Myakka River State Park Campground Review

Making our way down the western coast of Florida, we stumbled across the Myakka River State Park, one of the oldest and biggest State Parks in Florida.

It was a quite and peaceful camping trip we enjoyed before heading further down the coast on our RV road trip in the Spring! Friendly park staff, private RV sites, and well maintained grounds always start our trips out on a good foot, and Myakka River did not disappoint.

Myakka River State Park, Florida

By accident, and actually by following our trusty GPS unit (which we’ve now upgraded to an RV GPS), we wound up at the secondary entrance and barely made it past the closing metal gate, following the camper in front of us, into the park.

The drive to the registration booth was gorgeous, but long- taking roughly 10-12 minutes. Surrounded on both sides by lush tropical plants and wildlife was plentiful from the first snake to the third turtle sunbathing in the road.

About the Park

As one of the oldest and largest state parks, Myakka River State Park offers ample opportunities for families to enjoy the great outdoors. From biking, to hiking, to fishing, trails, and tours, Myakka offers something for everyone.

Wildlife viewing can be laid back on the boardwalk or more adventurous in the treetop canopy walkway. However you choose to see the natural beauty of Florida, Myakka River State Park has many opportunities for you to do so.

The Myakka Canopy Walkway is 25 feet above ground and requires walking and climbing over 100 steps. It provides free and easy access to observe life in the treetops up close.

Our Stay

Our site was #66 and we really enjoyed the large, pull-thru with white gravel, a large picnic area with a grill and fire pit. It was also close to the bathhouse, and the laundry machines.

We visited the onsite café and gift shop, which was fun for the kids, and had everything a traveler could, need or want plus some. We purchased a few trinkets to take back with us and a few scoops of ice cream!

Unlike many of the other tourists we met, we chose to avoid anything with alligator as the main ingredient. (Pretty sure alligator bites were on the menu!!!) And also turned down the suggestion to ride in the airboat to get an up close and personal view of the gators from the water!

I guess we’re not all that adventurous.

Wildlife Tours at Myakka River State Park

Wildlife boat tours are offered right inside the park! Running every day, with weather permitting, you can catch a ride every other hour from 9am-5pm and every hour during high season!

Each tour will last between 45-60 minutes and they are all first come first serve! You do not need to make a reservation, but the ticket booth is open for ticket sale from 8am-6pm daily.

Like I said, we passed on the tour during our trip, but the weather wasn’t 100% favorable and we were tired. If you happen to visit Myakka and are looking for fun things to do, why not book a boat tour?

Rates are $20 for ages 13+, $12 for ages 3-12, and under 3 is FREE! (taxes not included)

Overall it really encompassed the beach feel we were hoping to get a taste of while visiting Florida this Spring. Since we were just a short drive from Siesta Key Beach- Myakka was the perfect spot to setup camp for a few nights during our trip and we’re really glad we stopped!

Myakka River State Park General Info

Daily Price: $26 per night,

$70 per night for cabins

$20 for canoe and kayaks

$15-80 for beach cruisers and tandem bike rentals (2-4 hours each).

Pros:

Beautiful scenic drive through park.

Abundant wildlife

Sites were full gravel and offered privacy for campers.

Clean restrooms & laundry

Picnic Area at site with picnic table, grill and fire ring.

Jr. Ranger Program for young explorers.

Multiple accommodation types, from primitive tents to FHU and log cabins.

Large pull thru sites, 80ft+

Friendly park staff

Morning Coffee program

On-site activities include boating, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and even airboat rides.

On-site dining and gift shop.

Cons:

Under 100 campsites.

Sewer Connection was raised, making it difficult to drain tank at site.

GPS address will take you to the back entrance.

Lots of alligator- so be careful!

Contact Information:

Myakka River State Park

13208 State Road 72

Sarasota, Florida 34241

(P) 941-361-6511

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Myakka-River

Myakka River State Park Campground Review