Here are the top 9 popular camping destinations in Miami for the ultimate adventure!
9 Amazing Destinations for Camping in Miami
1. Larry and Penny Thompson Campground
Across the vast stretch of 270 acres, the Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park and Campground is one of a kind in Southwest Miami Dade, stationed just beside the popularly visited Miami Zoo. The park is enveloped with wildflowers, rock pinelands, mango and lychee trees adorned by multiple picnic spots in all corners. Named after Miami Herald’s columnist Larry Thompson and his wife Penny Thompson, travelers can enjoy the experience of camping in its huge 240 campsites. Campers can take a quick dive in the small freshwater lake, take a stroll around the seasonal beach or go for horseback riding to make the trip adventurous. Wifi facility in the camps is available along with an onsite camp store. No worries for your pet, they can experience a peaceful stay, too. Rentals of the tent on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis are available along with advance reservations.
Address: 12451 SW 184th Street Miami, Florida 33177
2. Everglades National Park
Built-in 1947 to conserve the degrading landscape, Everglades National Park is undoubtedly one of the largest national parks in America, spread across an area of 1.5 million acres The park is truly a retreat in nature’s lap encircled by mangrove forest, pine forest, marine life, freshwater lake, and tidal estuaries. Camping in Miami’s Everglades gets better with two furnished campsites, beach campsites, and unhindered peace. The Flamingo campground is open round the year catering to tourists from around the world. While the Lone Pine Key Campground, offering 108 individual campsites, available from November to April, needs prior reservation. A car camping site and two frontcountry campgrounds are also there in Everglades National park to add to your journey. To experience wilderness camping, travelers surely need to have a wilderness camping permit for a hassle-free stay. You will be surely accompanied with good food, lavish arrangements, and exotic memories.
Address: 40001 State Road, 9336 Homestead Florida 33034
3. Biscayne National Park
How about experiencing a stay is an isolated island with amazing waterfront and alluring wildlife? Camping in Biscayne National Park is exactly what you are looking for. The two campgrounds on Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key islands are accessible to travelers round the year. You can reach the islands only via boat and your time spent on the campsite will surely include a self-made sumptuous breakfast, snorkeling, swimming in the cold water avoiding the boat harbors, stargazing at night and a serene atmosphere. While Boca Chita Key island is one of the most popular islands with all the amenities, the Elliott Key is the largest island of Biscayne National park which has no provisions of prior reservation. Hiking through the two Elliott Key trails and fishing along harbor is fascinating. The group campsite near the waterfront at Elliott Key is perfect for a 10 member outing under the clear blue sky of Biscayne National Park in Miami.
Address: Biscayne National Park, Florida, United States
4. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The most popular and first undersea park of the United States grabs enough eyeballs round the year for its exotic display of marine life. Established in 1963, the famous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses 178 nautical square miles of amusing coral reef, leaving travelers in awe with nature’s wonder. You can find yourself enjoying the campground areas with family and friends. Accompanied by activities like fishing, snorkeling, and kayaking will be fun. A campfire by your side can even make your day better while camping in Miami’s breeze. The amazing nature trails will leave you in awe while some excellent cuisine will surely give you an everlasting foodgasm.
Address: 102601 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida
5. Bahia Honda State Park
A dive into a wonderland with 500 acres of unhindered peace and an offshore beach is where you can find the incomparable camping experience for your life. Bahia Honda State Park in south Florida exhibits lined up palm trees, calming sunsets, and an absolute homeland of marine animals and birds. The tropical destination of Bahia Honda State Park is excellent for camping, offering a diverse catalog of camping from RV to small tents. The Buttonwood campground is the largest camping site in Bahia Honda, accompanied by Bayside campground housing only eight campsites. All the essential amenities from electricity, water supplies, hot shower, grill, picnic tables to restrooms everything is just a door away. Apart from a star-glazed gazing night, travelers can enjoy the spirit of a camping boat where they can enjoy being on the boat, sleep and camp, too. Fishing geo-seeking, paddling, hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and wildlife expedition are complimentary on your visit to Bahia Honda’s paradise.
