Lake Wales, Florida provides multiple camping environments ranging from state parks to private resorts along the central Florida lake region. Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground offers primitive sites and RV hookups on the shores of Lake Kissimmee, while Oak Hammock Resort features cabin rentals and mixed-use campgrounds approximately 10 miles from downtown Lake Wales. The area includes both year-round facilities and seasonal operations with most sites accommodating tent campers, RVs, and some offering glamping options or cabin rentals. Several campgrounds provide water access with fishing opportunities on Lakes Rosalie and Kissimmee.
Campground amenities vary significantly throughout the region, with most developed sites offering electric hookups, drinking water, and picnic tables. "The park was clean, convenient and the staff was super friendly. Great amenities and a beautiful pool!" noted one camper about Cypress Campground. Summer temperatures often reach the 90s with high humidity, while winter brings milder conditions that attract seasonal visitors. Many campgrounds in the Lake Wales area require reservations, particularly during winter months when "snowbirds" arrive. Cell service can be spotty at more remote locations, and visitors should prepare for occasional afternoon thunderstorms during summer months.
Water-based recreation serves as the primary attraction for many Lake Wales area campgrounds, with fishing, swimming, and boating access available at several locations. Lake Rosalie Campground provides boat-in access along with traditional drive-in sites, creating multiple entry options for water enthusiasts. The landscape features a mix of pine forests, oak hammocks, and lake shorelines typical of the central Florida region. According to a recent review, "We fished off the dock, which was a lot of fun." Family-friendly amenities are common at the larger establishments, with swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities available at resorts like Camp Margaritaville and Cypress Campground. The proximity to attractions such as Legoland (approximately 15 miles from Lake Wales) makes these campgrounds popular with families seeking both outdoor recreation and entertainment options.
$20 / night
"I live within a hours drive from this park and have been camping here for 40 plus years. This State Park is Old Florida, sites are secluded from the other sites compared to many other parks."
"The path is very clear with markers and when you arrive at the site, there is a clear indicator to follow. The path to the site is right off the main trail."
"We came to Florida to escape NY in 2020, chose from a map! While here, we made good friends with other snowbirds and travelers. There is a nice pool, small playground and 2 laundry facilities."
"First we had a late arrival, and they had left us all the documents ready for us by the entrance."
$56 - $201 / night
"Big park so lots of walking if you don’t have the cart (or you can bring your own and/or bikes). Our grandsons loved the golf cart!"
"The best campground in Florida ! Fun beautiful and lots to do even without going to the parks Wildlife is abundant Bunnies deer turkey"
$78 - $389 / night
"What it lacks in shade it makes up for with 2 nice pools, one geared toward kids with a fountain and very fun twisty slide, music, TV’s etc & the other is on the lake by a tow-ski place that’s fun"
"Very close to a long biking trail & there’s a gas station near the entrance. Beautifully landscaped & friendly staff."
$85 / night
"Pond in addition to lake. Bountiful with wildlife. Full hookups, laundry, game room, outdoor ping pong, trails, lakeside dock, fishing dock on pond and wifi."
$35 - $999 / night
"If you are terrified of bugs this may not be the place for you (FYI), it is in the middle of Florida and in summer the bugs love to come out."
"The property is sprawling, definitely bring a bike unless you enjoy long walks. The roads are nice & they offer morning trash pickup. The pool is huge & gorgeous! Very nice."
$18 - $22 / night
"There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site and there is a toilet nearby. For showers you have to drive to the regular campground and use theirs. You can purchase firewood in the park as well."
"There are many short loop trails that take you through many ecosystems, giant trees at sizes few have seen before, lots of wildlife to."
"Right beside a Walmart and very close to Legoland."
$10 - $20 / night
"We stayed at this location for 13 days. The bathroom was clean, there was a fire ban in place, but we had portable grills so utilized those."
"Great place to walk. Everyone is very friendly. This is a 55 and older resort so we didn’t see any kids around. Frostproof is a small town so shopping is a bit of a ways off."
TravelerStayed just one night on March. Great tent sites and mostly private. Facilities are clean with showers. Water and power at the site. Beautiful walks and lakes, Lots of birds and rabbits.
Only issue was the early morning traffic on the nearby highway (#27) was noisy.
