Best camping in Southeast Florida parks

Last updated on February 4th, 2025 at 08:37 am

The best tent and RV camping in Southeast Florida can be found in these idyllic county, state and national parks that carve out a bit of paradise amid urban sprawl.

Hot Tip: Weekdays are your best bet for reserving a campsite in county-managed campgrounds. (Locals crowd these parks on weekends.)


Fort Pierce / Stuart / Hobe Sound

Savannas Recreation Area — RVs and tents

south florida camping savannas recreation area campground
Waterfront campsites at St. Lucie County’s Savannas Recreation Area. (Bob Rountree)

The Savannas Recreation Area is part of a 12-mile-long, 6,000-acre freshwater coastal marsh, the last of its kind in South Florida, shared with the adjacent Savannas Preserve State Park and featuring hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking in shallow marsh “lakes.” The campground offers full hookups — water, sewer and electric — for $26 a night for RVs and $18 for tent campers. Campground reservations can be made by phone or in person up to a year in advance but are not site specific. The noise factor in this campground is a steady stream of freight trains on the other side of the marsh all night long, although we got used to it after our first night camping here.

READ MORE: The Savannas: An unlikely oasis

Savannas Recreation Area, 1400 E. Midway Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34982. Camping fee: $26 for RVs, $18 for tents. Primitive backcountry tent sites are $6. For reservations, call (772) 464-7855.


Phipps Park Campground — RVs and rent-a-tents

camping in southeast florida phipps park rvsites Best camping in Southeast Florida parks
RV sites on the banks of the Okeechobee Waterway. Our travel trailer is at far left. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

This sprawling county park on the Okeechobee Waterway is just below the locks for boat traffic crossing Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. I found Phipps Park by accident while camping next door at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground at the locks. Phipps Park stands out with its well-maintained section of rent-a-tents, which go for $35-$40 per night. The park features 99 campsites for RVs, including 24 sites along the riverbank with water and electric hookups for $50-$60 per night. Interior RV sites are $45-$50. Personal tents, other than tents for rent, are no longer permitted anywhere in the park. The park lies in the shadow of Florida’s Turnpike, and hum of traffic is most noticeable in the rent-a-tent section, not so much in the RV sites where we stayed.

READ MORE: Phipps Park Campground in Stuart ideally suited for family outings

Phipps Park Campground,  2175 SW Locks Rd, Stuart, FL 34997. Phone: (772) 287-6565 Camping fee: RVs, $45-$60 (seasonal); Adventure tents, $35-$45. For campground reservations, book online or call 


St. Lucie South Lock & Campground — RVs, tents and boats

camping in southeast florida stlucielocks camping Best camping in Southeast Florida parks
St. Lucie South Lock and Campground. (Bob Rountree photo)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains three campgrounds along the Okeechobee Waterway, all of which accommodate boat campers and RVs. St. Lucie Locks is the easternmost and smallest of the three. The park has a fishing pier, dump station, restrooms with showers, a laundry, boat ramp and playground. We were able to launch our kayaks here to enjoy the waterway. Pets are OK. As you might expect from the Army, impeccable maintenance makes this the cleanest campground you may ever visit. There are eight boat slips (up to 38 feet) and 9 RV sites (up to 46 feet) with electric and water hookups for $30 per night. Three tent sites have water but no electric for $25/night. A 50% discount is available to holders of National Parks annual passes.

READ MORE: Camping with the Corps: Clean, orderly, nicely landscaped

St. Lucie Lock and Dam Campground, 2170 Canal St, Stuart, FL 34997. Camping fee: $30 for RV sites; $25 for one of three tent sites. For reservations, go to Recreation.gov


Jonathan Dickinson State Park — RVs and tents

travel trailer at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Our travel trailer on a typical RV site in the Pines Campground. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

There are two campgrounds in this massive 11,500-acre wilderness, and I favor the 45-site campground deep into the park on the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River near the boat ramp. The other campground, near the park entrance, has 90 sites with full hookups but there’s less shade, less privacy and there is little more than a low berm separating it from U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway. While the main attraction, for me anyway, is the river paddle, off-road bicycle trails are a big draw. The park also has a loop of well-appointed cabins near the river.

READ MORE: Jonathan Dickinson State Park: A Florida treasure

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, FL 33455. Phone: (772) 546-2771. Camping fee: $26 plus $7 for utilities per night for RVs. (Tents don’t pay for utilities.) Cabins are $95. For reservations, book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 800-326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.


