Bay Bayou RV Resort – Tampa, FL: A Hidden Gem That Earns the Word “Resort”
Last updated: April 2026 — Second Visit.
Let me be honest with you — Ginny and I have pulled into enough RV parks over the years to know the difference between a place that calls itself a resort and one that actually is one. Bay Bayou RV Resort in Tampa, Florida? That’s the real deal. We liked it enough the first time that we came back — and that should tell you just about everything you need to know right there.
The Sites
Bay Bayou isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of park — and that’s a good thing. Every site comes with a concrete patio, picnic table, full hookup, cable TV, and WiFi, but there’s a real range here depending on what you’re looking for and what you want to spend.
The main resort delivers solid, spacious sites that are already bigger than most of what you’ll find in Florida. But if you want to step it up, Mullett Creek Lane is a newer section of the resort offering larger, full concrete pads with noticeably more room to spread out. A nice upgrade.
Then there’s Baitfish Lane — and this is where it gets good. These sites are significantly more private and larger still, with green space that actually feels like green space. We’ve settled on site 8426 as our personal favorite — the size and the surrounding yard give it a quality that’s hard to find in a Florida RV resort. Yes, Baitfish Lane comes at a premium — it’s the highest-priced section of the park — but for the right rig and the right traveler, it’s worth every penny.
Think of it this way: Mullett Creek is the upgrade, and Baitfish is the splurge. Both are worth knowing about before you book.
The Setting
The campground is bordered by water on multiple sides, and the tidal river keeps things lively. We’re talking schools of fish, stingrays, and more birds than you can count. Staff told us dolphins have been known to swim up the river — and after what we saw, we believed every word. Mornings with coffee overlooking the water, evenings winding down outdoors. That’s the Bay Bayou rhythm, and we leaned into it hard — both visits.
Amenities
Heated pool, fitness center, clubhouse, dog park, pickleball court, bocce ball, shuffleboard, laundry, and a camp store. The activities calendar stays busy — Taco Night, Food Truck Friday, craft shows, and live bands. You can be as social or as unplugged as you want. That balance matters when you’ve been on the road a while.
🍽️ Where We Ate — Dale & Ginny’s Personal Picks
Good food is part of the adventure. Here’s where we’d send you without hesitation.
Shaker & Peel — Oldsmar
These folks set out to reinvent the taco, and they pulled it off. Every sauce, marinade, and tortilla is made in-house, and the flavor combinations are anything but ordinary — we’re talking tempura grouper with mango slaw, blackened salmon with gochujang, braised short rib on a corn tortilla. The cocktail program is just as creative. Happy hour runs from open until 6 PM daily, which, for RVers watching the budget, is a very welcome piece of information. Fun vibe, great energy, and close enough to Bay Bayou to make it an easy weeknight out. Shaker and Peel
Craft Street Kitchen — Oldsmar
Right around the corner from Shaker & Peel — and honestly, these two alone could justify a stay in the area. Everything starts from scratch here, from fresh, locally sourced ingredients to house-made sauces and infusions. The menu is comfort food with real chef ambition behind it — think smoked old-fashioned cocktails, rotating blackboard specials, and dishes like their Bird is the Word citrus rosemary chicken that people apparently come back for again and again. Rated #2 of 54 restaurants in Oldsmar on TripAdvisor, and after eating there, we’re not arguing with that ranking one bit. Craft Street Kitchen
Big Ray’s Fish Camp — Tampa
Now this one is a find. Far from the trendy neighborhoods, this seafood shack could easily be mistaken for a bait and tackle shop — and that’s exactly the kind of place Ginny and I love to stumble into. Chef Nick Cruz grew up fishing with his grandfather at Ballast Point Pier just down the road, and that story comes through in every bite. The fried grouper sandwich is the move, the smoked fish dip is dangerous, and the key lime pie with graham cracker crust is non-negotiable. Michelin Guide listed — which, for a place that looks like a fish shack, is the kind of plot twist that makes you smile. Go hungry. Go casual. Go twice. Rays Big Fish Camp
Armature Works — Heights Public Market, Tampa
If you’ve never done a great food hall, Armature Works is the one to start with. Originally built in 1910 as Tampa Electric’s streetcar warehouse, this architectural gem has been meticulously restored — exposed brick, original skylights, and repurposed machinery worked right into the design. The place has bones, and the developers knew it. The Heights Public Market inside packs over 22 local vendors under one roof, covering just about every craving you might walk in with — sushi, empanadas, wood-fired pizza, craft coffee, barbecue, and more. But here’s the real sell: once you’ve gathered your food, you head outside to the massive courtyard right along the Hillsborough River, settle into an Adirondack chair, and watch the paddleboarders and boats cruise by. Great waterfront views, great energy, right in the heart of downtown Tampa. The outdoor lawn also has life-sized chess and checkers if you’re feeling competitive after dinner. We had a great time and a great meal — and we’ll be back every trip through Tampa. Armature Works
Mazzaro’s Italian Market — St. Pete
Mazzaro’s has been a St. Pete institution for over 30 years. The fresh pasta and gelato alone are worth the trip.
