Best Tent Camping near Aripeka, FL

Part of the Starkey Wilderness Preservethis location is full of multi use trails, has primitive cabin rentals (no electric) and tent camping available. Front country (car camping) and back country camping (hike in only). There are specific equestrian camping sites as well.

Cabins are pretty close to each other. All sites need to be reserved.Tent, cabin, shelter and pavilion reservations: Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, (727) 834-3247. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided. Pavilions are also available to rent and they take reservations for large groups as well.

We chose car camping for our visit to check the place out. A favorite for hiking and biking. This place has gotten busier as development has been growing steadily over the years. Many of the trails are without shade and the recent fire season hit the back part of the tract pretty hard (Spring 2017) but you would not see any signs of this unless you hiked out the furthest trails from entrance.

Bring your bikes, hiking shoes, horses, or telescopes. Birders bring your binoculars! Over 150 species call Starkey home either full or part time. There is something here for everyone.

As always in Florida bring bug spray, sunblock, hat, and please leave no trace!

Okay, so I didn’t do a ton of research, but I have driven around here before so I decided to get one of the primitive sites and do a little gear testing.

-$5+ per person/night -Bundles of firewood available for purchase (located at the site) -$5 arm loads -Fire ring, Picnic Table, Bench, and Garbage pail at the site

Walked the long way in (3.25miles), instead of the 1 mile route. The entire hike is through typical open grass “roads” cut and maintained in the Florida brush. The site itself had a nice vibe and is far away from any other sites at the park. A large open clearing could easily allow for a dozen tents, unfortunately, I brought my hammock,.. and this site is not set up for hammock camping.

With a little rigging and placement over a dried up gator hole, I found a spot that I could hang my hammock and shelter for the night.

I thoroughly enjoyed the spot, other than the lack of clearing for a hammock, and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable... I am aware that it was rainy season in Florida, near a WMA named Green Swamp, but I went home with hundreds and hundreds of bites, despite my preparedness.

I would camp here again, maybe when it’s a little cooler and more dry, and also would hike in with a tent, or potentially take the shorter route and pull a wagon full of gear, to enjoy a bit more “glamped” feel.

Stayed here for a night in November of 2020. We stayed at the Ashley campsite. It is free but had to register at watermatters.org - (Southwest Florida Water Management). They provide you with a code to unlock the gate once registered. At the campsite there were about 15 sites. Most had non-potable water. All had a picnic tables and fire ring. My site had a covered picnic table. A vault toilet was also provided and was pretty clean. The campsite was about half full when I was here and it was pretty quiet even though you can see your neighbors. You are permitted to collect fire wood as long as it has fallen from the tree. For a free campsite, I can’t complain. I would stay here again.

Great place to boondock! Spent 3 nights here by the pavilion. There are about 5 spots in the “primitive” camping area. Plenty of privacy and a kayak launch area. Spots have fire rings and a couple have picnic tables. Porta potty is clean. The back-country area was recently gated so RVs can no longer camp there. It’s now designated as tent-camping only. It’s a huge open space with entrances to walking trails and beautiful views of the river. The back-country area has an outhouse. It’s easy to get to and very quiet other than other campers and periodic airboats that zoom by.

Crooked River Campground is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75. Thankfully the furthest away from the interstate which remains busy 24/7. The complex is on the shore of Silver Lake, which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, this campground is part of the Silver Lake Recreation Complex. The Withlacoochee travels around the different campgrounds here and there is a large day use boat ramp onto the lake away from the campgrounds.

At Crooked River (The Native American name for the Withlacoochee) it seemed like every site was surrounded by dense undergrowth which really added more privacy. You can see from my campground and another random site I took a photo of that you are really nestled into the underbrush. If you want to get to the water there is a staircase which provides access to the Withlacoochee River for small boats. I took my folding kayak out and the water was very nice and refreshing against the unbearable heat of Florida. I think there was only 1 maybe 2 other campers while I was there and saw more people on mountain bikes going around the roads than anyone else.

Local Features and Activities

· Nature trail and boardwalk.

· Fishing

· Canoe trail

· Sorry, no pets allowed

Facilities

• These are tent only primitive campsites with the standard uncovered picnic table and fire ring with a grate and/or a grill.
• Flush restrooms and warm/hot water showers
• The campground also is available for organized youth groups, but requires a reservation. You can’t do this online (at ReserveAmerica) like the normal sites. For reservations call (352) 797-4140.

Directions: Take I-75 Exit 301 onto US98/SR50. You'll then turn east (away from Brooksville) and go about 1 mile until you reach the second stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north. Follow the signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area and turn right into the complex and follow the signs to the campground.

Large sites, and well-maintained. Perfectly located just off the exit for Brooksville off of I-75, and right off the Withlacoochee Rails to Trail bike/hiking path and near the Croom Mountain Biking Trails. Friendly camp host and many like-minded cycling neighbors make this is a great spot to stop for the night! Watch out for curious rabbits, armadillos and enthusiastic (loud) screech owls if you are in a tent/bikepacking. All of the spaces are nicely spread out and are mostly shaded (needed here in Florida), there is electrical & water hook-ups and many of the sites have a partial view of Silver Lake. Water & electric at these sites are useful if you’re in an RV. However, if you’re in a tent I’d recommend the option of no electricity at Crooked River Campground just a wee bit farther into the recreation area and much nearer the river. While these are large shaded site with water, electric, and your standard picnic table, and a fire ring. The facilities were rustic and clean but by the end of the day they did need cleaning and the paper towels ran out. Would like it if they had reservations for the camp sites so I can use my credit card instead of bringing cash, though I know they will be switching to that later in the year!

The Silver Lake Recreation Area offers three different campgrounds to stay at, depending on what you are looking for. The Silver lake is the most RV friendly with huge shady campsites under large oak trees and each has plenty of grassy field area to make up each of the the sites at Silver Lake Campground. From most of these sites you can get some views of the water. Silver Lake campground along with the Cypress Glen campgrounds are the 2 of the 3 in the recreation area to include water and electricity hookups.

The sites, while covered and under the oaks are really open and include your typical picnic table, fire ring, etc. with easy access to restrooms and showers located nearby.

Due to state budget cutbacks, the main gatehouse to the recreation area is actually closed (so all of the campgrounds are self-check-in and/or honor system, although there are camp hosts whom can check up on you) and the campsites were in need of a little cleaning, but not bad. That could be easily remedied if everyone just picked up a little bit of the trash and took it to the provided trash stations.

The biggest drawback about this location versions the other campgrounds in the recreation area is this has the closest proximity to I-75. You’re really close and you can (and will) hear the traffic noise all night long.

For tent camping, this/is could be a deal breaker. However, as this location is more geared towards RV with the water, electric hook ups, and dump station. You’ll have to decide which you value more. 

·       Nature trail and boardwalk

·       Fishing

·       Picnicking

·       Canoe trail

·       Leashed pets allowed.

·       These are really pretty developed campsites with electricity, water, picnic table and fire ring with a grate and/or a grill.

·       Decently clean restrooms with flush toilets and warm/hot water showers

·       Dump station in campground for you RVers