The Best Camping near Tampa, Florida

With year-round warm weather, camping is fair game during all seasons. Even during the winter months, temperatures are mild enough for camping near Tampa to be incredibly comfortable. The neighboring cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater also make terrific bases.

Whether you opt for a tent or RV, you’ll have no shortage of destinations to set up camp with varying degrees of comfort and ruggedness. Wherever you stay, make sure to visit any of the natural springs near Tampa.

Tampa’s Top Tent and RV Campgrounds

One of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the state and country, Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater are incredible towns that attract visitors from all over the world. There are beautiful campsites close to the coastline, and others nearer the bustle of the city.

The most popular time for camping here is typically October to May before it gets too hot and muggy out for comfort. Summer camping is best suited for an air-conditioned RV hooked up to the grid, however, there are still some well-shaded spots for tent campers.

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

Lazydays RV Resort of Tampa (12 miles)

Lazydays is the perfect choice for both new RVers and those looking for a full suite of amenities. With an RV center on-site, you’ll have access to any repairs and expert advice you could want if you’re just trying out trailer life for the first time.

With your reservation price including a number of amenities that are an extra charge at many resorts, Lazydays simplifies your resort experience while offering everything you could want. Couple that with this being the closest destination for RV camping near Tampa, and you’ve got the perfect home base.

• Closest Town: Mango, FL (3 mi)
• Specs: 300 RV sites, full hookups, max length of 45 feet, open year-round
• Amenities: Screened and heated pool and hot tub, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary cable TV, propane for sale, golf cart rentals, RV detailing, air-conditioned RallyCenter, RV service center, dog run, dog wash station, playground, park, outdoor sports, laundry, restaurant, and truck stop on-site
• Reservations: Yes, visit bookingsus.newbook.cloud/lazydays/index.php
• Address: 6210 County Rd 579, Seffner, FL 33584 (Map)

Lithia Springs Conservation Park (20 miles)

The county runs several “conservation parks,” of which Lithia Springs is a popular choice. While it has a different title, expect a visit to Lithia Springs to be like a standard county or municipal park. However, this one comes with year-round 72° F springs water to swim and play in.

Amenities here cover all the basics but are fairly simplistic. If that appeals to you, make sure you show up early as spots (and communal amenities) can fill up quickly on weekends and holidays.

• Closest Town: Bloomingdale, FL (6 mi)
• Specs: 43 campsites with 30 amp electric, 15 sites offer 50 amp, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, picnic shelter, playground, volleyball pit, picnic tables, showers
• Reservations: No. First come, first served
• Address: 3932 Lithia Springs Rd, Lithia, FL 33547 (Map)

Edward Medard Conservation Park (21 miles)

Edward Medard offers a couple of things that Lithia Springs doesn’t, mainly canoeing and kayaking rentals, as well as boat ramp passes. Edward Medard has you covered if you want to get out on the water during the day and be near your campsite when the sunlight runs short.

Even if you aren’t adventuring onto the water, local hiking trails are nearby, and children can enjoy the park’s playground. Veterans (with documentation) can receive free or discounted passes at certain conservation parks like this one and E.G. Simmons.

• Closest Town: Bloomingdale, FL (8 mi)
• Specs: 42 campsites for tents and RV with 30 amp electric, 14 sites offer 50 amp, open year-round, dump station
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, potable water
• Reservations: No. First come, first served
• Address: 6140 Turkey Creek Rd, Plant City, FL 33567 (Map)

E.G. Simmons Conservation Park (22 miles)

E.G. Simmons offers very similar amenities to Edward Menard, so if you can’t get a campsite there, an experience here will be pretty comparable. You do have the luxury of more than double the campsite options at E.G. Simmons, though you’ll be a bit further from the local hiking trails.

If you’re here for the watersports, E.G. Simmons has kayak rentals on site along with boat ramp passes. For those who aren’t looking to head out on the water, you’ll still have 700 feet of beach to explore and a pier to fish from.

• Closest Town: Sun City, FL (8 mi)
• Specs: 108 tent and RV sites, two primitive sites, open year-round, all sites offer 30 amp electric and 62 sites offer 50 amp, two dump stations
• Amenities: Potable water, picnic tables, fire pits, restrooms, hot showers, grills, boat ramp, two playgrounds, swimming area
• Reservations: No. First come, first served
• Address: 2401 19th Ave NW, Ruskin, FL 33570 (Map)

St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday (26 miles)

You’ll be just minutes from the beach at this improved KOA. Construction projects have brought about several modern updates for this tranquil camping location. As you may expect, you’ll have the full suite of KOA amenities here, so you can ditch the tent or RV for a luxurious cabin if you so choose. If you’re in your RV, book one of the waterfront sites for the best views.