ScoutI'd like to give you the positives. Crisp, clean, manicured, food and bar pretty good, well-appointed amenities. We had a pretty good week, having found a quiet pool area. Saw a bald eagle and a swallow-tail kite. I’d like to tell you about that, but that’s not the review.
Here’s the review: if you book here, you will be checking into a bizarre combination of tropical paradise, tailgate party, spring break, and a middle school playground. On St. Patrick's Day, we had been doing some sightseeing. We came back to our site, and the folks who had arrived behind us fired up their music. I don't have a problem with music or other noise prior to"quiet time," so long as it's not over the top. This was way over the top. Kim was on the phone with the nursing home about her 91-year old mother and she couldn't hear the other end of the call.
We called Security and asked for help, they came around and talked to the offenders. Whereupon the offenders started yelling around"who complained about our music?" And, they sent their preteen daughters on their bicycles going around and asking"did you complain?” Let's just say it was downhill from there. They jacked the volume even more, and started taunting us. Kim lost her temper and started yelling at them to quiet down. They responded by threatening her. She told me to call security, but since they hadn’t helped, and the on-duty rent-a-cop had no interest in helping, I called 911(which the campground rules said to do in an emergency). Apparently, that was a mistake. The rent-a-cop was pissed off that we called 911 when he was supposed to already be on top of it(which he wasn't). So there was a conclave of police cars, and the night manager, and the three large guys from the offending site, etc.
Bottom line: management demanded that WE leave, in half an hour, or be arrested. It’s 10:30 pm, and I told the rent-a-cop that I was in no shape to drive. “Figure it out,” he said, and walked away. So two 70-year olds had 30 minutes to get everything packed up and drive to some alternative place.
While we were striking the site, the kids at the offending site were chanting"we won, we won." And they started playing"Hit the Road You Jack" quite loud. And the adults were yelling"we're Republicans. We can do whatever we want." They noted our Maine license plates and told us to"go back to Canada where you belong."
We ended up in a wicked expensive hotel in the next town over, paying spring break prices($340 a night!!). And we lost the cost of two nights at the campground.
So if you’re a party animal, this may be your kind of place. Just don’t complain about anything, or you will be asked to leave.
It’s interesting to note which rules are enforced and which aren’t. For instance, there’s a poolside bar, and lots of signs between the bar and the pool saying“no food or drink beyond this point.” Not only was there lots of food and drink around the pool, there were wait staff taking orders and delivering it.
In retrospect, the fact that they have a rent-a-cop cruising the premises every night should have been a red flag. I’ve never seen that before, but apparently they expect rowdiness. They just don’t want to deal with the negative repercussions.
ScoutOur campsite is nice. It's quiet here during the week. The bathrooms need cleaning. They are kept neat just not cleaned.
TravelerSpring break got hit with a cold front but we got 1 day in the springs. It’s nice and clean
TravelerThere appears to be new management in the campground. Procedures are completely different and much better than previous visits. It is cleaner and more organized. It is now possible to get a reservation for the full hookup section. The river and woods trails are in great shape. Hopefully they will get the mini golf course turf replaced, it is currently painted concrete and not much fun to play on.
ScoutNice old KOA but businesses built around it. If you like sirens and racing cars irs ok. It is a nice camp ground but don’t park in back near the fence. lots of street noice like garbage pickup.
GuideWelcoming staff upon arrival. Park is very clean and well taken care of. Met some great neighbors and enjoyed the quietness. The park is constantly monitored by staff giving you a sense of comfort. Beautiful spring to enjoy a warm day as the water temp is a consistent 72°. Canoe and Kyak launch is easily accessible to enjoy the calm waters of the Alafia River. Restrooms and showers were clean and plentiful around the grounds. We will definitely be back.
TravelerLarge, level sites. Can accommodate any size RV. Very active community. 2 activity centers, pool, pickleball, horseshoes, billiards, bingo, entertainment and much more. Clean bathrooms and showers.
GuideI think the best thing is the size of this place, there usually is always a spot to get in on. There is a nice Little River running through the very edge of the park, but it's difficult to get a spot there. Also, the laundry facility is top notch and the pool is very pleasant, they also have racquetball and some nice short trails to walk on.
