This article describes where to tent and RV camp in and around the Everglades including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve in southern Florida.

Camping in the Parks

Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve has 8 campgrounds: Burns Lake Campground, Gator Head Campground, Midway Campground, Mitchell Landing Campground, Monument Lake Campground, Pinecrest Group Camping, Bear Island Campground and Pink Jeep Campground.

The first 5 campgrounds are all located along state route 41, which connects Miami in the east to Naples in the west. Midway Campground and Monument Lake Campground are both easily accessible by car and offer the most amenities of all of these campgrounds providing electric only hookups for RVs, flush toilets and access to water. All of the sites at both campgrounds are located around a lake and the RV sites are paved and level.

Burns Lake Campground, Gator Head Campground and Mitchell Landing Campground are all considered primitive campgrounds with no access to water and only vault toilets. If you’re interested in staying at one of the primitive campgrounds check the links provided as certain restrictions or permits may be required.

The last two campgrounds are much more difficult to get to and only offer primitive camping. Bear Island Campground is at the end of a 20 mile (32 km) gravel road, but can accommodate both tents and RVs. Pink Jeep Campground can only be accessed by an off-road vehicle with the required permit, by foot or by bicycle.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park has 2 campgrounds: Flamingo Campground and Long Pine Key Campground. Both of these campgrounds are located off of state route 9336 or Ingraham Hwy. They are managed by Flamingo Everglades so reservations must be made through them.

Long Pine Key Campground is located 7 miles (11 km) from the main entrance and has RV and tent sites. RV sites can accommodate rigs up to 45 feet (14 meters) in length, have no hookups, but does have a dump station.

Flamingo Campground is located 38 miles (61 km) from the main entrance, where the southern tip of Florida meets the ocean, and has RV and tent sites as well as ECO tents that have full deck flooring, 2 chairs, lighting, 110 power, a dresser a fan and either 1 or 2 double beds or 1 queen bed. A loop is tent only and there is also a walk-in area for tent camping as well. T loop is RV only camping and has only has sites with no hookups and electric only hookups. The electric is 20A, 30A and 50A. There are 2 dump stations here.

*Mangrove forest of the Florida Everglades.*

Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole State Park, located in the north-west corner of the Everglades near the intersection of state route 90 and 92, offers RV and tent camping. All sites have electric and water hookups, RV sites can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet (15 meters) in length and the campground has a dump station. Online reservations can be booked here.

Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park and Campground

Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park and Campground is located southeast of Miami in a Miami-Dade county park. This campground is an interesting option as it is fairly large and offers full hookups, but is less expensive then the resort RV parks near by. Online reservations can be booked here.

*Blue skies are reflected in the still waters of the everglades while tourists take airboat rides to visit aligators in the wild.*

Camping Nearby

Western Entrances

There are a number of privately run campgrounds between Naples and the western entrance to Big Cypress National Preserve along state route 90, state route 40 and state route 41.

Trails Lakes Campground is an interesting option offering camping sites for tents and RVs as well as cabins and chickee huts. The RV sites range from 15 Amp electric only to 50 Amp with water and there is a dump station. They also offer various types of guided tours into the Everglades.

Eastern Entrances

There are also a number of privately run campgrounds on the eastern side of these parks including Southern Comfort RV Resort and Encore Miami Everglades. These are both good size RV parks with lots of amenities and offering full hookup sites, but can feel like you’re camping in a big parking lot.

Additional Resources

Recreation.gov – Big Cypress National Preserve and Recreation.gov – Everglades National Park have additional information about these parks including interactive maps, directions, accommodations and points of interest. Reservations and other fees can be purchased through these sites as well.

DestinationsWhere to Camp in and Around Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve