Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground: Your Space Coast Oasis for Florida Locals

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground Introduce

Welcome, fellow Floridians, especially those with military affiliations, to a truly unique camping experience right here on Florida’s stunning Space Coast: Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground. As locals, we're always on the lookout for those special places that combine convenience with exceptional natural beauty and amenities. Manatee Cove Campground, nestled within the secure confines of Patrick Space Force Base, offers just that – a tranquil and well-appointed haven overlooking the historic Banana River. This article is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and engaging overview of this fantastic FamCamp, highlighting why it’s an ideal choice for eligible Floridians seeking a memorable outdoor retreat.

Florida’s diverse landscapes offer an abundance of camping opportunities, from pristine beaches to lush inland forests. However, few places offer the unique blend of waterfront views, security, and dedicated facilities found at a military campground like Manatee Cove. We understand that as local residents with military ties, you appreciate a sense of community, security, and value in your recreational pursuits. Manatee Cove Campground delivers on these expectations, providing a clean, well-maintained, and peaceful environment perfect for relaxation and recreation. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape in your RV, setting up a tent by the water, or simply seeking a quiet spot to enjoy the beauty of the Space Coast, this guide will provide all the essential information you need to plan your next visit to this remarkable Florida gem.

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground boasts an exceptionally convenient and secure location at Rescue Rd, Patrick Space Force Base, FL 32925, USA. This address places it directly on the historic Banana River, offering stunning waterfront views and easy access to a unique aquatic environment. For Floridians residing across the Central Florida region, particularly in areas like Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Titusville, and Orlando, the campground is easily accessible via major roadways. Its location within a Space Force Base provides an added layer of security and a quiet, controlled environment, which many campers find to be a significant advantage.

The accessibility of Manatee Cove extends beyond just road travel. Being on Patrick Space Force Base means campers have convenient access to base amenities, which can enhance their stay. Furthermore, the campground's proximity to the vibrant Space Coast offers a wealth of off-base activities, from rocket launches to beautiful beaches and diverse dining options, all within a short drive. While the base entry might require a valid DOD identification card for direct access, this ensures a secure and exclusive experience for eligible guests. This combination of natural beauty, convenient location, and enhanced security makes Manatee Cove Campground a highly desirable and practical choice for eligible Floridians seeking a serene yet activity-rich camping destination.

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground offers a comprehensive range of services designed to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for its guests, particularly catering to RVers and tent campers.

Full-Service RV Sites: The campground features 156 recently upgraded, full-service sites equipped with 30/50 amp electrical capacity, water, and sewer connections, providing all the comforts of home for RV enthusiasts.
Primitive Camping Sites: For those seeking a more traditional outdoor experience, there are 5 primitive camping sites available.
Laundry Facilities: Two convenient laundry facilities are on-site, allowing campers to refresh their clothes during their stay.
Shower Facilities: Two bathhouses with showers are available for guest use, ensuring cleanliness and comfort. Reviews indicate that some facilities were slated for upgrades, suggesting continuous improvement.
Community Center: A dedicated community center provides a communal space for campers, featuring a campground kitchen, a community room, Wi-Fi access, extended cable, and Netflix, perfect for relaxation or social gatherings.
Private Beach Access: Guests have access to a private beach area, offering a secluded spot to enjoy the waterfront.
Kayak Rack: A kayak rack is available for securing personal kayaks, facilitating easy access to the Banana River for paddling adventures.
Pet-Friendly Policy: The campground is pet-friendly, with a maximum of two pets allowed per site. Guests must provide a current rabies vaccination certificate for each pet. While dog fences can be nice, one review noted that small dogs might be able to get under gates.

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground truly shines with its array of features and highlights, providing an enriched camping experience that appeals to a diverse range of outdoor enthusiasts.

Waterfront Sites on Banana River: Many sites, particularly the premium ones, are located directly on the Banana River, offering stunning water views, beautiful sunrises, and opportunities to observe local wildlife like dolphins.
Exceptional Security: Being located within Patrick Space Force Base provides a very secure environment, offering peace of mind for campers, as highlighted by customer reviews. Entry requires a DOD identification card, ensuring a controlled and safe atmosphere.
Clean and Well-Maintained: Reviews consistently praise the cleanliness and upkeep of the campsites and overall grounds, contributing to a pleasant and relaxing stay.
Quiet Atmosphere: The campground is noted for its quiet environment, making it ideal for relaxation and escaping the noise of daily life.
Proximity to Space Coast Activities: While offering a tranquil setting, the campground is strategically located near various Space Coast attractions. Campers can witness incredible rocket launches from the area and are close to Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, and other local points of interest.
Base Amenities Access: Eligible guests have access to various base amenities, including a dining facility (BX and Commissary), golf course (Manatee Cove Golf Course is on base), a marina, and potentially other MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) facilities, enhancing convenience and recreational options.
Spacious Sites: Campsites are generally spacious, providing ample room for RVs and personal vehicles (one additional vehicle besides the RV is authorized).

