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The best camping near Oscar Scherer State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Oscar Scherer adventure.

100% (9 reviews)
100% (9 reviews)

A natural gem hidden in the busy urban sprawl of Florida's Gulf Coast.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Oscar Scherer State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Oscar Scherer State Park

96%
(164)

Bell Oaks Ranch

6 sites ¡ RVs, Tents5 acres ¡ Englewood, FL
With a year under our belt we are so excited to finally have the chance to host on our property. This land is very special to us and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. The perfect place to unwind and disconnect from the busy day to day surrounded by nature, farm animals and wildlife. Located in one of the best spots in Florida near top hiking trails, horse farms, and near the beautiful FL beaches.
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$50
 / night
99%
(39)

Area 61 Camping

10 sites ¡ RVs, Tents5 acres ¡ Arcadia, FL
Area 61 is a natural 5 acre property with a creek that feeds into the Peace River. We have many different types of wild life that visit including white tail deer, turkeys, alligators, otters, armadillos and all types of birds including owls. We also have access to the Peace River for canoeing and kayaking trips. Along the creek we also have several terraced waterfalls that provide a wonderful wetland area for the wildlife.
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$50
 / night
97%
(33)

Two Tall Pines

2 sites ¡ RVs1 acre ¡ Venice, FL
We will share our piece of paradise with you. It is 3 blocks (cross no main roads) to Shamrock Park and the Venetian Intercoastal Waterway with walk and bike trail, playground, tennis courts, basketball hoops and nature center plus restrooms at the park. Our quiet, safe neighborhood includes a boat ramp, a separate kayak launch as well as fishing spots along the intercoastal. All 4 of the Venice beaches (including a dog beach) are within 7 miles of our location and are well known for finding shark teeth. Our beach's offer free parking, outdoor yoga, drum circle and live music. Downtown Venice offers a variety of stores, restaurants, souvenir shops, high end clothing, an interactive splash fountain and several ice cream shops. It also offers Historic Walking Tours and Farmer's Market (Saturday mornings). Venice has four main beaches: Venice Municipal Beach 4.8 miles (the most popular); Nokomis Beach 6.9 miles (home of the Drum Circle at sunset on Wednesday and Saturday evenings); South Brohard Beach (22 acres including a dog park) 4.5 miles and Caspersen Beach 5.3 miles (the longest beach in Sarasota County and famous for its shark teeth). 30amp electric and water included. You must use holding tanks. Maximum stay is 7 days.
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$45
 / night
100%
(14)

CJ.’s Land

1 site ¡ RV, Tent1 acre ¡ Englewood, FL
Learn more about this land:Our property is in a quiet neighborhood only 3 minutes from Lemon Bay and less than 1 mile to downtown Dearborn Old Town Englewood that's close to dining and shopping. There's a farmer's market every Thursday. Our location has 30 AMP service. The space is loose gravel and level.  The space can accommodate vehicles up to 30 ft. maximum length and RV slideouts. There is water, a covered deck, a propane grill, a propane fire pit, and an ice machine. The yard is fenced in for security.  Campfires are allowed within local regulations.Pets are welcome!
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$60
 / night
98%
(545)

By the Pond...

12 sites ¡ RVs, Tents33 acres ¡ Ruskin, FL
Stay by a lovely pond on 33 acre fruit and ornamental tree nursery property with great vibes. Located near I-75 just 20 miles South of Tampa, 35 miles east of Saint Petersburg, 35 miles North of Sarasota, 2 hours West of Orlando. This property is home to a farm/nursery operation and has a large pond on the west side. Approximately 33 private acres allows for space and social distancing. Site is loaded with hundreds of fruit trees Lychee, Mango, Starfruit, Papaya, Guava), and thousands of banana plants. Fishing can be great, wildlife and bird watching too. Fenced and gated for safety, this old historic nursery property has good vibes and plenty to offer. Until you see it - you really may not understand. Part s of property are wide open, other areas are rugged and difficult to walk through including some wetland areas. The nursery has plenty of trees, & some fields - large pond is surrounded by cattails and marsh/wetlands and has fish (Bass, Tilapia, Sunfish, Catfish). Several species of wildlife have been seen on the property. We think the property is lovely, and definitely want you to enjoy your camping experience!
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$32.50
 / night
92%
(12)

