FamCamp Office MacDill AFB RV Park

MacDill Air Force Base fam camp is an outstanding value, family friendly, quiet, and picturesque Paradise. The regulars are friendly and the staff very helpful. We took advantage of the saver card and took a pontoon boat out for my birthday! It was cold, rainy and perfect.

I really wanted to give it five stars because of the view and being a Navy veteran I really enjoy the military base but the mosquitoes and the bugs were extremely bad that I had to leave a week early. I hope they can get ahead of that mosquito and pest control problem but enjoyed McDill Air Force Base!

Update 12/31/24: In the past 8 nights, the power has gone out twice, once completely and once with a low voltage error caught only by our electrical management system. This campground is garbage. Original review: This place is okay. Bring bug spray because it is unbearable outside due to mosquitos. Many sites are in disrepair and nearly all sites are not large enough to fit both your truck and camper. You have to park in the lawn next to the camper. Many sites have cracked uneven concrete. There are a handful of first come first serve sites, but it would be worth driving through the campsite before choosing a spot because some spots like ours, site 14, are nearly impossible to back a big rig into due to trees blocking the maneuvering space in front of the lot. I made it work with a 34 foot fifth wheel on a long bed truck, but it was the most challenging spot I’ve backed into due to obstacles. You can’t beat $30 a night to be in Tampa, so I suppose this site is okay. Be prepared to hand over the blood of your first born child in order to camp here. They were the only camp site we’ve ever been to that has required proof of RV ownership and pet vaccination records. They also make you sign an agreement a mile long detailing many ridiculous rules. If you are in violation of any of the rules you can be given demerit points, most violations of which are 4 points. If you hit 12 points, you get kicked out. One example of something that can get you points is having a temporary pet fence around your RV. This rule seems to be particularly enforced and when asked why, the staff say it is to “maintain the grass and for safety”. The grass is complete trash and sandy as is. I’ve never been to a campsite where I can’t install a small inconspicuous fence in my own area for my dogs to use the bathroom without constantly being on a leash. Given that you get swarmed by mosquitoes within seconds of being outside, not having a dog fence on this trip was particularly annoying. Finally, this campsite is nice and quiet but it is predominantly filled with retirees. If you join the Facebook group for MacDill AFB FamCamp, you will find tales of the staff here requesting long time renters to install their own sod, pay for their own concrete pad repairs, and various other ridiculous requests. For example, this RV Park requires you to mow your own grass. Hate to break it to you MacDill, but I will absolutely not be mowing or fixing anything that I do not own. As a rental on vacation, these policies are incongruent with experiences we’ve had at every other campsite we’ve stayed. Overall, we stayed here because it was cheap. The staff is blunt and rude. The mosquitoes are unbearable. The rules and demerit points feel like going back to your overbearing parent’s house. We’ve previously stayed at other military installation campgrounds that were wonderful. I don’t recommend this one unless you can deal with not being able to sit outside without bug spray and don’t mind a list of rules a mile long.

MacDill is a beautiful AFB. Private beach, access to fishing right from the docks or beach. The camp is located at the furthest point in the park! But noting takes that long to get to. It’s a nice drive. This is it’s own city. Post office on base and mail delivered to the FamCamp post office. The camping area is close. Not much room between sites. Everyone seems very courteous about noise. No issues. Had to stay at a partial hook up site when we first got here. We over to a FHU spot after 2 days. Free cable, free use of mailbox, but there is a $20 deposit for the key, refunded when you turn it in. Unless you have reservations, you pay for 2 weeks at a time. There is an Annex campground, spacing is better there but it’s much further away from the beach and mailboxes. No campfires. Lots of birds. Catch blue crabs right off the beach. Beach is good size. Dog beach also. 5 stars would have been given if the spaces were so close together. Make sure you use the Main Gate at the round a bout. RVs of any size other than a van will be turned away.

The absolute epitome of the privilege to be able to camp, swim, fish, golf, shop and lay on what amounts to a private beach is possibly the biggest benefit to any qualifying veteran and their families. MacDill is akin to a private club. Go behind the gates and you feel protected, welcomed and thankful. If you're a service member and you have access and leave MacDill less than 5 stars then you need a reality check👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