Campground Review: Markham Park
Markham Park is owned and operated by Broward County. Five of the county parks in Broward County feature campgrounds. Four of those campgrounds feature full RV hookups. We will only be talking about Markham Park in this review, but we would like to check out the other 3 full-hookup parks on our next visit.
The campground is well laid out with streets that end in a cul-de-sac with sites all along the street and circle. The campground has a total of 88 sites with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Most sites are grass or gravel, but each road that has at least one site that is paved. We listed those as our preferred sites for next time on our review above. The sites were fairly wide with most sites having a large open space behind them. Most sites in the back of each loops have a canal view. It provided more of a campground feel “wooded/grassy” than you typically find around the Florida coast. However, it was also convenient to just about anything you might possibly want! Traffic in the area is a bit congested - so plan accordingly!
In addition to the nice campground area, Markham Park is loaded with activities to keep you busy during your stay. They recently closed the pool, which we heard was a budget cutting measure to save on lifeguard fees in the winter. Not sure if that was the case or not or if it will open during the summer months. If you are expecting this amenity, you may want to confirm before placing a reservation. Don’t fear - if you need your fix of water the ocean is only about a 25 minute drive away!
The dog park, cutely named “Barkham at Markham” is the largest dog park we have ever seen. It is 3.5 acres and offers separate ares for small and large dogs. Dogs can run leash free and their is a variety of obstacles, toys, and benches for dogs to enjoy. There is a doggy drinking fountain to keep your pooch from getting parched. The only downside is there is a fee. $25 for an annual membership or $5 a day. The price you pay for a well-kept super cool dog area.
There is a disc golf course that is free to the public. It is a 18-hole course, but keep you mind you must provide your own equipment. Disc golf equipment is not in our repertoire yet, but we started some preliminary research. Who knew their were different discs for different shots, just like a set of golf clubs. Any disc golfers out there have any recommendations for disc golf newbies?
If you are into remote controlled vehicles, Markham Park is for you! There is a airfield right on site with over 50 acres of ground space for takeoff and landing of remote-control planes. Make sure to check the rules for the airfield, as there is a fee and a flying card that are required. There is also an obstacle course for remote controlled trucks. These two areas also provided good entertainment for us, even without any remote-controlled toys.
Fox Observatory is also a feature of Markham Park. The South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association makes its home at Markham Park. Every Saturday night from dusk to midnight the observatory is open to the public for free stargazing. Super cool and we are hoping for a clear Saturday night during our next visit.
You will also find tennis courts and racquetball courts that are free to the public and available on a first-come basis. We still haven’t found the perfect racquets to add to our arsenal of sports equipment. By perfect, I mean cheap!
Markham Park is known for its Mountain Bike Trails boasting 13+ miles of trails. This area does require a fee of $5/day for $25/annual membership. It appeared to be a cool area with a variety of challenging trails. Don’t forget your helmet!
There are two boat ramp areas with a pair of ramps at each area. They offer access to the canals that run along the edges of the park.
As you can see the park is full of things to keep you busy during your stay! We spent lots of time biking around the campground and checking out all the things that make this park unique. Even if you aren’t staying at the campground, it would definitely be a fun place to spend some time during your stay in the Fort Lauderdale area. For those not staying at the campground, there is a $1.50/person fee on the weekends.
