Last updated on March 21st, 2025 at 10:44 am
We visited multiple campgrounds within an hour’s drive to Disney World and Universal Studios. We think you’ll be thrilled by our choices.
Our priorities were affordability and a natural environment where we could enjoy kayaking, hiking, bicycling and swimming on days we take a break from theme parks.
At the same time, we wanted to be within reasonable distance of Disney World and Universal Studios.
Moss Park
This Orange County park is a gem
RV and Tent
This sprawling park between two large lakes is just 25 miles from the main gate at Disney World, a straight shot on an expressway that crosses the Orlando suburbs, and it offers spacious campsites for both tents and RVs with ample privacy.
At 1,500 acres, Moss Park is huge with access to the adjacent 2,000-acre Split Oak Nature Preserve and its bountiful wildlife and meandering trails. The preserve is home to a vast community of wildlife, which often stray into the campground.
I saw dozens of deer grazing in the campground at dusk, and endangered sandhill cranes roamed at will throughout the day and evening.
In addition to hiking in the preserve, the park features two playgrounds, a freshwater swimming beach, boat ramps and kayak launch areas into both lakes, which are notable for their fishing.
Moss Park’s 54 shaded campsites each have a fire ring, grill, picnic table, and hookups for water and electric.
Moss Park is 24 miles to Disney World; 27 miles to Universal Studios, via the Central Florida GreeneWay (State Road 417, Toll).
Moss Park, 12901 Moss Park Rd., Orlando. Phone: (407) 254-6840. 54 campsites, rest rooms with showers; grill, table, fire ring, hookups for water and electric, 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
RV, Tent and Cabins
One of Florida’s newer state parks, 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.
Pets are allowed in the campground area, but not in the cabins.
Lake Louisa is 19 miles to Disney World and 32 miles to Universal Studios.
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
Campsite #10 at Kelly Park in northern Orange County (Photo by Bob Rountree)
RV and Tent
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 feeder paths to a clean and well-maintained bathhouse in the middle.
The big attraction at Kelly Park springs. At the headspring, the crystal clear water spills into a series of elongated pools, fabulously cool for swimming and wading as it flows into Rock Springs Run.
Canoe and kayak rentals are available at nearby Kings Landing for paddling Rock Springs Run through miles of a gorgeous sub-tropical wilderness, or bring you own kayak and launch at Camp Joy, which is now part of 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 is 42 miles to Disney World via State Road 429 and Florida’s Turnpike (Toll); 32 miles to Universal Studios.
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
Blue Spring State Park
Manatees in winter, swim in summer
RV, Tent and Cabins
Northeast of Orlando near Interstate 4 is popular Blue Spring State Park, about an hour from Disney and home to one of the most beautiful spring runs in Florida.
The park is on the eastern edge of a vast basin of preserved lands, wildlife refuges and state parks that protect the watershed of the north-flowing St. John’s River, making this park an ideal launching pad for paddling your kayak into the wild or just chilling out at the spring.
A tempting and popular magnet for bathers in summer, the quarter-mile-long spring run ambles through an idyllic setting of dense sub-tropical vegetation to the St. John’s River. Plenty of room to play in the water. Near the junction with the river is the kayak and canoe concession, where you can paddle to pristine islands.
In winter, the springs are a magnet for sheltering manatees, drawing crowds on weekends but off-limits to swimmers.
The park has 51 campsites and six cabins (two bedrooms). Each site is equipped with a picnic table, water, electricity and a grill. There’s a dump station on site, but not sewer hookups. Two new bathhouses have accessible showers and stalls.
Pets are OK in campground but not cabins; No weapons.
One factor making Blue Spring an attractive campground is location: New Smyrna Beach is 30 miles; Universal Studios, 41 miles; Disney World is 50 miles.
Blue Spring State Park, 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City. Phone: 386-775-3663. Camping fee: $24/night, plus a daily $7 daily utility fee for RVs (not tents). Cabins are $95 plus the $7 daily utility fee. There is a boat launch outside park. For campground reservations, you can book your campsite online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 800-326-3521, 8 am-8 pm, M-F. Cabins require a minimum two-night stay.
Related article: Chill out at Blue Springs State Park
Manatee Hammock County Park
Near Kennedy Space Center
RV and Tent
This 27-acre RV and tent campground operated by Brevard County has a new reservation policy that gives local residents a major advantage — residents can book a site up to 13 months in advance while non-residents are restricted to 6 months in advance.
It’s worth the challenge, though, because it’s very close to the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the popular beaches of Cocoa Beach — with an easy path to Disney World and Universal Studios.
I’ve camped at this park a few times and love the location and the price, just $30/night for residents, $45/night for non-residents. Depending on the site, you may also pay extra for a sewer hookup and/or a water view.
There’s plenty of shade, and while the sites are close together, they still beat the bumper-to-bumper spacing in many private campgrounds.
The shoreline park offers a 197-foot fishing pier into the Indian River Lagoon, a playground and a great view of rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center. A kayak launch also 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.
58 miles to the Magic Kingdom; 51 miles to Universal Studios; 9 miles to Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral National Seshore and 18 miles to the Cocoa Beach pier area.
Manatee Hammock County Park, 7275 South US 1, Titusville, FL 32780. Phone: (321) 264-5083. 166 campsites with electric, water and sewer, and 20 sites with water and electric only. Rest rooms with hot showers and laundry. Swimming pool. Wi-Fi. Camping fee: $30 for Brevard County residents, $45 for non-residents, plus $2 sewage disposal fee. Reservations accepted online at Brevard County WebTrac up to 13 months in advance for Brevard County residents and 6 months in advance for non-residents.
Read more about Cocoa Beach: 5 things to discover in Cocoa Beach
Another of our top picks, Wekiwa Springs State Park, is closed throughout 2025 for campground improvements.