Florida is filled with breathtaking campgrounds. My family and I have been camping for about 4 years and we have been to some pretty cool campgrounds. Whenever we go camping, we look for places that have activities for kids and nearby attractions. We also try to avoid long stretches of driving. Having little ones in the car is not an easy thing to endure when you have a lengthy drive, so that is why I have spruced up a list of the top 5 campgrounds we love to go to as a family. The best part: they are all under 5 hours away from Miami.
5. Everglades National Park- Flamingo Campground
Drive Time From Miami: 1 hour & 30 minutes
Why we love it:
If you truly want to disconnect, this is the campground for you! We spent a weekend here with no cell phone reception and it felt GREAT! This campground is right on the southernmost tip of Florida and it is full of exotic wildlife and recreational activities. During our time here we rode our bikes, took a sunset boat tour where we saw dolphins and a momma osprey in her nest. We also hiked the Anhinga Trail which was full of gators, fish and, of course, the anhinga, hence the name. If you are into star gazing, bring your telescopes because there is no light pollution here. When the sun goes down, the sky turns into a sea of shining stars. No camper? No problem! Starting October 1, 2019, they will have eco-tents available for you glampers out there.
Downside: Bring your insect repellent because the bugs are EVERYWHERE!
4. Long Key State Park Campground
Drive Time From Miami: 1 hour & 50 minutes
Why we love it:
This campground is right on Long Key. It is a small campground that recently reopened after the reconstruction from Hurricane Irma. Each campsite has a personal beach, and although it’s not a perfect sandy beach, it is the ideal spot to take off kayaking or paddleboarding. This is a state park, so the upside is that the rates go for about $30 a night. Where can you stay for that cheap in the Florida Keys? Oh, and let’s not forget the beautiful hiking trails full of wildlife!
Downside: Book this campground as far in advance as possible. With rates this cheap, it’s hard to find a last minute site.
3. Lion Country Safari – KOA Campground
Drive Time From Miami: 1 hour & 30 minutes
Why we love it:
This KOA campground is located in West Palm Beach. KOA campgrounds are located all over the US and are very reputable. This campground will make you feel like you are camping in the middle of the Serengeti. Why? Lions are most active at night, and the campground is right next to the lion sanctuary giving you the opportunity to hear them all night long.
This campground is part of the reason we began The Fam Bam RV journey. It’s pretty large in size and they have tons of activities depending on when you go. They typically have weekend specials when your campground stay includes 4 entrances to Lion Country Safari right next door. This park is unique because it has a drive-thru safari. You get to experience the animals closer than you would at a regular zoo. Just make sure you don’t lower down your window or you’ll have a curious ostrich head popping in to say hello.
The Downside: Make sure to book in a section where it doesn’t flood. One year we stayed here during Halloween weekend and the campsites next to us were completely flooded. I’m talking about 5 inches of water.
2. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Drive Time from Miami: 5 hours
Why we love it:
Okay, so Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is not a campground per se, but it is just one of those parks in Florida you HAVE to visit. There are plenty of campgrounds within the vicinity. We stayed at one called Chassahowitzka River Campground and it did not disappoint.
Weeki Wachee offers mermaid shows! You will submerge into an underwater auditorium and see real mermaids swimming underwater performing The Little Mermaid. It is truly astonishing to see this natural spring come to life with the beautiful mermaids swimming through the clear blue waters of the springs. Once you’ve watched the show, you can relax by the springs. This park is the only spring-fed water park in Florida. They have 3 slides and a kid’s splash pad.
The Downside: Come early! Park opens at 9 AM but people are lining up as early as 7 AM. Once the park reaches capacity, they don’t allow anyone else in. We arrived at 8 AM on a busy Memorial Day Weekend and waited in a pretty lengthy line. Totally worth it, though! Oh, and let’s not forget that it is a natural spring so there are warning signs for gators all over the place. We never saw any but we were definitely on the lookout.
1. Disney’s Campsites at Fort Wilderness
Drive Time From Miami: 3 hours 30 minutes
Why we love it:
It’s Disney. Do I even have to elaborate? This campground is oozing with Disney magic just like everything else that Disney owns. Most people don’t even know that this campground exists. This campground is ENORMOUS! So big, that it has its own bus system in there. There are endless activities such as horseback riding, bow and arrow lessons, pony rides and a pool area with a kiddie section and a slide.
They offer activities all day by the pool and at night you can watch a movie under the stars. Make sure to bring your autograph books because Chip and Dale join you by the campfire before the movie begins. They have sing-a-long songs and even dance the hokey pokey with you. The best part is that this is considered a Disney resort, so you’ll be able to have all of the amenities that come with staying at a Disney resort for a fraction of what people would pay to stay at a regular Disney resort.
The Downside: Waiting for the bus to get around the campground might be a pain. This issue can be easily resolved by renting their golf carts. If you are going during a weekend, I highly recommend you book your golf cart ahead of time.
Have you ever gone camping with the family? Tell me your favorite places to visit in Florida!
