Campgrounds in Tampa/Clearwater, FL Area

You can't beat Fort Desoto county park.
It has awesome beaches, canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals and paths and a old historical Fort for the kids to play on.
It is hard to get reservations and the county residents have first choice, but we have been able to snag reservations when we wanted them.

Jack L

I you can't get into Desoto, try Cedar Key RV Resort.

Bay Bayou Resort in Tampa is a quiet campground with a lovely pool area. RVParkreviews.com will give you a better picture of the park.

NanciL wrote:
You can't beat Fort Desoto county park.
It has awesome beaches, canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals and paths and a old historical Fort for the kids to play on.
It is hard to get reservations and the county residents have first choice, but we have been able to snag reservations when we wanted them.

Jack L

X2 - it is a beautiful park, but pricey considering it is a county park
(which generally are a bit cheaper). When we were at Fort Desoto a couple of years ago, we noticed they continually had no vacancy signs out but when we walked around, there were always sites vacant - but maybe they were only available for short durations. Check mid week - you might find something - I'm sure your family would really enjoy this beautiful park. Great bicycling and kayaking, as well as bird watching.

Rock Crusher in Crystal River is a great spot to stay if they have sites available .

Unfortunately not many RV parks on the Gulf Coast that meet your requirements. Ft Desoto is about it. Bay Bayou is nice but you will have to drive to the beach (about 15 miles). Same with Cedar Key (about 10 miles)
Rock Crusher Canyon is nice for kids. Nice pool. Close enough to drive to beach.

Depending on what you mean by "close" don't look too far north of Clearwater. That's where the fantanstic beaches start again, after you leave the Panhandle.

For much of the rest of the west coast of Florida between St Joe and Clearwater, you will find occasional small artifical beaches created by county recreation mostly for local use, and maybe a few remnants of barrier islands, but most of the coast north of Clearwater is different, bays, inlets and wetlands rather than barrier islands and beaches. E.G. from Brooksville/Spring Hill there is a little county beach and fishing pier (Pine Island) at the end of the county road extending from US-50, and for the Crystal River/Homosassa area there is a little beach at the end of the road following the south shore of the river(Fort Island). Condition is going to depend on how long since they last brought in sand, and weather since that happened.

I am more familiar with this part of the coast, so don't know where to send you for parks on the part of the coast where the beaches do exist, and the land is fairly heavily developed.

we have stayed at Dunedin RV Park and it is quite nice and well managed. Great pool and tennis. Can ride bikes to the beach (or 5 minute drive)and is right on the Pinellas trail for excellent biking to several communities along it. Close to all amenities. Kids would like the Primate Sanctuary right along the trail. When in the area kids would like Tampa Aquarium, is it awesome. I am sure there are other kid friendly attractions in the area but not on my radar.

soricobob wrote:
I you can't get into Desoto, try Cedar Key RV Resort.

Ceadr Key is NOT the place to go if you're interested in beaches. In fact, if a good nearby beach is high on your list and you don't want to go to the panhandle, then you need to stay around Clearwater Beach or south. Personally, I'd go south to Bradenton/Sarasota area, which is just barely south of Tampa and far less congested. Beaches are way prettier down there. Even in the Tampa metro area, you could be 30 minutes to an hour from the the beach.

Agree with those recommending Fort De Soto, but you do have a short drive from the campground to the beach areas. North Beach area was the better area when I was there in September, since the East Beach had a lot of algae. No pool, either. But there are many campsites right on the water, which is tough to find.