Florida’s popularity as a glamping hotspot stems not only from its nature reserves, wetlands, pastures, and seaside locations, but also, more crucially, from its diverse use cases and operational strategies. Some projects focus on eco-education, while others incorporate wedding venues, photography studios, and healing camps.
In this article, we’ve selected 10 of Florida’s most iconic glamping locations, taking into account both the visitor experience and their site selection strategies, spatial models, and facility complexity, which offer insights for camp owners.
Manatee Springs State Park (Chiefland)
Located in Chiefland, northwest Florida, Manatee Springs State Park is a state park built around a natural spring system. Every winter, flocks of manatees swim from the Gulf of Mexico into the warm springs to escape the cold, creating a signature natural wonder in the park.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The core attraction is the Manatee Springs swimming area, within walking distance. The water is crystal clear and maintains a constant temperature of 22°C year-round.
- The area offers a variety of low-intervention activities, including kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and cycling, making it ideal for ecotourism.
- The proximity to the Suwannee River allows for extended water tours.
While the park primarily offers basic cabins and campsites, several third-party operators have introduced asset-light structures such as eco-friendly modular cabins, mobile campers, and eco-tents. These have expanded into high-end camping units with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and outdoor viewing platforms.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (Okeechobee)
If you want to experience the true expanse of Florida glamping, don’t miss Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, located north of Okeechobee. It’s Florida’s most well-preserved subtropical prairie ecoregion, offering unobstructed views and a high density of wildlife, making it a perfect location for deep ecological glamping in Florida projects.
The flat, open terrain is ideal for innovative accommodations such as container-based homestays, canopy tents, and astronomical observation structures. Power and water infrastructure are already in place, facilitating low-intervention development. With its extremely low air pollution, this is Florida’s premier astronomical camping location, offering a unique nighttime experience of photographing the Milky Way.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- Birdwatching and eco-photography are key areas of focus, making this one of Florida’s best spots for observing rare birds, such as the Meadow Bunting.
- Combined hiking and horseback riding trails, as well as off-road cycling routes, are available.
- The light-pollution-free environment makes it suitable for developing astronomy-themed study tours and couples’ starry sky camping packages.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (Santa Rosa Beach)
In Santa Rosa Beach, in northwest Florida, lies a rare, complex ecosystem of beach, forest, and dunes. Any photo taken at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park looks like the cover of a high-end travel brochure. It’s one of the most comprehensive and extensible examples of the glamping Florida model.
Not far from Destin and Panama City, a 30- to 1-hour drive makes it a great stopover on Gulf Coast tours. The campground has municipal water and electricity access and comprehensive infrastructure, making it suitable for quick-to-set-up and quick-to-take-down high-end tent clusters.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- Direct walking or cycling access to the beach, with private sandy beach access.
- The park’s Campbell Lake area offers kayaking and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) for a quiet experience.
- It is equipped with cycling paths, hiking trails, and photography spots to meet the combination of lightweight activities and relaxing rest scenes.
WonderField Farm & Retreat (Floral City)
When it comes to campgrounds with emotional value, WonderField Farm & Retreat is a rare and heartwarming glamping spot in Florida. Located in the quiet town of Floral City, it was once a traditional family farm and serves as a small but distinctive model for Florida glamping.
Located in central Florida, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Ocala and under a two-hour drive from Tampa or Orlando. Surrounded by vast farmland and woodlands, it offers tranquility, no light pollution, and no intrusive traffic, making it ideal for a relaxing and private campground. The simple land structure lends itself to modular construction and soft boundary management, making it ideal for zoning and themed trails.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- Offering organic farm tours, chicken coop interactions, and edible plant workshops, it’s a popular choice for families and nature education groups.
- Yoga classes, meditation, and breathwork exercises are also available, making it suitable for private retreats for healing groups.
- The Withlacoochee State Trail is nearby, perfect for hiking and biking, extending your camping experience.
Coldwater Gardens (Milton)
Located in the northwest corner of Florida, near Alabama, the Coldwater Gardens is about an hour’s drive from Pensacola. Surrounded by a vast expanse of coldwater valley forest, the site offers natural water sources, shade, and undulating terrain, making it ideal for tiered camping with individual viewing spots. The ground is stable and naturally drained, making it suitable for long-term deployment.
This is a valuable resource for developers specializing in eco-tourism, outdoor education, and parent-child camps. The integrated agriculture, accommodation, and education structure significantly extends customer stays, boosting both average order value and repeat purchase rates.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The campground features an organic plantation, mushroom cultivation area, and a water recycling system demonstration area, suitable for hosting farm education camps or ecological workshops.
- A small stream flows through the park, offering low-impact activities such as creekside play, hiking, and mountain biking.
- The park is adjacent to Coldwater Creek, a popular kayaking route in the area, offering a unique opportunity to expand on the existing water and land experience offerings.
Danville Bed and Breakfast (Geneva)
If you’re looking for an immersive camping experience that transports you instantly, Danville Bed and Breakfast is the best glamping in Florida. Located in the small town of Geneva in central Florida, it’s ostensibly a traditional B&B, but in reality, it combines a private airport, wedding venue, vintage hangar campground, treehouses, and a campervan lodge. It’s a prime example of a premium themed camping
Located approximately 40 minutes northeast of Orlando, this quintessential suburban destination offers both seclusion and convenient access. The complex boasts a small footprint, ingenious design, and versatile functions. The private runway accommodates small aircraft, attracting high-net-worth individuals for customized events and private weddings.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The venue supports private events for weddings, birthdays, brand pop-up events, aviation enthusiast gatherings, and more.
- Light aircraft flights, hot air balloon rides, and custom aerial photography services are available, making it one of the few luxury glamping destinations in Florida where you can fly.
