Last updated on December 29th, 2025 at 09:45 am
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.
The campgrounds on our list are preserved for their scenic beauty, abundant wildlife and mega-menu of outdoor recreation that will handsomely complement your family’s visit to Central Florida attractions.
We have personally visited and recommend each of these outstanding parks.
Moss Park
This lakefront park is a little-known gem within a half-hour drive of Disney
Moss Park sprawls between two large lakes just 25 miles from the main gate at Disney World, a straight shot on an expressway that whisks you across Orlando’s suburbs.
The park offers spacious campsites for tents or RVs, affording ample privacy.
At 1,500 acres, Moss Park’s possibilities are enhanced by the adjacent 2,000-acre Split Oak Nature Preserve with bountiful wildlife and meandering trails.
The preserve is home to an active wildlife community that spills over into the campground. You’ll likely see deer grazing at dusk and small families of sandhill cranes wandering among the campsites.
Moss Park features two playgrounds, a freshwater swimming beach, boat ramps and kayak launch areas serving both lakes.
Moss Park, 12901 Moss Park Rd., Orlando. Phone: (407) 254-6840. 54 RV or tent campsites with water and electric, grill, table, fire ring, rest rooms with showers, dump station. No pets, no alcohol, no weapons. Camping fee: $23 per night for non-residents, $18 for Orange County residents. Discounts available for seniors. Reservations online up to 45 days in advance at www.ocfl.net
Related article: Moss Park is our little secret
Lake Louisa State Park
Spacious cabins, great hiking, 19 miles to Disney
Lake Louisa State Park is set in a sea of rolling hills covered with citrus trees, decorated with a half-dozen lakes. The park itself is a former citrus grove, and parts of it are still maintained as a working grove by local farmers.
The RV and tent campground at Lake Louisa State Park seemed a bit lonely and isolated when I last visited, although there have definitely been improvements since then, including the addition of ‘glamping’ tents that are already set up for you.
The park’s concessionaire offers two glamping options: a “luxury” tent site in the campground and “eco tents” near the equestrian area. For more information about glamping and kayak rentals, visit the concessionaire’s web site or call 352-503-4489.
The park’s big attraction, though, are twenty well-appointed cabins on a hill overlooking a scenic lake. Each cabin had two bedrooms, two baths, a dining/living area with a fully equipped kitchen and a screened deck with rocking chairs. No TVs, but the view from the porch is beautiful.
Three of the park’s six lakes are accessible for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and there are more than 20 miles of off-road trails for hiking and cycling in addition to seven miles of park roads.
Lake Louisa State Park, 7305 U.S. 27, Clermont, FL. Phone: 352-394-3969. Each campsite has a grill, picnic table, water and electric hookups. Cabins sleep six in two bedrooms. Pets OK in campground but not in cabins. Camping fees: 20 cabins, $120 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee; 60 campsites at $24/night plus $7 daily utility fee. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents, online at reserve.floridastateparks.org, or call 800-326-3521.
Read more about Lake Louisa State Park: A great base for hiking
Kelly Park/Rock Spring
Cool swimming hole, shaded camping, 40 miles to Disney
Campsite #10 at Kelly Park in northern Orange County (Photo by Bob Rountree)
This is my favorite public campground near Orlando. Like Moss Park, it is managed by Orange County.
There are only 26 campsites, and every one is spacious, private, clean and shaded. Arriving midweek, I had my pick. The sites are arranged in a circle with paths to a clean and well-maintained bathhouse in the middle.
The big attraction at Kelly Park are the springs. Swimming here in summer is so popular, it’s a challenge to even get into the park before it reaches capacity, let alone reserve a campsite.
But winter months are less demanding for both day visitors and overnighting in the campground.
And winter in Central Florida offers ideal weather for paddling scenic Rock Springs Run, the crystal-clear creek that flows out of Rock Springs through nine miles of sub-tropical wilderness to the wild and scenic Wekiva River. It’s an excursion you’ll never forget.
Canoe, kayak and paddle-board rentals are available at nearby Kings Landing, or bring your own kayak and launch from Camp Joy, next to Kelly Park.
Aside from its proximity to Disney World, you’re only 12 miles from historic Mount Dora and the 117-acre Renninger’s Antique Center and Flea Market, both popular landmarks for visitors to the Sunshine State.
Kelly Park/Rock Spring (Orange County), 400 East Kelly Park Road, Apopka, FL; Phone: (407) 254-1902. Each of the 26 campsites has a fire ring with grill, table, water and electric hookups. No pets, no alcohol, no weapons. Camping fee: $23 per night for out-of-county residents. Orange County residents pay $18. Reservations can be made up to 45 days in advance at ocfl.net.
Related article: Hide away in this campground near Orlando
These public campgrounds are booked by savvy travelers well in advance, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Another good strategy is to check often for cancellations, but you’ll need to be flexible with your dates.
