Larry & Penny Thompson Park Inspiration.

Larry and Penny Thompson Campground is a first-class camping area adjacent to world-famous Zoo Miami. It has 270 acres of natural…

Larry and Penny Thompson Campground is a first-class camping area adjacent to world-famous Zoo Miami. It has 270 acres of natural South Florida woodland, bridle trails and hiking paths. The Campground has 240 separate campsites for recreational vehicles, with full electrical and water hook-ups, four large restroom/laundry facilities with hot showers, a camp store, picnic shelters, a large freshwater lake with its own beach and water slide (open seasonally) (lifeguards on duty), a playground, concession stand, access for the disabled, a jogging and bike trail, and more. Pets are welcome only in the RV sites. No pets are allowed in the tent camping areas. The camp ground is open every day, with daily, weekly and monthly rentals; advance seasonal reservations are available. Rates are: Daily $33.90 Weekly $192.10 Monthly $565.00 and includes full hook-up, water and sewer and taxes Tent sites are $16.95 nightly. For reservations, call 305-232-1049. The park was named after the late Larry and Penny Thompson. They were avid campers and civic leaders in South Florida, their family life popularized through Mr. Thompson's daily humor column in the Miami Herald for more than two decades. The parkland, which was once part of the Richmond Naval Station, was acquired in December 1974 as part of a 1,010 acre land transfer from the federal government and included the Zoo Miami property. In the campground, you'll see remnants of fruit groves, which once belonged to the University of Miami. These groves acts a natural buffer in the campground and feature avocado, mango and lychee trees. Larry & Penny Thompson is one of the last portions of wilderness in Miami-Dade County, with wildflowers, palmettos, and rock pinelands. The facility truly harmonizes the recreation experience with Miami-Dade County finest natural assets.