- Nearby natural resources include Lake Harney and Little Big Econ State Forest, and outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking are also available.
The Griffin Ranch (Fort McCoy)
What campground perfectly combines the rustic charm of Old Florida with modern comforts? The Griffin Ranch has to be one. This ranch in Fort McCoy, once a private estate, has been transformed into a comprehensive accommodation, event, and wedding venue, and an eco-friendly experience.
It is located in north-central Florida, near the Ocala National Forest. The expansive ranchland, including lakes, woodlands, and open grasslands, makes it suitable for zoned management and large-scale operations.
A variety of independent accommodations are available, including vintage-style cabins with kitchens and living rooms, converted carriage suites, and log-style eco-cabins. All units feature private bathrooms, air conditioning, and full glamping facilities, ensuring a rustic feel while ensuring comfortable living.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- Offering horseback riding, lake fishing, bonfire nights, and farm-to-table harvesting, the property is suitable for families, couples, and small group trips.
- The property is also well-suited for small weddings, celebrations, photography camps, and country music festivals, offering flexible venue configurations.
- Being close to Ocala National Forest, extended activities such as hiking, forest bathing, and off-road vehicle tours can be arranged.
Twin Lakes Camp Resort (DeFuniak Springs)
Twin Lakes Camp Resort is a rare, high-end campground with twin lake views in northwest Florida. It features lakeside luxury camping, RV sites, and small conference/team-building accommodations. It’s a valuable resource, particularly for its clever approach to maximizing returns per unit of land within limited natural resources.
Located in the northwest corner of Florida, near the Alabama border, this resort is conveniently located near I-10 and offers easy access by car.
Accommodations include RVs with hookups, glamping tents (with beds, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and outdoor decks), and Lakeside Suites. Tent interiors are designed for comfort and family-friendly comfort, accommodating 2–4 people and suitable for groups and families.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The resort features walking trails, an observation deck, a communal kitchen, and a laundry area, making it convenient for extended stays.
- Kayaking, fishing, outdoor yoga, and sunset viewing are all available, creating a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
- The resort is suitable for small team building activities, church camps, company annual meetings, and family reunions, and has the capacity and facilities to accommodate medium-sized events.
Enchanted Oaks Farm & Lakehouse (Ocala)
Located in Ocala, Central Florida, Enchanted Oaks Farm & Lakehouse is a boutique resort specializing in immersive settings and high-end private experiences. This location meticulously prioritizes lake views, lighting, and privacy. In the world of glamping in Florida, it’s a classic example of a premium wedding-themed campsite.
The project is located in the suburbs of Ocala, less than 30 minutes from downtown and close to Silver Springs and Ocala National Forest. The entire site is designed around a private lake, providing ample natural backdrops and filming space.
Accommodation options include single-family cabins, lakeside cabins, and luxury tent sites. Equipped with a central event area, banquet hall, chapel, bar, and fire pit, it can accommodate complete weddings or private events.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The lake offers boating, photography, yoga, and outdoor movie theaters. Evening activities include interactive activities like a light tunnel and bonfire nights.
- Customized wedding planning services are available, including curation, photography, floral arrangements, and dining arrangements.
- The property features separate dressing rooms, an open-air ceremony area, a tented area, and a banquet area. Standardized processes support frequent event turnover.
Westgate River Ranch Resort (River Ranch)
If you were to choose the most commercially mature, comprehensive, and diverse camping resort in Florida, it would undoubtedly be Westgate River Ranch Resort. Located in River Ranch, the resort’s operational philosophy has evolved to resemble that of an outdoor theme park resort, making it a valuable asset for many practitioners studying the glamping business model in Florida.
This Florida glamping resort, located approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Orlando and nestled near the Kissimmee River Valley, offers ecologically intact surroundings and convenient transportation.
A variety of accommodation options are available, including teepees, RV sites, cabins, hunting lodges, and suites with kitchens. All accommodation types can be booked online and operate with standard hotel services, allowing for short-term rentals and private rentals.
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
- The weekly large-scale Rodeo Show is one of the park’s highlights, attracting families and tourists alike.
- The resort offers horseback riding, archery, off-road vehicles, ziplining, swamp boating, hunting, and other experiences, truly delivering an immersive American West experience.
- The resort also features a restaurant, bar, children’s playground, lawn wedding area, and an open-air cinema, creating a truly scenic-scale operation.
Create Your Own Florida Glamping Site with a Glitzcamp Tent
Choosing the right tent is half the battle for a project, as the tent is the most important element that directly impacts the guest experience. Glitzcamp provides tent solutions for nature resorts around the world, including rainforest camps in Panama and dome camps on the beaches of Malaysia.
Therefore, Glitzcamp’s dome tents are ideal for luxury camping developments in Florida. They offer exceptional space efficiency. Even models over 6 meters in diameter can easily accommodate a bed, bathroom, sofa area, projection screen, and even a separate air conditioning system. The modular design allows for flexible configuration and upgrades based on the site and needs. Whether it’s a single tent or a large-scale campsite, the setup is flexible and quick.
Beyond its practicality, this tent also boasts a recognizable design. Its spherical structure is not only visually appealing but also offers wind and rain resistance, thermal insulation, and other benefits.
No extensive foundation work is required. The modular units combined with the dome tent, can be deployed in any terrain. Once the ground is prepared, it can be set up almost instantly, ensuring efficient construction and low maintenance costs.
Conclusion
As the ten project examples above demonstrate, a flexible combination of site selection, design, and accommodation structure is key to success. Florida offers a rich landscape and market for glamping in Florida. Glitzcamp offers a variety of solutions, from domes to modular units, to help you quickly implement and enhance your camp’s appeal.
