Fort De Soto Ranks One of the U.S. Top 10 Camping Destinations

ST. PETERSBURG – Fort De Soto Campground has been ranked No. 7 in the nation for 2022 Best Places to Camp: Top 10 in the US by the popular camper magazine and app, The Dyrt.

Just south of St. Petersburg and north of Manatee County, you'll find Fort De Soto Park. The park stretches just over 1,100 acres across five island keys. Named afterSpanish explorer and conquistador, Hernando de Soto, the park is a 236-site family camping destination. Park facilities include picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas, and a campground store. There are designated pet-friendly campsites and beach areas.

Fort De Soto is plentiful in nature views, land and sea wildlife, and white sandy shores. Visitors can enjoy canoeing and paddle boarding along its 2.25-mile recreational canoe trail. There are equipment rentals available on-site, as well as guided tours.

It is a popular destination for nature hikes and bird-watching enthusiasts, with seven miles of paved trails connecting the park's North and East beaches to the campgrounds and boat launch.

Utilizing a combination of ratings and reviews submitted by more than 1 million of its active app users, The Dyrt compiled its top 10 list.

"We crunched the numbers (and some granola) and, of the millions of campers who use The Dyrt to find and book camping, these are their preferred places to camp this year," wrote The Dyrt.

Other campsites which made The Dyrt’s list included locations in New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, California, Minnesota, Colorado, New York, Washington, and Arizona. Fort Desoto was the only Florida campground to make the top 10 and the only destination from the Southeast.

Eight of the ten sites were recently recognized as No. 1 in their region by The Dyrt in the magazine’s regional ratings. In its 2022 Best Places to Camp: Top 10 in the Southeast,Fort Desoto Park ranked as the number one top-rated camping destination in the Southeast.

This is not the first time the park has received recognition. In 2008 and 2009 Fort Desoto was named America’s Top Beach by the online travel guide, Tripadvisor.

A common bond shared among all 10 of the destinations to make The Dyrt's Top 10 US list, is proximity to natural wonders. Whether it’s a mountain range, glacier, wilderness, lake, ocean, or gorge, The Dyrt set out to compile some of the most beautiful, alluring locales in the country.

"Part of what makes camping such a wonderful and soul-satisfying experience is the way it enables and encourages people to appreciate nature," says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. "There are rewarding camping experiences in every state. But when you look at the 2022 Best Places To Camp: Top 10 in the U.S., that’s just nature on another level, truly awe-inspiring."

Whether for a day trip or overnight stay, Fort Desoto continues to reign as one of Florida's top park, beach, and camping destinations.

Fort Desoto Campground Details:

• Price: $34-45
• Number of sites: 236
• RV sites: yes
• Fires allowed: yes
• Pets allowed: yes

For more information about Fort De Soto Park, or to make reservations, visit www.pinellascounty.org/park/camping.htm

To read The Dyrt’s "2022 Best Place to Camp: Top 10 in the US" click, here.

For The Dyrt’s "2022 Best Places To Camp in Each US Region" click here.