Tent campers and RV owners with families, especially those with small children, should take care in selecting a Florida campground that fits their needs. Those needs will likely include plenty of entertainment, planned activities and close proximity to local attractions. Fortunately, Florida offers a seemingly endless menu of campgrounds that address all three.
Theme Park Proximity
The Tampa/St. Petersburg area is a perfect answer for families who seek plenty of activities outside the campsite or RV park. Toby's RV Resort, for example, near Arcadia, is located near Sea World and Busch Gardens. There are also fishing tournaments at nearby Lake Okeechobee. Toby's is equipped with 405 campsites. Youngsters and their parents can participate in arts and crafts projects, ceramics and woodworking, dance lessons and miniature golf. Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County features 238 campsites, with seven miles of shoreline and two fishing piers.
Manatees and History
The family-oriented Crystal River SuperPark on the West Coast at King's Bay offers access to the region's beaches, golf courses, fishing venues and the opportunity to swim with the manatees. With 250 sites on hand, RVers will find both pull-throughs and back-in spots. There are volleyball and tennis courts, a heated outdoor pool, a kids' pool and a hot tub. The 8,300-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in Pasco County features a county education center maintained by a Boy Scout Explorer post on a 19th-century "Cracker" homestead that's geared toward young people.
Disney Theme
Perhaps the state's most-visited campground, the 700-acre Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground in Buena Vista features a staggering 799 campsites amid cypress and pine trees. The park features tent and RV campsites, all with full hookups. Children under age 12 stay free. Nearby are Epcot, the Disney-MGM Studios, the Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and the Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The Magic Kingdom Park is accessible by boat from the campground.
Natural Environment
Also located just a few miles from Disney World, but offering a different and much quieter environment, is the pet-friendly Winter Gardens on State Road 50. Winter Gardens features a swimming pool, basketball and shuffleboard courts, a kids' playground and pool, a small fishing pond, a dog run and laundry facilities. The park offers 377 sites. The state-run Paynes Prairie Preserve in Micanopy has a 50-foot-high observation tower and access to close-up views of alligators and bison.
Everglades
Visits to Florida are not complete without a camping trip to the Everglades. The 85-acre Big Cypress RV Resort is one hour from Miami and a short distance away from the Billie Swamp Safari. The park also features a motocross course with a pee wee track and quad and sand drags.
History Lesson
Eager to include a little education in your camping trip through the Sunshine State? Include on your itinerary a visit to St. Augustine's Anastasia State Park, which is an archaeological site near the Spanish fort of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
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