Hillsborough River State Park Campground
Florida State Park
Write a Review 15402 US-301 N Thonotosassa, FL 33592 813-688-9500 Reservations: 800-326-3521 Official WebsiteGPS: 28.145, -82.2252
Overview of Hillsborough River State Park Campground
State park entrance fee is included in campsite fees.
Last Price Paid: $38
Reported by camper-902120 on 3/17/2024
Longest RV Reported: 42 feet (Class A)
Reported by Life Rebooted on 1/15/2018
Number of Sites 112
Reservations yes
Elevation 32 ft / 9 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 50 ft
Tent Camping Yes
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Reviews of Hillsborough River State Park Campground 38 people have reviewed this location.
“Great, cost-effective (for Florida) option!”
Reviewed 2/10/2020
Nightly rate: | $24 |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | 86 & 51D |
RV Length: | 34' (Fifth Wheel) |
A lovely campground and park. Site quality depends on spacing - and spacing is hit or miss. Pretty crammed in for a State Park for most of the sites, but not horrid. Both sites 86 & 51D had nice spacing, although 51D does face the dumpster to the front. Sites are dirt/gravel and have a picnic table and a fire pit, and offer water, 20/3... more
A lovely campground and park. Site quality depends on spacing - and spacing is hit or miss. Pretty crammed in for a State Park for most of the sites, but not horrid. Both sites 86 & 51D had nice spacing, although 51D does face the dumpster to the front. Sites are dirt/gravel and have a picnic table and a fire pit, and offer water, 20/30/50A. There is a pull through dump station between loops.
A host drives around the park in the evening with a golf-cart pulling a trailer full of ice and firewood for sale. My only complaint with this is that he plays ice cream truck music which is a trick because no ice cream for sale.
Good trails throughout the park, and a park store/counter service fast food joint adjacent to the huge outdoor pool.
Laundry and showers at the bathhouse. $2.50/wash, $2.25/dry. Pets allowed on leash.
There is also tent style hike-in camping available in the park via the Seminole Trail.
Everyone I spoke with had booked their sites 11months out (on the day the dates opened). We grabbed up some cancellations a few weeks before arrival. Every site was full every night - so I wouldn't bet on walk-in availability.
Liz & Jake would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Experience can differ depending on site”
Reviewed 1/7/2020
Nightly rate: | $29 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 35 |
RV Length: | 32' (Class A) |
Hillsborough River State Park is pretty close to Tampa, has a few hiking and biking trails, and a beautiful kayaking river. The campground is a very mixed bag. We spent 1 night in site 35 which was fine, but I saw many sites that put other campers at odd angles to each other leaving some to exit their camper door right into the nex... more
Hillsborough River State Park is pretty close to Tampa, has a few hiking and biking trails, and a beautiful kayaking river. The campground is a very mixed bag.
We spent 1 night in site 35 which was fine, but I saw many sites that put other campers at odd angles to each other leaving some to exit their camper door right into the next campsite. This was particularly unpleasant where some campers' sites looked as though they were set up for a flea market with every inch of the campsite filled.
There is a pool and playground and kayak/canoe rentals. The registration staff were friendly.
We woke up to water being turned off due to an "inspection" we weren't told about that was going to last for several hours.
The trails are pleasant, but a little boggy at times. The sites tended to be a little muddy, too.
tacksonthedeck would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful and restful”
Reviewed 11/25/2019
Nightly rate: | $24 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 56 |
RV Length: | 31' (Class A) |
I went here after leaving the dealership when I bought my Class A. It was close to home and a good place to do a shakedown trip. I think site 56 is one of the best sites in the park. The only real complaint I have is that the fallen trees are just left to rot on the ground. That gives it a real natural look, but not the best all ar... more
I went here after leaving the dealership when I bought my Class A. It was close to home and a good place to do a shakedown trip. I think site 56 is one of the best sites in the park. The only real complaint I have is that the fallen trees are just left to rot on the ground. That gives it a real natural look, but not the best all around appearance. The weekend I was there they were preparing for a Haunted Trails event and it was packed. Very successful event for them.
