Historic courthouse building in downtown Fort Myers

Outdoors

Camping near Fort Myers

Campgrounds and camping areas near Fort Myers on federal land, with which ones take reservations on Recreation.gov.

17campgrounds and camping areas
12 mito the closest
2within 30 miles
November–Marchbest months

Good to know: Popular campgrounds book up months ahead on Recreation.gov; first-come sites fill early on weekends and holidays.

Closest picks

1

W.P. Franklin N

12 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers

Visitors flock to W.P. Franklin Campground for its well-kept facilities and location on the Caloosahatchee River, where campers can fish, boat and take it easy in sunny southwest Florida.

2

W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

12 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers

WP Franklin South Recreation Area is a day use area located on the Caloosahatchee River adjacent to the WP Franklin Lock and Dam.

3

Ortona South

36 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers

Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.

Map of all 17 places

Map of 17 places loads as you scroll.

Within 30 miles (2)

12 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

W.P. Franklin N

Visitors flock to W.P. Franklin Campground for its well-kept facilities and location on the Caloosahatchee River, where campers can fish, boat and take it easy in sunny southwest Florida.

  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking

12 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

WP Franklin South Recreation Area is a day use area located on the Caloosahatchee River adjacent to the WP Franklin Lock and Dam.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Picnicking

30 to 75 miles (8)

36 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

Ortona South

Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Fishing

41 mi south · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

An amazing world exists within the pristine mangrove-fringed waterways, uplands and freshwater wetlands that can be found only a few miles away from downtown Naples.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Diving
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Paddling
  • Photography
  • Ranger programs

46 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Gator Head Campground

Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Off Road Vehicle Trails
  • Wildlife viewing

49 mi southeast · Fish and Wildlife Service

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996 under provisions of the Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act of 1988.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Non-Motorized Boating
  • Wildlife viewing

58 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers

Lake Okeechobee

As lake, waterway and surrounding countryside, Okeechobee shows the many faces of Florida. A canopy of moss-draped live oaks hides clusters of sabal palms. A tangle of water plants marks the boundary where wetland meets lakeshore.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports

65 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Burns Lake Campground

Burns Lake Campground offers lake views from every campsite. Offering direct backcountry access, this campground is the ideal place for hunters and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.

  • Camping
  • Fishing

66 mi southeast · National Park Service

Big Cypress National Preserve

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Hunting
  • Paddling

70 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Monument Lake Campground

Monument Lake Campground is a beautiful place where visitors can enjoy the surrounding preserve while sitting at their picnic table.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hunting

75 miles and farther (7)

76 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Midway Campground (FL)

Midway Campground is a beautiful place where visitors can enjoy the surrounding preserve while sitting at their picnic table.

  • Camping

83 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Pinecrest Group Campground

Pinecrest Campground offers four group campsites that provide a nice, quiet and relaxing atmosphere. This is a wonderful location for a group to start their south Florida adventure.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • History

102 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

St Lucie South

St. Lucie Campground provides a relaxing camping experience on the St. Lucie Canal, part of the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway that spans South Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Fishing
  • Hiking

105 mi southeast · National Park Service

Everglades National Park

Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and animals that call it home.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Picnicking
  • Wildlife viewing

129 mi southeast · National Park Service

Biscayne National Park

Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Paddling

129 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Boca Chita Campground

Boca Chita Key is only accessible by boat. No services are available on the island. Boca Chita Key is the park's most popular island. It features beautiful waterfront views, a grassy camping area, picnic tables and grills.

  • Camping
  • Picnicking

131 mi southeast · National Park Service · Campground

Elliot Key Campground

Eliott Key is only accessible by boat. No services are available on the island. Elliott Key is the park's largest island. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers, picnic tables and grills are available.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking

Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Fort Myers. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.

Get outside around Fort Myers

Around Fort Myers

Fort Myers FL Downtown HD 1st Nat Bank pano
Fort Myers FL Downtown HD 1st Nat Bank pano01Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Fort Myers FL Downtown HD Franklin Arms
Fort Myers FL Downtown HD Franklin Arms01Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Caloosahatchee Bridge, Fort Myers
Caloosahatchee Bridge 2Sanibel sun · CC BY-SA 4.0

More outdoors near Fort Myers

Questions

Where is the closest place for camping near Fort Myers?

W.P. Franklin N (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 12 miles northeast of Fort Myers as the crow flies. Next are W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area (12 mi) and Ortona South (36 mi).

When is the best time for camping near Fort Myers?

Based on Fort Myers’s average highs, November–March. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.

Can I reserve a campsite near Fort Myers?

11 of the 17 places listed here take reservations on Recreation.gov; others are first come, first served.

Who manages these places?

Federal agencies including National Park Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.

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