Trimble Park Campground

Just returned from a 2 night stay at Trimble Park and I'm already planning my return next week!  The campground is very small and intimate, you will certainly get to know your neighbors and others staying in the park if you're going to be spending any time outside.  The park employees are zooming about on their golf carts multiple times within the hour during the day and always ready to help if needed.  The man in the office was amazing (I wish I had gotten his name) and so helpful, even swapping our spot for another with a better lake view!  Speaking of, the view is awesome!  Spots 8 and 9 are directly in front of the docks so if you mind other campers walking through your site to get to them, choose a different spot.  Even the spots that don't have a lake view are great!  Every site has a grill, separate fire ring, lantern hangers and picnic table plus electric and water hook ups.  Bathrooms are kept clean, every morning they are tended to.  My only complaint there is that the showers are very narrow.  I'm small and was feeling a bit cramped. Also the water pressure could definitely be stronger...took forever for me to rinse shampoo.  My personal issues are not enough for me to not come back though!  It's a great place to recharge and be at peace; I still can't get over how beautiful it is!

In all of my camping experiences, Trimble Park CG holds a very special place as one of my MOST favorites – and having camped in nearly 400 different campgrounds, that’s saying something! As my post from 3 years ago provided quite a bit of detail on this spectacular campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing additional fotos as well as providing a topline update capturing highs & lows:

Highlights: (1) Great kayaking in nearby Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton; (2) Supreme amount of peace & quiet as there are less than 15 total campsites; (3) Nearby restaurants and stores in picturesque Mount Dora provide a nice distraction, if the very place you find yourself in isn't enough; (4) The majority of sites (#3-#13) are waterfront with all sites being spacious, flat and nicely shaded, courtesy of all the ancient and live Oaks dripping with Spanish moss; (5) Seemingly brand new playground for the kiddos; and (6) Restrooms and shower facilities are fairly well taken care of.

Lowlights: (1) There are very few amenities here beyond the restrooms, picnic tables and fire rings; (2) Cyclists and those looking for trails to hike will be disappointed as there’s not much if anything here to either hike or bike on; (3) Booking a reservation on a fairly archaic website with a non-sensical process that involves booking 45 days in advance, so you have to time the precise days you want to camp here and be the first person to reserve a spot at 12:01am on the day that those spots become available … and with just 15 available sites to book, competition for this camping gem is fierce!

Happy Camping!

If like me, you find yourself on the never-ending, all-consuming search to find the very best campground on earth, then you will rejoice at what I discovered here in little known, far out-of-the-way Trimble Park Campground located just due south of Mount Dora – one of the quaintest small towns in the US (more on this later).

Allow me to begin by saying that the first thing I look for in a ‘magical unicorn campsite’ is that it truly is a unique discovery. Not made for – or even known by – the masses. Following a series of turns, and likely getting lost at least twice enroute and then having to double-back more than a few times where you’ll find yourself cursing as to whether or not the destination you are seeking out is actually even worth it … is exactly when you find yourself discovering this very particular slice of natural paradise. It’s here where I mistakenly came across one of the most amazing campgrounds I have ever been so excited to uncover in all of my backpacking, tent-unfolding, fireside grilling and midnight star-gazing sojourning. 

So let me break it down for you. Beyond being a bit of a ‘hidden gem,’ Trimble Park Campground is idyllically sandwiched between two beautiful and very good sized lakes – Lake Carlton to the south and Lake Beauclair to the north (and just a smidge further north, you’ll come to a much larger Lake Dora) – so all you fish-catching, clear lake boat sailing and sunset-on-the-water seekers, rejoice at this very fantastic conundrum you will experience: with so many lakes at your nearby disposal, which one will you chose? Sprinkle in an ever-present chorus of tree frogs, never-ending patch quilt of verdant, green lilipads and more Spanish moss hanging from bending ancient Oaks than you’ve ever seen in your entire existence, then the charm factor of this spectacle just multiplied by 10 (at least). Add to this the simply superb way in which the local, regional rangers take METICULOUS care of this place, from the well-manicured lawns and pristine conditions of the shelters, picnic tables, BBQ grills, children’s playgrounds, fishing piers and even the newly paved flat roadways you’ll find yourself wanting to slowly crawl through so you don’t miss anything as you take in all the surroundings, this campground feels as though there is not a single blade of grass that is misplaced. It’s all been perfectly packaged to deliver a most amazing camping experience. 

But the hands-down, most absolute amazing aspect of this entire experience is this: that nearly every RV / Tent campsite sits waterfront (and westward facing at that, ensuring one of the most brilliant sunsets you’ll see from the natural confines of your jungle-like make-shift camping abode). All sites come with water and electric, picnic tables, fire rings and BBQ’s, communal washing sinks and you’ll back up into the site, so as to maximize the lakefront views. There’s a separate bathroom facility that is fairly good and decently clean. 

Massive insider’s tip? While there are primitive camping sites, apart from a bear pole to hang your trash, there is nothing on these sites (and they are incredibly small) – so I would highly recommend you book a non-primitive campsite (one of the very few times I have ever recommended this). Insider’s Tip#2? Further afield, you’ll want to make use of Wekiva Springs State Park – one of the best natural springs in the entire Sunshine State – you don’t want to miss this one! Last insider’s tip? If you don’t have to leave this place, then don’t. But if you must, you won’t have to mosey far to find just about everything you could want in just a 15 minute drive to the little showboat of a small town in nearby Mount Dora. This picturesque village has a number of grocery stores, small shoppes and boutiques as well as simply outstanding restaurants, which sent my Foodie radar to an all-time high. Joints I highly recommend include: Pizza Amoré, Ken’s Amish Deli & Bakery, Tony’s Clam Chowder Seafood, The Beauclaire, Jeremiah’s, Pisces Rising and 1921 Mount Dora. 

For scenic shots of Mt. Dora, head to Gilbert Park where there’s a brilliant little lighthouse, flocks of seagulls and lots of aquatic rentals. On Saturdays, there’s a great little Farmer’s Market in town, called Renninger’s Farmer & Flea Market, where we bought fresh produce for our entire camping stay. Outside the main town of Mount Dora, you’ll find big box retailers like Publix, Target and Walmart. I sincerely hope I raised your expectations with regards to this particular natural campground oasis – even if I have, trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised by just what an amazing, precious camping experience awaits you here. 

Happy Camping!

We were happy to find the campground only about half full for our two night visit. Granted, it was a Tuesday & Wednesday in June. I imagine weekends and winter months are busier. The bathhouse was serviceable and clean. The water pressure was okay, but if you have thick hair it may take awhile to rinse shampoo. There was a cute little play area for kids although we didn’t see any on our visit. The gates are locked at night and campers are given a code to access the campground after hours. The check-in is a bit before entering the park. It’s on the right side of the road near the boat ramp. If you aren’t paying attention you may miss it. We did, but a helpful park employee pointed us back in the right direction. There is a ton of shade. So much that we had to use our interior lights in our camper even midday. We had a nice breeze off of the lake which helped keep the flying bugs at bay. Once the breeze died down the flying bugs came back with a vengeance. The rest of the park is small and pretty. It was hot so we only saw one alligator snout sticking out of the lake water. Pets are allowed and dogs have to be leashed. My Dora is close by for shopping, restaurants and is worth a trip into the downtown area for lots of good food and unique shops.