Glamping near Winter Park, Florida offers outdoor stays within 25 miles of the city's cultural attractions. The region features sandy soil and a subtropical climate with average winter temperatures between 50-70°F, making it comfortable for canvas accommodations year-round. Most glamping sites sit at elevations under 100 feet and experience afternoon thunderstorms during summer months.
What to do
Kayaking on multiple lakes: At Wekiwa Springs State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy pristine waterways perfect for paddling. "We had a wonderful 3 days here," reports Jenn B., who appreciated the "hiking, biking, day swimming, a food grill, a canoe/kayak launch and rental, plus tons of wildlife!" For weekday visits, Jenn advises, "a weekday is best to visit the spring and river. On the weekend there were tons of people in the park."
Fishing from established piers: Multiple fishing spots throughout the region provide access to Florida's abundant freshwater species. "There are fishing piers at both Dixie and Hammond Lake," notes a Travyl Couple reviewer at Lake Louisa State Park Campground. "You can also fish and boat on Lake Louisa too. There is also a cute hidden lake called Bear Lake that you can bike or drive to and even put in your kayak or electric boat."
Evening entertainment options: Several campgrounds offer scheduled activities after sunset. "At Fort Wilderness, you can take the bus to the marina area for dinner at the buffet, to watch the fireworks/light show, and to see Cinderella's horses and carriage," shares Samantha O. The campground also features an evening sing-along where "Chip and Dale walk around to everyone. They ask that you don't leave your spot and they will come to you and really they do."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many glamping locations provide enough separation between accommodations for privacy. Jackie B. describes Lake Louisa State Park Campground as having "very spacious sites with beautiful views and an exceptionally clean property. The multiple lake views where so peaceful, I think the beach was my favorite by far."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural setting attracts diverse Florida wildlife. "We saw lots of animals," reports Caitlyn P. about her stay at Wekiwa Springs State Park. The park's natural setting supports a rich ecosystem that visitors can observe from trails and waterways. At Manatee Hammock Campground, Wendy W. notes the abundance of "gorgeous water birds and trees. The park sits off the Indian River and is the perfect place to catch a launch."
Clean, modern facilities: Despite their natural settings, many glamping sites maintain well-kept amenities. "The bath house was very clean and modern, with spacious shower stalls and plenty of hot water," writes Cyndi B. about Lake Louisa State Park. She adds, "All of the sites seemed level, most are quite private with a fair amount of trees/foliage in between sites, have a sizable picnic table and nice fire ring with grate."
What you should know
Reservations fill quickly: During peak seasons, securing accommodations requires advance planning. "Book well in advance," advises Zackari S. about Wekiwa Springs. "We're staying at the family campground as the primitive was full." This pattern repeats across most popular glamping sites in the region.
Weather considerations: Florida's climate affects camping conditions throughout the year. "We were here in February and we had no problems with bugs," notes Cyndi B. about her winter visit to Lake Louisa. Summer visitors should prepare for afternoon storms and higher humidity levels.
Transportation options: Some larger properties require additional planning to navigate efficiently. "Rent a golf cart if you don't have one," recommends Donald M. about Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The resort's size makes internal transportation important for accessing amenities, as "transportation was OK and the Tavern was very nice."
Accessibility features: Some glamping locations offer accommodations for visitors with mobility needs. Lauren W. shares her experience at Wekiwa Springs: "our site, 2, was a handicapped one, and beautiful. Restrooms directly behind us. Beautiful tall shady trees." She adds that park rangers helped with wheelchair access to the springs: "Jane, one of the park rangers informed us about the ramp for wheelchairs, and a lift into the water!"
Tips for camping with families
Pool access timing: Swimming facilities at glamping sites often have peak usage periods to avoid. At Orlando/Kissimmee KOA, Dianna F. notes the "welcoming atmosphere and supreme customer service" make it family-friendly, with amenities including a "heated pool, sauna, workout room, bike rental area and laundry area."
Kid-specific activity areas: Designated spaces for children provide supervised entertainment options. "On the other side of the park is a great playground and jump pad," writes Brandie B. about Orlando Kissimmee KOA. "They even have a fenced in dog run and dog wash area." These dedicated areas allow children to play safely while parents monitor from nearby.
Tent site amenities: Families tent camping will find varying levels of facilities. Missi S. reports that at Orlando Kissimmee KOA, "Site was a little small for our tent (14 x 14 foot though). Other than that, campground was great! Had rental bikes and a pool. Bathrooms were nice and clean."
Tips from RVers
Site navigation challenges: Some campgrounds present maneuvering difficulties for larger rigs. Samantha O. shares her experience at Fort Wilderness: "My only problem with wilderness camping. There is not a lot of room in the loops to pull your rv into the spot. There is plenty of room between your rv and your neighbor next to you but not a lot of room across from your spot." She adds that "Our neighbor across from us had to move his truck and several neighbors were helping direct us into our spot."
Concrete pad availability: RVers often prefer sites with stable parking surfaces. At Thousand Trails Orlando, Geoff Y. notes that "Except for the few concrete pads up front, all the sites are on grass. While you can't blame the park for the weather, recently there's been a lot of rain and rigs of all sizes are up to their rims in muck." For best results, he recommends: "I would come back here again but only to a spot with a concrete pad."
Hookup configurations: Understanding utility connections helps RVers choose appropriate sites. At Lake Louisa State Park, the Travyl Couple reports, "There is a dump station and some of the sites have full hookup with sewer." They add specific site information not available on reservation systems: "I found one review that mentioned that site #'s 16,18,20, 30, 32,33, 34 (ADA), 35,36 (ADA), 37,38,39, & 40 are the sites that have sewer too."
