Two Free Camping Areas Near Tampa Florida

In this video, I show you two free camping areas near Tampa, Florida. These two free camping areas near Tampa offer some amenities. A free permit is required to access each of the free camping areas shown in this video.
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[@HannahLockwood82]

Thanks for the thorough video. I'm a native to the Tampa area and had no idea that the McNeil campground existed. FYI...Lutz is properly pronounced "Loots" 😉 Happy travels!

[@redneck6548]

I'll be honest, and I mean my honesty opinion. I wish more people on youtube made informative videos like yours. I was looking for a camping sites, and I came across your channel. Wow, just wow! Thanks for taking the time to make such a great video. I'm looking forward in camping at the Mcneil's camping site. I really appreciate your work on this video.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Feedback like this encourages us to keep making our videos. Thank you for the kind words. Lou

[@ruabadkitty]

The last time I camped there I was at the bottom left camp spot. There was an owl living in the tree. He hooted all night. I slept so good! I had the whole place to myself. Thanks for the video.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

That is awesome! You sure do get out there and experience nature (and save a few bucks by leveraging these free public spaces). Lou

[@tponaroll4463]

It is a great little campground. It's the withlacoochee river. Has nice large mouth bass in it. Lots of gators! It's my favorite water management area spot. They have ruined the areas by limiting them to 7 days and 30 for the year. It's no longer worth the drive from michigan for the winter. 60 days max if you use the southern area too. None of the hand pumps are safe to drink. Even the dogs won't drink it. Rusty and smells nasty. It's not a vault toilet. It's a portajohn usually pumped every 2 weeks but can get pretty full. Oak ridge isn't bad but the road in was horrible last time there (2021) looks like they filled in one of the massive holes. I swore I would never go back there due to the road in. No idea what it would be like now after the last hurricane rains.

[@TheEdelKampers]

MC Neil Campground looks beautiful. It amazes me when people leave fires smoking when they leave. Looks like a good little place for Rocky. Love the Southwest Water management. Next time we get to FL we would love to stay in more of the primitive campgrounds. Well, I (Mary) does. Fred is ok either way. LOL You could filter some of that water through the Berkey. ;) Thank you for sharing these campgrounds with us. Mary 💞 Fred

[@HetteshWorld]

I always love all the detail you put in your videos. Thank you very much. I find it very helpful and I've learned a lot from your videos.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Thanks Barb. Comments like this really do encourage us to keep making our videos. Lou

[@user-kl2vp3fv3m]

I love your video's about camping. To pronounce Lutz FL correctly for anyone who is not from the area it is pronounced Luuts, the "u" is a long vowel. 😊 I have only been camping in a tent, and with a fairly large group of people. Haven't camped by myself in a long time. If you go further east on HWY 60, and get into Lake Wales, there is Spook Hill, and Bok Towers Garden. Nice place for families to visit off the beaten path. Enjoy your camping adventures!

[@FactsandLaughswithLaura]

thanks for telling them! I was born and raised here I was about to tell them LOOOOOTZ hahahha

[@johnwerner7194]

This video is very helpful thank you very much for posting it

[@CynthiaWord-iq7in]

Lutz = Loots It was considered just northern tampa, past USF through the 1970s, on Hwy 41 (merges tampa's Florida ave into more western edge of town as Land O'Lakes, with Nebraska ave eastern edge heading north through orange groves into woodsy. Hillsborough Ruver State Park is really eithin a mile of USF on Mirrus Bridge Road. All these places parallel I-75 right up thru Gainesville.

[@FrankJohnson-r3e]

Freshwater in Florida...how many gators did you see? 😮😂 I'm in Pinellas County and even we have way too many gators! People get got every year. Bah Nice vid by the way 👌 👍

[@thebrokenheartedhomesteade2518]

This campground is my absolute favorite campground in all of Florida. ! It makes me sad that there is a thirty day limit for the entire year to camp in the florida water management district sites. I could happily stay here forever! Thanks for your helpful videos!!

[@feralvagabond]

If I arrived in December & moved around every 5-7 days throughout different wm districts for the 30 days, would it start over January 2024? I'm planning on boondocks over the winter & have plans to spend a good bit of time in Florida.

