One of the things that the Everglades is known for is because of its endless outdoor camping opportunities. Anybody can put up their tents or park their RV’s somewhere, put up the barbecue grill and great times are sure to follow. The clear blue skies, the fresh warm breeze and the rejuvenating trees that surround you all give a unique kind of relaxation that stimulates both body and soul. Kayaking and hiking are the best ways to go about enjoying this vast 60 mile wide wilderness and the deeper into the Everglades you go, the more things you’ll see that will satisfy your wanderlust craving.
The Everglades is a massive ecosystem and it does not cover just the Everglades National Park alone. Its lake source is Okeechobee but there’s another water source in Florida Bay. These sources provide water over wildlife parks and water conservation areas and finally to two parks which are the Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve. This means that the Everglades covers much more than the national park alone and these outside areas give its almost limitless camping possibilities.
Throughout the Everglades, there are several spots that are specifically designed to be camp sites where you can make your tent and start a campfire. These camps can usually be found along the river banks within Everglades itself and the beaches that can be found along the Ten Thousand Islands. It’s also important to note that many of these sites are not accessible by foot and can only be reached by boat. You can book your reservations in both the Homestead and the Everglades Park Visitor Centers. The setting will be more primitive as there will be no facilities and concessions that will aid you throughout the night. This means getting in touch with nature in its most literal sense. Mosquitoes will be your sleep over buddies so best be prepared for them.
Another camp you may want to set your eyes on is on the southern portion of Big Cypress National Preserve. Birds and other wildlife congregate around these parts and so do many tourists who are looking to camp out. Backpackers and hikers are permitted anywhere in these campgrounds so long as they have a backyard country permit. The grounds promise tall trees and swamp waters that go waist deep. Perfect for the adventurous types who like to flirt with risky situations. Another great thing about camping in Big Cypress Preserve is that you can stay camping out for a long time, that’s 180 days maximum for every 12 months.
These are just a couple of campsites that you can find in the Everglades. There are more campgrounds that are privately owned and they’re definitely worth checking out. But if you like to know more about where to camp plus all the other hiking and biking opportunities in southwest Florida, check out our website and go to the Articles section. However, in case you’re in downtown Naples, swing by 4th Avenue South to our very own Visitor Center and we’d be more than happy to tell you all about the beauty of the Paradise Coast.
