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Family Camping Close to Home: Miami-Dade and Broward

You do not need a long drive for a weekend under the pines. Miami-Dade, Broward, and the edge of the Everglades all have campgrounds where families can pitch a tent.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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South Florida families often assume camping means a long drive. In fact, there are tent-friendly campgrounds within an hour of most homes in the region, from a county park next to Zoo Miami to the pine flats of Everglades National Park. A weekend under the trees is closer than it seems, and October through April is the sweet spot for comfortable nights.

Larry and Penny Thompson Park, Miami

This 270-acre county park at 12451 SW 184th Street sits right next to Zoo Miami and keeps its campground open year-round. There are RV sites plus a separate tent area, with restrooms, hot showers, laundry, and a camp store on site. Tent sites have no electric hookups, which keeps the price low, around $25 a night. It is the easiest first camping trip for families in South Dade, and the park office at 305-232-1049 can confirm availability.

Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach

In Broward, Quiet Waters Park at 401 South Powerline Road offers platform tent camping with a twist: families can rent an army-style tent or a 15-foot teepee already set up on a wooden platform, each with a grill, a fire ring, water, and electricity. Restrooms, showers, and a sand volleyball court are nearby, and reservations run through Broward County's park system at 954-357-5100. It is camping without the tent-pole argument.

Markham Park, Sunrise

Markham Park at 16001 West State Road 84 in Sunrise allows tent camping alongside its RV sites, with a restroom complex, hot showers, picnic tables, charcoal grills, and fire pits. The park also has a bike trail and a model airplane field, so the camping weekend can include a full day of park activities. Call 954-357-8868 to check site availability before you pack.

Everglades National Park

For the real thing, Everglades National Park runs two frontcountry campgrounds. Flamingo, at the end of the park road, is open year-round with drive-in and walk-in tent sites and bathhouses. Long Pine Key, about 30 minutes from the Homestead entrance, opens seasonally from November through May with first-come, first-served tent sites in a pine rockland setting. Both put families inside the park, with the Everglades as the backyard, and the park office at 305-242-7700 can answer current conditions.

The practical notes

Call ahead to confirm availability, because seasonal closures and holiday weekends change the picture. Pack for mosquitoes, bring water, and reserve early for the Broward parks. Nanci's families tell her the first trip is the hardest one to schedule and the easiest one to repeat. The gear gets simpler, the kids get faster, and the weekends get longer.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.