See the Campgrounds web page for an interactive location map.
CAMPING SEASON
Midway Campground is one of only two campgrounds at Big Cypress National Preserve that remains open year-round (Bear Island Campground is the other). However, policy can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to visit the National Park Service’s official Campgrounds web page for the latest schedule.
TYPE OF CAMPING
Midway Campground can accommodate tent campers and RVs and other self-contained sleeping vehicles up to 45 feet long. Each campsite has a limit of six people and two vehicles, one of which can be an RV. All campsites are considered accessible for disabled visitors. For a complete lisT of camping regulations, see Big Cypress National Preserve’s Campground Rules and Regulations web page.
NUMBER OF CAMPSITES
There are 26 campsites with electricity that are geared for RVs and 10 sites with no electricity for tents. However, having an RV is not a requirement to stay at an RV site. If you are a tent camper who wants electric hook-ups, you can pitch your tent on an RV site. Tent sites, on the other hand, are for tents only and are designed to give tent campers a place of their own away from the noisy RVs that can run generators from 6 AM to 10 PM.
TERRAIN
Midway Campground is situated on an oval lake, which I will call Midway Lake for the sake of reference. A loop road runs around it, and campsites are located on the outside of the loop, giving everyone a clear view of the lake.
The grounds are well manicured and everything is completely uniform. It’s like some sort of planned community. Each RV site has a back-in parking space, a picnic table, grill, and one small shade tree. There is no privacy between sites.
Tent sites are located near the campground entrance on a large, open field with a few palm trees scattered about. All sites have a picnic table (five of them are covered) and a grill / fire ring.
AMENITIES
Midway Campground is the only campground in Big Cypress National Preserve with electric hook-ups (no water), and as you can imagine, the most popular because of it. The restrooms also have running water and modern flush toilets, but no showers. There is a dump station for RVs.
Cell phone service in generally not available at Midway.
In addition to the campsites, there are eight covered picnic tables at various locations along the lake shore, and these are open to everyone, not just those camping at Midway. Each spot also has a grill / fire ring.
Fishing is allowed in Midway Lake with the proper Florida fishing license. However, no swimming is allowed due to the presence of alligators. A warning sign states “Fish at your own risk,” so even fishermen are subject to being eaten.
RESERVATIONS
Reservations are required for all campsites at Midway. You can make a reservation online at Recreation.gov from one day to six months in advance. From January through April all campsites are likely to be booked, particularly on the weekends and particularly those with electricity. I checked availability on December 11th and there were plenty of electric sites for December, March, and April, but in January and February there were just single days available here and there. Tent sites were available at all times. In fact, there were tent sites available the day I showed up to tour the campground. Be it government or private, in south Florida during the winter, campgrounds with electricity and water hook-ups are often booked up to a year in advance.
During the peak season, January through the end of April, there is a 10-day maximum stay at any one campground. During the rest of the year the maximum stay is 14 days. If you want to camp beyond the maximum number of days allowed, you must do so in the backcountry, where you can camp up to 180 days a year.
FEES
The current camping fee at Midway is $30 / night for RV sites and $24 / night for tent sites. The RV rate applies to anyone camping in an RV site, even if you are actually sleeping in a tent. Those with a Senior or Access Pass get half off. Keep in mind that prices can always change. The current rates are given on Recreation.gov.
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Last updated on February 24, 2023