Scenic Waterway

7 sites ¡ RVs1 acre ¡ North Port, FL
Friendly pets welcome, same day bookings, five days or more allowed, spacious park-like waterfront setting of back yard, considered by most to be a quiet, safe area. Trash and recycle bins, bench swing, outside seating and tables, kayak launch on canal. Peak season is January and February when this area is extremely competitive to find camping. I don't consider my hosting service a business, but rather a cost shared meeting place. Orderly and clean property: You and your RV / vehicle must be fairly presentable. No smoking on property. Your RV / vehicle must be in good condition and not in disarray; old vehicles OK if no visible duck tape, etc. Host is 55, single, retired from a large variety of jobs to include two years in Army "intel" and has an interest in most everything, but please minimize talk about anyone's health problems. Diet is strictly healthy which mainly omits sugar and corn syrup. Have lived in a campervan six years full time from 2016 to 2021; traveled most of the U.S. to include Alaska but not Hawaii. Have visited popular Canadian areas. Have a 2018 Ford Transit customized high end campervan. Born in Ohio, grew up in Texas / Arkansas. Bought this Florida home in early 2021 that is energy efficient and withstands strong storms well, but not storm proof. Worked diligently for three years to upgrade and improve the property. Please note HipCamp does not allow me to see phone numbers, so if you type it in a message, I will not be able to call you.
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$29
 / night
100%
(38)

Bayou Bliss

1 site ¡ RV1 acre ¡ Sarasota, FL
Only 2 miles (5min drive) from downtown Sarasota. This neighborhood has old-Florida charm: lots of lush tropical greenery, on Whitaker’s Bayou. It’s the best of both worlds: peaceful nature on the creek, and easy access to all the best restaurants, beaches, and charming Main St atmosphere. Biking to Main St takes 8-10minutes if you have bicycles! Ten minute drive from St-Armands Circle and Lido Beach; 20-25 minute drive from Siesta Key Beach. The Bayou goes all the way out to the Gulf, in about a 30+ minute paddle. The Bayou is tidal, and paddling at mid to high tide is recommended as some spots get shallow at low tide. We see large schools of mullet here, occasionally turtles, hawks, and herons. We have a 36” campfire pit you are welcome to use that sits near the creek. We are still working on getting seating for the campfire pit, but if you have camping chairs, it’s perfect! We have an amazing location to share AND we also have neighbors to the left, and across the creek. We value and respect them. We wish to share our space with quiet and mindful campers. Back your RV or camper into the property. Depending on the size of your van/rig, you could park to the right or left of the oak that centers the driveway area. We can provide 15amp and 30amp electricity/plug in - plz bring your own adapter if you require one. An extension cord is also needed to reach the plug. We can fill your water tank (city water), but can’t leave you connected to the water. We *do not* have bathroom/shower facilities, which is why we are only accepting RVs/campers who have their own facilities on board. The property is 0.5 acre. As you will be parking in part of the large driveway area, or under one of the oaks near the fence (depending on the size of your rig). We can be available to help/welcome you, and offer local guidance if you like. We will send you a code for the gate the morning of your check in. **A sweet but fearful rescue dog lives here and at this time we are not allowing any other animals to camp or stay on the property.** NO DOGS WHATSOEVER. You will be made to leave if you violate this condition. We work so hard to help him progress - thank you for respecting our needs, at our home. ***Our acceptance rate is lower because people with dogs, 5 people in their party, or no onboard facility of their own submit booking requests, which we must decline.
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$60
 / night
97%
(77)

Honey Bunny’s Urban Oasis

3 sites ¡ RVs1 acre ¡ St Petersburg, FL
Send Van Type and Length with Request to Book 🐝 👀check out our EXTRAS👀 🐝 Elderberry Tonic/Tropic Spice Hot Sauce/Shoo Fly! Bug Spray 🦩WE ONLY HOST VANS/CLASS B vehicles/very small travel trailers🦩 If you need to book for longer VanLife stays just message me 🌈 Everyone Welcome 🌈 As a family who has towed campers across the US a couple times utilizing Hip Camp we know others will appreciate the ease of pulling into our little 1 acre urban oasis just a couple miles off the interstate in Floridas Coolest City. It’s an ideal location to explore St Pete as we are right between the beaches and downtown (5 miles to St Pete beach, 4 miles to downtown -$10 Uber ride), Sarasota and/or Tampa. Ours is an urban spot based on ease, safety and location, not a wilderness "experience" We have a paved circular driveway overlooking our beehives, henhouse and seasonal garden where you’ll find a table with chairs and plenty of space to cookout and enjoy a quiet evening with a great sunset by the blowing bamboo. This is one of South St Pete’s oldest neighborhoods- it surrounds an active former PGA golf course and lively country club. It’s a great place for safely biking or walking with green spaces, tennis courts, playgrounds and dog parks nearby. There are many owls, raptors, green parrots, purple martins and osprey overhead as we’re just a few blocks from the beautiful Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. - not to be missed! The Pinellas Trail is just a short bike ride away too and can lead you to downtown. It is a cyclists favorite! We love our city - happy to give recommendations.
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$39
 / night
88%
(17)

