to set up all of our tents. We were here in late April when the weather was getting warmer so remember to bring mosquito repellent and enough water for your whole group to stay hydrated!

    The hiking trails are loops about 6 miles long where you can experience different types of Florida environments and boating on the lake. And there are also history demonstrations showing the old Florida cowboys at the park.

    All in all, this park has many options and activities. Whether you are into water sports or biking and hiking, this park has it all.

  • Nick C.
    Sep. 22, 2020

    Highlands Hammock State Park Campground

    Limited Primitive Camping- Nice Trails

    The reservable campsites here are very close to each other and not shaded very well, no privacy. We changed to the primitive sites that are first come first served. The are a bit more private and have trees for hammocks etc. it’s nice out there. You can sometimes hear the nearest road and see a power line from camp so you don’t feel that far from the city unfortunately. Sites have a fire ring/grill and picnic table. There is an outhouse out there and on the road in a faucet to get some drinking water, they say it’s clean even though it may be discolored. There are a bunch of short trials to hike in the park. Through some woods, swamps etc. very pretty.

  • Monte W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2020

    Green Swamp — West Tract

    Peaceful and free!

    Stayed here for a night in November of 2020. We stayed at the Ashley campsite. It is free but had to register at watermatters.org - (Southwest Florida Water Management). They provide you with a code to unlock the gate once registered. At the campsite there were about 15 sites. Most had non-potable water. All had a picnic tables and fire ring. My site had a covered picnic table. A vault toilet was also provided and was pretty clean. The campsite was about half full when I was here and it was pretty quiet even though you can see your neighbors. You are permitted to collect fire wood as long as it has fallen from the tree. For a free campsite, I can’t complain. I would stay here again.

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Highlands Hammock State Park Campground

    5 stars for the primitive sites

    We always camp in the primitive sites when we visit. The are large but have minimal shade. There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well. There are no hookups at the primitive sites. Behind the primitive sites is a road so you do hear cars and trucks driving by at night.

    We were interested in visiting this park because it is one of Florida's oldest state parks. There are many trails you can visit while you are here. These trails are pretty cool because they are all different so you will never get bored. You can either bike, drive or walk there yourself, but there is also a tram tour you can take. There is also a museum in the park as well if you want to learn more about the area.

  • Shannon S.
    May. 28, 2023

    Moss Park Campground

    Finally, a quiet campground!

    Maybe it’s the no pets rule, but this campground was the quietest we’ve been to and we camp nearly every weekend.

    The sites are spacious with the fire rings being in the way back. This is a no alcohol park. They didn’t have any fire or ice, which is a negative. We love camping at spots that have that for purchase. The nearest Publix is about 5 minutes or so away and does have both.

    They don’t allow you to have anything on the trees, which I found a little off putting. We had solar lights hung from them, just wrapped around, not attached, and were told by the camp host (? Didn’t introduce himself) they needed to come down. Staff rode around a few times and said nothing but, okay.

    The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Lots of open space to run around, kick a ball, two playground sets, and a beautiful walk to Lake Mary Jane.

    Quiet hours were observed, which was so nice.

    I brought my T-Mobile home router and had plenty of signal to work, stream, etc.

    We will be back!

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2024

    Moss Park Campground

    Quiet, lots of trees, away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando

    This is a 54 site campground with hook ups at each site, fire ring, and picnic table. The trees provide a good amount of privacy from adjacent campers. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. This is about 15 min from the airport yet very removed from Orlando. Water on three sides, gates that close and lock from 6pm to 8 am (Nov-March) but an easy access code is given at check in to be able to come and go after hours. No pets, no alcohol, and quiet after 10. I will stay again! It was a mix of RVs, trailers, camper vans, car camping, and tents when I stayed. The personnel were very nice and helpful at check in.


Guide to Winter Haven

Primitive tent camping near Winter Haven, Florida offers wooded sites within several conservation areas and state parks. The Central Florida region's flat terrain ranges from 100-150 feet above sea level, with high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months. Water management areas protect natural habitats while providing camping opportunities in cypress hammocks, pine flatwoods, and river ecosystems.

What to do

Paddling opportunities: Hillsborough River State Park offers canoe rentals for exploring the river ecosystem. One camper noted, "The river canoeing is great. You can kayak in the river, which is really neat to do."

