Florida

Hillsborough River Camping Trip

Camping review of our two day trip to Hillsborough River State Campground near Tampa.

We are camping for two nights at the Hillsborough River Campground in Thonotosassa, Florida. My son is going to a concert in Tampa which is about thirty minutes away.

Because it’s July and the weather is hot, I did not plan to do much outside during this trip. I work online and hoped to get a lot of work done, but internet was not great here.

The Campsite

Our site was number 56 on Loop 3 and it was nice. The site was big, with nothing but nature behind us. When booking a campsite, it’s tough to figure which site to choose because not a lot of info is given. Loop 3 seems to have a lot of very nice, shady sites. I did not closely check out either of the other loops, but did walk through one where the permanent tents were set up.

Ready to camp
Grilling supper
Lots of nature behind us
Our campsite #56

The Campground

On Saturday morning I took a walk. It was hot and I barely made it back (LOL) but I got some photos of what is offered at this state park. It seems that mostly there are a playground, picnic tables and little pavilion, kayak and canoe rentals, fishing, and trails to explore. This is what I found on my quick walk.

The pool is closed, and I bet that was once a huge draw. The grounds are kept nice with tables near a playground in that area. It’s nice and shady. I’m not sure how long this pool has been closed. It seems that this area has not recovered from the hurricane. There is a Fort somewhere, but it is closed also.

Playground near pool area
The pool is closed off behind the grassy area with tables.
Kayaks and canoes
Gift Shop at pool area

The River Trails

The walk took me to the kayak and canoe launch area. I suppose they need to be rented, probably from the store across the street. It was way too hot for me to consider kayaking, and I’m not a fan of fresh water in Florida. Alligators can move very fast when they want to, and I’m sure this area has plenty of them.

One bridge was closed and had been since Hurricane Irma-2017. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been fixed by now, or taken down. The other bridge was open and it took me over the water to some trails. I did not get much further because of the heat and mosquitoes. Hiking in Florida is not my thing either, but they have lots of trails for those who like it. I have no idea what condition the trails are in.

Vines across the path.
The open bridge
This bridge is closed
Brown water and the closed bridge
Creepy things lurk here
Tiers at river for fishing maybe?
Florida river

Hillsborough River Campground

Overall Observations

I would not make it a point to go here to camp, but for anything having to do with Tampa, this place is close, and affordable, for campers. This is why we were here. We did not have noisy, obnoxious neighbors (like our last trip) and enjoyed our two days.

I will say that navigating this campground can be a bit confusing at first. I took the map with me when I went walking. On the drive in, you follow a long one-way road around to the area with three camping loops. Each loop is marked with campsite numbers, so just pay attention.

Bring a bike. Saw some people on electric bikes – and my son brought his and rode all over, but I would bring my normal bike – if it was a cooler time of year.

Morning walk along campground road.
Campground road

On this trip our camper awning quit working. It was out and then wouldn’t go back in! The site was pretty well shaded, thankfully and with a push we got the awning retracted.

I have to say that I am not extremely impressed with this camper. We’ve had it for a year and have had to fix the outside door, the bathroom sliding doors, the window shades, and now the awning. It did not rain, other than a few sprinkles, so the awning would have been nice to use.

Our next planned camping trip will be in September with some friends. We are returning to Salt Springs, where the water is clear and cool! Can’t wait.

A Living Horse Conch in the Shallows

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Quiet Day On The Boat

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Pretty Gray Banded Tulip Shell

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Our Second Camping Trip to Long Point Campground

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Camping Review of Long Point Campground in Melbourne

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Never Get Tired of Finding The Living Horse Conch

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Quiet Day On The Boat

A hot and beautiful day on the boat took us to a remote river island, a stop in the ocean, and then to Ponce Inlet.

We chose a hot, sunny day to take a much needed boat ride. It had been a while. But, this day was very hot with a heat index over 100. The water temperature was around 87 and felt very nice, but not very refreshing.

The first stop was a little place along the Indian River. We’ve been here before. In fact it is the place I saw my first and only spider crab.

Anchored boat at shallow beach on Indian River

I did some beach exploring and took photos of what I found. See the shells, a live crown conch, and one feather, in the slideshow below. Every shell, except the crown, had a hermit crab inside.

Beautiful shark’s eye
Big tulip shell
Four hermits in this photo – one is very tiny
Faded banded tulip
Shell under a shell
The beach
Bleached whelk
Living crown conch snail
gray lightning whelk
Hermit in tulip shell

Took a trip to Ponce Inlet

We don’t often boat up to Ponce Inlet, but my son likes to take our 18 foot flats boat out into the ocean! It is not an ocean-going vessel and is made for shallow backwaters, so I’m never happy about this. We only go just off the end of the inlet and only when it is calm.

The ocean water is a pretty deep blue, and we just sat and enjoyed floating. The photos make it look very calm, and it was, but there were swells. It was hot, as I have mentioned, but swimming in the ocean from the boat, is out of the question. There is no way to get back onboard.

After our quick ocean trip, we went back inshore and followed the channel around by the lighthouse and ended up at a sandbar.

Ponce Inlet Florida lighthouse from water

Anchored at a Sandbar by Ponce Inlet

These sandbars by the inlet are party places and fill up on the weekends. A deeper channel runs along behind the shallow area and it’s how we get to the island. The sandbar has some calm, clear, pools (and I took a dip) but the water behind the boat is running with the tide. A swim in the channel is nice too because it’s deep and at certain times, the water here can be very beautiful. This is a great place to take the kids, and everyone brings their dogs! We met up with some friends here a while ago.