Palm Beach County

Dupuis Management Area — RVs and tents

Family tent campground at the Dupuis Wildlife Management Area
Family tent campground. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

Camping is free at the two campgrounds in the 22,000-acre Dupuis Management Area, which is managed by the South Florida Water Management District. Tent campers and tent trailers only are allowed in the gated Family Campground, while RV’s and motorhomes are restricted to the gated Equestrian Campground, which has two sections, one for equestrians and the other for RVs. You will need a special-use permit, which is free. On a historical note, Seminole Indians used the DuPuis region as a refuge during the Seminole Indian War of 1835, but living on the land proved difficult. Hundreds of starving Indians were captured and sent to Oklahoma. The area became known as “The Hungryland.” You will note that a nearby wildlife preserve is known as Hungryland, and you’ll pass it on the Beeline Highway as you head towards Dupuis.

READ MORE: Dupuis excels for hiking, free camping, fishing in western Palm Beach County

Dupuis Management Area, 23500 Southwest Kanner Highway, Canal Point, FL Phone: (561) 924-5310. To obtain a free permit and gate combination, go to www.sfwmd.gov/community-residents/recreation/sul or call the preserve offiice on Kanner Highway.


John Prince Park — RVs and tents

john prince park south florida camping
John Prince Park Campground is on Lake Osborne in Lake Worth. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

John Prince Park is one of those jealously guarded secrets, but its 300-plus sites are hard to overlook given their location in the heart of Palm Beach County. And 50 of those sites are waterfront on Lake Osborne. Bring your boat and use the campground boat ramp. All sites have water and electric hookups, and there is a dump station available. Water sports, bicycling and walking on paved trails are popular activities throughout the 725-acre park and 338-acre Lake Osborne. A morning ride around the lake affords opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including roseate spoonbills, ducks and other water fowl.

RELATED STORY: Top Palm Beach County parks for scenic biking and more

John Prince Park, 4759 South Congress Ave., Lake Worth, Florida 33461​. Camping fees: Resident rates are $31 plus tax for waterfront, $29 plus tax for interior sites. Add $3 per day for non-residents, $5 extra per day for boat trailers. Reservations may be made by calling 561-58​2-7992. between 7 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. up to 90 days in advance.


Peanut Island Campground

Tents only, accessible by ferry

south florida camping peanut island
The campground on Peanut Island. (Map courtesy Palm Beach County)

Peanut Island offers 17 landscaped, reserved campsites with tent pad, grill and picnic table. (Sites 1 & 2, 8 & 9, and 15 & 16 have double pads.) The facility also features restrooms with hot indoor showers, a picnic pavilion and a large fire ring. Swimming and snorkeling are popular with both campers and day visitors. While camping here can be quite an experience, be aware that the 79-acre island is surrounded by busy boat channels at Lake Worth Inlet, including commercial ship traffic. The island is accessible only by boat and is served by the Peanut Island Shuttle, based at the Riviera Beach Marina, and Palm Beach Water Taxi, which is based at Sailfish Marina on Singer Island.

READ MORE: Peanut Island: Exceptional park for snorkeling, camping, kayaking

Peanut Island Campground, Intracoastal waterway, near the Lake Worth Inlet, Riviera Beach, FL. Camping fee is $28 per night plus tax for a maximum three-night stay. Reserve your tent site online at www.bookyoursite.com/campgrounds/peanutislandfl​ or by calling 561-845-4445​


South Bay RV Campground

RVs and tents

south florida camping south bay
Palm Beach County’s spacious South Bay Campground is on the south end of Lake Okeechobee. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

Palm Beach County’s South Bay RV Campground is the farthest west in this roundup, located on the south levee of Lake Okeechobee on U.S. 27 west of Belle Glade. Spacious and clean at the foot of the levee with full hookups and a boat ramp on the levee, this campground is an ideal overnight playground for bass anglers, kayakers and canoes. Atop the levee, hikers and bicyclists have access to the 110-mile-long Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. The campground has 72 paved RV sites, each with grill, picnic table, and full hook-ups to water, electric (30/50 amp) and sewer. It’s worth your time and effort.

RELATED STORY: Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail: Ideal for bicycling fast and far

South Bay RV Campground, 100 Levee Rd.,South Bay, Florida 33493. Phone:  561-992-9045. Camping Fee: Call for current rates. Reservations must be made by phone or e-mail. Call the campground office ​at 561-992-9045 or email SBCamp@pbcgov.org​ for your reservation. 


