Orlando delights nature lovers with springs, lakes, and nearby beach camping.
Orlando is famous for its theme parks, but nature lovers know the best attractions in Central Florida are the wilderness and wildlife. Within an hour of downtown Orlando, campers can kayak with manatees in spring-fed rivers, fish on lakes, visit white-sand Atlantic beaches, and chart the stars at an International Dark Sky Park. Excellent local hiking and mountain biking options also draw those looking for an Orlando camping trip. Orlando campgrounds keep campers comfortable year-round, as do a smattering of RV parks with full hookups, free wifi, and swimming pools.
There are several good parks for day trips and camping in Orlando, including the city’s Bill Frederick Park, home to 183 acres, fishing access on Turkey Lake, and a campground with tent and RV campsites. Another local camping gem with tent and RV sites is Moss Park on Lake Hart. And for a fun day on the water close to Orlando, check out Lake Apopka in Winter Garden, a favorite getaway offering boat rentals.
For a spring-water oasis 20 minutes from town, check out Wekiwa Springs State Park. The crystal-clear green waters are open for swimming and paddling (kayak rentals available on-site). Even better, come winter, manatee sightings increase on the Wekiva River. The Wekiwa Springs campground is ideal for tent camping, with sites featuring picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms.
The Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is just 30 minutes south of Orlando. By day, this grassland preserve is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and birdwatching, but by night, the skies are so dark that the International Dark Sky Association has designated the area a Dark Sky Park, meaning the stargazing here is (literally) out of this world. The Kissimmee Prairie campground has RV and tent camping sites, along with water/electric hookups and a dump station.
The closest Atlantic beach to Orlando is Cape Canaveral, about an hour east. This stretch of coast has white-sand beaches with boating, fishing, and surfing opportunities. The area’s Canaveral National Seashore is especially wild and scenic—just keep an eye on the Kennedy Space Center launch schedule when visiting for the chance to see a rocket take off.
Orlando has excellent warm-weather winter camping. Summer camping is possible too, but high heat and humidity mean summer campers may want an RV or lodging with air conditioning or a fan. Area theme parks like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios are most crowded in summer, so booking your summer getaway in advance is a must.