Blackwater River State Forest is home to Krul Lake, a developed campground managed by the Florida Forest Service that draws visitors with a spring-fed swimming hole at the center of its two camping loops. Sites include electric and water hookups, accommodate RVs up to 50 feet, and connect to a hiking trail that runs toward Bear Lake Campground to the east. No pets are allowed. Reservations are available, which is worth noting since crowd levels can vary considerably by season.
Water access is the defining draw here. The spring-fed lake stays cool and has lifeguards on duty during summer months. A pier, dock, and boardwalk give swimmers and walkers multiple points of contact with the water, and on busy days those areas can get congested enough that supervision of younger swimmers becomes a real concern among visitors. One reviewer noted that the lake had been drained during an off-season visit, so timing matters if swimming is the primary reason for the trip.
Bathhouses are described as clean but dated, consistent with many state forest facilities. Campsites are reported to be clean and decently spaced apart, though the campground draws a lively local crowd on weekends, and noise from neighboring sites has come up repeatedly in reviews. Firewood is no longer sold on-site by camp hosts, but a small market near the highway reportedly carries wood bundles. Campers interested in camping near Blackwater River State Forest with a more secluded setup might consider Bear Lake East Primitive Group Campsite as an alternative.
Description
Krul Campground is located within the Krul Recreation Area, in the Blackwater River State Forest (Santa Rosa County), about 1-hour northeast of Pensacola, FL. This campground is located on a 6.5-acre lake and has the following facilities: campsites with electricity and water (potable) for recreational vehicles or tents, dump station, restrooms and showers, swimming dock and pier. Recreational activities featured here are: swimming, picnicking, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, nature study and photography. Don't miss the Sweetwater Hiking Trail that starts at the Krul parking lot and runs 1.3 miles to Bear Lake. The first half mile of trail is a handicapped accessible boardwalk with a suspension bridge over Sweetwater Creek. A gristmill is located along the boardwalk.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsKrul Lake is located in Florida near Baker
Directions
From Interstate 10 take Exit 22. Turn north on Avalon Boulevard and travel to Highway 90. Turn right onto at Highway 90 and travel to Highway 87 also called Stewart Street at the Burger King restaurant. Turn left. Travel .8 miles to the Milton High School and turn to the right onto Highway 191 also called Munson Highway. Continue 19.5 miles miles until you reach Highway 4. Turn to the right onto Highway 4 and travel .7 miles to the Krul sign. Follow the entrance road into the facility. Turn left before entering the day use area parking lot. At the next stop sign turn to the right to Krul campground. For campground location using the internet type: Krul Lake Road Milton, FL 32570
Coordinates
30.862303652069116 N
86.85233152508255 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
VerizonNo Coverage- AT&T5GGood CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/1/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&T5GGood CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/1/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- 30 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 29 min from Crestview, FL
- 48 min from Pensacola, FL
- 1 hr 21 min from Daphne, AL
- 1 hr 33 min from Mobile, AL
