The Best Camping near Miami, Florida

With proximity to two of the state’s national parks, camping near Miami puts you at the center of South Florida’s outdoor scene. The local campgrounds give you a fairly balanced mix of both tent and RV campsites.

Miami boasts year-round subtropical weather, so expect a hot time here. Winter is the best time for those looking for less heat, however, expect a lot of crowds and competition for campsites then. While you’re in Florida, make sure to swim in some of the many natural springs, one of which, is a warm mineral spring, located about 3 hours away.

Miami’s Top Tent and RV Campgrounds

Known as The Magic City, Miami is a vibrant, diverse city with a slew of things to see and do. It got its name because the wintertime snowbirds who flocked there noticed how much it grew from year-to-year, so much so, that it seemed like magic. To make the most of this city on a budget, consider camping nearby to save a few bucks versus a hotel.

Here are the best and closest campgrounds to Jacksonville, FL, in order of proximity:

Hollywood KOA (19 miles)

If you want to be closest to Miami and to the local beaches, this KOA puts you there. This is a simpler, city campground, though all the basic amenities you expect from the camping chain are provided here. While pet-friendly, a fee applies, and pets aren’t allowed in tent sites.

Campers have noted that maneuvering through this campground can be a bit tricky. If you have a smaller setup, you shouldn’t have issues, but larger rigs may want to stay elsewhere.

• Closest Town: Hollywood, FL (3 mi)
• Specs: 41 RV sites, six cottages, three tent sites max length 65 feet, full hookups
• Amenities: Full hookups, pet-friendly, fire rings, grills, WiFi, restrooms, showers, laundry, sun deck, firewood for sale
• Reservations: Yes, visit koa.com/campgrounds/hollywood/reserve
• Address: 5931 Polk St, Hollywood, FL 33021 (Map)

Larry & Penny Thompson Memorial Park & Campground (27 miles)

If you’re looking to be close to the attractions, Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park is within easy driving distance to a lot of sights. While not immediately next to the city, this is a popular fishing spot and is conveniently located near Zoo Miami.

Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park has its own beach, which is open seasonally. Note that at the time of writing this, tent camping is temporarily closed while the park undergoes renovation and improvements.

• Closest Town: South Miami Heights, FL (1 mi)
• Specs: 240 RV sites, full hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Bathhouses, laundry, restrooms, showers, picnic shelters available for rent, Wi-Fi, adjacent beach
• Reservations: Yes, call (305) 232-1049
• Address: 12451 SW 184th St, Miami, FL 33177 (Map)

Yacht Haven Park & Marina (28 miles)

Yacht Haven Park and Marina is a favorite for luxury-seeking travelers camping in Southeast Florida. This resort, run by a group of travel enthusiasts, offers one of the most comfortable, amenity-rich experiences around.

The sites here offer beautiful waterfront views to compliment the exclusive resort-level experience. Whether you want to hit the beaches, boutique restaurants, or golf courses, many of the local points of interest are just minutes away.

• Closest Town: Oakland Park, FL (4 mi)
• Specs: 83 garden view RV sites, 39 garden view premium RV sites, 82 waterfront RV sites, 36 waterfront premium RV sites, 16 grand waterfront sites, full hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Complimentary Wi-Fi, on-site security, pool, sundeck, tiki bar, paddleboards, kayaks, boat rentals, fitness center, potable water, outdoor games, concierge service, car service, laundry, restrooms, showers, pet friendly, outdoor grills
• Reservations: Yes, visit yachthavenpark.com/… or call (800) 581-2322
• Address: 2323 W State Rd 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (Map)

Paradise Island RV Resort (32 miles)

This aptly-named resort offers everything needed to relax in paradise. From the heated pool to the full-stocked clubhouse, all your bases are covered when you’re at Paradise Island. Whether you want to fully disconnect or stay on top of work while you’re here, the choice is yours. You’ll never miss a thing with a full suite of amenities for those who need to stay connected.

Since you’re in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, you’ll be near all the area’s biggest draws. When you want to venture out, everything you could want is within a short 10-minute drive. If you’re not sure where to start, the resort staff can point you in the right direction.

• Closest Town: Broadview Park, FL (3 mi)
• Specs: 248 RV sites, full hookups, RV max length of 55 feet, open year-round with seasonally-dependent pricing
• Amenities: Showers, restrooms, potable water, laundry, recycling, dumpsters, heated pool, clubhouses, billiard room, game room, lending library, BBQ area, complimentary Wi-Fi, outdoor games, fitness center
• Reservations: Yes, visit online.rezexpert.com/… or call (800) 487-7395
• Address: 2121 NW 29th Ct, Oakland Park, FL 33311 (Map)

Davie / Fort Lauderdale KOA Holiday (35 miles)

This KOA has undergone some extensive renovations and is prepared to welcome travelers who want to stay in the Fort Lauderdale area while visiting Miami. The Davie/Fort Lauderdale KOA offers the full range of stay types you can expect in a KOA, from simple tent camping to spacious cabins. Located just 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s white sandy beaches, you’ll never be too far from the water.

