Lake Wales, FL
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo
A sprawling working cattle ranch an hour south of Orlando where glamping tents and luxe teepees sit alongside rodeos, airboat rides, and a water park. Tents are set on…
Ocala / Central Florida · Florida
Private campsites & glamping in Lake Wales, FL
Lake Wales is old-Florida ranch country in the central ridge — citrus groves, cattle land, and Bok Tower Gardens' 205-foot singing carillon rising out of the scrub. It's an hour south of Orlando and west of nowhere in particular, which is exactly why the big resort properties landed here: land was available, the lakes are pretty, and the theme-park crowds are a day trip away without the theme-park prices.
This is RV-and-resort country, and the scale is Texan. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo is a sprawling working cattle ranch an hour south of Orlando where air-conditioned glamping tents and luxe teepees sit alongside a Saturday night rodeo, airboat rides, horseback riding, and a water park. Camp Margaritaville Auburndale does the tropical-themed luxury version on Lake Myrtle — Cabana Cabins with full kitchens, a zero-entry pool with a 147-foot waterslide, mini golf, and a tiki bar. The Resort at Canopy Oaks outside Lake Wales sets 1,000-plus RV sites among 200 acres of preserved green space with two-story cottages, fishing ponds, and nature trails. Real talk: summer is brutally hot and humid with daily afternoon thunderstorms, winter is the premium window, and “an hour from Orlando” means you'll want a car and a plan for the theme-park day.
Advertisement
2 stays in Lake Wales
Lake Wales, FL
Resort at Canopy Oaks
A flagship luxury RV resort set among 200 acres of preserved green space and fishing ponds outside Lake Wales. Beyond 1,000 RV sites it offers two-story cottages that…
Questions, answered
Camping in Lake Wales: FAQs
How far is Lake Wales from Orlando and the theme parks?
About an hour (55–65 miles) to the Orlando attractions. It's an easy day trip, but for multi-day park visits most people stay closer — Lake Wales is the affordable base, not the doorstep.
What's the best season in central Florida?
November through April: dry, mild, highs in the 60s–70s. Summer brings 90s heat, daily thunderstorms, and peak mosquito season — the big resorts' pools and water parks earn their keep then.
Is Westgate River Ranch good for kids?
It's practically built for them — rodeo, airboat rides, petting farm, water park, horseback riding. It's a full vacation without leaving the ranch, which is the point.
Do I need my own RV for these resorts?
No. Westgate and Margaritaville both rent cabins/cabana cabins and glamping tents; Canopy Oaks offers two-story cottages. You get the resort experience without owning a rig — though the full-hookup RV crowd is very much the core audience.
What's Bok Tower Gardens?
A 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary in Lake Wales anchored by a 205-foot art-deco carillon tower — one of the area's genuinely special places, and a strong half-day trip between pool sessions.