Lake Rosalie Campground offers both drive-in and boat-in access, creating versatile entry options for water enthusiasts at camping sites near Lake Wales, Florida. The central Florida region experiences temperatures that regularly exceed 90°F in summer months with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while winter brings milder conditions in the 60s-70s. Several campgrounds in this area provide direct access to lakes for fishing and boating, with many sites requiring advance reservations during peak winter season.
Hiking trails and wildlife observation: Lake Kissimmee State Park features extensive trail systems with diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. "We enjoyed the common areas, the observation deck and the hiking. Staff and hosts were wonderful," notes one visitor to the park, while another camper mentions "Beautiful shaded sites and long biking/ trails."
Tubing at natural springs: Located about 45 minutes north of Lake Wales, Kelly Rock Springs Campground offers a refreshing alternative to lake activities. "Beautiful place for floating down the spring. Enjoy drifting over river pebbles at the clear bottom of the spring," writes one camper. Water temperature stays around 67-70°F year-round, making it "very relaxing and great for tubing."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide fishing access either from shorelines or docks. At Lake Rosalie Campground, visitors report good experiences: "We fished off the dock, which was a lot of fun." The lakes in this region support various fish species and provide year-round fishing options.
Private, spacious sites: Campers frequently mention site privacy as a major benefit at Lake Kissimmee State Park. "Campsites are far enough apart for privacy with lots of shades trees. Each site has a firepit," reports one reviewer. Another notes their site was "very large, mostly level, with beautiful trees surrounding the site and great privacy."
Resort amenities: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort offers upscale facilities approximately 20 minutes from Lake Wales. "Great location and fun for the whole family! Clean, well maintained and friendly atmosphere," shares one visitor. The resort features "2 nice pools, one geared toward kids with a fountain and very fun twisty slide, music, TV's etc & the other is on the lake."
Wildlife encounters: The natural setting around Lake Wales provides opportunities to observe Florida wildlife. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, one camper reported, "Wild turkeys visited us daily to hang out by a fallen tree near our site. Deer passed by every evening." Another mentioned, "Deers all around even among the campsites."
Limited cell service: Connectivity can be problematic at more remote sites. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, campers report: "Cell service is practically non existent in the park and within 10 miles from the park. Keep an eye on gas, there's one place about 6 miles from the park and town is about 15 miles away."
Weather considerations: Summer camping requires preparation for heat and storms. Winter is the peak season when snowbirds arrive. At Cypress Campground, a winter visitor noted, "We came to Florida to escape NY in 2020... While here, we made good friends with other snowbirds and travelers."
Fire restrictions vary: Fire regulations differ between campgrounds. Some locations permit fires in designated rings while others have restrictions. Always check current fire rules when making reservations.
Proximity to attractions: Many Lake Wales area campgrounds offer convenient access to regional attractions. Cypress Campground is "3 miles from Legoland" according to one visitor who adds, "We had a BLAST at this camping retreat... The pool was just what we needed, the put-put was a fun activity."
Kid-friendly amenities: Oak Hammock Resort offers family-oriented facilities about 10 miles from downtown Lake Wales. One visitor describes it as a "Beautiful family park" with "outdoor ping pong, trails, lakeside dock, fishing dock on pond and wifi."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer ranger-led programs that appeal to children. At Highlands Hammock State Park, approximately 40 miles south of Lake Wales, "ranger-led activities like soup night, covered dish dinners, camper coffee" are available during winter months.
Site selection and access: RV campers should research site dimensions carefully. At Disney's Fort Wilderness, one RVer observed: "There is not a lot of room in the loops to pull your rv into the spot. There is plenty of room between your rv and your neighbor next to you but not a lot of room across from your spot."
Hookup variations: Hookup options differ significantly between campgrounds. At Lake Kissimmee State Park, RVers note: "Only 30amp hook up and no sewer, but there is a dump station. The spots are pretty level and the pads are crushed shells. Spot 9 is fully concrete."
Shade availability: Many newer RV resorts lack mature trees. At Resort at Canopy Oaks, visitors mention: "The trees were planted in December 2020, so there's not much shade at this point" and "no shade on sites" can make summer camping challenging. Consider this factor when booking during hot months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lake Wales, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Wales, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 228 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Wales, FL and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lake Wales, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Wales, FL is Lake Kissimmee State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Wales, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Wales, FL.
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