There are places you stumble into and places
you seek out. Mazzaro’s is firmly in the second category — and worth every bit of the effort. This St. Pete institution has been around for more than 30 years, and the moment you walk through the door, you understand why. Fresh pasta made by hand every morning, a bakery cranking out breads and pastries daily, a wine cellar that holds one of the largest Italian wine selections in Florida, and a gelato counter that absolutely deserves your attention. Mazzarosmarket It’s part market, part deli, part experience — and it moves at its own wonderful pace. Rated #5 of 691 restaurants in St. Petersburg on TripAdvisor, which, for a market that doesn’t even think of itself as a restaurant, is a pretty remarkable thing. Go hungry, bring a cooler, and plan to stay longer than you intended. You will. Mazzaro’s Italian Market
The Tides Seafood Market & Provisions — Safety Harbor
The Tides in Safety Harbor — part seafood market, part Gulf Coast restaurant, all worth the detour.
Safety Harbor is one of those charming small Florida towns that feels like it exists outside of time — and The Tides fits right in. This husband-and-wife operation from Jon and Mary Kate Walker is part bustling seafood market and part full-service restaurant, and the care they take with sourcing and execution comes through in every bite. They work directly with fishermen, farmers, and makers to bring the best of the Gulf Coast to the table, and you can taste that commitment. The menu leans Southern coastal, think shrimp and grits, fried grouper po’boys, and oysters done right. Michelin Guide is listed, which makes two Michelin nods in our restaurant section, and neither one will surprise you once you’ve eaten there. Don’t overlook the market on your way out, either. It’s the kind of place that makes cooking back at the rig feel like a legitimate option. The Tides Market
🗺️ Local Spots Worth Your Time
The Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center — St. Pete
Ginny and I are always on the hunt for Chihuly installations — if you follow along here, you already know that about us. So when we caught word that St. Pete was home to one, we made the drive without hesitation. It did not disappoint. This is the first installation of Chihuly art in a building specifically designed for that purpose — and you feel that intention the moment you walk in.
The permanent collection spans 18 installations across several of the artist’s most popular series, including the Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created exclusively for this space, and the breathtaking Mille Fiori, which means “Thousand Flowers” in Italian, and earns every petal of that name. Each space has been individually designed to complement the installation inside it, so you’re not just moving room to room — you’re moving world to world. Admission includes a live glass demonstration at the Morean Glass Studio just across the street, which is worth every minute of your time. Admission runs $20, and honestly, that’s a steal for what you get. Pro tip: don’t skip the short documentary film in the theater — it puts the whole experience in context and makes everything that follows hit harder. If you’re a Chihuly fan, this one belongs on the short list. If you’re not a Chihuly fan yet — well, you will be. Chilhuly Collection – Morean Museum
Sunken Gardens — St. Pete
Here’s a place that earns the word “gem” without even trying. Sunken Gardens is one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the United States — over a century old and still delivering. The backstory alone is worth the trip: a plumber named George Turner drained a lake in the early 1900s, planted seeds in the rich soil, and when the garden grew into something special, he started charging people to come admire it. Smart man, George.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Sunken Gardens was ranked among Florida’s top ten commercial attractions. Today, the City of St. Pete runs it, and they’re taking good care of it. The four acres are home to more than 500 species of native and exotic plants — bougainvilleas, royal palms, fruit trees, a butterfly garden, koi ponds, cascading waterfalls, and a flock of flamingos that have been residents since the 1950s. The winding paths are shaded and well-kept, making it a genuinely pleasant escape from the Florida heat on a warm afternoon. Ginny and I took our time, and that was exactly the right call.
The on-site History Center showcases never-before-seen photos, documents, and footage from the gardens’ heyday — back when 250,000 visitors a year were making the trip. It’s a wonderful little slice of Old Florida that most people drive right past without knowing what’s behind those vine-covered walls. Don’t be that person. Sunken Gardens
📍 Location & Getting Around
Bay Bayou sits in the northwest corner of Tampa — about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown, and roughly the same to Gulf beaches heading west. Feels like you’re out in the country, but gas, groceries, and restaurants are practically at the front gate. Whether you’re into pro sports, beach days, kayaking the creek, or just exploring the city, everything is within easy striking distance. Bay Bayou Location
The Vibe
The resort is gated with regular security rounds — always a comfort when you’re leaving your rig to go exploring. The staff is welcoming, the neighbors are friendly, and the whole place carries that relaxed snowbird energy that grows on you fast. Bay Bayou took home the 2023 Florida RV Park of the Year, and after two visits, that award makes complete sense.
The Bottom Line
If you’re rolling through Tampa — or making it a destination — Bay Bayou earns a spot on your list without breaking a sweat. Would we go back? We already did.
