River Campsite: A Primitive Camping Experience in Venice, FL

10 reviews

River Campsite Introduce

River Campsite, located within the beautiful Myakka State Forest near Venice, FL, offers a unique primitive camping experience for those seeking a retreat into nature. As a part of the Campgrounds & RV Parks category, this site provides an opportunity to disconnect and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Situated along the river, the campsite provides a serene environment where campers can enjoy the sounds of water lapping against the shore and the calls of local wildlife. The site is accessible via a 6-mile round trip from the Jennings Rd entrance of Myakka State Forest, making it suitable for hiking and biking enthusiasts. Additionally, the campsite features a dock, allowing access for shallow draft boats and kayaks. Please note that kayak access has been reported to have become slightly smaller in recent times.

Amenities at the River Campsite include two picnic tables and a fire pit. However, it's important to note that as of recent reviews, a grill or grate for cooking over the fire pit was not present. Campers should plan accordingly and bring their own cooking equipment. The campsite provides a truly primitive experience, emphasizing a connection with nature.

The Myakka State Forest itself offers a rich environment for wildlife viewing and observing native plants. Visitors can expect to see various critters, coyotes, and barred owls, among other natural inhabitants. The forest also includes an RV campsite and five primitive camping sites, giving visitors a range of camping options.

To access the River Campsite and other camping facilities within Myakka State Forest, a daily use fee and camping fee are required. Reservations for campsites can be made through the Florida State Forests. It is recommended to contact them directly for the most up-to-date information on fees and availability.

For those looking for a peaceful and rustic camping experience, River Campsite offers a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Florida's wilderness.

Location

Florida Sarasota County Venice

Customer Reviews

4.0

10 reviews

Dustin Hostetler

Dec 31, 2023

Did our traditional New Year's camping trip here 12-30-23. Never a bad stay here... at night you get to listen to the water lapping shore and the dock pilings during tide changes, and critters and coyotes off in the distance along with the occasional barred owl. As of this date there was no grill present or grate on the fire pit to cook on so plan accordingly. There were two picnic tables and a dock. We kayaked into the site, and the kayak access was definitely smaller than last time we were here a couple years ago.

Vann Johnson

Jul 31, 2023

This primative campsite is about a 6 mile round trip from the Jennings Rd entrance to the Myakka State Forest. It also has a dock, and can be reached by shallow draft boats. Walking or biking you can be assured you will see some wildlife and native plants in bloom. The Myakka State Forest has an RV campsite and 5 primitive camping sites.There's a daily use fee and camping fee. Check in with the Florida State Forests for campsite reservations.

Brad Loncar

Mar 29, 2022

I hiked from the North entrance to here on the red trail. Going out on the dock and seeing the beautiful Myakka River is a must do. Also, River is 10x nicer than the nearby Mangrove site.

Robert Siegel

Jun 21, 2024

Myakka State Forest in North Port Florida is a very large 8500 acre Forest that has Campsites available for a low nightly fee, some are remote but there,s an area developed that has limited facilities( new showers and restrooms are being built.There is also in the planning stage a new equistrian facility and plenty of current walking trails. The Forest goes from River Road all the way back to the Myakka River with a Primitive Camping site at the waters edge. Great dark sky viewing opportunities.

Ross Corona

Apr 03, 2022

I stayed here overnight a couple weeks ago. It's a very nice campsite. There is a nice and large fire ring. Also a nice picnic table and one of those post mounted BBQ grills. The dock is also very nice. The area of the river that the site is on is very nice. We saw very little boat traffic. One thing to be aware of is, the area around the dock can get very shallow. Watch the tides and know the area if you take a boat!