Fort Lauderdale / Broward County

C.B. Smith Park

RVs only

south florida camping c.b. smith park
C.B. Smith Park in southwest Broward County. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

I really love this sprawling 300-acre Broward County park with two large lakes and a spacious, well-maintained campground. The water park has two 50-foot water slides (open spring to fall), and facilities include a golf driving range, miniature golf, batting cages, volleyball, basketball, racquetball, tennis, pickleball, picnic areas and shelters, horseshoes and playground. Note that tents are not permitted at this park; only recreational vehicles with full hookups connected to the park’s sewage system are allowed.

RELATED STORY: Camping near Fort Lauderdale

C.B. Smith Park, 900 North Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines, FL. 33028. Open to RVs with full hookups only that must be connected to the park’s sewage system. Camping fee: $50/night. Note strict cancellation policy. For reservations, call the park office at 954-357-5170 between the hours of 9 am and 5:30 pm, Sunday through Saturday.


Easterlin Park

RVs and tents

south florida camping easterlin park
Easterlin Park is in Central Broward County with easy access to Fort Lauderdale’s beaches. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

This charming little park is in the heart of Broward County and the closest campground, public or private, to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale (about 7 miles). I’ve never camped here, but it’s near my house and I do use their dump station ($20) when returning from trips. Besides the campground, the 50-acre park includes basketball courts, volleyball, disc golf, horseshoes, shaded picnic areas and hiking on trails with 250-year-old cypress trees. The only drawback is its proximity to busy railroad tracks, which run along the park’s perimeter.

RELATED STORY: Camping near Fort Lauderdale

Easterlin Park, 1000 NW 38th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33309. Phone: 954-357-5190 Camping fee: $50/night. Note strict cancellation policy. For reservations, call the park office at 954-357-5190 between the hours of 9 am and 5:30 pm, Sunday through Saturday.


Markham Park

RVs and tents

south florida camping markham park
Markham Park is on the edge of an Everglades conservation area. See the levy in the background. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

Sitting below a levy that holds back the Everglades, Markham Park is the largest regional park in Broward County encompassing 670 acres, and it features a huge campground, an observatory, a model airplane field, mountain bike trails (and bike rentals), dog park, and a first-class outdoor shooting range. If gunfire throughout the day bothers you, you might not want to camp here. On the southern rim of an Everglades water conservation area, the park also features a boat ramp and great fishing. The campground accepts both recreational vehicles and tents.

RELATED STORY: Camping near Fort Lauderdale

Markham Park, 16001 West State Road 84, Sunrise, FL 33326. Phone: 954-357-8868. Camping Fee: $50/night. Strict cancellation policy. For reservations, call the park office at 954-357-8868 between the hours of 9 am and 5:30 pm, 7 days, or email: MarkhamPark@Broward.org.


Quiet Waters Park

Rent-a-Tent and Cabins

south florida camping quiet waters park
Quiet Waters Park is a rent-a-tent campground. No RVs. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

You’ll have to love’ll this beautiful little campground with its platform tents and tee-pees, set up and ready to go for your family adventure. Each of the 29 campsites include a grill, fire ring, water, electricity, and picnic table. I live nearby and ride my bike here often. Although I’ve never camped here, I love the setup, isolated from the park’s day-use areas yet close enough to enjoy other activities. There are four lakes in this 430-acre park near the Broward-Palm Beach county line. The park has both paved and professionally maintained off-road bike trails, a dog park, a water park with lifeguards , and one of the lakes features a popular cable wakeboard and water-ski system.

RELATED STORY: Camping near Fort Lauderdale

Quiet Waters Park, 401 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. Phone: 954-357-5100. Camping fee: $40 plus $100 refundable security deposit. For reservations, book your fixed tent online at webtrac.broward.org.


T.Y. Park

RVs and tents

south florida camping
T.Y. Park is in southeast Broward County, close to Hollywood Beach. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

T.Y. Park is smothered in shady Live oak trees that sheltering multiple picnic areas and trails around a lake. The park’s 150 acres include two water playgrounds and a swimming lagoon, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, fishing and a playground. I was impressed with the paved multi-purpose trails for bicyclists and joggers. Not my favorite campground, but it was clean. A few waterfront sites stood out above the rest. Otherwise, the sites lacked privacy and felt a bit clustered. On the positive side, the park is only four miles straight down Sheridan Street to Hollywood’s North Beach Park, where you can access the city’s beachfront Broadwalk for walking and cycling.

RELATED STORY: Camping near Fort Lauderdale

Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, 3300 North Park Road, Hollywood, FL 33021. : Camping Fee: $50/night. Strict cancellation policy. For reservations, call the park office at 954-357-8811 between the hours of 9 am and 5:30 pm, 7 days, or email: TYPark@Broward.org.