Address: 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key Florida 33043
6. Big Cyprus National Reserve
Located 40 miles west of Miami, the Big Cyprus National Park is the ultimate key to the wilderness in nature. Lined up by mangroves, pinelands, prairies, cypress swamps, and old hammocks, camping in Big Cyprus is, even more, better with its nine huge campground options. Not all campsites have electrical hookups but worry not about the endless encounter with nature while your camping days. The price for camping per night ranges from $10 to $30. Your stay in Cyprus National Reserve will be welcomed by the hundreds of birds and reptiles, scattered around. No wonder, squirrels can often accompany you in the campground. To make the experience worthwhile, explore the hiking trails, Kayaking trails and enjoy the darkest night illuminated with the brightest stars in Big Cyprus National Park. Travelers can only opt for an off-beaten backcountry camping experience after getting a backcountry permit. Surely bring your own camping gear to make the stay most self-sufficient, comfortable, and in ultimate privacy with nature.
Address: 33100 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, United States
7. Curry Hammock State Park
Sandwiched between Key Largo and Key West is the magnificent Curry Hammock State Park, spread across an area of 1000 acres. This unhindered pice of nature is the best escape option from the weary city tales and engage in experiencing Florida’s unique ecosystem. Camping in Curry Hammock State Park is a lavish encounter involving activities like snorkeling, hiking, bicycling, paddling, swimming, canoeing, fishing, and definitely camping. Camping in Curry Hammock State Park with 28 campsites along with the view of the Atlantic on one side is not just memorable but it will be exotic added with the charcoal grill, picnic tables, and options of kayaking. Saturday nights become more magical with the stargazing sessions accompanied by local cuisines. Prior reservations up to 11 months are acceptable. Pets are welcomed wholeheartedly.
Address: 56200 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
8. Jonathan Dickinson State Park
The exquisite environment in Jonathan Dickinson State Park of Florida crowded with raccoons and bobcats is a must-visit place to spend your camping days in Miami. The coastal sandhills and Loxahatchee River will take you to a world from afar and a guided horse-drawn tram tour will help you explore the hidden beauty inside Jonathan Dickinson State Park. the Pine Grove campground of Dickinson park has 90 furnished sites while the River Campground, near Loxahatchee, is slightly smaller with 52 sites with all the essential amenities. Hot shower, picnic tables, grill, electricity, and the Kimbell Centre for some family fun. The 11 lavish cabins of Dickinson State Park with a river view are popular amongst visitors of Miami. Travelers can also enjoy primitive camping with only two backpack camps on the mighty Florida trail, making your camping in Miami worthwhile. Accompanied by fishing in the Loxahatchee River, indulging in playing Geoseeking, hiking, motorbiking in the Murphy Off-Road bicycle trail system will add to your experience.
Address: 16450 SE Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, Florida
9. Longkey State Park
The lavishness of Miami finds no boundary in Long Key State Park of Florida, located just beside the famous birding trail of Miami, inviting visitors from around the world. While the 2017 Hurricane had a rough impact on the entire ecospace of Long Key park, now the park has taken a rebirth from the ashes with a huge influx of tourists round the year. Camping in primitive tents along the side of the Atlantic Ocean is going to be your best camping experience in Miami, Each tent has its own picnic table, grill, and hammock stand. With no electric or water hookup, travelers need to be self-sufficient and their pets can accompany them in the campground, too. With the fishing license ready, you can try your hands at fishing, play geocaching and hike through the Golden Ob Trail and Layton trail. Snorkeling, paddling through the shallow waters, and swimming will be some excellent choice to spend some time, as well.
Address: 67400 Overseas Hwy, Layton, Florida
Tips for Camping in Miami
- In the time of worldwide pandemic, surely check the websites for proper timings and availability of camping.
- Maintaining all the protocols is a must in the campgrounds.
- While most of the campgrounds have electric and water hookups, please check prior on the essential amenities that need to be carried with ownself.
- Most of the campgrounds allow pets with few restrictions.