Hillsborough River State Park Camping: The Complete 2026 Florida Guide

Hillsborough River State Park camping is the closest true state-park campground to Tampa. You get 112 shaded sites under live oaks and cabbage palms on the banks of the Hillsborough River, in Thonotosassa, a short drive northeast of the city. The river here does something almost no other Florida river does: it runs over limestone outcrops and forms a set of Class II rapids. That's rare in a state this flat.

It's also one of the most heavily booked campgrounds in the Tampa Bay area. This guide covers everything you need to know before you reserve: the loops, hookups, hammock sites, glamping, the campground map, fees, and which parts of the park are still recovering from the 2024 hurricanes.

Is Hillsborough River State Park Open?

Yes. The park and the campground are open. The park is open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. It did close after Hurricane Milton in October 2024, which brought down a huge number of trees and wrecked the interior of the concession building. Since reopening, the campground has been fully operational. Some things have been slower to come back, though:

• Some trails have stayed closed. The Florida Rambler's guide, updated October 2025, listed the Baynard and Seminole trails and part of the Rapids Trail as still closed for storm damage.
• The swimming pool is closed. It shut in 2022 and hasn't reopened, and a 2025 report suggested it may never reopen. If you're searching for the "Hillsborough River State Park pool" or "swimming pool," plan on swimming somewhere else.
• Fort Foster tours aren't running. The reconstructed Second Seminole War fort has no visitor access at the moment.
• Rentals are limited. The park concessionaire, Adventure Capital, reopened with limited canoe and kayak rentals while it rebuilds.

Call the ranger station at (813) 987-6771 before you go for current trail and river conditions.

Hillsborough River State Park Campground: Sites and Hookups

The Hillsborough River State Park campground has 112 sites across three loops, one of them the Hammock Loop. Almost every site is shaded, but some sit much closer to their neighbors than others. Every site has:

• Water and electric, with 50-amp service on some sites
• A picnic table and a fire ring
• Space for RVs and trailers up to 50 feet

Each loop has its own restrooms with hot showers and laundry, and all three loops share a single dump station. There are no sewer hookups at individual sites. There's also a campground kayak launch with a slide down the steep bank, so a site near the launch (Florida Rambler's writers liked site 36) lets you keep your boats at camp.

One warning: the campground can flood during Florida's rainy season, roughly June through October. Call the ranger station before a summer trip, and read our camping in the rain guide if the forecast looks wet.

Hammock Camping Sites

This is one of the few Florida state parks that spells out exactly where you can hang a hammock:

• Sites 41, 61, 110 and 111: one hammock each
• Sites 68 and 70: two hammocks each

Straps must be at least 1 inch wide, and the trees must be at least 12 inches in diameter at chest height. Book one of those six sites if hammock camping is the plan. Our best camping hammock roundup covers the gear.

Glamping at Hillsborough River State Park

Timberline Glamping opened at the park in 2022 with six furnished safari-style tents. Each one has a queen bed, a set of bunks, heat and air conditioning, outlets, a mini fridge and a coffee maker. The campground map marks sites 19–25 as the glamping sites. Florida Rambler reported rates of about $150–$175 a night plus a $60 cleaning fee. You book these directly with Timberline, not through the state park system.

There are no cabins. If you're searching for "Hillsborough River State Park camping cabins," glamping is the only roofed option in the park.

Group Primitive Camping

The park has four group primitive sites for organized youth or adult groups: six or more people with a recognized nonprofit, like Scouts or a church group. You can't book these online. Call the ranger station to reserve, call again the day before for trail conditions, and check in at least an hour before sunset.

Hillsborough River State Park Camping Reservations and Prices

You book Hillsborough River State Park camping reservations through the Florida State Parks reservation system or by calling 800-326-3521, up to 11 months in advance. Costs:

• $24 per night, plus tax
• $7 nightly utility fee for RVs (tents don't pay it)
• $6.70 nonrefundable reservation fee
• 50% off the base campsite fee for Florida residents 65 or older, or with a qualifying disability certificate (bring documentation)

Book early for February and March. The Florida State Fair in Tampa and the Florida Strawberry Festival in nearby Plant City fill the campground every year, and winter is peak season in general. For other options around the state, see our Florida state parks camping guide.

Hillsborough River State Park Map and Campground Map

Florida State Parks publishes a combined PDF with the campground map and the park map. It shows all three loops, the glamping sites and the trail network, and the reservation system shows each site's location when you book. If you're browsing "Hillsborough River State Park campground photos," Campsite Photos has pictures of individual sites, which helps you check shade and how close the neighbors are before you commit.

Kayaking, Canoeing and the Rapids

Kayaking Hillsborough River State Park is the main reason most people come. The primary launch is across from the concession building, where you can rent canoes and kayaks when rentals are running.

• Upstream are the rapids. They're Class II after heavy rain and barely Class I in low water, but they're still tricky for beginners.
• Downstream, the river eventually reaches the 17 Runs, a tangle of downed trees and portages. Turn around there. For the lower river, shuttle to John B. Sergeant Park, about 7 miles south.

Watch for alligators and turtles sunning on the banks. The river also holds bass, bream and catfish if you want to try fishing (you'll need a Florida freshwater license).

Hiking Trails and Biking

Hillsborough River State Park hiking trails cover more than seven miles:

• Rapids Trail: a 1.2-mile loop along the river to the rapids, partly closed after the storms
• Baynard Trail: 1.1 miles, reached from the bridge near the playground
• Wetlands Restoration Nature Trail: 1.6 miles, open to both hikers and bikes
• Fort King Trail: 6.7 miles, the long one

The suspension bridge over the river was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, along with the park's historic picnic pavilions. Bikes are allowed on the paved 2.2-mile park road and the Wetlands Restoration Trail.

Fees, Hours and Directions

• Address: 15402 U.S. 301 North, Thonotosassa, FL 33592 · 813-688-9500 (not for reservations)
• Hours: 8 a.m. until sundown, daily
• Admission: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people), $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists

Dogs are welcome in the campground on a leash no longer than 6 feet. See our camping with dogs guide.

Not the Same as Hillsborough County Camping

Many searches mix this park up with Hillsborough County's own parks, such as E.G. Simmons and Lithia Springs. Those are run by the county and booked through the county system, not the state. If you're looking for "Hillsborough County camping reservations," that's a different site from the one covered here.

Recommended Gear

• Coleman Sundome Camping Tent: affordable, quick to pitch, and its rainfly matters in a campground that can flood in summer.
• Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock: for sites 41, 61, 68, 70, 110 and 111, the only sites where hammocks are allowed. Bring wide tree straps.
• Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp: the loops are dark under the tree canopy, and you'll want both hands free at the bathhouse or the kayak slide.

New to tent camping? Start with how to set up a tent and our tent camping essentials list. Florida's other spring-and-river campground, Rainbow Springs, is under two hours north.

The Short Version

112 shaded sites with water and electric, $24 a night plus fees, booked up to 11 months out. Six sites allow hammocks, glamping is the only roofed option, and the pool, Fort Foster and some trails are still closed. Paddle up to the rapids, and turn back at the 17 Runs.