We stayed in Alafia River State Park April of 2014. The park is fairly small and new to the Florida State Park System. Their campground doesn’t have a lot of shade trees but the sites are nicely laid out, fairly large to accommodate larger RVs and well maintained. The park’s activities center around mostly around the BMX biking trails and horse trails. They do have a fairly decent playground area with a large bathroom that has drink machines. The park has three different sections to it. The main entrance area has the camping area, picnic/playground and the biking and hiking trails area and then there is a stables area for the horses. South of the entrance area is the park’s maintenance area and the road leads down to the river where you can fish off a non-used bridge. North of the main entrance is another picnic area right next to the river which is really quite nice.
The bathhouse is solar powered and located in the center of the camping area. If you want a “hot” shower you may want to wait until the late afternoon. This area has two loops one for regular campers and another area where people bring their horse trailers have longer campsites. There is a small lake with an amphitheater area behind the bathhouse that the park rangers give talks and demonstrations. I am not sure they use it for very much though. There are a few campsites that you can view the lake but not that many. You cannot swim in the lake, of course, because of alligators. They do not have sewers on any of the sites including the campground hosts site. There is a dump station located in the turn-around lane in front of the bathhouse. The park has tall power lines running through the center that have nests of Ospreys on top. While we were there we were able to take a couple of pictures of a momma Osprey soaring around her nests.
Alafia River State Park
14326 South County Road 39
Lithia, Florida 33547
(813) 672-5320
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Alafia-River
Admission Fee:
$5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
Camping Fee:
$22.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity.
Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older or who hold a social security disability award certificate or a 100 percent disability award certificate from the Federal Government are permitted to receive a 50 percent discount on current base campsite fees. Proof of eligibility
Campsites
11 Horse Sites
(5) 55FT Back-In/50Amp
(6) 55Ft Pull-Through/50Amp
16 Family Campsites
(7) 55Ft Back-In/50Amp
(9) 55Ft Pull-Through/50Amp
WHERE TO GET WHAT YOU NEED
GROCERIES
Picnic Grocery
15217 County Rd 39
Lithia, Fl 33547
(813) 633-1354
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Picnic-Grocery/143770348989935
Fort Lonesome Grocery
13231 State Road 674
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 634-4212
Publix Super Markets
5642 Fishhawk Crossing Bl
Lithia, Fl 33547
(813) 655-5646
http://www.publix.com/locations/1135-publix-at-fishhawk-ranch
Winn Dixie
16571 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 643-5564
https://www.winndixie.com/StoreDetails?search=2499
GAS
Picnic Grocery
15217 County Rd 39
Lithia, Fl 33547
(813) 633-1354
Fort Lonesome Grocery
13231 State Road 674
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 634-4212
Circle K
10520 S County Rd 39
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 737-3332
Fishhawk Mobil
16871 Fishhawk Bl
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 571-9334
Marathon
11211 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 737-1085
7-Eleven
13411 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 655-5563
RESTAURANTS
Smokin Joe’s BBQ and Grill
10252 County Rd 39
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 737-3010
http://www.smokinjoesbbqgrill.com/
China Star
Shoppes of Fishhawk
16733 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 684-8382
http://lithiachinastar.com/
Outback Steakhouse
16547 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 689-9222
http://www.outback.com/Locations/details/?unit=2019
Beef O’Bradys
Shoppes of Fishhawk
16773 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 651-0388
http://locationstogo.com/beefs/
Park Square Pizza
16132 Churchview Dr #112
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 651-3100
http://www.parksquarepizza.net/
Tim’s Cafe
10903 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 737-4026
McDonald’s
16701 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 655-3409
http://www.mcdonalds.com
Pizza Hut
3220 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
Valrico, FL 33594
(813) 684-8383
https://order.pizzahut.com/home
Burger King
16501 Fishhawk Blvd
Lithia, FL 33547
(813) 661-6356
http://www.bk.com
SUPPLIES
Walmart
901 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
Brandon, FL 33511
(813) 661-8278
http://www.walmart.com/store/finder?location=33547&distance=50
RV PROPANE
Cross Roads Ace Hardware
13364 Lincoln Rd
Riverview, FL 33578
(813) 236-1885
http://www.crossroadsace.com/
U-Haul of Brandon
377 W Brandon Blvd
Brandon, FL 33511
(813) 689-8166
http://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Propane-near-Brandon-FL-33511/786067/
LAUNDROMAT
Laundry Room of Brandon Inc
725 W Lumsden Rd
Brandon, FL 33511
(813) 657-2320
http://www.thelaundryspots.com/
MEDICAL CARE
Brandon Regional Hospital
119 Oakfield Dr
Brandon FL 33511
(813) 681-5551
http://brandonhospital.com/
Late Hour Urgent Care Center
3444 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
Valrico, Fl 33596
(813) 643-9393
http://www.latehoursurgentcare.com/
MAP OF THE AREA
Our YouTube video from the pictures we took while we were there: