Panther Pond Campground in Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, Florida
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The reviews of the items in this article are based on my own opinions.
Panther Pond campground
Panther Pond Campground, located in Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, provides a quiet place to stay on your way to Everglades National Park. The Okaloacoochee Slough consists of 32,370-acres throughout the forest which provides the opportunity for hiking, biking, and fishing. This is a smaller campground with 16 camping sites, with 15 of those sites being for tents only. This campground does not accommodate larger RV’s.
Location and amenities
Address: Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, Forest Road, (Wild Cow Grade), Clewiston (or Felda) Florida
GPS: 26.55327, -81.29609
Cost: $9.09 a night plus booking fees (2024 fees)
Cell signal: Yes, Verizon
Amenities: Picnic table and fire ring. There are port-a-potties and a dumpster at the end of the road across from the pond seen above. There are no utility or sewer hookups at this location. Generators allowed but need to be off by 10pm.
Below is a video of our campsite #6
Panther Pond Campground in Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest Florida
How far to Everglades National Park
This campground is located 1 hour 46 minutes from the Shark Valley entrance of Everglades National Park. Address: 36000 SW 8th St, Miami, Florida
2 hours 43 minutes to the Ernest F Coe Visitor Center entrance of Everglades National Park. Address: 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida
1 hour 17 minutes to Gulf Coast Visitor Center which is currently closed due to Hurricane Ian (2024). You can still launch kayaks/canoes from this area, but you cannot enter the Everglades from this entrance. Address: 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City, Florida
You might enjoy these Florida travel ideas
Robert is Here Fruit Stand in Homestead Florida near Everglades
Everglade Tours and beyond
Florida Everglades airboat tour and Wild Florida admission
prices start at $35.00 per person
Small group tour in boat, kayak, or walking within Everglades National Park
prices start at $199.95 per person
Little Havana food and Miami walking tour
prices start at $69.99 per person
prices start at $59.00 per person
4-5 Everglades tour from Miami
prices start at $76.98 per person
Peaceful night’s sleep
Panther Pond Campground provides a quiet place to sleep for the night in south Florida nestled against the peaceful wilderness near the Everglades. This campground offers a respite from everyday life, allowing you to reconnect with nature and wildlife. We stayed here in our campervan and did not use a tent and didn’t have any trouble. Panther Pond provides a moment to unwind and stay a while to fish. A word of caution: while we were there a gentleman did let us know there were rattlesnakes in the area so if you have young children, keep them from playing in the tall grassy areas.
I would stay definitely stay here again. I prefer to boondock for free but with this minimal fee, I felt comfortable staying here for a night and it was in close proximity to Everglades National Park making it convenient to get there and see the park in one day.
There are several campgrounds within Everglades National Park, if you prefer to be in closer proximity to the park.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I’m just a girl who loves to travel. My favorite travels have been traveling across the US in a campervan, visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, marking National Parks off my list, & many smaller trips. I love to share my adventures and tips to inspire more travel. If you can dream it, you can do it!
London is a city that provides an array of culinary delights, offering something for every palate and budget. Whether you are craving the classic comfort of fish and chips, seeking the elegance of an afternoon tea, or wanting to dine at the iconic first Hard Rock Cafe in the word, London’s food scene has you covered.