Okeechobee KOA Provides Fun, Family-Friendly Getaway

Okeechobee KOA Resort is an unexpected oasis of camping entertainment.

Tucked away in the city of Okeechobee on the northern edge of Florida’s vast Lake Okeechobee, it’s one of the 500-plus Kampgrounds of America in the nation.

And although we live only an hour east, we had never heard about the KOA there, until friends mentioned they would be staying a couple of nights and invited us to drop by.

So we drove over for an afternoon visit.

We found a large, well-maintained campground with a relaxed, easygoing vibe and friendly staff.

Campers, who’d already made themselves at home, glided by on rental golf carts, making their way to and from the array of on-site activities.

What we really liked though, were all the supervised things for kids to do, including mini-golf, an assortment of arts and crafts and games, such as Candy Land Bingo.

Apparently family activities go on every summer weekend from May through Labor Day.

And the best part of all? These kid-friendly weekend activities are included in the price of staying there.

Return Trip To Okeechobee KOA

We liked what we saw so much that we returned a few months later, our own camper in tow, this time during Oktoberfest celebrations.

The cost was $67 a night and although this is more expensive than the prices at state parks we’ve visited, it included a lot more activities for kids.

These same friends and more friends also joined us for the weekend.

Despite all the showers that rolled in that Saturday, we managed to have a fun, interesting time exploring this large campground where country music seemed to reign supreme.

Some of the activities over that Oktoberfest weekend included a kids’ alpine hat decorating contest, a tie-dyeing t-shirt and pillowcase craft for kids, an indoor craft show with lots of vendors at the campground’s huge convention center, food trucks, live music, a pet parade, Dachshund races, new RV models on display and beer, lots of German beer.

Getting There

The campground is located at 4276 US Highway 441 South in Okeechobee.

For us, getting there was a little nerve-racking due to unexpected road construction near our home that didn’t show up on our navigation radar.

As we traveled west along rural Midway Road, we came upon a road sign no camper ever wants to see while pulling a 30-foot rig: DETOUR!

So we cautiously followed the arrows and turned right onto the narrowest country road, where we had to pull over onto the side of the almost-dirt road every time an oncoming car approached.

As the kids peered curiously out the windows from the back seat, up front we looked over at each other and laughed nervously. Under his breath, hubs declared the situation: “a real butt-clencher.”

No truer words were spoken.

But we made it intact to the end of that long, narrow, road, and emerged stronger, wiser and thirstier camping warriors, ready to take on the weekend.

In other words, we made it!

Settling In

We set up camp on a large shaded site overlooking the campground’s 9-hole golf course. A small stream runs between these sites next to the golf course.

We could hear the faint sound of live music coming from the direction of the Shanty Lounge on the other side of the golf course. As an aside, the Shanty serves good food and has great prices.

It didn’t bother us, since between friends chatting and kids running around, the noise faded away.

Things To Do

We brought the kids’ bikes and they cycled all around the campground.

We saw a lot of kids cycling around on recumbent tricycles, which, along with golf carts, can also be rented at the campground.

Okeechobee KOA offers year-round activities and planned seasonal events for adults and kids.

You’ll also find these on-site amenities:

• Three swimming pools. One for kids, one for families and an adults-only pool.
• Log-style camping cabins and deluxe cabins offer an array of options. Some have full baths, showers and a patio. They’re really cute inside.
• A Fitness center.
• A playground.
• A dog park.
• A 9-hole golf course, driving range and putting green.
• A mini-golf area.
• The Shanty Lounge and the Lunch Box
• Tennis and pickleball courts.
• Game rooms.
• Laundromat
• Tent camp sites.

RV check-in time is 12 p.m. and check-out is 12 p.m.

Have fun if you go and grab a bite and a beverage at the Shanty Lounge!