• Closest Town: Davie, FL (7 mi)
• Specs: 16 pull-through RV sites, 84 back-in RV sites, 12 tent sites, 11 efficiency motels, full hookups, max RV length of 50 feet, open year-round
• Amenities: Grill, outside lighting, large patio areas, pool, firewood for sale, Wi-Fi, coin-operated laundry, potable water, hiking trails on site, community fire pit
• Reservations: Yes, visit koa.com/campgrounds/davie/reserve or call (800) 562-2813
• Address: 3800 SW 142nd Ave, Davie, FL 33330 (Map)

Markham Park Campground (35 miles)

Markham Park is one of several municipal parks run by the county of Broward. It’s one of the more diverse and amenity-rich offerings with a large camping area as well as an observatory, model airplane field, and shooting range. If you just want to spend quiet time in the outdoors, Markham Park offers nearby biking and hiking trails for you to enjoy.

• Closest Town: Weston, FL (6 mi)
• Specs: Open for tent and RV camping, open year-round with seasonally-dependent pricing, full hookups, dump station
• Amenities: Grills, picnic tables, restrooms, hot showers, Wi-Fi, after-hours security, campground hosts
• Reservations: Some campsites are available for reservations, though not all. Call (954) 357-8100
• Address: Markham Park Campground, Sunrise, FL 33323 (Map)

Boca Chita Key Campground (40 miles)

Boca Chita is one of the two available campgrounds in Biscayne National Park. Since both of the park’s campgrounds are located on islands, you’ll need to access the park via boat. Boca Chita is the more rustic of the two, so you’ll want to double-check your packing list and make sure you’re fully self-sufficient while you’re there.

Boca Chita is also the more popular of the two campgrounds, but unlike many national park sites, you can’t reserve sites in advance. Make sure to download the Recreation.gov app before you leave, as you’ll need to scan a QR code on the island’s kiosk to claim a site (and pay for it) once you get there. If you plan to dock a boat overnight, there’s an extra marina use fee.

• Closest Town: Princeton, FL (9 mi)
• Specs: Tent-only sites available (assigned at check-in), overnight boat docking available for a fee
• Amenities: Toilets, no potable water
• Reservations: No. First come, first served
• Address: Biscayne National Park (Map)

Elliot Key Campground (40 miles)

Elliot Key is the other campground in Biscayne National Park. While it offers more amenities than Boca Chita, it has a lower annual visitation. The check-in process is just like Boca Chita’s, and you should plan for the same experience. While the check-in process is pretty straightforward, it’s a good idea to screenshot the steps before arrival, just in case.

While it does offer potable water, the system sometimes goes down, so you’ll want to bring backup provisions just in case. Just like Boca Chita, you’ll add a small fee if you want to dock overnight.

• Closest Town: Princeton, FL (9 mi)
• Specs: Tent-only sites available (assigned at check-in), overnight boat docking available for a fee, 33 boat slips in the marina
• Amenities: Restrooms with sinks and cold showers, potable water, picnic tables, grills
• Reservations: No. First come, first served
• Address: Biscayne National Park (Map)

Sawgrass Recreation Park (43 miles)

If you want to fish or take an airboat tour while in Florida, this is the perfect place to stay. Sawgrass Recreation Park’s main attraction is guided water tours, but they also offer a few primitive campgrounds. You can add a private fishing tour if you request it specifically while making your reservation. While campsites here are basic, Sawgrass has a stocked store where you can buy food and drinks.

• Closest Town: Weston, FL (9 mi)
• Specs: 2 primitive tent sites, group primitive camping by special request, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, firepits, picnic table, on-site store, private guided fishing tours for campers if requested
• Reservations: Yes, visit fareharbor.com/… or call (888) 424-7262
• Address: 1006 US-27, Weston, FL 33327 (Map)

Long Pine Key Campground (49 miles)

If you want to visit Everglades National Park while you’re here, this is a prime choice. Located fairly close to the entrance, Long Pine Key is a large campground run by Flamingo Adventures. While it’s an NPS site, you’ll book with their partner instead of through Recreation.gov or the app. While you can reserve most spots, there is a handful of first come, first served spots down the main park road that you can check out.

• Closest Town: Florida City, FL (15 mi)
• Specs: 51 tent-only sites, 25 20-30 foot RV sites, 23 29-33 foot RV sites, 17 34-37 foot RV sites, 47 38-45 foot RV sites, two ADA accessible sites, one group site, dump station, open seasonally from November 1st to April 30th, max RV length of 35 feet, no trailers allowed, no hookups,
• Amenities: Amphitheater, potable water, grills, hot showers, fishing pond, bath houses, utility sinks, pet-friendly, campground kiosk, emergency phone, hiking trails on site
• Reservations: Yes, visit flamingoeverglades.com/camping or call Everglades Guest Services at 855-708-2207
• Address: Long Pine Key Campground, Homestead, FL 33034 (Map)

While some of the best camping near Miami requires you to hop on a boat or kayak, the places you’ll get to explore are entirely worth it. If you don’t want to head out onto the waters, you’ll have plenty of tent and RV camping options that keep you on the mainland.