For direct inquiries, reservations, or more information about Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground, you can contact them directly. The campground is located at Rescue Rd, Patrick Space Force Base, FL 32925, USA. For immediate assistance, you can reach them by phone at (321) 494-2054 or on their mobile number +1 321-494-2054. Given its location on a military base, it is highly recommended to call ahead to inquire about availability, specific eligibility requirements for entry (primarily for DOD ID card holders), and any current check-in procedures. While some sites might be available on a first-come, first-served basis, calling ahead, especially during peak seasons (November to February), is strongly encouraged to ensure a smooth arrival and secure your preferred spot.

In conclusion, Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground stands out as an exceptional and highly suitable camping destination for eligible Floridians. Its prime location on the Banana River within the secure perimeter of Patrick Space Force Base offers a unique combination of natural beauty, tranquility, and peace of mind that few other campgrounds can provide. For locals with military IDs, this accessibility means a convenient escape to a well-maintained and amenity-rich environment right in their own backyard on the Space Coast. The full-service RV sites, primitive camping options, communal facilities, and stunning waterfront views contribute to a comfortable and memorable experience.

The positive reviews consistently highlight the security, cleanliness, and beautiful waterfront setting, making it an ideal choice for those seeking relaxation and proximity to Space Coast attractions without the typical tourist crowds. While some activities might not be directly on-site, the abundance of local tourist activities and base amenities ensures there’s always something to keep you engaged. For Floridians seeking a secure, scenic, and well-equipped camping spot that offers exclusive access and a fantastic base for exploring the region, Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground is an undoubtedly top-tier choice. It provides an outstanding opportunity for military families and personnel to enjoy Florida's outdoor splendor with the added benefits of a supportive community and a secure environment.

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground Photos

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Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground Location