• Closest Town: Seminole, FL (3 mi)
• Specs: 57 full hookup waterfront RV sites, 78 full hookup RV sites, six tent sites, 14 one-room camping cabins, 13 two-room camping cabins, two deluxe loft cabins, seven eight-person deluxe cabins, four electric and water RV sites, seven four-person deluxe cabins, nine six person deluxe cabins, open year-round, dump station
• Amenities: Laundry, propane, fishing dock, hot tub, swimming pool, bike rentals, outdoor sports, mini golf, playground, restrooms, showers, free Wi-Fi, KampK9, cable TV, snack bar
• Reservations: Yes, visit koa.com/…
• Address: 5400 95th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708 (Map)

Hillsborough River State Park (28 miles)

If you want to have access to downtown Tampa while remaining secluded in nature, Hillsborough River State Park combines the best of both worlds. This Florida state park offers ample hiking and biking trails along with plenty of nature viewing opportunities. Much of the construction here was done in the 1930s, so the buildings have the classic charm of Old Florida.

Unique to Hillsborough are the views of Class II river rapids. This rapids class isn’t seen in many sections of Florida, so make sure to get some video of it on your trip. If you want to get out onto the water yourself, you can kayak along the Hillsborough River.

• Closest Town: Zephyrhills, FL (7 mi)
• Specs: 101 tent/RV spots, seven ADA accessible RV/trailer only spots, four RV/trailer only spots, RV maximum length of 50 feet, four group campsites, six glamping tents, one hammock allowed at sites 41, 61, and 110, two hammocks allowed in sites 68 and 70, no hammocks allowed in other sites, dump station, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, pet-friendly (except group sites), picnic tables, and glamping sites offer beds, heaters, mini-fridges, AC, electrical outlets, and coffee makers
• Reservations: Yes, visit reserve.floridastateparks.org/… for camping, visit resnexus.com/… for glamping, and call (818) 987-6771 for group site reservations
• Address: 15402 US-301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592 (Map)

Caladesi RV Park (28 miles)

Caladesi RV Park bills itself as a family-friendly park that caters to year-round visitors. Whether you’re escaping the snow or enjoying the summer sunshine, this local campground is sure to charm.

If you want to experience just a taste of travel trailer life without committing, Caladesi is parted with RV Share and even has delivery available. When you want to venture out, you’ll be just minutes from Palm Harbor’s beaches, local restaurants, and the plethora of outdoor adventures.

• Closest Town: Palm Harbor, FL (1 mi)
• Specs: 91 RV sites, full hookups, open year-round
• Amenities: Dog-friendly, picnic tables, heated pool, Wi-Fi, clubhouse, air-conditioned bathhouses, showers, laundry
• Reservations: Yes, visit campspot.com/…
• Address: 205 Dempsey Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 (Map)

Clearwater/Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday (29 miles)

This KOA site’s biggest draw is its location. While it has the full suite of amenities that KOAs are known for, its best feature is being situated between Tarpon Springs and the city of Clearwater. Whether you’d like to explore some of the local towns or just spend a day in the sand, you’ll be a short drive from all sorts of adventures. Golfers will love that there are four championship courses nearby for you to prove yourself.

• Closest Town: Tarpon Springs, FL (4 mi)
• Specs: 84 back-in RV sites, 20 pull-through RV sites, two cabins, full hookups, dump station, max RV length of 65 feet, open year-round
• Amenities: Playground, restrooms, heated pool, putting green, KampK9, firewood for purchase, Wi-Fi, propane for purchase, pavilion, pet wash station, multi-purpose room, on-site store, group fire pit, playground
• Reservations: Yes, visit koa.com/… or call (727) 937-8412
• Address: 37061 US Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 (Map)

Alafia River State Park (31 miles)

This is the perfect campground near Tampa for mountain bikers and serious outdoor enthusiasts. With plenty of challenging mountain bike trails around, it’s easy to work up a sweat here any time of year. If you prefer to stay on your own two feet, there are miles of forest trails and lakes to enjoy. Glamping is run by an outside company, so you won’t make your reservations directly with the park.

