Cayo Costa Primitive Campground

Ready for an adventure? Just getting to this campground is a little bit epic. First, you have to board a boat at one of the five places that offer passenger service to the island: Punta Gorda, Pine Island, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, or Captiva Island. The ride is $40, and reservations are required. If you’re prone to seasickness, don’t forget your Dramamine so you can enjoy sailing through the crystal waters of the Gulf. After disembarking at the barrier island dock, you need to travel a mile to the campground. Unless you’re eating nothing but snacks from the gift shop, you’ll probably have a hefty load of supplies. We recommend catching the tram, which shuttles campers and gear to the campground between 9am and 4pm. As soon as you arrive, you’ll realize how worth the trek it was. Whether you’re bunking at one of the 12 rustic cabins (which sleep up to six people) or posting up at the campground by the beach, you’re finally, totally, away from it all. Neither the cabins or campsites have electricity, which make the stars all the more bright. You’ll never want to car-camp again.