By:
Submission
The preserve has recently undergone improvements to enhances visitors' experiences, including the new Terry Tomalin Campground, St. Pete's first public primitive family campground; Hammock Hall, a multipurpose building to provde rental space and programming opportunites; and a trail expansion. The 12-site campground's name honors the late Terry Tomalin, a former Tampa Bay Times outdoors writer who supported the preserve through several service projects.
The campground is open to both individuals and groups.
Coming from the north:
Take I-275 south to 22 Ave. S. exit 19
Turn left onto 22 Ave. S - head east to 31st Street S.
Turn right at the first light - 31st Street S.
Go approximately 5 blocks heading south
The entrance - Gate # 1 is on the east (left) side of the road
Coming from the south:
Take I-275 north to 26 Ave. S. exit 18
Turn right onto 26 Ave. S - head east to 31st Street S.
Turn right at the first light - 31st Street S.
Go approximately 1 block south
The entrance - Gate # 1 is on the east (left) side of the road
great primitive (tent only, no hookups) camping! i was hoping to camp at nearby fort desoto county park, but there was no availability, so this was plan B. the campsites are no-frills but clean and well-maintained, the restrooms were new and clean too. the staff was very helpful and friendly. only things that had me worried and weren't clear were: 1. where the entrance is (it's off 31st st where google maps shows it, you don't have to go to the boyd hill nature visitor's center), 2. when check-in closed because the staff goes home, and 3. if there was a gate when it would be closed (gate closed at 11 the night I spent there). great option for bike-camping the Pinellas or other popular bike routes nearby.
Five stars for a very nice group campsite with a constructed fire pit & moveable benches, plus access to the trails at Boyd Hill Preserve. One star deduction for a ridiculous ant infestation at the group site. Ants in everyone's tents, ants in our cars parked at the Osprey Roost, ants by the fireplace....(you get it). Fortunately not the biting kind, and no, we did not keep food in our tents if that's what you're thinking. Restrooms out of commission but super fun solar showers outside.
Cheap, and very polite office staff. The janitor who kept saying things like ' you need to pay to be here' and had issues with the fact that we were in a camper van was quite bothersome. We were paying customers chased off, and the bathroom were under construction, didn't see that on the website so there were Porta pottys and cold pop up showers. The only redeeming quality was the office lady
Perfect camping opportunity right in your backyard. The cabins are spacious and have electricity a well as ceiling fans. Windows can be opened and have screens. We took a night hike (guided of course), and love it. Cooked several meals on the open fire. There's plenty of space for children to run around. The bathrooms need a little sprucing up especially the showers. Overall I would definitely return.
It’s a beautiful spot. The campground and cabins are well maintained. The only issue is the road noise (close to the interstate) and the lack of anything but a bed in the cabins. A chair and table would be nice!
