Half Shell Resort, near Palatka, Florida, is a unique spot that offers a mix of rustic charm and potential for a good time. This campground is right on the St. Johns River, making it a decent choice for those who enjoy fishing and relaxing by the water.

The owners are friendly and dedicated to improving the site, which features electric and water hookups for RVs, along with a dock for boat access. Visitors have mentioned the peaceful atmosphere and the stunning sunsets over the river, perfect for unwinding after a day of adventure. One camper noted, “The sunsets on the St. Johns River, the huge oaks with Spanish moss, and the quiet setting make this a special place.”

While the facilities are basic, including a bathhouse and laundry, some campers have pointed out that the sites can feel a bit close together. However, the community vibe is strong, with many families and long-term visitors creating a welcoming environment. If you're looking for a place to kick back and enjoy nature, Half Shell Resort might just fit the bill.

This is an Adult RV PARK
Half Shell offers numerous sites to choose from to make your RV home "long term" or for a long weekend or even a whole summer or winter. We have a boat ramp available for use as well. Located directly on the St. Johns River, only 5 miles south of Palatka, Florida on Highway 17.   

The Half Shell Resort brings you back to the
peace and quiet of "Old Florida", but allows
you to have all the modern conveniences you
so enjoy of today. Gone are the days of the
river gas pump and the bait and snack shop,
but, the old Florida oaks, the abundance of fish,
the large boat dock, the amazing sunsets, and
the tranquility of the camp still remain.

Half Shell Resort

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, San Mateo, FL has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—San Mateo is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near San Mateo, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

San Mateo

The Best Camping Near San Mateo, Florida

I've been here 2 months and love the peace and quiet and amazing sunsets by the St. Johns River. We go out by the marina and docks with our dinner and sit at the picnic table. All the units are RVers with no modular homes which I really like. The staff are helpful and caring.

Amazing Sunsets on the River

We stayed a month. Super nice owners. Close to town for all your needs. It's right on the St John's river. 

We made some awesome friends while we were their. Can't wait to get back

Great little park

We are staying here for 6 months.  The wifi is fast, the people are nice and management responds to issues immediately. The sunsets on the St. Johns River, the huge oaks with Spanish moss and the quiet setting make this a special place to have an extended stay!

Love this place!

This is a Mom and Pop campground. A cute Asian couple own the park and are VERY friendly. They helped get us backed in to our site. The sites are very close to each other. There are a lot of older camping rigs. Most are permanently there. There is WiFi, but it is very weak. The view of the St. John’s is the best part of the campground. There is a dock that you can go out and watch the sunset on the river. The dock has many dilapidated boats that don’t look like they have run in years. There is a boat ramp and we put our kayaks in right there and checked out Dunn’s Creek.  We made due while there, but will not go back. The bathhouse was not the greatest and there was minimal privacy. 

Peaceful friendly camp. Sights are close in most spots.  A bath house with 1 each man and women private bathroom. With sink shower toilet. Water was warm. On-site laundry. But many families live here while husband works. Pet friendly. Couple that own it are working on it always and it needs lots of work but everything worked fine. Dock for boats and you can sit on dock, on the river. Chairs and picnic tables. Nice restaurants nearby. No picnic table at campsites. Everyone very friendly.

Peaceful

To begin with, this place has all the great intentions of being a fantastic lakeside haven for would-be RV campground seekers, but Half Shell has recently been taken over by new owners who are in the midst of turning this location into a much more modern and well-kept getaway. Until then though, I say ‘stay away.’ The one thing that you need to know about this part of Florida (if you didn’t know already) is that its basically unkept jungle that will grow in any and all directions if left unkept. And that’s how I would describe Half Shell (at least currently) – it’s completely overgrown, in dire need of major refurbishment and outright infrastructure updates.  

  

What I found when my pals and I were looking for a decent place to park our elongated RV for a night or two for some serious fishing on St. Johns River, just a stone’s throw from North Central’s Palatka, is nothing more than a well-trimmed, fairly flat patch of land with some shade and a small pond. But because jumping on the river was our primary goal, as we couldn’t even do that here with the dilapidated condition of Half Shell’s pier, we chose to leave and find refuge at another nearby RV oasis (called Welaka Lodge &amp; Resort– just read my review for particulars on our adventure there!). 

  

While you will find ‘bathrooms’ at Half Shell, it appeared as though more than half the bathroom (um, like the toilets) were actually on the outside of the facilities (seriously, just look at the photos!). Sure, there’s electric, water and sewage hook-ups and, depending upon the few open, available slots, you MIGHT get just an OK view. There’s no BBQ grills or picnic tables to speak of, just a small plot of land to park on. All in all, the experience was pretty disappointing. 

  

Insider tips? Here’s a few: (1) While the folks that operate Half Shell are certainly well meaning and pose a promise of something better, I would pass on coming here until they demonstrate a much better option for your precious memory-making intentions; (2) I tend to be leary of (or outright steer clear of) places that constantly talk about ‘Old Florida’ – having been twice a resident of this great state, this punchline never ends with a good outcome; (3) If you do find yourself in these parts, San Mateo ‘Oasis’ will provide nice libations (beer and wine only though) to help you attempt to conjure up what you might be looking for in terms of an actual oasis; and (4) Did I mention Welaka Lodge &amp; Resort?! Yeah, go there instead. It’s just 15 minutes away from Half Shell for an amazing on-river experience (just mind your speed as you are driving in or out of town as there are those that are watching you pretty closely - wink, wink!). 

  

Happy Camping!

Photos of Half Shell Resort

Real photos from real campers