Miami

Biscayne National Park

Tents and boat camping; Accessible by boat

south florida camping boca chita biscayne national park
The island of Boca Chita is one of two campgrounds in Biscayne National Park.

Two islands in Biscayne National Park welcome campers on primitive sites with limited amenities, and both islands are accessible for camping only by private boat. There are no ferries. Boca Chita Key is the park’s most popular island, featuring waterfront views, a grassy camping area, picnic tables and grills. Toilets are available, but there are no showers, sinks or drinking water. A cleated bulkhead is the only place for docking. Elliott Key is the park’s largest island. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers, picnic tables and grills are available. Drinking water is available, but bring your own in case the system goes down. There are 33 boat slips in the marina.

READ MORE: Biscayne National Park: 7 reasons to explore a Miami treasure

Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead , FL 33033 Phone: 305 230-1144 Camping fee: Nightly fee is $35 for a tent site and dockage; $25 for tent only. Maximum of six people and two tents per site. Reservations: No advance bookings. First come, first served and fees must be paid upon arrival using your mobile app. Download the app free Recreation.gov mobile app. (Note: The app can be used for booking other national parks, as well.)


Oleta River State Park

Cabins only

You’d never guess you were in the middle of a big city when you take up residence in one of these 14 camping cabins in Oleta River State Park. Each cabin has a covered porch and picnic table. Most cabins are equipped with one double bed, a bunk bed and air conditioning. Linens are not provided and these cabins do not have kitchens or bathrooms within the units. You’ll have to use a centralized restroom. The park has a beach facing Haulover Inlet, kayak and canoe trails, and mountain biking trails and bike rentals.

READ MORE: Oleta River State Park feels like island getaway in Miami urban sprawl

Oleta River State Park, 3400 N.E. 163rd St., North Miami Beach FL 33160. Phone: 305-919-1846 . Camping Fee: Rates are $55/night plus a $7/night utilities fee. Reserve a cabin online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 800-326-3521.


Flamingo in Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park

Houseboats, Glamping, RVs and tents

Sunset viewed from the porch of an eco-tent at Flamingo in Everglades National Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Sunset viewed from the porch of an eco-tent at the Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Flamingo Campground at Everglades National Park
Flamingo Campground

There are two main campgrounds in Everglades National Park, Long Pine Key and Flamingo, as well as an off-beat “glamping” experience and overnight houseboat rentals in Flamingo. Long Pine Key Campground is closest to the Homestead park entrance and is open only from November 1 until April 30. Sites are first come, first served at $33 per night. Reservations are suggested at the Flamingo Campground, which is deeper into the park on Florida Bay. The Flamingo Campground features dozens of pull-through RV sites, but only a limited number have electric hookups. None of the sites have water, but you can fill your tanks before docking. Both campgrounds have bath houses, dump stations, picnic tables and grills.

East Cape Sable: As shadows grew long, we finished setting camp on a sandy beach after our 11-mile canoe paddle from Flamingo. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
East Cape Sable: As shadows grew long, we set up camp on a sandy beach after our 11-mile canoe paddle from Flamingo. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The Eco-Tent Campground was introduced in 2019 and features 18 furnished tents on raised platforms, starting at $90 per night in winter, and the houseboat rentals out of the Flamingo Marina feature two bedrooms, galley and a living area, starting at $300 per night.

READ MORE: Eco-tents in Flamingo: Glamping in Everglades National Park

Tent campers can walk into an open field near the Eco-Tent Campground, 38 sites with no amenities other than a restroom with showers, or hike (or paddle) out to primitive sites on the beaches of Cape Sable, 10 miles or so from Flamingo.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: A houseboat adventure in Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead , FL 33034 Phone: 305 242-7700. Camping fees: Flamingo Campground, $50 for electric hookups; $33, no hookups; Long Pine Key Campground, $33 non-electric; Primitive sites (including Cape Sable), $21 administration fee for plus an additional $2 per person, per night use fee (Cape Sable). For campground and houseboat reservations, book online at Flamingo Adventures or call 855-708-2207. For primitive wilderness camping permits, go to recreation.gov.


RELATED STORY: Camping in the Everglades and Big Cypress



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One Comment

  1. Jim Musante

    Hello Bob & Kathy! Absolutely love your newsletter & look forward to every issue. I have used it countless times for planning bicycle trips in the state. A sincere thank-you for all ur information. Jim M

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