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 & 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 & 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!