The best camping near Disney World and Universal Studios can be found in affordable public parks within an hour’s drive of the Magic Kingdom. These campgrounds offer scenic beauty, abundant wildlife and a mega-menu of outdoor recreation.
Orlando/Central Florida
Central Florida Getaways
Things to do in Orlando and Central Florida, hiking, bicycling, kayaking and canoe, RV and tent camping, road trips, historic places and Funky Florida.
A backpacker’s dream: Dispersed camping in Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest covers more than 600 square miles of Central Florida, and all of it is open to dispersed, primitive camping.
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park: A serene spot to learn about Florida’s past
A peaceful park shaded by magnificent live oaks is a good place to soak up some Florida history. If you take the time to go through the visitor center and walk the battlefield, you’ll find it also tells a thought-provoking story.
Paynes Prairie: Bison and wild horses? Yup, in Florida
This Gainesville area state park is a vast playground for hikers and bikers, but also for bison and wild horses. There are miles of trails, great campsites and wildlife galore, including large numbers of migrating sandhill cranes that arrive in mid-November.
Camping Guide to Ocala National Forest
The weather is getting better, and campgrounds in Ocala National Forest remain open during the government shutdown. Our camping guide takes you to places you never knew.
Miami to Orlando road trip: Quaint towns, trails and hills along US 27
A roadtrip from Miami to Orlando along US 27 will take you through quaint towns, over hills and through rural enclaves and parks with few crowds.
This article is the first in a series of road trip itineraries to be offered by FloridaRambler.com.
Mount Dora: Eight big weekend festivals plus year-round charm
Mount Dora is a historic town that has figured out how to keep people visiting: Maximize the natural beauty and develop arts and antique festivals. Oct. 25-26 is the very popular craft fair.
Lake Kissimmee State Park: Away from it all and back in time
This large state park offers great hiking and one the best campgrounds in a Florida State Park. It’s in a rural, out-of-the-way part of Central Florida where history comes alive in its 1876 cow camp.
Melbourne: A charming town with historic neighborhoods, breweries, kayaking at a terrific zoo
What might be our favorite Florida zoo just made the US Today list of the 10 best zoos in the US. The Brevard Zoo is not huge, but it is highly interactive, including offering kayaking on waterways through the zoo. It’s in Melbourne, a great weekend getaway destination.
Alexander Springs in Ocala National Forest: Cool swimming, easy scenic paddling plus lots of wildlife
The clear waters flowing out of Alexander Springs are the start of a great paddling trail inside Ocala National Forest. It’s an easy stream to paddle with lots of wildlife, especially birds and fish.
Mount Dora Bicycle Festival: Oct. 10-11, 2026
The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival attracts thousands for competitive rides over hill and dale. This is your guide to the festival with schedules, a list of nearby campgrounds and links to hotel and vacation home reservations.
Outdoor adventures near Orlando theme parks: See the real Florida when visiting Disney
We know what the big draw is in Orlando, and it’s not nature. But it should be! Even if your destination is a theme park, here are 9 natural experiences and places that are memorable additions to a visit to Central Florida