Frontcountry camping in the Everglades

Love spending time in nature? How about overnight? Camp in the Everglades! This camping trip is surely one you’ll never forget. Camping, both frontcountry and backcountry, is available year-round. Even during this rainy season, people do head out and camp in the Everglades. The National Park Service notes that during the rainy season, camping can be more difficult and uncomfortable.

The Park does not have camping equipment to rent or purchase, so you must bring everything you will need to set up camp.

If you’re looking for a frontcountry camping experience, the Everglades has two places: Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground. Right now, the Long Pine Key Campground is closed for summer months. The Flamingo Campground is accessible from the Homestead Entrance of the Everglades. It can accommodate both tents and RVs. Since it is the summer season, reservations aren’t necessary, but you are still able to make one if you’d prefer. Flamingo has 234 drive-up sites, which are $20 per night for a campsite with no electric hookup and 41 sites are $30 per night with electric hookups. Many of the sites have a view of Florida Bay, as this site is on the southernmost tip of Florida.

The summer time is a good time to camp in this area if you prefer fewer people around. There is a visitor center at the campground, a store, and canoe and kayak rentals. This campground is a large open field with strong breezes coming off the bay. There are solar-heated showers, dump stations, picnic tables, grills and an amphitheater for winter programs. The Flamingo area also has lots of hiking and canoe trails. To make a reservation at Flamingo Campground, call 1-877-444-6777.

While camping in the Everglades, you can explore even more of the wetland on an airboat tour during your trip. An airboat ride can bring you around areas of the Everglades you are unable to reach by trails. If you’d like to go on an airboat tour, join Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours for an adventure. To book a trip, click here or call 800-368-0065.

 

 

Save Money with Everglades Camping

Everglades campingAre you planning a vacation to the Everglades, but you don’t want to break the bank? Camping is a fantastic alternative to staying in a hotel, especially when it comes to experiencing the vast wilderness of the Everglades.

From endangered wildlife to rare plant species, Everglades camping immerses you in nature you can’t find anywhere else in the world – all while saving you money. But before you book your campsite, it’s important to understand which campground fits your unique needs. Here’s what you need to know about Everglades camping:

Frontcountry vs. Backcountry

Backcountry camping presents ultimate adventure. This style requires campers to trek or paddle to their campsite while carrying all the necessary gear. While the backcountry will expose you to untouched and lesser-known sections of the Everglades, it’s not everyone’s adventure. Frontcountry camping suits those who aren’t physically able or aren’t mentally prepared to venture deep into Everglades wilderness. With frontcountry camping, you can drive up to your camp site, so all of your food and equipment is handy.

Now that you know about the two different Everglades camping styles, it’s time to learn exactly which campground is right for you.

Everglades Frontcountry Camping

The Everglades has two popular frontcountry campgrounds: Long Pine Key and Flamingo. Sites at each campground range from $15-30 per night.

Long Pine Key, a bit more rustic than Flamingo, features restrooms, water, a dump station, a nearby picnic area but no RV hookups. This campground sits just 11 miles from the entrance to Everglades National Park. All 108 sites are available on a first come first serve basis.

Flamingo, located at the southernmost point of Florida, hosts 234 drive-in sites, 40 walk up sites and 65 RV sites. The campground is fully equipped with showers and a picnic area with grills. With easy access to hiking and canoe trails, campers enjoy plentiful day trips.

Everglades Backcountry Camping

With nearly 50 backcountry campsites in Everglades National Park, backpackers are sure to find the solitude they seek. Backcountry campers can choose from either paddling or hiking to their sites, which come in three varieties: ground sites, beach sites or “chickees,” platform sites found amid boundless water.

Backpackers must obtain permits 24 hours prior to setting out into the backcountry. Permits cost $15 along with camping fees of $2 per person per day. Summer travelers benefit from waived permit fees during Florida’s warmest months. Obtain your permit from the Flamingo Visitor Center or the Gulf Coast Visitor Center.

See the Everglades by Airboat

Everglades camping puts you up close and personal with unique plant and wildlife. Plus, it’s affordable. Because camping is so inexpensive, you can put money you’d ordinarily spend on a hotel toward more Everglades activities. An airboat tour is one Everglades activity you can’t miss. Click here or call Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat tours at 239-695-3377 to book your Everglades airboat adventure today.