I would certainly visit the park again.
David Gillespie would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Relaxing ”
Reviewed 4/6/2019
Nightly rate: | $3 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 018 |
I have been to this park on several occasions and always enjoy the stay as a tent camper. It encourages the atmosphere of relaxing in nature. The main reason I write this review is because I need to acknowledge the help from Ranger Traxler who helped me get my car started after refusing regular jump starts when it was time for me to le... more
I have been to this park on several occasions and always enjoy the stay as a tent camper. It encourages the atmosphere of relaxing in nature. The main reason I write this review is because I need to acknowledge the help from Ranger Traxler who helped me get my car started after refusing regular jump starts when it was time for me to leave. He figured out my problem wasn't the battery but a problem with a fuse in the fuse box. Now this my not be his calling BUT his calling to HELP came through for me. I drove home (>100 miles) without a hitch. He refused financial reward and only requested a favorable review.
Well Ranger Traxler, here it is, KUDOS to you and to the staff at the park for helping me get back home to continue celebrating my birthday.
Thank You,
Michael F.
Handlebars would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“ Beautiful and quiet ”
Reviewed 3/11/2019
Nightly rate: | $35 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 90 |
I stayed here in my 21-foot trailer in site # 90 and can’t wait to come back. This park fills up for several months out so if you are flexible and can do an occasional few weeknights, do it! Plenty of room to back into your site and I should know since this was my very first time backing into one! The loop that I stayed in is called ... more
I stayed here in my 21-foot trailer in site # 90 and can’t wait to come back. This park fills up for several months out so if you are flexible and can do an occasional few weeknights, do it! Plenty of room to back into your site and I should know since this was my very first time backing into one! The loop that I stayed in is called the Hammock loop and even though it is not on the river, it is a quiet and more spacious campground area with easy proximity to a dump station. The Rangers are very responsive and fixed my electrical post within hours of my reporting some power surges. (Luckily, I always use a surge protector in any campground.) I feel like this park is a hidden gem just outside Tampa Bay! If you stay here, you must rent canoes or kayaks and enjoy the glorious river. Lots of hiking trails with the suspension bridge and so much gorgeous scenery. Florida at its best. Also, even though I did not see that they have any Wi-Fi here, I have great cell reception and was able to use my phone as a hotspot while I worked on my laptop.
Sheribaz would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Awesome State Park!”
Reviewed 2/6/2019
Days stayed: | 3 |
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RV Length: | 33' |
Very beautiful, well-maintained. We quickly found the unofficial trail on the wrong side of the River (next to the campground) where we saw a gator!
Steve would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“...a bit wet and muddy...”
Reviewed 1/29/2019
Nightly rate: | $17 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 58 |
Three inches of rain the day and night before our arrival left our campsite a bit wet and muddy, but upon arrival the Ollie and Tacoma had no trouble backing in. Unfortunately, big rigs flanked our not-at-all-private campsite #58 which, by design, was also at the furthest point away from the restrooms. It appears many trees through th... more
Three inches of rain the day and night before our arrival left our campsite a bit wet and muddy, but upon arrival the Ollie and Tacoma had no trouble backing in. Unfortunately, big rigs flanked our not-at-all-private campsite #58 which, by design, was also at the furthest point away from the restrooms. It appears many trees through the years have been removed in this campground, and from what I had researched I was hoping for a lesser number of big rigs. I thought I read that roads were tight, this campground was perhaps the oldest in the state, and designed for smaller rigs. This was not the case at all. There was a positive trade-off it seems for big rigs versus tents as it was more quiet with less smoke and kids. But there are always fewer trees and privacy when the big rigs can get in. And the age of the campers themselves increases proportionally when their giant mansions-on-wheels spoil the view. For us, camping is about nature, and the more wild the campground is the better for us. But we do enjoy having at least two bars of cell coverage so we can use our wifi, and we lucked out that site 58 had it in spades. Others here are not so fortunate. The campground is pretty far off the beaten path so bring your supplies with you. There wasn’t much to choose from at the I-75 exit.
Many of the hiking trails proved not navigable due to the current flooding, and the “stationary” bridge over the river was still closed due to damage from Hurricane Irma two years ago. The rangers were not allowing any canoe rentals because of the rising waters of the river. But there was still enough hiking available in areas where the trails drain well running next to the beautiful river. Further inland? Not so hot. Standing water prevailed. The swimming pool, which looks fantastic and gargantuan, was also closed due to cold weather. The swim rule here is 70 degree pool water temperature or no one gets wet. Hot water in some of the restrooms was also at a minimum and rumor had it the other restrooms were even worse. There is only one dump station, and it seems the park is too large for only one, but we’ll see when we depart if we have to wait in line long.
But the Hillsborough River State Park grounds themselves are beautiful and there are enough paved roads and campground loops to get enough exercise riding bicycles. On arrival Bob the dog enjoyed running alongside the bicycle and then hiking the Baynard Trail beginning at the suspension bridge. We simply had to turn around and reverse course when we hit standing water. Our second day included additional Bob the dog bike runs and another bike ride down to hike a bit. We began at the canoe landing near the stationary bridge this side of the river. We hiked all along The Rapids Trail until it veered off the river inland and it wasn’t far before again hitting standing water. We returned to our locked bicycles back the way we originally came. Gorgeous scenery on this river and certainly a park we would like to one day return to when the weather is warmer and dry.
Nomad Reign RV would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great experience”
Reviewed 10/10/2018
Nightly rate: | $26 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 48 |
This is one of the best state parks to camp in. 30 minutes to Tampa, so it can be hard to book sometimes. It features a pool and canoes to rent. There are alligators one the river. I only saw one this trip.I went in still hot early October, but the campground is covered with enough oaks, I did not notice the heat. Highly recomme... more
This is one of the best state parks to camp in. 30 minutes to Tampa, so it can be hard to book sometimes. It features a pool and canoes to rent. There are alligators one the river. I only saw one this trip.I went in still hot early October, but the campground is covered with enough oaks, I did not notice the heat. Highly recommend. It is so close to Tampa suburbs, that cell service is no problem.
Clay would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful and Well Maintained”
Reviewed 9/9/2018
Nightly rate: | $24 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 111, 102, 18 |
RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
This park is beautiful. It’s the rainy season, so there are many sites that are flooded. It is essential that you call the ranger station to make sure the site you have reserved is not wet. If you don’t, they’ll most likely call you and and suggest a different site. They are incredibly accommodating. The campground hosts are attentive ... more
This park is beautiful. It’s the rainy season, so there are many sites that are flooded. It is essential that you call the ranger station to make sure the site you have reserved is not wet. If you don’t, they’ll most likely call you and and suggest a different site. They are incredibly accommodating. The campground hosts are attentive and do a great job, and facilities are as clean as they can be in light of the super-wet conditions. Quiet time rules strictly enforced. Firewood and ice available for sale. Fire pits have grill grates. This park has a beautiful, HUGE salt-water pool and concessions. Entry is $4 for anyone age 5 and over. Cushioned lounge chairs are $10/day.
Sites 82-114 are quieter than the others. Many beautiful, well-maintained hiking trails. Can’t wait to come back again.
Site 102 is large, backs up to a small playground and the bath house, no immediate neighbors on driver's side.
Site 18 has a path to the pool area on the driver's side and is very close to another campsite on the passenger side, offering little privacy but plenty of room for our 30' trailer and tow vehicle. Bath house is right across the road with washer, dryer, soda machine and clean bathrooms/showers. This site is a little muddy and I'd imagine it floods during the rainy season.
Aurora would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing”
Reviewed 4/29/2018
Nightly rate: | $24 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 113 |
RV Length: | 23' (Travel Trailer) |
Check in was a breeze. The park and site itself were awesome. Quite time is 11pm, wish it was more enforced. Otherwise it was an awesome two nights!
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- water
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- bike rental
- boat rental
- fishing
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
- swimming pool: outdoor
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- ADA Accessible
- laundry
- recycle
- restaurant
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- swimming pool: outdoor
- trash
Pets
- pets
Nearby
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