Suncoast RV Getaway

4 sites ¡ RVs1 acre ¡ Venice, FL
We fell in love with Shamrock Park so when this home came up for sale we knew we had to have it. Our love of the trees and the water came to a beautiful union here. We are surrounded by woods but can still hear the beach waves crashing at night from our backyard. The beach is a quarter of a mile away as the bird flies. Visitors of all shapes and sizes welcome us day and night including gopher tortoises, alligators, painted buntings, pleated wood peckers, red cardinals, endangered scrub jays, gray catbirds, black racer snakes, coachwhip snakes, legless lizards, iguanas, coyotes, bobcats, and armadillos to name a few. We can escape the city life without leaving the city. A quick hike through our backyard and we are in the 80 acre Shamrock Park that includes the Intracoastal Waterway, and Legacy Trail. The local beaches are a quick drive away, where you can spend the day hunting for sea shells and sharks teeth. Come share our piece of paradise! Learn more about this land: This gravel site is approximately 40 feet x 25 feet, level and will accommodate RVs of up to 35 feet. Sits in the front yard of our home adjacent to 30 foot tall areca palms . Includes water, sewer (connection hose needed) and 30 amp electric service available. We want to share our tropical oasis with RV'ers that want to experience south Venice. Walking distance to 80 acre Shamrock Park, Intracoastal Waterway, and The Legacy Trail. Hiking, biking, and fishing all within walking distance. Less than 3 miles from local beaches including Venice beach. Family friendly. Pets welcome.
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$35
 / night
100%
(36)

Costa Myakka

4 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres ¡ Myakka City, FL
Welcome to the "Wild and Scenic Myakka River"! Our 20 acre ranch has everything from Longhorn cattle, to a white sand beach. We like to say our sand is like Siesta Key, except it's...in a swamp. Our property is not too far upstream from the Myakka State park, and parking is never a problem. ;-) We have a beautiful homestead, and you have the choice of a furnished camper with water and power hookups in our pasture, or 2 primative tent or RV spots on the edge of a beautiful stand of Live Oak trees and Sabal palms along the river. We have a porta potty on site that is regularly maintained. Bring your family, bring your dog, bring your friends.....and don't forget to bring a fishing pole!
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$50
 / night
98%
(246)

Rasayana Cove

2 sites ¡ Lodging25 acres ¡ Ona, FL
Rasayana Cove is a 25-acre eco-retreat located in the heartland of west central Florida. An hour's drive east of Sarasota surrounded by vast tracts of orange groves and ranch land, Rasayana Cove has been operating as a small retreat center since 1995. The long eastern boundary borders Horse Creek, a major tributary of the Peace River. The property features two spring-fed ponds - one small and the other large.  The cabins are accessible by well constructed shell-topped roads with good drainage and a variety of nature pathways.  A natural ecosystem remains undisturbed in the middle of the property - a Florida bay head of native flora and wildlife. While most of the state is crowded and overdeveloped, this eco-retreat offers a haven of peace in the pristine nature of Florida
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$95
 / night
100%
(1)

The Bohemian Hideaway

3 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents1 acre ¡ Port Charlotte, FL
Glamp in style in a this Swiss family Robinson inspired converted bus on my Primitive , off grid waterfront property with firepit! The bus comes equipped with a dry camp toilet with bags, one burner propane stove, coffee pour over, rechargeable blender, solar power , 5 gal water for kitchenette sink, tv , AC (need to rent generator or bring your own) small chest style fridge and queen size bed! This rental is only for 2 people. We also have extra rentals that include outdoor movie, $65 kayak rentals, $65 one or $100 for 2 date night packages, $55 art packages $25 2000 W gas generator to run AC $75 Propane heater $45 This is a private and primitive waterfront site that is Very secluded area in the woods ,but you are only 7 min from town (Walmart, Publix, Starbucks..etc). Tons of great fishing , kayaking or late night outdoor movies to be had here. Ditch the cell phones and connect with your partner and nature here at the Bohemian hideaway!
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$65
 / night

The best camping near Oscar Scherer State Park guide

Overview

About

Freshwater lakes and wildlife viewing opportunities abound in this park just 30 minutes from Sarasota. Lake Osprey, near its center, is a quite popular spot for swimming. If you prefer sitting to swimming, hit up South Creek for canoeing and kayaking.

Hipcampers into birdwatching should definitely make time to seek out Florida scrub-jays here. These cute and friendly birds are only found in Florida. Oscar Scherer hosts one of the largest remaining populations of this threatened species. Majestic bald eagles also make their home in this area.

Other recreational activities include traveling the area's historic Legacy Trail. This 12.5-mile trail is fairly flat, making it a popular choice for leisurely bicycling.

It's also popular among train buffs, as it's built on a decommissioned railroad corridor. You can learn the corridor's history by reading the many informational plaques along the way.

When to go

The ideal time to visit Oscar Scherer State Park is during the cooler months from November to March. During this period, the weather is pleasant, and the park is less crowded, offering a peaceful experience. Summer months can be hot and humid, with a higher chance of rain, which might hinder some outdoor activities.

Know before you go

  • Check the weather forecast before your visit to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
  • Remember to bring sunscreen and insect repellent to protect against the Florida sun and bugs.
  • Accessibility is a priority, with facilities designed to accommodate all visitors.
  • Stay informed about park rules and regulations to preserve the natural environment.
  • Plan ahead and arrive early, as the park operates from 8:30am to 5pm daily.

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