Campground

W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

Lake Okeechobee · ALVA · Florida — managed by US Army Corps of Engineers

Sites open now — checked live on Recreation.gov
W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area campground
Photo: Recreation.gov

Weekend availability at W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Nov 3, 8:53 PM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Nov 6
    Limited
    1/2 sites
  • Fri, Nov 13
    Sold out
  • Fri, Nov 20
    Limited
    2/2 sites
  • Fri, Nov 27
    Limited
    2/2 sites
  • Fri, Dec 4
    Limited
    1/2 sites
  • Fri, Dec 11
    Limited
    2/2 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area?

as of November 4

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Jan 2027. That changes fast at a campground. We check W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Nov 7Open
Dec 5Open
Jan 2Open
Jan 30Open

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Nov 11Open
Dec 23Open
Jan 27Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
2
Electric sites
2
Max rig length
18 ft
Group Shelter Electric

About this campground

Overview WP Franklin South Recreation Area is a day use area located on the Caloosahatchee River adjacent to the WP Franklin Lock and Dam. Visitors can watch boats traversing the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway that spans South Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, enjoy the exhibits at the visitor center or just relax with a picnic lunch.Recreation Boating, canoeing and kayaking on the Caloosahatchee River are popular activities. Anglers can try their luck with catching both freshwater and saltwater fish.Facilities This day use area has a visitor center, boat ramp, volleyball and horseshoe courts, a playground and several covered picnic sites. Flush toilets and drinking water are also available. There are two group picnic shelters available for reservation. Each shelter has water and electricity, six picnic tables, a large charcoal BBQ grill and can accommodate up to 50 people. Nearby Attractions Lee County Manatee Park is six miles west on Palm Beach Blvd. Hickeys Creek Mitigation Park is two miles east on Palm Beach Boulevard, Gulf of Mexico beaches and the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge are 30 miles to the west.

Getting there

From Interstate 75, take Exit 141 (Palm Beach Blvd.) east for 7 miles to Old Olga Road. Make a left on Old Olga Road and proceed 0.3 miles to Franklin Lock Road. Make a right on Franklin Lock Road into the WP Franklin South Recreation Area.

Elevation
11 ft
Contact
239-694-2582

Activities

  • VISITOR CENTER
  • FISHING
  • BOATING
  • CANOEING
  • DAY USE AREA
  • KAYAKING
  • PICNICKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

Popular Florida campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.