[@thebrokenheartedhomesteade2518]

@@feralvagabond I have not been able to find a clear answer on this either. Not sure if it tracks your account or just goes by calendar year

[@shaneb9069]

​​@@thebrokenheartedhomesteade2518 I'm curious to know as well! I love these two locations and think they would be awesome if I could boondock here and commute to work. Is it an option? (I'd like to know 🙈)

[@LordsBridge]

With that said have you found anything that features the same amenities for more of a longer duration?

[@thebrokenheartedhomesteade2518]

@@LordsBridge unfortunately I have not especially in that price range :-(

[@Lynnthelioness]

Thank for the in detail review!!!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad it was helpful! Lou

[@dirkjackson8939]

This is the most in depth video I've seen on McNeil campground. Just what I needed since I'm going camping there tomorrow for the weekend and I've heard the address doesnt bring you to the entrance. Thank you for going into such detail. Thanks!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad it was helpful! Lou

[@PamRevete]

Excellent!! I loved it!!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad you enjoyed it! Lou

[@wardrobelion]

The 30 days rule is not only to keep it from becoming overcamped and destroying the vegetation but also to give OTHERS the opportunity to enjoy natural Florida.

[@ouRVisionnomadicliving]

Free spots in Florida!! Its pretty, did you get Melody to put on some floaties and take a dip? What a shame that they didn't douse the fire. Well that rules us out. I am considering putting a roof top tent on our truck, so we can leave our 5th wheel at times and go camp in spots like this. Great video Lou. 👍 Sean

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Everything is a trade-off in the realm of RV camping. I'll never get Melody out of a fifth wheel! Lou

[@ouRVisionnomadicliving]

@@LivingOurDreamNow true that.

[@FDDave1]

Have you done a video on the Compresco campground also in the Green Swamp?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

We sure have. You’ll find it in our Florida playlist. Lou

[@edwardtesterman9772]

Nice video, Lou. The McNeil campground looks like a wild campground for sure. It looks deep, deep in the woods! It is beautiful tho, and really nice campsites. Wow, could not believe those folks that just left, and did not put their fire completely out!! Cool waterway there. Now, stupid question, there ARE probably alligators in there...correct? lol Love all the palms around everywhere!! The Equestrian campground doesnt look quite as nice, as the other one, but is still pretty. Nice find Lou !!! Thanks for sharing! vicky

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Yep - this is gator territory. Tent campers will love the seclusion here. Lou

[@poiryra]

Love your videos. They are very informative. I have a big 5th wheel which is totally self contained, but some of the areas you go to I can check off the list for the RV. But that being said, It still is ok for my motorcycle and trailer to use. Great job again on the videos. Very appreciative for what you do. New subscriber too!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Feedback like this encourages us to keep making our videos. Welcome to our world of free and affordable RV camping. Lou

[@Mcv2023]

Thanks Lou

[@leomoonify]

Growing up in Tampa we always pronounced Lutz as "Lewts".

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Appreciate the inside scoop from a local. Thanks. Lou

[@Mcv2023]

Gaters

[@twowheeledgator1364]

Just so you know Lutz is pronounced Loots.

[@truthbtruth8559]

Awesome, thanks Lou! We are looking for free camping in Florida, in that area too! Just in time 😊 Happy Easter to you, Wifey and Family. ❤

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Enjoy your visit to Florida. Lots to see and do. Lou

[@tracker5849]

AN 18 FT VAN and a 20 ft rv...would it be good?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

I'd do a recon if you had any pause after watching our video. Lou

[@philo5096]

Is it safe to tent camp with the gators there.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Depends on how you camp.

[@Mcv2023]

Hey Lou how come l never see any haters in those areas, tent camping mite be a little different

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Not sure how to interpret your comment, but I will say this. I don't give people that espouse hate a forum through the images I show on our social media. I just edit them out. Lou

[@SunflowerGirlRV]

@6:50 how was your campsite with mosquitos??

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

A few bugs, but we wear bug repellent while camping at locations like this. Lou

[@tponaroll4463]

Skeeters can be bad there. Thermocell works pretty good. Flies can be a nuisance, a fly trap helps.

[@tracker5849]

TICKS..MOSQUITOS..GATORS ON THE RIVER SITE????

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

This is Florida.

[@tracker5849]

@@LivingOurDreamNow lol..yes it is...I'm a rare FLORIDA NATIVE

[@peggyowens5475]

How do you apply for the permit? Thanks

[@peggyowens5475]

I should have been patient. Love the videos!