How much does camping cost at Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

Camping fees at Lake Manatee 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 Lake Manatee State Park Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Lake Manatee 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 Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

Lake Manatee State Park Campground is open Open daily 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 Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

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

How many campsites does Lake Manatee State Park Campground have?

Lake Manatee State Park Campground has 60 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Manatee 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 Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

Lake Manatee 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 Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

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

Lake Manatee State Park Campground

4.38

270 reviews

20007 State Road 64 East, Bradenton FL 34212

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

85 ft

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

60 campsites

Season

Open daily 8 a.m. un...

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

85 ft

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

60 campsites

Season

Open daily 8 a.m. un...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Lake Manatee State Park Campground

$5.00 - $5.00 / night

Campsite Fees

$5 per vehicle day‑use fee. Campsite nightly fees are not listed on the park page. Reservations for campsites and cabins available via the Florida...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Florida State Parks

Provider

941-741-3028

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Lake Manatee State Park Campground

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Campground Map

20007 State Road 64 East, Bradenton FL 34212

Lake Manatee State Park Campground

20007 State Road 64 East, Bradenton FL 34212

Nearby places

Bradenton — ~15 miles

Nearby supplies

Gas stations and grocery options in the Bradenton area (visitor reports indicate a Publix and other services within roughly 6 miles).

Weather at Lake Manatee State Park Campground

Best Time to Camp at Lake Manatee State Park Campground

Late fall through early spring brings the best camping weather. Daytime highs run 70–83°F with lower humidity, making hikes and lakeside activities comfortable. Lake water stays warm enough for swimming and fishing picks up. Crowds are moderate to low after summer ends. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms that pass quickly. Trails with little tree cover turn into sun traps. Most campers prefer the cooler months when the scrub and sand pine habitat is more pleasant to explore on foot or bike.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

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

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open daily 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

About Lake Manatee State Park Campground

Lake Manatee State Park sits on the south shore of a 2,400-acre reservoir about 15 miles east of Bradenton. The campground has 60 sites, each with water and 30-amp electric hookups. Visitors come for the boat ramp, fishing access, and trails through pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub. Sites cost $5 per night and fill up during the cooler months when snowbirds arrive.

60-site campground within walking distance of the beach and fishing areas. Every site has water and 30-amp electrical service; a dump station is at the campground entrance. Maximum RV length is listed as 65 ft and reservations are available through the Florida State Parks reservation system.

Historical Significance

The lake is a human-made reservoir created when a dam was built across the Manatee River in the mid-1960s. The dam blocks river access, so despite the park's name, manatees don't live in the lake.

Weather and SeasonsLate fall through early spring brings the best camping weather. Daytime highs run 70–83°F with lower humidity, making hikes and lakeside activities comfortable. Lake water stays warm enough for swimming and fishing picks up. Crowds are moderate to low after summer ends. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms that pass quickly. Trails with little tree cover turn into sun traps. Most campers prefer the cooler months when the scrub and sand pine habitat is more pleasant to explore on foot or bike.

Natural Features and SceneryThe lake was created in the mid-1960s when engineers dammed the Manatee River. Nearly three miles of protected shoreline run through pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, hardwood forest, and seasonal depression marshes. Elevation sits at 85 feet. The day-use area offers open views across the lake, with benches and a swimming beach. Wildlife is common: armadillos wander through campsites, gopher tortoises cross trails, and alligators live in the lake. Park signage warns swimmers about gators near the designated beach. Some trails pass through scrub with limited shade, heating up quickly on sunny days.

Geological RegionPine flatwoods and sand pine scrub with some depression marshes and hardwood forest along the south shore of Lake Manatee.

Scenic ViewsPrimary scenic views are of Lake Manatee from the day‑use area, picnic pavilion, boat ramp and small swimming beach; the campground itself is set back among pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub with wooded, private sites.

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 not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

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

Total Campsites60 campsites

Best CampsitesSites are well-spaced with berms or vegetation between them. Some have concrete pads that work better for larger RVs, while others are sand pads suited to tents and smaller trailers. Shade varies by loop: interior and back-loop sites tend to have more tree cover. Four accessible sites with paved pads sit close to the modern bathhouse. Every site includes water and 30-amp electric.

Need help booking Lake Manatee State Park Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Florida State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Full-facility 60-site campground with water and 30-amp electrical at every site, a dump station at the campground entrance, restroom facilities with showers near the beach, picnic tables and grills in the day-use area, boat ramp, picnic pavilion, playground, and shower station. Well-behaved pets are permitted.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Lake Manatee State Park offers lake-based recreation, multi-use trails, and family-friendly day-use facilities. Popular activities include boating (with restrictions), fishing, paddling, hiking, biking, picnicking, swimming in a designated beach area, and wildlife viewing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSwimming is at your own risk — lifeguards are not provided. Boat motors are limited by local ordinance to less than 20 horsepower. Visitors should exercise caution near the water (visitor reports note presence of alligators).

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

4.4

270 reviews

Recommended

Lake Manatee State Park Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors generally praise Lake Manatee State Park as a small, quiet, well-maintained campground with spacious, private sites, reliable water and 30‑amp electric hookups at every site, clean bathhouses, and good lake access for boating and fishing. Common negatives include occasional noise from nearby motorsports, a mucky swim entry in places and wildlife cautions at the lake, limited shade on some trails, no park Wi‑Fi, and lack of individual sewer hookups at sites.

Review Summaries

Based on 270 reviews

What Campers Love

Quiet, well-maintained campground; spacious and well-spaced sites with privacy; reliable water and 30-amp electrical hookups at every site; clean modern bathhouses/showers; convenient boat ramp and...

Based on 270 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring your own canoe/kayak (official site states rentals are not available); expect no park Wi‑Fi and verify cell coverage with your carrier; larger rigs may prefer sites with concrete or paved pads...

Based on 270 reviews

Camper Quotes

"This quiet little park is a real gem"; "Clean and well managed, great campsite"; "Sites are nicely spaced out"

Based on 270 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Anglers and kayakers who bring their own boat will get the most out of this place. The fishing dock and boat ramp put largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish within easy reach, and every site has water and electric for a reasonable overnight cost. November through March is the swe

Skip if

Nearby motorsports noise reaches some sites on weekends, and there's no park Wi-Fi with spotty cell coverage throughout. Full-hookup RVers will miss sewer connections, and anyone planning to swim should know the lake bottom gets mucky and alligators are a real presence, not just

Nearby Campgrounds

Less Visited

4.4

(270)

Lake Manatee State Park Loop 2

20007 State Road 64 East, Bradenton FL 34212

Escape to Lake Manatee State Park's welcoming 60-site campground, where your basecamp sits just a short stroll from sandy shores, peaceful fishing docks, and direct lake access. Every site comes equipped with water and 30-amp electric hookups, while a convenient dump station at the entrance makes your stay comfortable and hassle-free.