Hillsborough River State Park is waiting for you
Hillsborough River State Park is waiting for you
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Anyone looking for magical old-Florida camping can do worse than landing at Hillsborough River State Park, down Highway 301 south of charming Zephyrhills. The Civilian Conservation Corps created the park in 1936 under Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal program. At $4 per car entrance fee and rates for up to 8 persons campsites, the park has amenities such as a gigantic pool and snack-shack for those lacking affinity for perma-sweat; yet on the flip-side the park is Florida swamp-funk style in all its glory. From a suspension bridge over the jungle-like Hillsborough River, to the myriad native species and critters, to the endless paths through what feels like Spanish-era Florida, the park is a safe place to go for anyone seeking solace from the more hectic circles of society.
Among my encounters there were raccoons, deer, largemouth bass, catfish, gigantic palms, twisting live oaks, and cute little Florida rapids. Practice zero-impact camping as a show of respect for the space, and it will reward all of its visitors with majestic Florida beauty. The park is
large enough to explore for several days, and it is close enough to Tampa to camp instead of staying in a hotel room in the city. Plus, nearby Zephyrhills is a rarity in that it has more mom and pop stores and restaurants than the ever-imperialist commercial franchises. If this sort of experience appeals to you, then you will thoroughly enjoy your time there.
From Gainesville, take I-75 South to Highway 301 and continue south through Zephyrhills and look for the entrance on the right side of the road about fifteen minutes outside of Zephyrhills. If you make it you just might love it.
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Kirk Wedekind originally hails from Jacksonville, Fl. He received his undergraduate degree in politics from Wake Forest University in 2002. Following this and a few years of wanderlust he moved to Eugene, Oregon for graduate school. He received his master's in magazine journalism in 2006 and have since moved to Gainesville, Fl (currently base camp alpha). He has worked in visual design and photography, and covered topics ranging from unsustainable fresh water in the Galapagos Islands to political unrest in Vienna, Austria. He spends most of his time making photographs, playing acoustic music, writing, learning, and experiencing. He is a curiously well-rounded creative type interested in mapping the currents of local culture from a grass roots perspective.