Lake Kissimmee State Park
Florida cowboys and Legoland, 48 miles to Disney World
The 6,000 acres that make up Lake Kissimmee State Park were carved out of Florida cow country, abutting three significant lakes south of Orlando. A haven for wildlife, the park offers 13 miles of excellent hiking trails, birding, kayaking and boating access to the pristine Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
On weekends from October 1 until April 30, the park hosts an entertaining living history exhibit as a Cracker cowboy takes up residence at a recreated 1876-era cow camp.
Every one of the 60 campsites is shaded by oak hammock, and the sites are separated by thick vegetation that offers plenty of privacy. A park concession offers Glamping in fully furnished Luxury Pioneer Tents for $135 a night.
Wildlife, from deer to alligators to sandhill cranes to eagles, is abundant throughout the park. The lake is nearby and easily accessible for canoes, kayaks and there’s a boat launch for motorboats.
Bonus: Legoland is just 25 miles from Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Lake Kissimmee State Park, 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898. Phone: 863-696-1112 (not for reservations). 60 campsites in two loops, each with clean and spacious rest rooms, showers and laundry facilities. Day use fee: $5. Glamping: $135/night. Book online at https://lakekissimmeesp.com/. RV/tent Camping fee: $20 per night plus a $7 daily utilities fee for RVs. (Utility fee does not apply to tent camping.) For reservations, Florida residents can book up to 11 months in advance online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 1-800-326-3521. The reservations window for non-residents is 10 months.
Read more: Lake Kissimmee State Park: Away from it all and back in time
Hot Tip: Incorporate Ocala National Forest into your Disney trip itinerary for even more campground options. Read our Camping Guide to Ocala National Forest
Blue Spring State Park
Manatees flock here in winter, swimmers in summer. Love the cabins.
Manatees by the hundreds migrate to the spring run at Blue Spring State Park to warm up in winter. In summer months, the Blue Spring is open to swimmers, divers, tubing and snorkeling.
The spring’s constant 72-degree temperature serves both seasons well, as does the spring’s crystal clear water. The quarter-mile-long spring run ambles through an idyllic setting of dense sub-tropical vegetation to the St. John’s River.
Blue Spring State Park is on the eastern edge of a vast basin of preserved lands, wildlife refuges and state parks that protect the watershed of the oddly north-flowing St. John’s River, making this park an ideal launching pad for paddlers.
Each of the park’s 51 campsites has water and electric hookups, picnic table and grill, and the campground has rest rooms with hot showers.
The park has six cabins for those without a tent or RV. Pets are welcome at the campground, but not in the cabins.
Blue Springs State Park, 2100 W French Avenue, Orange City FL 32763. Phone: 386-775-3663. (Not for reservations.) 51 campsites with water and electric, picnic table and grill. Day use fee: $6 per vehicle. Camping fee: $24 plus $7 daily fee for utilities. Cabins: $95. For reservations, Florida residents can book up to 11 months in advance (10 months for non-residents) online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 1-800-326-3521.
Related story: Where to see Manatees in Florida: 18 spots to visit
Manatee Hammock County Park
Space launches, nearby beach and haven for wildlife
Manatee Hammock County Park is a shady 27-acre RV and tent campground on the Indian River that is often full because of its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center.
You’re also adjacent to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, which has the longest unspoiled beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
The campground has plenty of shade, and while the sites are close together, they still beat the bumper-to-bumper spacing in most private campgrounds.
And yes, as the name implies, manatees are a common sight in the Indian River, especially during the cooler winter months around the park’s 200-foot fishing pier, which is also a great viewing platform for pods of dolphin that often pass by.
The shoreline park around the pier has a playground and a terrific view of rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center. A kayak launch near the pier provides access to the lagoon for paddlers.
Pets are allowed, and there’s even a leash-free zone for fido to play.
Surfing mecca Cocoa Beach is just down the road a piece, and there are some excellent restaurants at nearby Port Canaveral and historic Cocoa Village.
You are also less than an hour’s drive to Disney World, almost a straight shot on the Challenger Memorial Parkway (State Road 407) to Beachline Expressway (SR 528, Toll).
Manatee Hammock Park, 7275 U.S. 1, Titusville, FL 32780. Phone: (321) 264-5083. 163 RV sites with water, electric and sewer; 19 sites with water and electric. Restroom with hot showers. Laundry. Swimming pool. Wi-fi. Camping Fees: Brevard County residents, $30; Non-residents, $45. Water view is $2 extra; Sewer hookups, $2 extra. Reservations: Brevard County residents can book a site up to 13 months in advance; non-residents up to 6 months in advance. Book online at registration.brevardfl.gov
Related story: Manatee Hammock: Waterfront camping near Kennedy Space Center
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