Eating & Sleeping

Lodging and Restaurants

Located in southwest Florida, Big Cypress National Preserve is close to many communities offering lodging ranging from vacation rentals to hotels, as well as a variety of local restaurants. Some cities to consider include Everglades City, Naples, Ft. Myers, Homestead and Miami.

There are very limited food options within the boundaries of Big Cypress National Preserve. However, in Everglades City, just west of Big Cypress, you can find a small grocery store and a number of restaurants available. To the east of Big Cypress's boundary, the suburbs of Miami provide a multitude of options for food.

Already have lunch and just need somewhere to eat it? There are picnic tables throughout the preserve, at both visitor centers, and roadside parks.

 

Campgrounds in Big Cypress

The park has five front-country campground facilities (RV and tent) accessible by car off of Highway 41. Burns Lake, Monument, and Midway offer easy access to the main road, while our more remote campgrounds (still accessible by car), Bear Island and Mitchell's Landing provide a little more solitude for campers looking to get away!

Reservations are required for all campgrounds in Big Cypress National Preserve. Head to recreation.gov to reserve your site! (reservations can only be made up to six months in advance.)

Backcountry Camping

Backcountry camping is available in the Preserve. There are two, formal backcountry campgrounds in the Bear Island Unit. They are reachable by foot, or by permitted off-road vehicle. Gator Head and Pink Jeep also require reservations that can be made online.

For formal campground and backcountry camping regulations, please see the dropdowns below!

 

Camping Rules and Regulations

Preserve Campgrounds

• Campsite Limit - Maximum use and vehicle capacity permitted at a single campsite is six people, one camper unit, or two vehicles (only one of which can be an RV) per site.
• No person, party, or organization shall be permitted to camp in designated areas for more than the total maximum number of days as follows:
  • January 1 to April 30, 10 days maximum
  • May 1 to December 31, 14 days maximum

Once the daily limit has been reached for each time period, no person, party, or organization may use another designated area for the remainder of that season.

• Camp only in designated sites. All vehicles (including trailers and motorcycles) must remain on pavement or designated areas, do not put any vehicle on grass or behind parking barriers, rock or otherwise. Do not move parking barriers. No digging or trenching is allowed at campsites.
• Campfires must be attended at all times. Small campfires are allowed at designated camping sites. All fires shall be completely extinguished prior to the user leaving the campsite. Only dead wood lying on the ground may be collected as fuel for campfires within the Preserve.
• Be considerate of your fellow campers by observing quiet hours from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
• Generator use is permitted in designated areas between the hours of 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Idling vehicle engines are considered generators in this regard.
• Property left unattended longer than 24 hours will be impounded and the campsite forfeited, regardless of whether or not it is reservable or non-reservable.
• Off-road vehicle use in campgrounds is limited to Burns Lake, Bear Island, Pink Jeep and Gator Head Campgrounds only. Travel by off-road vehicle is for the purpose of accessing the backcountry trails from parking area or campsites by permitted off-road vehicles. Mitchell's Landing allows for launching of permitted airboats from the launch site.
• Food Items must be kept sealed in a vehicle or a camping unit constructed of solid non-pliable material, stored in a sealed plastic or metal container, or shall be suspended at least 10 feet above the ground. This restriction does not apply to food that is being transported, consumed, or prepared for consumption.
• Dispose of trash in animal-proof dumpsters. Do not hang bags of trash from structures or vegetation. Birds, especially ravens and vultures, tear plastic bags open and spill the contents. Cigarette butts, etc., are considered trash and should not be deposited on the ground. Such items must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of.
• Do not feed the wildlife, including birds. This is unhealthy for wild animals and invites human/animal confrontations.
• Weather may change quickly, be prepared for sudden gusty winds by ensuring that tents and other items that may be damaged or scattered are properly secured at all times.
• Prevent injury to your pets by keeping them on a leash or otherwise restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, on trails, in the backcountry, or on the water. Pets may not be left unattended. Check online for nearby kennels, if needed.
• Pet owners are required to immediately remove and properly dispose of fecal matter deposited by their pets. Deposit bag of fecal matter in dumpster.
• Carry a flashlight and use caution when walking at night on trails, campground paths, or roads. There are many trip hazards in as well as spiny plants and venomous animals. Footwear other than flip-flops and sandals is recommended. Rattlesnakes may be prevalent anywhere in the Preserve on warm to moderate evenings. Skunks are talented at using their noses to unzip tents. Make sure your tent is secure, especially if you are in it at night.
• Protect YOUR national preserve. Do not destroy, injure, deface, dig, collect or otherwise disturb any national preserve resources, including plants and animals (dead or alive), fossils, rocks, or artifacts. It is a violation of national preserve rules and regulations to possess natural/cultural resources. Metal detectors are not allowed in any unit of the National Park System. Please report any illegal activities to a park ranger.

Backcountry Camping

• Except for the periods and locations indicated below, no camping gear can be left in the backcountry when the user is not actively camping and staying overnight at the campsite.
• An individual may camp or leave camping gear unattended in backcountry areas of the Preserve, except for Zone 4, including the designated sites in the Bear Island campground, Gator Head and Pink Jeep campsites, for the length of the specific hunting season. For more detailed information on hunting, visit Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Backcountry camping in the Bear Island Unit is permitted only at designated campsites (nine sites at Gator Head, and nine sites at Pink Jeep Trail).
• Campers who leave equipment at the Bear Island, Gator Head, and Pink Jeep Campgrounds in the Bear Island Unit will be required to pay the daily camping fee for the days their equipment occupies the site.
• In Zone 4: airboat users must camp in designated campsites only (1-17); backcountry camping is allowed in other areas of Zone 4 (except the seaside sparrow closure area) when access is gained by foot or non-motorized vessel, and the campsite is located at least 1/2 mile from the Loop Road and 1/4 mile from any designated campsite or airboat trail; no personal property can be left in the backcountry (tents, grills, cookware, tables, bedding, etc.) anywhere in Zone 4 when the user is not actively camping and staying overnight at the campsite.
• Tent camping is permitted in established campgrounds and in non-developed areas throughout the preserve, except as restricted in the Bear Island Unit and Zone 4. However, in non-developed areas such backcountry camping is prohibited within ½ mile of any developed area or established county or state roads.
• Once the daily limit has been reached for each time period, no person, party, or organization may use another designated area for the remainder of that season.
• No person shall be permitted to camp in the Preserve backcountry for more than 30 days total, per year.