Overview

Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.

Facilities

All campsites have concrete pads, electric, 30 amp and 50 amp, water hookups, a fire ring and grill, and a covererd picnic table. Other amenities include a sanitary dump station, restrooms with showers, dumpsters, Wifi (near west end restroom only), and a picnic pavilion for campers only. Day use visitors are allowed on site for fishing. The Ortona North Day Use Area has a boat launch and is a 25 minute drive by way of the Town of LaBelle. LaBelle is the nearest town and has stores, restaurants, etc. Laundry Facilities are not currently available on site. 

Natural Features

The campground's terrain is flat and lined with tropical greenery , including the Sabal Palm, the state tree of Florida. The Caloosahatchee River to your north and picturesque pastures to your south. The South Florida Water Management District is constructing a Water Quality Treatment and Testing Facility, adjacent to the South East end of the campground. Construction at that site may affect the serenity of your experience.

Recreation

Activities here are focused on simple, relaxing pleasures like fishing and strolling the grounds. If you walk across the dam in between 7AM and 4 PM, the road on the north side of the river provides a great place for walking and bicycling. Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Tilapia are the most commonly caught fish at the large wooden pier at the campground. Snook are commonly caught at the small north end pier which is also accessible by walking across the dam from 7AM to 4PM. Several large bird species frequent the area if you are a Bird Watcher.

Nearby Attractions

Head west to LaBelle, Florida, where an annual Swamp Cabbage Festival is held the last weekend of each February. Or travel east to hike or bike along the Herbert Hoover Dike, part of Lake Okeechobee, and part of the 1,400-mile long Florida National Scenic Trail.

Important Notices

• Ortona South Campground and St. Lucie South Campground are part of the same water resource project. Both campgrounds fall under the same 14 day maximum in any 30-consecutive day period regulation. Campers cannot stay at Ortona South for 14 days and then camp St. Lucie South for 14 days without camping elsewhere for 16 days. Campers also cannot use different names to get around this regulation.

• The campground entrance gate is opened at 7:30 a.m. and closed at sunset.

• Campground quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
• Check-in time is 12:00 p.m.
• RV site 41 and RV site 42 are pull-through sites that share the same camp pad driveway and are recommended for two RVs travelling together. Site 41 may require you to back-in to the site.

• Assistive mobility devices, such as a powered wheel chair, electric scooter, or golf cart, are permitted for use by individuals with mobility impairments for necessary transportation within the campgrounds. Individual must provide one of the following: a valid, State-issued disability parking placard or card, State-issued proof of disability, or similar document.

• Arriving campers that require the use of the trailer dump station prior to occupying their campsite will be charged the $20.00 use fee as the waste being dumped was not generated on site.

• Campers are limited to one RV/trailer sewage dump per week of stay, maximum two in a 14-day period. Portable holding tanks may dumped as often as necessarry during each stay.

• Campsites have maximum occupancy of 8 people per site.

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Notifications and Alerts

• The Wooden fishing pier and the wooden bridge are closed because of safety issues. 

Available Activities

• Camping - Camping
• Birding - Birding
• Fishing - Fishing
• Biking - Biking

Directions

From LaBelle, Florida, travel SR 80 8 mi east to Dalton Lane. Turn north on Dalton Lane and follow the road into the campground.

Contact Information

Phone: 863-675-8400

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip