Forest camping near Clearwater with campfires

Clearwater is a beach lover’s paradise, where campers can pass the days swimming, snorkeling, or fishing on family-family, white-sand beaches on Florida’s stretch of the Gulf of Mexico. Expect to share these waters with dolphins, manatees, pelicans, and all sorts of fish and seabirds, especially if you head out by kayak or boat to the undeveloped islands that sit just offshore. For in-land campsites with less crowds and a change of scenery, Clearwater Beach is also near forest and wetland preserves where you can birdwatch and spot gators. The best campgrounds and RV sites come with quick access to nature.

Clearwater is a year-round destination, with important differences between seasons. Winter is great for tent camping experiences thanks to cooler weather and less humidity, but this time of year is also more crowded, as snowbirds head to town from the Northeast and Canada to escape the cold. Meanwhile, summers in the Tampa Bay area can be hot, humid, rainy, and buggy—seek a campground with a swimming pool, a log cabin with air-conditioning, or an RV resort with cool communal clubhouses.Fortunately for RV campers, Clearwater has many RV parks with 50-amp full hookups, restrooms, wifi, and dump stations.