Edward Medard Park Camping Fee Florida: A Complete Guide Your Reservation

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Are you looking for a unique camping experience in Florida? Edward Medard Conservation Park in Plant City, Florida is the perfect spot! If you’re interested in visiting, you need to know about the Edward Medard Park Camping Fee in Florida.

This park offers a variety of recreational activities and is the perfect place to spend quality time with friends and family. The beautiful scenery and camping area make it an ideal destination for campers. 

Edward Medard Conservation Park is a great spot for camping!

Located just outside of Tampa, this park offers breathtaking views and fun activities to enjoy. For the outdoor enthusiast, Edward Medard Park has something for everyone.

With the recent announcement of the new camping fee, more people can now experience the beauty of this park. Exploring nature has never been so accessible and affordable!

The American Cyanamid Company donated the majority of this property to the District in 1969 after mining phosphate there in the 1960s.

The 700-acre reservoir was established in 1970 using a dike and a control device to provide some flood protection along the Alafia River. As part of a deal with the District, Hillsborough County created one of its biggest regional parks on this location in 1972.

The Pleasant Grove Reservoir Park, the area’s previous name, was changed to Edward Medard Park and Reservoir in 1977 to recognize a member of the District Governing Board.

With 500,000 visitors each year, Edward Medard Park is a well-liked recreation place, with the 700-acre reservoir serving as the primary draw.

A boardwalk fishing pier crosses the reservoir to an observation tower.

A 700-acre reservoir utilized for canoeing, boating, and fishing is one of its key draws. A 3-mile track that provides horseback riders, hikers, and bird watchers with a nice journey through pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks is also featured.

For those who enjoy Frisbee and want to improve their disc-throwing abilities, the park also boasts a disc golf course, and the beach volleyball court offers players a beautiful view of the setting sun.

In addition, Edward Medard Park provides picnic tables, a boardwalk, a children’s playground, and a viewing area with a reservoir view.

Park and Boat Ramp Passes

You can purchase regularly priced park and boat ramp passes at the following administrative offices or conservation parks:

• Bell Creek Administrative Office
• Branchton Administrative Office
• Edward Medard Conservation Park
• E.G. Simmons Conservation Park
• Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park
• Discounted and free passes

They provide qualified handicapped veterans, active service personnel, or honorably discharged members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves with discounted or free annual park and boat ramp passes.

Disabled veterans receive free admission.

Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve members of the U.S. armed forces, as well as veterans with an honorable discharge, receive a 25% discount.

You must deliver the necessary papers to either our Branchton or Bell Creek administrative offices in order to acquire a free or discounted pass.

The conservation parks mentioned above do not offer free or subsidized passes. Visit the Conservation Parks and Boat Launch Passes website for more details.

Canoeing and Kayaking

Canoes and kayaks can be rented on-site at the park’s entry station.

Come spend a relaxing evening paddling in Edward Medard Conservation Park’s reservoir.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, we’ll watch the birds return to their roosts and perhaps even spy a few alligators!

Edward Medard Park Camping Fee Florida Specifics

Facts to Consider:

When registering for the event, participants have the option of bringing their own kayak or canoe or renting one online for an extra cost.

There are available single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and canoes!

Cost: $5 plus a $2 park entry fee per vehicle (optional cost for canoe/kayak rental)
Participants should meet at the park’s ranger station
Weather-related cancellations are possible, raincheck provided if cancelled

Canoe/Kayak trip length:

• Length: ~2 miles
• Minimum age requirement: 10 years or older
• Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• Maximum participants: 10
• Rentals & Fees
• Local rental (one park) for up to four hours: $25
• Hourly fee for each additional hour: $10
• *Fees include tax

Camping

Campers can stay overnight at one of the 42 first-come, first-serve campsites that accommodate both RV and tent camping. All campsites have a picnic table, electricity, a fire ring, and water.

Public restrooms with showers and an RV dump station are also available.

RV/Trailer/Tent Campsite information:

• 40 sites
• All sites offer 30 amp service, 14 sites also offer 50 amp service
• Sites range from 30 feet in length to 60 feet, with most between 32 – 55 feet

Fees:

Regular rate – $24 per night, up to 8 people with 1 RV/trailer or 2 tents
Adult 55+ discount rate – $18 per night if your party includes an adult 55 or older (must be present for all nights)
Adult 65+ and resident discount rate – $12 per night if your party includes an adult 65 or older and is also a resident of Hillsborough County (must be present for all nights)

Equestrian:

Recreation Description

• One-way, 3.25-mile bridle path.
• Water is available in the equestrian staging/parking area.
• Horses may be trailered in or rented at a stable adjacent to the northwest corner of the property.
• Riders are required to stay on marked trails.
• Each rider must carry proof of the horse’s current negative Coggins test.
• Florida law requires equestrians under 16 to wear helmets.

Fishing

Recreation Description

• Available by boat, along the banks of the reservoir, and on a 730-foot pier/boardwalk, which is ADA accessible.
• Contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for license requirements. Special park policies may also apply.
• Permits for after-hours fishing are available from the park office.

Picnic Facilities:

Recreation Description

• 3 picnic areas with tables, grills, and restrooms.
• Covered shelters are available.
• Shelter rentals also are available.

Edward Medard Reservoir Fishing

Kissimmee grass lines the edge of Edward Medard Reservoir, and bulrush (buggy whips) and cattail make up the majority of the vegetation. Channel catfish are in great abundance, and sunshine bass (striper hybrids) are regularly introduced.

All species can be found flourishing on the reservoir’s numerous ledges, bars, and flats.

For largemouth bass, though, pay attention to the shoreline grass throughout the winter and spring. due to the reservoir’s complicated structure.

Boats are subject to a no-wake restriction (idle speed only) for reasons of safety.

Fish of many different species can be found in this body of water.

What kind of fish inhabit this lake, then?

In these waters, you might encounter sunfish, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie, hybrid striped bass, and largemouth bass.

Top Species and Creel Limits for Florida

• Black Bass: 5 daily combined total with other bass
• Butterfly Peacock Bass: Only one may be over 17 inches
• White Bass: 20 a day limit only 6 may be 24 inches or more
• Striped Bass: 20 a day limit only 6 may be 24 inches or more
• Crappie: 25 a day combined black and white
• Panfish: 50 a day limit combined

General Statewide Bag and Length Limits | FWC (myfwc.com)

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