Campgrounds near Long Boat Key, Florida

Turtle Beach Campground

Turtle Beach is located on the next island over from Long Boat Key and is the closest campground. The two keys are not connected by a bridge, but it is still only a short drive back to the mainland to go from one to the other. The campsites are essentially sandy lots separated from each other either by rows of palm trees or privacy walls. Turtle Beach has roughly half a mile of beach frontage, plus boat ramps and a canoe/kayak launch area on Turtle Beach Lagoon. The camping facilities consist of restrooms, picnic tables and barbecue grills, and among other amenities it has a playground and courts for horseshoes and volleyball.

Turtle Beach Campground
8862 Midnight Pass Road
Sarasota, FL 34242
(941) 349-3839
scgov.net/TurtleBeachCampground/

Oscar Scherer State Park

This mainland Florida state park is about 15 miles due south of Long Boat Key. Oscar Scherer does have beach access, but this is on a freshwater lake and not on the Gulf of Mexico. However, it is still only about half a mile from a bridge leading to Siesta Key, so campers there enjoy convenient beach access. The campground offers joint tent-RV campsites with electrical and water hookups, picnic tables and barbecue grills. The campground is serviced by showers and a coin laundry, and among its other amenities the park offers a playground and canoe and kayak rentals. For outdoor activities, the park has hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing and snorkeling in the lake. Saltwater fishing also is possible in the park's South Creek.

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, FL 34229
(941) 483-5956
floridastateparks.org/OscarScherer/

Fort DeSoto Park Campground

Fort Desoto Park operates a 230-site campground on an island sitting across Tampa Bay from Long Boat Key. The trip between the two islands is about 30 miles, but most of this is a convenient drive on major interstates. Fort DeSoto's huge campground sits on a pair of peninsulas, so most of the campsites enjoy views of the Gulf of Mexico. The nearest beach can be accessed by either road or down a short hiking path. The campground is serviced by seven shower houses and a camp store and also has a pet area and a pair of playgrounds. In addition to its beach activities, fishing and boating, the park is good area for collecting shells and watching birds, manatees and turtles.

Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S.
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
(727) 893-9185
pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm