Gator Head Campground
National Park Service campground in Big Cypress National Preserve, near Ochopee, Florida.
Summary
Gator Head Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve is about 74 miles (straight line) from Miami; it is run by the National Park Service. It has 9 overnight sites and a nightly fee of $10, and it is open seasonally (about Aug to Apr). Sites are reservable on Recreation.gov.
When to book: Recreation.gov's default: most campsites open 6 months before arrival, at 10 a.m. ET, but each campground can set its own window (check its Seasons and Fees tab). Example: Labor Day weekend 2027 (arrive Fri, Sep 3, 2027): booking opens Wed, Mar 3, 2027, at 10 a.m. ET. Source: Recreation.gov: Tips for making campsite reservations at popular locations. Campsite booking-date calculator →
When it's open
Seasonal (approx Aug–Apr) Aug 16 – Apr 14
- NPS lists a seasonal closure ("Seasonal Closure") from Apr 15, 2027 to Aug 15, 2027.
Florida campgrounds open year-round →
Source: National Park Service, retrieved Oct 20, 2026. It says: “NPS operating hours: "Seasonal Closure" Apr 15, 2027 – Aug 15, 2027” Opening and closing dates can shift with weather and staffing.
Hookups & amenities
- 🚿ShowersNot listed
- 🚻ToiletsNot listed
- 🚰Drinking waterNot listed
- ⚡Electric hookupsNot listed
- 💧Water hookupsNot listed
- 🔧Sewer hookupsNot listed
- 🔌Full hookups (E/W/S)Not listed
- 🚐Dump stationNot listed
- 📶Wi-FiNot listed
- 🧺LaundryNot listed
- 🏪Camp storeNot listed
- 🛝PlaygroundNot listed
- 🏊SwimmingNot listed
- 🚤Boat rampNot listed
- 🐕Pet-friendlyNot listed
- ♿ADA-accessible sitesNot listed
- 🛖CabinsNot listed
- 🔥Fire ringsNot listed
- 🍖GrillsNot listed
- 🪑Picnic tablesNot listed
- 🧑Camp hostNot listed
- 🐻Food storage lockersNot listed
Listed only when Recreation.gov site records report it. "Not listed" means the source doesn't say, not that the campground lacks it.
Map: trails and roads near Gator Head Campground
Loads MapLibre with OpenFreeMap tiles only when you tap.
Campsite layout
Check live availability on Recreation.gov ↗
We don't show live availability. Openings change by the minute and only the official reservation system has them.
How it compares
- With 9 sites it is the #87 largest of 94 Florida campgrounds that publish a site count (small and usually quieter).
- Its lowest fee ($10) is $14 below the Florida median of $24/night.
- There are 10 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
- Straight-line distance: Miami ~74 mi, Tampa ~140 mi, Orlando ~160 mi.
Amenities & rules
The agency hasn't published an amenity list for this campground.
Fee notes from the agency: Fees are $10 per site all reservations must be made on Rec.gov
Trails near Gator Head Campground
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge Trail | 0.2 mi | 5.1 | NPS |
| Windmill Trail | 0.5 mi | 2.4 | NPS |
| Hard Rock Trail | 0.5 mi | 2.9 | NPS |
| Biu 4 | 1.0 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Perocchi Grade | 1.1 mi | 3.3 | NPS |
| Bear Island Grade | 1.2 mi | 3.7 | NPS |
| Harold Strand Trail | 1.5 mi | 2.9 | NPS |
| Plains Trail | 2.4 mi | 0.9 | NPS |
Mountain biking nearby
No bike-legal trails are mapped within 5 miles in OpenStreetMap or Forest Service data.
Trails marked OSM: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.
Activities listed
Auto TouringBikingBirdingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingOff Road Vehicle TrailsPaddlingPicnickingWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear island campground Aug–Apr Big Cypress national preserve |
3.1 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 9 (29.4 mi) |
| Nobles Camp OpenStreetMap listing |
12.1 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 2 (3.5 mi) |
| Carpenter Camp OpenStreetMap listing |
13.3 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 3 (7.2 mi) |
| Panther Camp OpenStreetMap listing |
14.9 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 3 (4.6 mi) |
| Picayune Strand Horseshoe Primitive Campground Florida Forest Service |
19.1 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 0 |
| Pink Jeep Campground Big Cypress National Preserve |
21.0 | FL | — | 9 | — | — | — | Reserve | 14 (54.6 mi) |
Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby. "Open year-round" and month ranges come from the agency, state park or OpenStreetMap season; no tag means no season is published.