The best camping near De Soto National Memorial

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next De Soto National Memorial adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near De Soto National Memorial

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(589)

By the Pond...

12 sites · Lodging, 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. The pond is Spring-fed at the headwaters of Marsh Branch Creek which emerges at our property and flows West about five miles to Tampa Bay. 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. Parts of property are wide open, other areas are rugged and difficult to walk through including some wetland areas. The nursery has plenty of trees, and some fields -the 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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(186)

Bell Oaks Ranch 5 min from beach

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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(166)

Cotee River Bend

15 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · New Port Richey, FL

Our RV Campsites are located in a grassy field next to dense woods. Electric and water hookups are included in the RV/Camper sites, but not the Tent Site. All sites have a picnic table. Cell phone service is not a problem, as we are not that remote (although it sort of feels like we are when you are here) - we are 5 min from downtown New Port Richey, 2 minutes from groceries, gas, restaurants. This beautiful slice of Old Florida is named for the Pithlachascotee River that bends along the back side of the property. Pithlo is the Creek word meaning canoe, and chaskita means to dig or chop out, together signifying "place where canoes are chopped or dug out". Seminoles of this area used canoes dug out from the great cypress trees found along Florida rivers. From the 1980s until 2014, this property was owned by the Cotee River Lions Club. They held a popular monthly pancake breakfast fundraiser in the large pavilion along the river. We purchased this 4.9 acres of land in late 2019. It is now where we live and have a woodworking shop. It has been a magical place for us, with no shortage of wildlife, rich jungle forest, a lazy winding narrow river, and even the occasion river otter sighting. We are grateful to all the humans who have occupied this place over the centuries before us for keeping it as nature intended it. It is our intention to do our part to conserve and protect its natural beauty as long as possible. We hope you find it to be as restful and rejuvenating as we do.

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Sagehub home

1 site · RV1 acre · St. Petersburg, FL

**IMPORTANT** The entrance to this site is a tight 8 feet from the eaves of the roof to the fence. Anything wider will not fit through the entrance. Beautifully landscaped, Fully Fenced in backyard, pet friendly, with clean out easily accessible. Like having your own private park. Three different beaches, downtown Saint Pete, and multiple other attractions are only minutes away. All in a quiet neighborhood. bonfire pit accessible on the property. Immediately available yeah yeah.

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Mad Beach Rv Or Trailer Spot

1 site · RV1 acre · Madeira Beach, FL

Experience the ultimate beachside getaway at our charming single home, just a short 3-block walk from the beach. Park your RV alongside our property and enjoy all the amenities of the home right at your fingertips. With both 30-amp and 50-amp plug connections available, you'll have everything you need to power up your RV and settle in for a relaxing stay. Our outdoor toilet and shower facilities are accessible 24/7, providing convenience and comfort during your beachside retreat. Relax and unwind on our spacious patio, complete with exterior seating and a cozy breakfast nook where you can enjoy your morning coffee or a leisurely meal. For entertainment, our outdoor smart TV with surround sound is perfect for movie nights under the stars. As the sun sets, watch your favorite films in style with our exterior chandelier casting a warm glow over the patio area. Whether you're lounging in the evening breeze or soaking up the sun during the day, our beachside oasis offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience for your RV adventure.

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Cedarkirk Camp & Conf. Center

6 sites · RVs, Tents170 acres · Lithia, FL

Cedarkirk was founded in 1971 as a year-round camp and conference center that serves churches, not-for-profits, and schools. Our beautiful property and amenities exist for all people to enjoy recreation and renewal in nature. We own 170 acres of land, most of which looks like wild Florida has for thousands of years, and provides sanctuary for many native plants and animals. We are excited to welcome you to this "place apart."

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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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(55)

Tamiami Trails

2 sites · RVs, Tents23 acres · Ruskin, FL

RV sites located at an established petting zoo with common and exotic animals. Horseback riding is also available on site. Our property is centrally located with easy access to Tampa, St Pete, and Sarasota. Horse and hiking trails are all through native Florida landscaping. Short drive to well maintained boat ramps and marinas.

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(16)

Scenic Waterway

7 sites · RVs1 acre · North Port, FL

Spacious park-like waterfront setting of back yard, considered by most to be a safe area. Trash and recycle bins, bench swing, outside seating and tables. Currently waterway is coated with water lettuce plants, not navigable. 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. The city/county won't allow monthly; therefore is 30 days max, plus this is intended to be a meeting spot to assist travelers and meet new people, not for long term housing. Dog restrictions (see rules) and no smoking. 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. 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. You should be able to see which sites and days are available as well as make a reservation on this website, therefore no need to ask me in a message if any site / days are available. 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. 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 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.

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N N Farms

1 site · Lodging5 acres · Arcadia, FL

Fun of grid spirited tiny house. A 5 acre farm with Private 1 acre separate with a tiny house and pond. Nestled up next to a farm with plenty of farm animals to admire! Close to Myakka Star Park 45 minutes to many beaches. Small town charm in Arcadia Florida, known for its quaint antique shops.

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(258)

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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The Happy Camper

1 site · Lodging1 acre · St. Petersburg, FL

Reconnect with nature at our completely private, brand new, vintage style RV with a beautiful mural painted by a local St Pete artist. Never camped in an RV before? No problem. We will walk you through everything and help you enjoy our little oasis! Indoors: Full bathroom including shower, kitchen including oven, stove, microwave and seating area, couch, 2 TVs with Spectrum cable, and a queen bed in the bedroom. Outdoors: completely private, fenced in backyard with a beautiful mural, firepit, and hammock. Please note there is a WiFi camera installed outside of the RV for security purposes.

The best camping near De Soto National Memorial guide

Overview

About

Spanish conquistadors set their sights on North America long before the English arrived. In May 1539, Hernando De Soto made landfall near present-day Tampa Bay. He was in search of gold and glory. This memorial site showcases where De Soto's crew landed and met fierce resistance from the natives.

The most unique aspect of this park is ranger-led kayak tours. Each tour takes about 90 minutes. You see the site as De Soto would have encountered it nearly 500 years ago. You'll travel into Tampa Bay and the Manatee River. If you're lucky, you might see one of these gentle giants in the water.

Nature trails take you through Florida's varied ecosystems. A mangrove forest looks similar to the one De Soto saw when his crew landed. You also see where the river and bay meet. Ranger-led tours along these trails last around 45 minutes. Signs on the sides of the trails interpret what happened back in 1539.

Camp Uzita is the site's living history section. People dressed in period costumes welcome you from December through April (basically during non-hurricane season). Some re-enactors showcase weapons used at the time of the landing.

Grab a picnic lunch after you're done exploring. All of this walking, kayaking, and history will make you hungry. A 10-table picnic area is near the parking lot for convenience.

Campsites in the Tampa area provide year-round accommodations. Pick one near the beach to have the waves lull you to sleep at night.