Vintage trailers near Winter Haven with wifi provided

Winter Haven is, indeed, a haven, where camping options stretch well beyond the winter.

Popular camping styles for Winter Haven

Value Prop
Value Prop

Vintage trailers near Winter Haven with wifi provided guide

Overview

If Winter Haven’s name doesn’t reel you in, its campsites certainly will. Located in Central Florida, Winter Haven has Lakeland and Tampa to its west and Orlando and Kissimmee just northeast. For your next camping trip, however, you’ll want to start in the city. After you check-in to your tent site, explore Winter Haven’s canal-linked lakes, which provide ample opportunities to fish, boat, and unwind. If you’re planning a family-friendly getaway, opt instead for an RV camping resort and piece together your ultimate camping trip with a day at Legoland. Winter Haven strikes the perfect balance between Florida’s cultural thrills and natural landscapes.

Where to go

The Northern Lakes

Winter Haven contains a plethora of lakes, each of which has a distinct identity—and equally distinct campsites. The lakes are divided into Northern and Southern chains, so, for the full Winter Haven experience, drive north and work your way across the freshwater. Rent a cabin overlooking Lake Haines, and you’ll start your camping trip off on the right foot—or with the right paddle.

The Southern Lakes

Keeping in theme, why not explore the area’s other lakes? Pick a lake, any lake, on the Southern Chain of Lakes. Before you park your RV, take it for a spin and enjoy a scenic drive past the likes of Lake Eloise, Lake Summit, and Lake Cannon. Across Polk County, campers will not only find stunning vistas, but also enough fish to fill any campsite grill.

Wildlife Areas

If you’d rather explore Winter Haven’s green spaces, you’re in luck. Wildlife Areas come on all sides of the city, so Florida campers can embrace their inner birdwatchers, fishermen, and nature enthusiasts. Gopher tortoises, in particular, are known to frequent both the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area and the Crooked Lake Wildlife and Environmental Area. Keep your binoculars handy, and you’ll see all sides of Winter Haven.

When to go

Winter Haven is a year-round locale, though, like its name suggests, winter may actually be the best time for your next Florida camping trip. Hurricane season runs from late spring through early fall, so summer campers run the risk of storms. Of course, Florida has earned its “Sunshine State” alias, so you can certainly camp, hike, bike, and swim throughout the year. Just plan to maximize your time in the sun—and around the lakes.

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Hipcamp is the most comprehensive resource for beautiful private campsites.

Discover and reserve tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping.

Download the Hipcamp App

Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.