Gator Head Campground
Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve. (this campground can only be accessed with an orv permit, FOOT, or bicycle) the gate combo will only be given if you have the proper orv permit at the permiting office. All ORVs must have a valid ORV permit. All campers must also carry a Backcountry permit. Cell phone service is limited and it is highly encouraged that reservations be made in advance.
More like this: reservable in Florida · dark sky in Florida
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 9 |
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Fees are $10 per site all reservations must be made on Rec.gov |
| Dark sky | Inside Big Cypress National Preserve, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
This small primitive campground offers nine sites with picnic tables, shared food storage, and fire rings. Vault toilets are available for use. There is no water available. The Bear Island Unit offers 20 plus miles of backcountry trails. Everglades City is located 30 miles south and provides dining, sight-seeing, and historical sites. Everglades National Park can also be accessed via Everglades City. Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center is also located 30 miles to the south.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Naples: Head east on HWY 41 turn left on Turner River Rd, then go approx 20 miles up the dirt road until you come to a check station then turn left. YOU MUST HAVE AN ORV PERMIT AND GATE COMBO TO ACCESS THIS CAMPGROUND.
| Nearest town | Ochopee, Florida |
| Coordinates | 26.2238° N, 81.2678° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSet Cpi 6 Rx 1015
15 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 31.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Public land it sits in
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge begins about 5.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.2 miFlorida Panther National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 26,423 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
Gator Head Campground has 9 campsites. This campground offers pickup camper and tent camping only. No trailers or RV's are allowed in the backcountry. Amenities include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as off-road vehicle trails, hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting.
Recreation
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Protecting over 720,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida Panther. Gator Head Campground offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to camp at a designated campground in the Big Cypress backcountry. Visitors can enjoy nearby hiking, hunting, fishing, and off-road vehicle (ORV) trails with a permitted off-road vehicle. Hunting and fishing regulations can be found at Florida Fish and Wildfire Conservation Commission.
Nearby
The Bear Island Unit offers 20 plus miles of backcountry trails. Everglades City is located 30 miles south and provides dining, sight-seeing, and historical sites. Everglades National Park can also be accessed via Everglades City. Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center is also located 30 miles to the south.
Guidebooks for Florida
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Gator Head Campground?
Sites at Gator Head Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Gator Head Campground?
Fees are $10 per site all reservations must be made on Rec.gov
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Gator Head Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Gator Head Campground have?
9 sites, including 9 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Gator Head Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Gator Head Campground sits inside Big Cypress National Preserve, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Gator Head Campground?
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Gator Head Campground?
Ochopee, Florida. The Bear Island Unit offers 20 plus miles of backcountry trails.
Source: Getting there
What if Gator Head Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pink Jeep Campground (21 mi), Burns Lake Campground (23.7 mi), and Monument Lake Campground (26.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Gator Head Campground in?
Gator Head Campground is a Big Cypress National Preserve campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Big Cypress National Preserve