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground

Florida Brevard County Patrick Space Force Base Rescue Road

Rescue Rd, Patrick Space Force Base, FL 32925, USA

Patrick SFB Manatee Cove Campground Reviews

Really enjoyed our stay. Was on the water lot. Dog fence was nice but my small dog could get under gate and get out.Very secure place to stay.No activities going on but enough tourists activities to keep us busy
Mar 06, 2025 · Deb North Grosserhode
I had an amazing stay at the FamCamp by the water. The views were absolutely stunning—waking up to the sunrise over the lake was a highlight. The campsite was clean, well-maintained, and quiet, which made it easy to relax. I appreciated the easy access to the waterscape…
Jun 12, 2025 · LM Belding
We are full timers, so our review is after 90 days of staying here. We are leaving soon, but of the 10 plus bases we have stayed, this one is no hidden secret to race to. Spaces are available, and with the new rules and constant control of hosts, we are hearing more and more wont be back.Pros -Some sites are on water, and you can see dolphins on the regular.You are on a base, so security, PX, Commissary, childcare, auto hobby shop, gym, courts, pool, golf, marina, outdoor rec, and other amenities are on base.DFAC is open to guests and is good food and cheap.You see plenty of c130s, c17s, and heli's flying.Entrance at construction/contractor gate is very accessible.Sites are level and currently are covered in sand/stone, so there is no sinking of jacks.You can watch launches right by the campground ( the best place is near the tennis court or pier)The biggest positive was the number of great neighbors and others we interacted with over our stay. Many understood the problems we all were facing, so I feel the RV families were way awesome and supportive and made the stay pleasant.CONS --Camp hosts are miserable, power tripping, uninviting, and unfriendly.-Sites are very close to each other, and they are going to get tighter as they prep to do concrete pads, which will make sites slightly bigger than they are.-Signage is very poor, and speeding is a very bad problem. They refuse to add speed bumps.When it rains and water pools, it floods in front of steps and sites. It then allows for more mosquitoes to have breeding grounds, which are bad enough already.-They pick the absolute worst time to do construction through the campground. It is nearly daily that you see dump trucks, large trailers with equipment, machinery, and crew racing through the campground as they work at the far end as well on other areas. (None of which seems like making the camp sites or campground any better at the moment)-The grass is rarely mowed, and the grounds are not very attractive. (We actually were approved at some leadership level to volunteer our time and money to redo the entrance beautification, but we were never provided the green light by ODR to start). Oh, they provide mowers to mow your own area as well, but don't dare mow weeds or make it look nice, or the camp host will scold you!!!!.-The older laundry facility up front never gets cleaned, floods during rainy periods, and has no AC (so it becomes a sweat box).-There is only 1 vehicle allowed on site, and they are now adding rule that the overflow parking is "unofficially" allowed for now. If you have 2 vehicles and can't walk that far, you can't even have a golf cart as it, too, counts as your vehicle.-This is not always first come first serve for check in, as I have seen way too many say they had no options on which site, or, the camp host told us many times to move our vehicle as we dropped off groceries in the site beside us. (They tell us every time, "this site is reserved for someone inbound," but most always, no one arrived or the campers were not Active Duty).-Lastly, from the checkin process and their plethora of old rules and now the new rules and new requirements, it is now making this location far from desired. It's definitely not a family camp setting as there are literally zero things for kids or families to do at the campground and limited options on base.Like many bases, this campground needs to invest in the campground as the return on investment is obviously waiting to be collected. Most civilian sites off base are fully booked with the waiting list and are way more expensive, so this may be the only option you have at the moment. We won't be returning next winter to this one.Update: Once you start seeing the improvements at other locations (Ft Sam Houston, TX), you really have to wonder why there is not a better standard for all MWR Famcamps. This is likely one of the worst ran and, unfortunately costs are rising for campers when it's not reinvested back into the RV park(this is no way a FamCamp).
Feb 16, 2024 · Justin Broadwater
This by far the best military campground we stayed. This is a good place to run from the winter.Pros: They have a clubhouse with a full kitchen which is a plus for me. Laundry $1 a load, Small beach area to relax, enjoy sunset or 🐬 dolphins, let children play in the sand. You can just opt to go to a beach off base. Plenty of opportunities to see rockets in the sky or drive to Cape Canaveral area to get a closer look at launches from NASA. See aircraft come & go for the little ones was good. Seeing airborne jumps to other training you might get to see is cool for the little ones. Depending on your site the view of the water is relaxing. Just a 10 minute drive to get off base. Clubhouse is a nice place to hangout with other campers & do events. The Outdoor recreation MWR a few miles up the road to rent kayaks, fishing gear to many other things to rent.Cons: No playground, certain times it gets very loud from the airstrip located directly behind the campground but it was not an issue for us but more likely for others. Mosquitoes & no seeums are supposedly bad when it warms up but not not an issue for the most part of my stay. I can imagine during the summer how bad it gets. Believe rigs bigger than 25ft have to use commercial gate to get on basw. Depending on arrival the gate likely closed & will need to call SF to open gate. Hopefully, with the current construction at South gate will accommodate bigger rigs when complete.Neutral: some sites are fairly close but there are sites that give more space between neighbors. Pricing in general can go one way or the other depends who you ask because prices supposedly drastically increased over the last couple of years. Monthly during winter is $1,100. MWR management may argue they are cheaper than local parks but my position that's not your competition because their market is the civilian/non veteran market. Veteran market is a small slice of the pie. I say their competition are other military campgrounds such as McGuire AFB that have similar amenities but McGuire $200-$300 less a month. I have more thoughts but that's my 2 cents.
Apr 24, 2025 · Javi Beni
They make rules that are unnecessary and illogical. For example: You must park on the opposite side of the tents where you camp...in the grass....that's the exact same as the other side. There is no logic to it.This place COULD be a haven and paradise for retired military like me but...Customer service is not the goal. Why do military campgrounds and MWR seem to do the bare minimum?They should learn to take care of us retired vets the way the government seems to take care of non citizen immigrants.The camp hosts are very clicky and it's a great place if you just stick to yourself. People are way too disgruntled nowadays. They reduced tent sites to 5...no reason there can't be more other than tent camping is not a priority for this base.Best thing about this RV park and Campgroind is proximity to nearby beaches, cruise boats and an hour from Disney/Universal.
May 04, 2024 · Jonathan Hursh