How much does camping cost at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Camping fees at Alafia River State Park Campground range from $5/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Alafia River State Park Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Alafia River State Park Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Alafia River State Park Campground?

Alafia River State Park Campground is open Open year-round; park hours 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Yes, Alafia River State Park Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Fire policies at Alafia River State Park Campground: The park provides campfire circles; reviews and park guidance indicate gathering firewood in the park is prohibited and visitors should bring or purchase firewood (reports of firewood and ice sales at the entrance).. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Alafia River State Park Campground have?

Alafia River State Park Campground has 30 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Alafia River State Park Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Alafia River State Park Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Alafia River State Park Campground?

Popular activities at Alafia River State Park Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Alafia River State Park Campground

4.51

65 reviews

14326 S. County Road 39, Lithia FL 33547

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

102 ft

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

30 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

102 ft

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

30 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Alafia River State Park Campground

$5.00 - $5.00 / night

Campsite Fees

$5 per vehicle (day-use). Nightly campsite fees are not listed on the park page; campsite reservations handled through Florida State Parks...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Florida State Parks

Provider

813-672-5320

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Alafia River State Park Campground

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Campground Map

14326 S. County Road 39, Lithia FL 33547

Alafia River State Park Campground

14326 S. County Road 39, Lithia FL 33547

Nearby places

Grocery stores and major services are generally about 20–30 minutes by car from the park (rural location).

Nearby supplies

Supplies and groceries are typically located about 20–30 minutes away by car.

Weather at Alafia River State Park Campground

Best Time to Camp at Alafia River State Park Campground

Late fall through early spring delivers the best camping and riding conditions. Expect daytime highs in the mid-60s to low-80s F and much lower humidity than summer, which makes the steep singletrack rideable and the campground genuinely comfortable. Summer brings Florida heat, humidity, and mosquitoes; early mornings and evenings are the best windows then. The park stays open year-round, but cooler months keep the trails firm and the sites pleasant. Weekend use picks up in fall and winter, but weekdays remain uncrowded.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open year-round; park hours 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

About Alafia River State Park Campground

Alafia River State Park Campground sits on 30 paved sites carved into the dramatic topography of a reclaimed phosphate mine in central Florida. The park's steep ridges, deep valleys, and network of technical mountain-bike trails attract serious riders, while full hookups (water and electric) and clean facilities make it accessible for families and RVers. Fees run $5 per night, and the campground fills quickly on cooler weekends.

Family campground with sites suitable for RVers and tent campers, a designated equestrian campground area and tie-outs, plus a primitive group camp for organized youth groups and private glamping rentals.

Historical Significance

The park occupies a former phosphate mine. That industrial history created the hilly topography that now defines the place: steep ridges, deep pits, and elevation changes unusual for central Florida. The state reclaimed the land and developed it into a recreation area focused on mountain biking and paddling.

Weather and SeasonsLate fall through early spring delivers the best camping and riding conditions. Expect daytime highs in the mid-60s to low-80s F and much lower humidity than summer, which makes the steep singletrack rideable and the campground genuinely comfortable. Summer brings Florida heat, humidity, and mosquitoes; early mornings and evenings are the best windows then. The park stays open year-round, but cooler months keep the trails firm and the sites pleasant. Weekend use picks up in fall and winter, but weekdays remain uncrowded.

Natural Features and SceneryPhosphate mining left behind something unusual for Florida: genuine hills. Steep ridges drop into deep valleys where ponds and lakes now fill former pits, and hardwood forests blanket the rolling terrain. The South Prong of the Alafia River flows through as a blackwater stream, its tannin-stained water reflecting the canopy. Trails wind through shaded woods and emerge onto sun-drenched ridgelines with views across the reclaimed landscape. A few campsites in the southern loop (4, 5, and 6) have partial lake views through natural brush. Wading birds, songbirds, and typical central Florida wildlife move through the wetlands and forests, though specific sightings vary.

Geological RegionReclaimed phosphate mine in Central Florida characterized by steep ridges, deep pits, ponds and lakes with notable elevation changes.

Scenic ViewsSome campsites and trails offer views of ponds and small lakes; many campground sites are shaded under mature trees with typical Central Florida vegetation (Spanish moss, pines and hardwoods). Trails and high ridges provide broader scenic vantage points over reclaimed mine lakes and rolling terrain.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsFlorida State Parks reservations website; phone 800-326-3521 (TDD 888-433-0287).

Total Campsites30 campsites

Best CampsitesThe southern Lonesome Lake loop (sites 1–12) offers a pleasant setting with partial water views from sites 4, 5, and 6. The northern Alafia Lake loop (sites 13–30) provides greater privacy, with thick vegetation between sites. Pull-throughs on either loop are recommended for ease of access and privacy. Avoid sites 1 and 11 in the southern loop if you want separation; they face each other.

Need help booking Alafia River State Park Campground?

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Florida State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Thirty full-facility campsites (two paved loops) with water and electrical hookups at each site, clean restrooms with solar-heated showers, two large picnic pavilions, playground, full-service bike shop, equestrian barn/stables and tie-outs, and a primitive group camp area. A glamping operator offers furnished bell tents on large shelled sites near the bathhouse and horse barn.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Alafia River State Park offers extensive mountain biking, hiking and equestrian trail systems, paddling on the South Prong of the Alafia River, fishing in scattered lakes/ponds, picnicking and wildlife viewing. The park includes a full-service bike shop with rentals, lessons and repairs, glamping rentals, picnic pavilions and playgrounds.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSome mapping software directs visitors to the wrong entrance (official notice advises using County Road 39 entrance). Mountain bike trails include steep, technical features and are intended for a range of abilities—helmets are required on trails. Heat, humidity and insects can be hazards in summer; gas‑powered motors are not allowed on the park lakes.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.5

65 reviews

Top-Rated

Alafia River State Park Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the park for its world-class mountain bike trails, full-service bike shop, and spacious, shaded campsites with water and electrical hookups. Common negatives mentioned by campers include lack of sewer hookups at individual sites (central dump station available), occasional noise or pavilion parties, variable ranger/customer-service experiences, and limited nearby services.

Review Summaries

Based on 65 reviews

What Campers Love

Outstanding mountain bike network and on-site bike shop; spacious, paved campsites with water and electric hookups; clean restrooms with solar-heated showers; equestrian facilities and nearby...

Based on 65 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reserve ahead (30-site campground fills in cooler months and on weekends), choose pull-throughs or the northern loop for greater privacy, consider sites 4–6 in the southern/Lonesome Lake loop for...

Based on 65 reviews

Camper Quotes

If you have been to Alafia MTB and like to camp or RV, then Alafia Park campground makes perfect sense. | Very beautiful & peaceful campgrounds! Will definitely be back! | Small, spacious campground...

Based on 65 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

Mountain bikers are the obvious fit, but families and equestrians get a lot here too. Sites 4, 5, and 6 offer partial lake views; the northern loop has more privacy. Book well ahead for any fall or winter weekend.

Skip if

No sewer hookups at individual sites, and the dump station is tight for big rigs. Sulfur taste in the water gets mentioned enough to warrant bringing your own drinking supply. Services are 20-30 minutes out, so arrive stocked.

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Loop LMR1 sits within Little Manatee River State Park, offering 27 spacious sites with electric and water hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. The campground accommodates tents, RVs, and equestrians, with full hookups (including sewer) available. It's 6 miles south of Sun City Center via Lightfoot Road off US Highway 301.