• Closest Town: Wimauma, FL (17 mi)
• Specs: 30 campsites for tent and RV with water and electrical hookups, 12 equestrian sites, primitive group campsite, three glamping tents, open year-round
• Amenities: 12 stables, six paddocks, extra trailer parking, restrooms, solar-heated showers, two large pavilions, glamping tents offer beds, tables, toys and games, fire rings, Adirondack chairs, and a cooking station
• Reservations: Yes, visit reserve.floridastateparks.org/… or call (800) 326-3521 for camping, visit comfycampingexperience.com/… for glamping, and call (813) 672-5320 for primitive group site
• Address: 14326 S County Rd 39, Lithia, FL 33547 (Map)

Canoe Outpost – Little Manatee River (31 miles)

You don’t have to be an avid canoer to stay here, but it helps. Whether you plan to spend time on the Little Manatee River or just enjoy the shade, this local campground is a favorite among travelers.

Maybe treat yourself to a stay in one of their cabins and wake up rested and refreshed the next day. There’s also ample space for tents and RVs, though smaller RVs will have more spaces to choose from than full-sized ones.

• Closest Town: Wimauma, FL (5 mi)
• Specs: 22 tent and RV sites, one tent-only site, 2 RV rentals, one school bus rental, one single bedroom cabin rental, one two-bedroom cabin rental, one studio cabin rental, one group camping area, one primitive group camping area, two primitive tent sites, 20/30 amp electric, open year-round
• Amenities: Pavilion, showers, restrooms, laundry
• Reservations: Yes, call (813) 634-2228 or email Brian@TheCanoeOutpost.com
• Address: 18001 US-301, Wimauma, FL 33598 (Map)

Fort Desoto Park (35 miles)

Fort Desoto offers ample campsite options and is perfect if you’re traveling with a group or family. With well over 200 spots to choose from, you’ll have plenty of options to accommodate tents and RVs. If you’re traveling with pets, note that only Area Two (campsites 86-164) is pet friendly. While you won’t have the strongest Wi-Fi signal, the camp store and office offer enough to check your emails and messages while on the go.

• Closest Town: Tierra Verde, FL (6 mi)
• Specs: 85 sites for tents, vans, pop-up campers, and trailers under 16 feet, 151 sites for all camping units, 79 pet-friendly sites, full hookups, dump station, open year-round
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, laundry, Wi-Fi in the camp store and office, picnic tables, grills, playground
• Reservations: Yes, visit secure.rec1.com/…
• Address: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (Map)

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park (36 miles)

This 8,300-acre park offers all the wilderness adventures you could want on a Florida trip. With plenty of open space to hike or trail run, Jay B. Starkey is easy to explore. If you want to stay closer to camp (or you’ve got young children), you can spend time at the playground or in their outdoor games spaces. The trails are great for all skill levels here, as all seven miles of trails are paved and usable for hiking, jogging, or biking.

You won’t have as many campsite options here as many of the local parks with less than 30 to choose from. Luckily, you can reserve campsites in advance so you can easily plan your stay.

• Closest Town: Port Richey, FL (6 mi)
• Specs: Eight cabins, two group tent sites, three primitive sites, 12 tent camping sites, open year-round
• Amenities: Playground, outdoor sports, restrooms, showers, group fire pit, grill, fire rings, picnic table, potable water
• Reservations: Yes, visit secure.rec1.com/…
• Address: 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey, FL 34655 (Map)

Fisherman’s Cove RV Resort (41 miles)

Fisherman’s Cove is a bit of a drive, but the luxury is worth it. This resort epitomizes the carefree feel of Old Florida and has a full suite of activities perfect for a family to enjoy. Facilities here are modern and well-staffed, so you won’t have to worry about a thing during your visit. With one of the most comprehensive amenities lists of any resort around, you won’t want to leave!

• Closest Town: Palmetto, FL (4 mi)
• Specs: 92 RV sites, 11 villas, full hookups, open year-round with separate summer and winter rates.
• Amenities: Clubhouse, pool, pickleball, picnic area, fishing pier, boat ramp, dog park, restrooms, laundry, complimentary paddleboard and kayak rentals, fitness center, hot spa, pavilion,
• Reservations: Yes, visit bookingsus.newbook.cloud/…
• Address: 100 61st St E, Palmetto, FL 34221 (Map)

Camping near Tampa offers a long list of options. From primitive campsites to luxurious RV resorts, you’ll find the perfect place to rest up after a long day spent outside exploring.