Trail Lakes Campground

Ever wondered what it's like to camp in the heart of the Everglades with air-conditioned chickee huts and an on-site reptile exhibit? Trail Lakes Campground blends wilderness immersion with unexpected comforts across 150 sites nestled in Big Cypress National Preserve. This family-operated campground spans three generations, offering everything from primitive tent pads to glamping-ready yurts, all shaded by lush vegetation that creates natural privacy buffers between sites.

The campground's location delivers authentic Everglades access while maintaining convenient amenities – 24/7 bathhouses with hot showers, a camp store stocked with essentials, and electric hookups at designated sites. A distinctive on-site zoo featuring native reptiles provides family-friendly diversion, while the property's three freshwater ponds attract birdlife. Everglades City sits just 12 minutes west, offering provisions and gateway access to the Ten Thousand Islands kayaking trails. Within the preserve itself, hiking trails depart directly from camp, winding through cypress domes where alligators and wading birds frequent the wetlands.

Facilities include a sanitary dump station, laundry, and firewood sales, with staff offering guided fishing and safari tours. While summer brings assertive insect activity, the campground's elevated chickee huts and screened cabins provide refuge. This destination particularly suits campers seeking proximity to wilderness with the reassurance of managed facilities, where the Everglades' primordial landscapes begin at the site's edge. The combination of ecological immediacy and thoughtful infrastructure positions Trail Lakes as a strategic base for exploring Florida's iconic freshwater ecosystems.