From east to west across the area, camping options include state parks, full-service RV resorts and smaller campgrounds near the Gulf. Drive up and “plug in” at Lake Manatee State Park, and explore the lake by small motorboat or rented canoe. At one of the area’s RV resorts, strike up a conversation with fellow visitors at the pool or shuffleboard courts. If you didn’t bring your own home on wheels, spend the night in a rental cabin or trailer. Or stay near the beach at one of the campgrounds in Cortez; pets are welcome, and some sites come with boat docks.

Roasting marshmallows around a campfire is one of the joys of camping.

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Camp the Night Away in the Bradenton Area

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