Monument Lake Campground
National Park Service campground in Big Cypress National Preserve, near Ochopee, Florida.
Summary
Monument Lake Campground is a National Park Service campground in Big Cypress National Preserve, about 58 miles (straight line) from Miami. The campground lists 38 overnight sites (including 10 tent-only sites), and it is open seasonally (about Aug to Apr). Sites are reservable on Recreation.gov; the largest accommodate RVs and trailers up to 45 ft. Within 5 miles there are 6.9 miles of trail open to bikes, the closest being Monroe South Trail (0.7 mi away).
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
- ↪Pull-through sites (3)Listed
- 🚐Dump stationNot listed
- 📶Wi-FiNot listed
- 🧺LaundryNot listed
- 🏪Camp storeNot listed
- 🛝PlaygroundNot listed
- 🏊SwimmingNot listed
- 🚤Boat rampNot listed
- 🐕Pet-friendlyListed
- ♿ADA-accessible sitesNot listed
- 🛖CabinsNot listed
- 🔥Fire ringsNot listed
- 🍖GrillsListed
- 🪑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 Monument Lake 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 38 sites it is the #54 largest of 94 Florida campgrounds that publish a site count.
- There are 26 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles.
- 50% of Florida campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (45 ft).
- Pets allowed on 38 of 38 sites; campfires allowed on 2 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
- Straight-line distance: Miami ~58 mi, Tampa ~166 mi, Orlando ~185 mi.
Site mix
Amenities & rules
GrillsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers
Trails near Monument Lake Campground
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe North | 0.7 mi | 2.5 | NPS |
| Monroe South | 0.7 mi | 5.7 | NPS |
| Monument | 2.2 mi | 3.6 | NPS |
| Sandy Road | 2.3 mi | 2.9 | NPS |
| Gator Hook Trail | 2.5 mi | 2.3 | NPS |
| Buckskin | 3.4 mi | 1.9 | NPS |
| Skillet North | 3.6 mi | 5.7 | NPS |
| Left Hand Skillet | 3.8 mi | 1.6 | NPS |
Mountain biking nearby
6.9 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 6.9 mi
| Trail | Closest point | Miles within 5 mi | Difficulty (as tagged) | Kids | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe South Trail | 0.7 mi | 5.7 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Florida Trail | 4.9 mi | 1.2 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Oasis Trail | 5.0 mi | 0.0 | OSM |
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.
Dump stations near Monument Lake Campground
| Public dump station (OpenStreetMap) | Distance | Fee | Water | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dump station (unnamed in OSM) | 7.8 mi | Not listed | No | Customers |
Nearby campgrounds with an on-site dump station: Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee (15.5 mi). Many limit dumping to registered guests.
Straight-line distances. Dump station points: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); fees, hours and access change, so confirm before you go.
Activities listed
Auto TouringBikingBoatingCampingDay Use AreaFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingPaddlingPicnickingWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burns Lake Campground Aug–Apr Big Cypress National Preserve |
6.6 | FL | — | 14 | — | 50 ft | yes | Reserve | 6 (16.1 mi) |
| Pink Jeep Campground Big Cypress National Preserve |
7.6 | FL | — | 9 | — | — | — | Reserve | 14 (54.6 mi) |
| Midway Campground Open year-round Big Cypress National Preserve |
7.9 | FL | — | 36 | E 30A | 45 ft | yes | Reserve | 3 (14.1 mi) |
| Sweetwater Chickadee #2 National Park Service |
10.3 | FL | $21 permit + $2/person/night | — | — | — | — | Permit | 3 (18.2 mi) |
| Trail Lakes Campgrounds OpenStreetMap listing |
10.5 | FL | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 6 (19.9 mi) |
| Sunday Bay Chickadee #1 OpenStreetMap listing |
10.7 | FL | $21 permit + $2/person/night | — | — | — | — | Permit | 4 (28.6 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.