Gator Head Campground
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
Sold out? We check Gator Head Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.
Cancellation alerts
Sold out for your dates?
Free to start. Email alerts included.
As of October 2026, Gator Head Campground is a campground in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida with 9 campsites. Gator Head Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.
- PermitSnag checks Gator Head Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
- Gator Head Campground is located at 26.2238° N, 81.2678° W.
Gator Head Campground reservations and next available dates
October 2026
Next Available Dates
9 sites open on Oct 1 at Gator Head Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.
As of 30 September 2026, 02:28 UTC.
Stay and booking rules
- Mid-stay changes allowed
Published by Recreation.gov for Gator Head Campground, read on September 28, 2026.
Campsites at Gator Head Campground
- Standard 9
Amenities
- restrooms
- potable water
Things to do: fishing, hiking, biking, wildlife, offroad.
All sites at Gator Head Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov
| Site | Type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Standard |
| 2 | Standard |
| 3 | Standard |
| 4 | Standard |
| 5 | Standard |
| 6 | Standard |
| 7 | Standard |
| 8 | Standard |
| 9 | Standard |
About Gator Head Campground
Overview
Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve. (THIS CAMPGROUND CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED WITH AN ORV PERMIT, FOOT, OR BICYCLE) THE GATE COMBO WILL ONLY BE GIVEN IF YOU HAVE THE PROPER ORV PERMIT AT THE PERMITING OFFICE. All ORVs must have a valid ORV permit . All campers must also carry a Backcountry permit . Cell phone service is limited and it is highly encouraged that reservations be made in advance.
Recreation
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Protecting over 720,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida Panther.
Gator Head Campground offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to camp at a designated campground in the Big Cypress backcountry. Visitors can enjoy nearby hiking, hunting, fishing, and off-road vehicle (ORV) trails with a permitted off-road vehicle. For more information on ORV use, please call 239-631-9988 or review park Off Road Vehicle Use information. Hunting and fishing regulations can be found at Florida Fish and Wildfire Conservation Commission.
Facilities
This small primitive campground offers nine sites with picnic tables, shared food storage, and fire rings. Vault toilets are available for use. There is no water available. The Bear Island Unit offers 20 plus miles of backcountry trails. Everglades City is located 30 miles south and provides dining, sight-seeing, and historical sites. Everglades National Park can also be accessed via Everglades City. Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center is also located 30 miles to the south.
Natural Features
Gator Head Campground has 9 campsites. This campground offers pickup camper and tent camping only. No trailers or RV's are allowed in the backcountry. Amenities include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Visitors may enjoy nearby activities such as off-road vehicle trails, hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (239) 631-9988.
Nearby Attractions
The Bear Island Unit offers 20 plus miles of backcountry trails. Everglades City is located 30 miles south and provides dining, sight-seeing, and historical sites. Everglades National Park can also be accessed via Everglades City. Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center is also located 30 miles to the south.
Rules and notices at Gator Head Campground
Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check Gator Head Campground on Recreation.gov
Notices from Recreation.gov
This campground is located in the backcountry and is only accessible by off-road vehicle (with permit), foot, or bicycle. No trailers are authorized in the backcountry campgrounds.
Backcountry permits are required for all individuals who enter the backcountry. Print your self-issued permit ahead of time.
An off-road vehicle (ORV) permit is required for ORV use. Review park Off-Road Vehicle Use or call the off-road vehicle office at 239-631-9988 if you have additional questions.
No fresh water is available.
Be considerate of your fellow campers by observing quiet hours from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. All generators must be off at 10:00 pm.
Property left unattended longer than 24 hours will be impounded, and the campsite forfeited, regardless of whether or not it is reservable or non-reservable.
Cash payments are not accepted at this campground. Payments must be made online. There is limited to no cell service at the campground, advance reservations are highly recommended.
Do not feed the wildlife, including birds. This is unhealthy for wild animals and invites human confrontations. Food should be stored properly.
Don’t Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it onsite. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Protect YOUR national preserve. Do not destroy, injure, deface, dig, collect or otherwise disturb any national preserve resources, including plants and animals (dead or alive), fossils, rocks, or artifacts. It is a violation of national preserve rules and regulations to possess natural/cultural resources. Metal detectors are not allowed in any unit of the National Park System. Please report any illegal activites to a park ranger.
Any violations of park rules or regulations will cause a revocation of your camping permit and no refund will be given.
No pets are allowed in the backcountry.
Gator Head Campground FAQ
How hard is it to get a campsite at Gator Head Campground?
Gator Head Campground is rated "Very Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.
How do I find last-minute availability at Gator Head Campground?
Cancellations happen frequently at Gator Head Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.
How many campsites does Gator Head Campground have?
Gator Head Campground has 9 campsites.
More campgrounds in Big Cypress National Preserve
Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.
- Burns Lake Campground availability14 sites
- Mitchell Landing Campground reservations12 sites
- is Monument Lake Campground open38 sites
- Pink Jeep Campground availability9 sites
- Bear Island Campground reservations40 sites
- is Midway Campground (Fl) open36 sites
Campgrounds
Browse Campsites
Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.
Florida
8 popular campgrounds
- Burns Lake Campground
- Canaveral National Seashore Permits Campground
- Grayton Beach State Park Loop 3 Campground
- Henderson Beach State Park Loop a Campground
- Lake Louisa State Park Campground
- Mitchell Landing Campground
- Monument Lake Campground
- Alafia River State Park Loop Lal Campground
California
8 popular campgrounds
- Atwell Mill Campground
- Buckeye Flat Campground
- Canyon View Group Sites
- Cold Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground Mid-Sized Group Sites
- Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping
- Indian Cove Group Campground
Oregon
8 popular campgrounds
- Little Crater Lake Campground
- Cave Creek Campground
- Acorn Woman Lakes Campground
- Big Lake West Campground
- Bolan Lake Campground
- Cavitt Creek Falls Recreation Site
- Clearwater Falls Campground
- Cultus Lake Boat In - West Campground
Utah
8 popular campgrounds
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
- Devils Garden Campground
- Natural Bridges Campground
- North Campground (Ut)
- South Campground (Ut)
- Sunset Campground (Ut)
- Watchman Campground
- Anderson Meadow Campground (Fishlake NF, Ut)
Ohio
8 popular campgrounds
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Grand Lake West Bank Marina
- Kiser Lake State Park Kiser Lake Grandview Area Tie Ups Campground
- Lake Logan State Park Lake Logan Marina Beach 1-18 Campground
- Lake Loramie State Park Earls Island Dock Back Campground
- Pike Lake State Park Pike Lake Cabins and Day Use Shelters
- Scioto Trail State Park Stewart Lake Campground
- Buck Creek State Park G Dock Campground
- Buckeye Lake State Park Fairfield Beach a Docks Campground
Minnesota
8 popular campgrounds
- Cass Lake Loop Campground
- Fenske Lake Campground
- Glacial Lakes State Park Lower Campground
- Jeanette Lake Campground
- Lake Bronson State Park Lakeside Extension Campground
- Lake Maria State Park Backpack Campsites
- Lake Shetek State Park Prairie Campground
- Maplewood State Park Grass Lake Campground: Hollow Loop
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.