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.
Notifications and Alerts
Collier County put a burn ban in place on Feb. 11, 2025. Anyone who breaks the rules and causes major damage could face fines of up to $15,000. Collier County Officials made this call because of extremely dry conditions across most of the area.
The ban stops people from having open fires, outdoor burning, and trash burning outside city limits. People can still use grills, stoves, cookers, and smokers for outdoor food preparation.
Farmers, approved industrial burning, and Florida Forest Service and Federal prescribed fire work are allowed to continue.
The ban will remain in effect until further notice.
For more information, call 311 or (239) 252-4311
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 information on ORV use, please contact the off-road vehicle office at 239-631-9988 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.
Any violations of park rules or regulations will cause a revocation of your camping permit and no refund will be given.
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. Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor 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 information on ORV use please call 239-631-9988.Hunting and fishing regulations can be found at myfwc.com.
Contact Information
Mailing
33100 Tamiami Trail East Ochopee FL 34141
Physical
Turner River Road 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
- Site 14, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 35, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 16, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 39, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 7, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 12, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 17, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 24, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 4, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 19, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 32, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 11, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 22, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 37, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 33, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 5, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 23, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 8, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 30, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 36, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 6, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 15, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 27, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 26, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 40, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 38, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 31, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 9, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 13, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 20, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 34, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 3, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 29, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 21, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 18, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 28, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 25, Loop , Type Standard Nonelectric
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