Bear Island Campground

Big Cypress National Preserve

Bear Island Campground is a primitive campground located in Big Cypress National Preserve. Access to the campground is at the end of a 20-mile secondary gravel road. Located nearby are Gator Head and Pink Jeep campgrounds. Cell phone service is limited and it is highly encouraged that reservations be made in advance.

Bear Island campground has 40 campsites. Campsites 1-12 are open year round. Campsites 13-40 are open August 15- April 15. The campground offers tent and RV camping. Amenities include vault toilets, fire rings, shared food storage, and picnic tables. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as off-road vehicle trail access, hiking, and hunting.

Bear Island Campground is a primitive campground only accessible down a 20-mile secondary gravel road. Campsites have gravel or grass pads. It offers vault toilets, picnic tables, shared food storage, and fire rings. There is no water available.

Need to Know

Access to this campground is down a 20-mile secondary gravel road.
An off-road vehicle (ORV) permit is required for ORV use. For more information on ORV use, please contact the off-road vehicle office at 239-695-1117 or visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/orv-use.htm.
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. Pet owners are required to immediately remove and properly dispose of fecal matter deposited by their pets.
Cash payments are not accepted at this campground. Payments must be made online. There is limited to no cell phone coverage at the campground, advance reservations are highly recommended.
No fresh water is available.
Do not feed the wildlife, including birds. This is unhealthy for wild animals and invites human/animal confrontations. Food should be properly stored.
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.
Be considerate of your fellow campers by observing quiet hours from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. All generators must be off at 10:00 pm
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.
Don’t Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it onsite. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Recreation

Bear Island Campground is the perfect location to enjoy much of what Big Cypress National Preserve has to offer. Visitors can enjoy nearby hiking, hunting, fishing, and off-road vehicle (ORV) trails with a permitted off-road vehicle. For more information on ORV use please call 239-695-1117.Hunting and fishing regulations can be found at myfwc.com.

Contact Information

Mailing

33100 Tamiami Trail East Ochopee FL 34141

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 239-695-1117

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Naples follow US HWY 41 east to Turner River Road. Follow Turner River Road approximately 20 miles and turn right into Bear Island Campground.

From Miami follow US HWY 41 west to Turner River Road. Follow Turner River Road approximately 20 miles and turn right into Bear Island Campground.

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!