Need Bush Garden Campground Info

[Minnie's Mate]

We are getting our new Airstream week after next and will be taking our maiden voyage to Disney over the July 4th week end. We have never stayed at FW in any of our trips to WDW and were looking so forward to finding out if that would be what we wanted to do on future trips (this is our first camper). At least that was the plan. So far we were only able to get the night of July 1 at Ft. Wilderness so we thought we would have the inaugural night at Ft. Wilderness and go down to Tampa to Bush Gardens for the rest of the weekend if we can't snag a cancellation at Ft. Wilderness for the rest of the weekend. This is back up plan "B".

Anyway, we need suggestions for campgrounds close to Bush Gardens. I know at this point we may be out of luck there too, but I need to try something or I'll have to park in my Mom's neighborhood storage lot for the remainder of the weekend and stay with her an hour north and nix any theme parks for the weekend.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wildernessfamily]

Once when we went to Tampa we stayed in the KOA in St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach. It is not very close, you have to drive back through Tampa to get there in the morning. Also if you follow the KOA directions you go through a business area when you get close to the KOA. We remember thinking OH NO we made a mistake...but once you get back in the campground it is beautiful...a surprise that it is back there. I will say, if anyone has a bird phobia you may not want to go, as there are many species of wild birds(storks? egrets?) I don't know since I am from the north, but they will come up close/rest on top of your RV. They are not shy. Actually for us it added to the tropical feel and none of us, even our dog did not seem to mind much and she's a border collie. We were just to BG a few weeks ago again but did not camp. It has been a few years since we stayed at the KOA, so I can't say if it is all the same. I hope it works out for you trying to get a trip together for the 4th. Happy Camping.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Thanks, I'm hoping that someone will cancel and we can extend our stay at Ft. Wilderness. I called again this morning and still no luck. Either way I'm sure we will enjoy the new rig in Florida over the 4th!

 

[Hpyhiker]

There is one RV park close to Busch Gardens in Tampa called the Happy Travelers RV Park about 1 mile east of the Hillsborough River on Hwy 582(Fowler Avenue). Busch Gardens is on Busch Blvd and 40th Street. Easy access to 582 from I-75. We have stayed at this park several times while visiting friends and family in the Tampa area. Nothing fancy but all the amenities and friendly staff. I would make reservations if at all possible. If your plans don't work out at FW then a visit to Busch Gardens is always fun.

 

[Florida_Mom]

You might check out Hillsborough River State Park. We've stayed there and it's pretty nice.

Here's the link:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/default.cfm

Here's a map showing you it's location relative to Tampa (east of Tampa on I-4)

http://www.floridastateparks.org/images/Default.cfm?Region=Southwest