Experiences
Hillsborough River State Park offers RV and tent camping with electric on most of the sites in this 112-site campground. Each site is equipped with water, a fire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with hot showers and laundry facilities. The campground offers a dump station for your convenience.
Pets are welcome but must be confined, leashed (up to six feet in length) or otherwise under the owner's physical control at all times.
- Maximum RV length = 50 feet.
- Hammocks are allowed to be used in certain campsites. Sites 41, 61, 110 and 111 allow one hammock each, while sites 68 and 70 allow two hammocks each. Setup requires the use of straps at least 2 inches wide on trees at least 12 inches in diameter.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Group primitive camping is available for organized youth or adult groups, defined as six or more persons affiliated with a recognized nonprofit or community organization such as Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, Sierra Club or church groups. Priority is given to youth groups with over half its members under 18 years of age.
- The camp accommodates up to 60 people at one time.
- Fees are youth (up to 18 years of age), $1 per person, per night; and adult, $5 per person, per night.
Four camping areas are set in a wooded area, offering shade as well as beauty. All four sites have water, picnic tables, grills, a fire ring, and restrooms with cold showers. Organizations must be under the sponsorship of a recognized entity for a particular outing. Adult supervision is required. Pets are not allowed in this ecologically sensitive area. There is no electricity.
- Reservations can be made for groups up to 60 days in advance. Adult groups may use this camp when it is not being used by a youth group. Call the park at 813-987-6771 to make reservations. A $22.40 deposit is required for all reservations and will be applied to the final balance.
- Hammocks are allowed at specific sites in the youth camp area. Site C allows one hammock, and sites A, B and D allow two hammocks each.
- No deposit refunds will be given within 14 days of reservation.
The park is a popular location for fishing the Hillsborough River. Fish that are commonly seen include bass, bream and catfish.
- A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fishing in Florida website.
Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. It's effectively an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech treasure hunt that's a great way to learn geography. Participants use location coordinates to find caches. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult.
The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been. Geocaching should have minimal impact to the environment, and conscientious land-use ethics should be followed.
Visitors have four hiking trails to choose from, which total 7.3 miles. Along the Hillsborough River, the trails take hikers through a dense, hydric hammock forest and provide interpretive displays, changing elevations, and a multitude of opportunities to view and photograph nature.
The Wetlands Trail begins in a pine flatwoods community and continues to fork in the trail, offering visitors a choice to enjoy the Fort King Trail or continue on the Wetlands Trail.
The trails are another example of how Hillsborough River State Park is where history and nature come together. A trail map is available at the ranger station.
- Park closes at sundown. Please allow ample time to leave trails by sundown.
- Due to increased rains in spring and summer, seasonal flooding occurs throughout the park. Approximately 25% of Hillsborough River State Park is in lowland areas that are prone to seasonal flooding. These floods are extremely unpredictable and may affect your hiking experience.
- Please call the park office at 813-987-6771 prior to your visit for the specific conditions of our trails.
A variety of habitats exist in Hillsborough River State Park, including pine flatwoods, floodplain swamp, hardwood and hydric hammock, cypress swamp and grass pond.
These natural communities allow for diverse plant and animal communities to be observed by our visitors. Whether on a trail or picnicking, bring your binoculars to get a good look at the wildlife.
- Additional information about identified animals seen in Hillsborough River State Park can be found in the ranger station.
Amenities
Hillsborough River State Park is committed to providing a variety of amenities accessible to all of our visitors.
These amenities include:
- Picnic facilities with tables and grills.
- Campsites with concrete pad, picnic table, ground grill and nearby restrooms.
- Parking.
- Restrooms.
- Interpretative center for Fort Foster Historic State Park.
Service animals are welcome in all areas of Florida State Parks.
Hillsborough River State Park offers RV and tent camping with electric on most of the campsites in this 112-site campground. Each site is equipped with water, a fire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with hot showers and laundry facilities. The campground offers a dump station for your convenience.
Pets are welcome but must be confined, leashed (up to six feet in length) or otherwise under the owner's physical control at all times.
- Maximum RV length = 50 feet.
- Hammocks are allowed to be used in certain campsites. Sites 41, 61, 110 and 111 allow one hammock each, while sites 68 and 70 allow two hammocks each. Setup requires the use of straps at least 2 inches wide on trees at least 12 inches in diameter.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Learn about the history of the park.
Learn more about Fort Foster State Historic Site.
Visitors have four hiking trails to choose from, which total approximately 7.3 miles. Along the Hillsborough River, the trails take hikers through a dense, hydric hammock forest and provide interpretive displays, changing elevations, and a multitude of opportunities to view and photograph nature.
The Wetlands Trail begins in a pine flatwoods community and continues to fork in the trail, offering visitors a choice to enjoy the Fort King Trail or continue on the Wetlands Trail.
The trails are another example of how Hillsborough River State Park is where history and nature come together. A trail map is available at the ranger station.
- Park closes at sundown. Please allow ample time to leave trails by sundown.
- Due to increased rains in spring and summer, seasonal flooding occurs throughout the park. Approximately 25% of Hillsborough River State Park is in lowland areas and these areas are prone to seasonal flooding. These floods are extremely unpredictable and may affect your hiking experience.
- Please call the park office at 813-987-6771 prior to your visit for the specific conditions of our trails.
Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas of the park. Visitors should clean up after their pets and keep them on a 6-foot, hand-held leash at all times. Service animals are welcome in all visitor use areas in the park.
- Please contact the ranger station for specific pet restrictions or inquiries.
- See our Pet Policy.
Hillsborough River State Park offers RV and tent camping with electric on most of the campsites in the 112-site campground. Each site is equipped with water, a fire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with hot showers and laundry facilities. The campground offers a dump station for your convenience.
Pets are welcome but must be confined, leashed (up to six feet in length), or otherwise under the owner's physical control at all times.
- Maximum RV length = 50 feet.
- Hammocks are allowed to be used in certain campsites. Sites 41, 61, 110 and 111 allow one hammock each, while sites 68 and 70 allow two hammocks each. Setup requires the use of straps at least 2 inches wide on trees at least 12 inches in diameter.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.