A beautiful day
Lighthouse view from sandbar
Swim time
Sandbar fun
Can you see me?

We had a nice day and managed to keep cool between dips in the water and the wind from traveling. Luckily we get to go boating during the week so there are no crowds.

Hillsborough River Camping Trip

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Sunset Photos at New Smyrna Beach

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Our Second Camping Trip to Long Point Campground

A review of our second camping trip to Long Point in Melbourne Beach, Florida.

Back in March (2023) we camped at Long Point Campground in Melbourne, Florida, which is on the east coast. I have a link to that review at the bottom of this page. The whole campground is an island with many sites that back up to the water. On our first visit, we had a small, uneven campsite, but nice water access. I was eager to see how our second trip would go.

This time, in May, we had a great view, but no easy water access directly from our site because of coquina rocks. When booking a site online it’s impossible to tell whether you will have access to the water or not. I thought we would. Don’t assume that every site on the water gives you water access!

Our stay of two days began with wonderful peace and quiet.

Coquina rocks block water access — No easy water access

Fortunately, our site – #67 – was the last in the row of rentable sites (at the time). Every campsite beyond us, down to the end of the island, was closed (photo below) due to erosion from a storm it seemed. That meant we could use the beach access next door (site #68) for putting in the kayak. (The campers in that little tent at the end of the island were working on their boat motor which they ran off and on all morning the next day.)

No campers to the south of us — Empty sites to the south

To the north, our closest camping neighbor was many sites away. We had arrived right after the Memorial Day weekend and the place was nearly empty!

empty campsites — Closest neighbors to the north

Our first afternoon was hot and sunny. The water was calm and perfect for kayaking. The wind picked up the following day, but I went out for a while and kayaked around the southern end of the campground.

Campsites along the water — Site #68 had a beach but the site was closed to campers so we used it to access the water

For about 24 hours we had our area completely to ourselves. It was peaceful and wonderful. I launched my kayak from site #68 with a nice sandy beach. I even did a little swimming in the shallow water. It worked out perfectly.

Water is the Reason to Camp Here

If you get a water access site (and in my opinion it’s the only reason to camp here), it’s a great area to do some kayaking, or paddle boarding, if the wind holds off. This campground also has a boat ramp and a place to keep the trailer.

Then, Everything Went Downhill

From complete peace and quiet for 24 hours to a family invasion next door. Campers came and took both sites along the water next to us.

Of course it’s a campground, and we simply lucked out by having so much space to ourselves, but the campers who set up next door were rudely loud, with no consideration for the fact that they had neighbors. They spoke loudly to each other, the kids yelled and then more people came to visit them! It was party time. The woman was up at 7AM talking loudly on her phone – on speaker!

All this has made me wonder if I am cut out to be a camper. I couldn’t wait to leave.

We had one good day and quiet night, but once the peace was gone, nothing was fun. If we hadn’t been leaving the following morning, I’d have asked for another site.

My Thoughts on Long Point

After staying at Long Point Campground two different times (see review #1 here), I’ve come to realize that the sites are pretty well crammed together. Because campers can place their trailers, and tents, in any position on their site, you could be directly facing other campers. And if they are loud and obnoxious all day long, there is no buffer.

Some spots are larger – longer, but many are quite small. Not every site along the water has water access. Some have nice little beaches, and some have only a small access through the bushes. Some sites have no water access, or it is shared with the camper next door.

Scout Island has a nice beach with shallow clear water. This island is accessible by a bridge at the campground. I have no idea if the island is ever closed for scouts to actually camp there. When I walked over to Scout Island this time, I had the place to myself (due to a low volume of campers), but last time there were many people walking their dogs and letting them swim.

Scout Island beach — The beach area on Scout Island

In comparison to the waterfront campground near us, this one is half the cost, so I still think it’s a good value if you like a water view. Having access from a site is the best. You are also very close to the beach at Sebastian Inlet. My son rode his electric bike there – all sidewalks on the main road. For more thoughts from campers who stayed at Long Point, read the reviews at RV Life Campground Reviews.

Some negatives for me: The trash truck came by at 7:30 in the morning (on a Thursday and ?) to empty all the dumpsters in the campground. It is loud if your site is near a dumpster (we were). There were a lot of loud crows. I suspect people feed them so they have learned to be annoying. Right across the road from our site was a lamppost with a light that was on all night (not good for night sky viewing if you like that sort of thing). Getting there (from the north, and probably from the south) means driving in traffic, which is typical for Florida especially near the coast.

I’m not sure we would ever go back here to camp again. I live in Florida and there are many other campgrounds to try.

The Campsites: Here’s a Map

My thoughts on some of the sites. If you only want a great water view, the site we had, and the three next to it were perfect (65-67). Site #65 was also on the rocks, but had a little area to access the water. We watched those campers put a kayak in. Also, if you don’t care about being in the water, or need a big site, sites 114 and 115 at the southern end are large. All the sites beyond us on the water, which were closed, did have nice little beaches with water access, but they were fairly small. They were closed for a reason, and who knows what will happen. More rocks could be added, but I hope they can keep the water accessible.

Most campsites have water and electric only, but a few in the center of the island have full hookups. There are two dump station areas for the rest of us.