Wildlife viewing: Look for fireflies in summer at Hillsborough River State Park. A visitor shared, "At night the green fireflies put on an amazing light show in the canopy." The park's trails offer opportunities to spot birds, deer, and small mammals.

Nature trails: Lithia Springs Conservation Park provides walking paths through varied ecosystems. The trails are "nice, but there's not a ton to see and they aren't super long," according to one camper, making them suitable for casual hikers or families.

Swimming: Lithia Springs features a spring-fed swimming area for cooling off after hiking. A visitor mentioned it's "a nice spring to swim in for 2.00 a person," providing an affordable recreation option during hot weather.

What campers like

Shaded campsites: Highlands Hammock State Park offers protection from Florida sun with mature tree cover. One camper reported, "The sites are nice and spacious, have really excellent tree coverage (this is a MUST during Florida summers)."

Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe Florida's native species. At Highlands Hammock, a camper mentioned, "We had a bear visit the garbage bin during the night, so you'll have to pay attention to storing your food during the night."

Natural water features: Multiple sites offer access to rivers or springs. A Lithia Springs visitor stated, "The spring area is so nice. The sound of the breeze through the trees, just wow!" These water features provide natural cooling and scenery.

Quiet camping environment: Upper Hillsborough Preserve — Alston Tract offers a peaceful experience when crowds are absent. One visitor noted, "We camped overnight on a Friday and were the only people in the area. Lovely space for dispersed camping."

What you should know

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes are prevalent, particularly during warm months. One Hillsborough River visitor warned, "The mosquitoes were ridiculous in June. We practically had to anchor our toddler to the picnic table so he wasn't carried away by them."

Site privacy varies: Some campgrounds offer more seclusion than others. A Highlands Hammock camper observed, "The campground is not spread out much. You'll have neighbors," indicating closer proximity than some primitive sites.

Seasonal flooding: Green Swamp — East Tract trails can become submerged during rainy periods. A camper shared, "The trail from 471 to the campsite feels less like hiking a trail and more like just walking down a service road, but that's sometimes what you get." Plan visits during drier months for easier access.

Reservation requirements: While some sites operate first-come, first-served, others require advance planning. At Lithia Springs, "Ranger seemed nice and helpful. This camp does not allow reservations but had quite a few empty lots," suggesting availability varies by season and day of the week.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Choose campgrounds with water access for kid-friendly activities. A Lithia Springs visitor mentioned, "The spring fed swimming area is clean and well kept," providing a safe recreation spot for families.

Trail difficulty assessment: Select shorter trails for young children. At Highlands Hammock, "The walking trails at this park were all quite small and friendly for all," making them appropriate for different ages and ability levels.

Campground amenities: Alderman's Ford Conservation Park Primitive Campground offers family-friendly features. A camper reported, "I stayed with 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8. This is a great place for families wanting to start out primitive camping! Super clean campsites and great easy trail out to the site."

Weather planning: Schedule family trips during cooler months. At Hillsborough River State Park, "Weather was cool in February that allowed for comfortable hiking and biking," making outdoor activities more enjoyable with children.

Tips from RVers

Site size considerations: Hillsborough River State Park accommodates larger vehicles but with tight spacing. A camper noted, "Small tight spaces in the campground. Most with no coverage between sites," suggesting careful maneuvering is required.

Hookup availability: Many primitive sites lack RV amenities, but some parks offer basic services. One Hillsborough River visitor mentioned, "There was 30 amp as well as 50 amp water there's a dump station clean bathrooms nice showers even dedicated dishwashing sinks and a washer and dryer."

Road conditions: Access roads to some primitive sites may challenge larger vehicles. At Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract, "The drive is very rough due to teenagers mudding out there," indicating potential difficulties for RVs.

Camping alternatives: Consider established campgrounds for RVs requiring hookups. A Hillsborough River camper shared, "We are boondockers so we tend to stay away from very peoplely places... I would definitely go here again if we didn't have backwoods options," suggesting it's a good compromise between amenities and natural setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Winter Haven, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winter Haven, FL is Hillsborough River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 65 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Winter Haven, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Winter Haven, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.