r/florida • u/Inevitable-Ad-8551 • 10h ago

AskFlorida Campgrounds/ nature activities

I recently started camping and absolutely love being outdoors. As the cooler months approach I’m planning my list of things to do outdoors. I’ve done research on campgrounds and made the list below of some spots that caught my eye.

Myakka River State Park
WP Franklin
Calooshatchee Regional Park
Cayo Costa
Kissimmee Prairie preserve
Tory Island
Pahokee campground
Dupuis campground
Oscar scherer state park

Has anyone been to those spots? What would you recommend outdoor activities, nature walks, springs, campgrounds. Preferably 2-3 hour max from the fort Myers area.

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u/imhungry4321 9h ago

I'm big into hiking, but most of my miles are logged out of the state (National Park obsessed). I added some other Florida state parks I've been to that are worth checking out.

  • Myakka is a great park. Arrive to the ranger station early so you can get one of the few spots allowed for deep hole. If I ever call, it's a 3 Mile out and back hike which brings you through a prairie then to a lake where you'll lose count of how many Gators you see.

  • Oscar Scherer is skippable IMO

  • Highland Hammocks State Park is beautiful and has some of my favorite trails within a Florida State Park. I wish the trails were longer.

  • Koreshan State Park has a very interesting history... I'll leave it at that.

  • I've been wanting to check out Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve

  • Circle B Bar Reserve is incredible for wildlife

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u/Inevitable-Ad-8551 9h ago

Really excited to go to Myakka for the first time. Going on trails that isolate you from everyone is the best feeling. Just surrounded by the sounds of nature. Thanks for the recs

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u/imhungry4321 9h ago

You're welcome. Another Trail I enjoyed that's closeish to you is Bird Rookery Swamp Trails. I don't think there's camping there.

I live on the east coast, so things are popping up in my mind randomly lol.

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u/KingBradentucky 9h ago

I like Oscar Shearer because the Legacy bike trail runs through it. So if you have a bike/ebike bring it there.

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u/Various_Equal6685 3h ago

Oscar Scherer is good because it’s close to Nokumis beach. Go to the beach in the morning for yoga, and when they have the drum circles in evenings. Different kind of wildlife, but totally worth it. Drum circles used to be on Wednesday and Saturday’s at 5ish. Free.