Escape Into Nature at These 9 Picturesque Sites for Camping in Orlando

Sep 11, 2024

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By Westgate Resorts

Escape Into Nature at These 9 Picturesque Sites for Camping in Orlando

Orlando offers plenty of opportunities to spend quality time in nature. Whether you love horseback riding, rock climbing, or boat rides, you can enjoy all these activities in and around Orlando.

Still, the best way to truly immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty is to spend a few nights under the starry sky, surrounded by greenery, breathing in fresh air. In this article, we’ll present the best places to go camping in Orlando for the ultimate escape into the wilderness!

9 Best Spots for Camping in Orlando, Florida

  1. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo Campground

  2. Moss Park

  3. Bill Frederick Park

  4. Lake Louisa State Park

  5. Silver Springs State Park

  6. Magnolia Park

  7. Wekiwa Springs State Park

  8. Anastasia State Park

  9. Fort De Soto Park

All places are excellent for tent camping, offering many amenities for a fantastic holiday in Orlando’s stunning natural landscape!

1 | Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo Campground |

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo offers everything you’d want in a perfect campsite—a beautiful wide-open camping area, individual bathroom facilities with showers, and numerous family-friendly activities to enjoy day and night!

Set up your tent in a shaded spot and start your outdoor adventure. The campsite’s general store offers all the other equipment you may need, including charcoal and firewood, so that you can bond with your loved ones over some delicious BBQ.

This wonderful campsite also offers space for platform camping with access to electrical outlets, a picnic table, a fire pit, and bathroom/shower facilities. If you’re into RV camping, feel free to park your RV in an available spot and immerse yourself in nature like never before!

If you’re interested in a luxury camping experience, the resort offers glamping—camping in Florida’s beautiful nature but with resort-style amenities. The spacious glamping tents are fully furnished, include beds with luxury linens, and have air conditioning!

WHERE: 3200 River Ranch Blvd, River Ranch, FL 33867 │WHO: 863-692-1321

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2 | Moss Park |

Less than an hour away from Disney World in Orlando, Moss Park is a beautiful public campground nestled between two lakes. It’s well-known for its magnificent wildlife and numerous activities, including boating, hiking, biking, fishing, and bird watching!

This 1500-acre park is the perfect place to escape the hectic city life and spend quality time unwinding among pine and oak trees. You may also encounter various animals, such as deer and cranes, walking freely around the park!

Each camping site in the park has water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The sites are clean and spacious, so even if you’re coming with a large group, you’ll have plenty of space to set up tents and still have your privacy. Plus, there’s a dump station toward the exit of the campground.

WHERE: 12901 Moss Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32832 │WHO: 407-254-6840

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3 | Bill Frederick Park |

If you’re looking for a beautiful place for tent camping by the lake, you’ll love Bill Frederick Park, which covers 183 acres of land alongside Turkey Lake. The park offers scenic views of stunning nature, while the lake provides amazing fishing opportunities—it is one of the top five rated fishing lakes in Florida!

Bill Frederick Park is minutes away from various Orlando attractions like Universal Studios and is a great place for family camping. The campground includes large camping sites and access to electric hookups, water, toilets, showers, and other necessities. There’s even a supermarket nearby.

While the campground is small and quiet, it’s attached to the park, which offers fun activities like horseback riding, disk golf, and access to a swimming pool. You can also rent a fishing boat if you want to enjoy a day on the lake.

WHERE: 3401 S Hiawassee Rd, Orlando, FL 32835 │WHO: 407-246-4486

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4 | Lake Louisa State Park |

Lake Louisa State Park is the best place to get closer to the wilderness. When camping in the park, you’ll have a chance to see diverse wildlife, including deer, fox squirrel, gopher tortoises, and bobcats, as well as birds like the majestic bald eagle!

Featuring three lakes—Louisa, Hammond, and Dixie—the park offers plenty of opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. You can also go hiking or cycling on the paved and unpaved trails and enjoy exploring the park’s beautiful scenery.

The campground has 60 full-facility campsites between Dixie and Hammond lakes, with access to eclectic hookups. Some sites also have a level concrete pad and are connected to the bathhouse by a paved surface.

WHERE: 7305 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34714 │WHO: 352-394-3969

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5 | Silver Springs State Park |

Silver Springs State Park is one of the best places to go camping near Orlando. The park features the biggest and most beautiful springs in the U.S. and amazing wildlife, so you can see rhesus macaque monkeys, manatees, turtles, and American alligators!

Explore the park’s crystal clear springs up close by riding a glass-bottom boat! These special boats were invented in this park so that you can marvel at the beauty of underwater life, including numerous species of fish and ancient Native American and Spanish artifacts!

There are also various hiking trails, mountain biking trails, an equestrian trail system, and paddling opportunities to discover the park’s various animal species.

You can enjoy all this and more by camping at one of the park’s 50+ spacious sites, which have water, electric hookups, a fire ring, a barbecue grill, and a picnic table. The park also allows RV and primitive camping.

WHERE: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488 │WHO: 352-236-7148

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6 | Magnolia Park |

If you’re looking for a smaller campground that still offers access to wildlife and various activities, Magnolia Park Campground is an excellent option. The park has many hiking and biking trails, so you can see animals like peacocks, bobcats, alligators, turtles, and rabbits!

While the campground at Magnolia Park is small, you’ll easily find a shaded spot and a nice flat area to set up your tent. You’ll have access to drinking water, electric hookups, a picnic table, a BBQ grill, and a clean bathroom.

The park also features numerous amenities, including picnic areas, lakeside pavilions, dedicated fishing areas, basketball and volleyball courts, and baseball fields. Even if you don’t engage in any specific activities, you can relax and enjoy the park’s pristine nature and stunning views of Lake Apopka!

WHERE: 2929 S Binion Rd, Apopka, FL 32703 │WHO: 407-254-9046

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7 | Wekiwa Springs State Park |

Only minutes away from downtown Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park is a fantastic place to escape into nature and admire the abundant wildlife and natural beauty the park offers.

Wekiwa Springs campground, located near the emerald springs that feed the Wekiwa River, includes around 60 full-hookup campsites. Whether you’re planning to camp in a tent, trailer, or an RV, the park has plenty of space to accommodate you.

You can choose from group, primitive, and equestrian campsites. Whatever you pick, you’ll have access to electricity, water, tables, fire rings, grills, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. You can also buy firewood at the campground.

The park offers plenty of fun activities for the entire family, including biking, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling, and watersports.

WHERE: 1953 E Welch Rd, Apopka, FL 32712 │WHO: 850-245-2157

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8 | Anastasia State Park |

Enjoy the ocean breeze while sleeping under the stars at Anastasia State Park, known for its pristine white sandy beaches and tidal marshes that will leave you in awe! From maritime hammocks and fantastic wildlife to beautiful sand dunes and numerous activities, this park is a perfect place to relax and have fun.

Observe wildlife from a canoe or kayak, and go bird-watching to spot ospreys and eagles. You can also go sailing, hiking, and fishing, or engage in beach activities like swimming, surfing, or biking along the shore.

The campground at Anastasia State Park features 130+ campsites for tent camping or RVs. All sites provide access to electricity, water, a picnic table, an in-ground grill, and a fire ring.

WHERE: 300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32080 │WHO: 904-461-2033

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9 | Fort De Soto Park |

Breathtaking beaches, diverse wildlife, and exciting hiking trails make Fort De Soto Park a popular spot for camping near Orlando! Situated along mangrove-lined shores, the park’s campground provides 230+ campsites for tents and smaller vehicles.

While camping at Fort De Soto, you’ll have access to convenient facilities like picnic tables, grills, washers, dryers, modern restrooms, and showers. The campground also includes drinking water and electric hookups. Gas generators and alcohol are prohibited, so it’s a great place for a chill, family-friendly camping experience.

The park offers fun activities like biking, boating, fishing, paddling, swimming, and wildlife watching. If you’re an animal lover, you’ll be happy to hear that you may have a chance to spot loggerhead turtles, dolphins, rays, manatees, and tropical fish, as well as over 320+ bird species!

WHERE: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715 │WHO: 727-582-2267

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tent Camping in Orlando

Anastasia State Park has access to white sandy beaches and beautiful tidal marshes. It also offers beach activities like surfing and swimming. Fort De Soto Park is also located near the beach and is a great place for boating, paddling, and fishing.

Fort De Soto Park is a fantastic place for bird watching as it features over 320+ bird species. Anastasia State Park is also a great spot to see majestic birds like osprey and eagles, while Lake Louisa State Park offers a chance to see the magnificent bald eagle.

In Lake Louisa State Park, you can see deer, fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, bobcats, and numerous birds. Fort De Soto Park also has a rich fauna, with dolphins, rays, loggerhead turtles, manatees, and tropical fish.

There are numerous campgrounds in and around Orlando situated near lakes, but the best ones are Bill Frederick Park, Moss Park, Magnolia Park, and Lake Louisa State Park. While camping at these parks, you can enjoy various activities like boating, paddling, swimming, and fishing.

Moss Park Campground is less than an hour away from Disney World in Orlando. The park is tucked between two lakes and offers activities like biking, hiking, boating, and fishing. It features clean and spacious camping sites with access to water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring.

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo offers access to individual bathroom facilities with showers and numerous resort amenities and activities. Fort De Soto campground also offers access to numerous facilities like picnic tables, grills, washers, dryers, modern restrooms, and showers.

Orlando—A Scenic Getaway for a Fun Holiday

Whether you’re looking for the perfect place to take your kids pony-riding or want to treat your significant other to the most romantic dinner cruise, Orlando is the place to go! Enjoy its magnificent nature, thrilling theme parks, and exciting rodeos! For more information on Orlando hotels and attractions, visit our Westgate Resorts Travel blog.


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At Westgate Resorts, when you Check-In, there’s a LOT to Check-Out! Your Orlando vacation awaits! Explore our Branson resorts today or talk with a vacation planner at 888-852-2959 or 407-355-2690.

* Aside from Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.

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