Bell is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Bell is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Bell, FL. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$35 - $250 / night
"Camp Ground Review:
The Hart Spring has one of the largest swimming area with year-round 72-degree Fahrenheit water temperatures."
"Hart Springs is a county park in Gilchrist County in Bell, FL. It’s our go to place near some of our favorite Florida Springs when they are not available."
$30 - $40 / night
"Located in the country and off the beaten path, be sure to have everything you need before you arrive. All sites are beautiful. The bath house is clean and maintained...water is hot."
$50 - $65 / night
"No tree coverage or shade, but a nice site. Full hook up & well maintained. Campground is new & facilities look like it. Well maintained & the sites are all well manicured."
"Site 19 has great privacy and view of woods. Only 2 miles from Itchetucknee. Would’ve been better if playground was a bit more present for littles. Very tiny setup."
$55 / night
"This is a great camping site way out in the country near farms and the river. We are going back for the 2nd time and looking forward to it. The site is clean with a lot of amenities like sewer. "
$100 / night
"The facilities were well cared for and well-maintained. Water and electric worked great and the view is spectacular. Highly recommend."
"We tubed the lower portion of the Ichetucknee with the included access to the neighborhoods private park entrance and pickup. Kayaking up river to sunbeam spring was awesome."
"Strawberry Fields for RVers has lots of potential. It's a clean and well kept area for RVs to park and stay for a few nights. Nice and quiet."
"Well maintained facilities that are being expanded. They are adding more sites that are back in /grass sites for those that don't need or want a pull through asphalt site."
"Can easily fit Class A's or Big 5th wheels. Full hook-ups. They have a pool, bathhouse, and laundry facilities. The owners were great."
$39 - $550 / night
"The park is clean with swimming pool, internet and cable"
GuideWe stayed here a couple of years ago while visiting family and friends in Lake City, about 20 miles away. I was very impressed with the facilities, very clean and well kept. Site 19 is a long pull through with plenty of room for a big rig and tow vehicle. Picnic table and fire ring available. Beautiful trees with Spanish moss give the park that old Florida feel. This is Florida, so expect humidity and some bugs. Not a lot of breeze at our site but very shady. Staff was very courteous and helpful, work campers rode by occasionally and would carry off trash if needed. There is a nice museum and camp store/gift shop onsite also. Cell service was good, didn't try the tv. There is no big stores nearby, just a Dollar General in White Springs near the entrance. Definitely a thumbs up.
LegendThe campground(CG) was easy to find. Check-in was quick and very friendly and we headed to back-in site E-27 for our overnight stay. This premium site is probably one of the most spacious in the CG, especially on the utilities side, where a swing bench looks out to a huge field. There was a nice patio, furniture, and propane grill that unfortunately, due to the January cold weather snap, we did not get to use. There’s a large tree on this site, so satellite could be iffy, but they have cable TV, plus you get a good amount of OTA channels. The sites in this KOA are well-spaced in comparison to others we’ve stayed in the past. They have a nice camp store that even has a humidor with cigars. They also seem to be the town’s“go-to” place for propane fills. Water pressure was good at about 50 PSI, and we got 3 bars on Verizon. We were in the far back corner of the CG and had to carefully plan our departure to avoid tight turns and other campers departing to get to the exit. Perry has your major amenities. Get a site in the back area away from the road noise. As this was easily one of the best KOAs and private CGs we’ve stayed in, we would definitely come back.
LegendShould you find yourself anywhere near the home of The Gators here in landlocked Gainesville, then the location of Santa Fe Palms RV Resort itself will be one of its greatest assets. Located NW of town, you will find yourself just far enough away from the noise, traffic and otherwise mayhem that surrounds the college town atmosphere of UF. That said, you’ll also be close enough that just a short 10 minute drive will place you within proximity to just about anything you might want or need, from restaurants and bars, to city parks, retail store fronts as well as big box retailers and shopping malls … as well as of course, the University of Florida itself.
As for this RV resort in particular, I always have to question places that use the term 'resort' in the first place – but here at Santa Fe, they really do live up to the word ‘resort.’ Apart from discovering a seemingly newly-built and certainly very well-maintained outdoor encampment perfect for your RV or 5th Wheel parking pleasure, you'll also enjoy all of the various amenities that indeed makes this roadside campground really feel like an RV resort community in full swing. In all there’s some 115, mostly diagonal, slots to chose from that offer 30 amp, 50 amp back-in or 50 amp pull-through sites, charging $65, $75 and $85 respectively, which IMHO is (especially for the area you currently find yourself in) slightly more expensive than expected.
With higher prices, expectations rise, but I found Santa Fe Palms delivers, offering not only a premium experience, but one packed with tons of amenities, including: high-speed fiber optic WiFi, beautiful lanai patio complete with several tables, chairs and sun umbrellas that sit alongside a very generous heated in-ground swimming pool, fitness room, pickleball court as well as a laundr-O-mat and restroom / shower facilities. All sites have full hook-ups featuring electric with various amp options, water and sewage, while there’s a good amount of sites that have pull-through options where the others will have back-in. The paved roads that run throughout this place are grade A perfect and perhaps the best feature of the entire place is the top-notch gate access and security surrounding the entire perimeter. There’s even a spacious doggie park in the NW corner of Santa Fe to take your pooch for a stroll. Lastly, the main building where you would also check-in at features work stations as well as a small shop where you can buy sundries and snacks.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Unless your idea of a great hike is walking around in circles within the perimeter of Santa Fe Palms RV Resort, I would highly suggest a trek to nearby Buck Bay Flatwood Preserve, which is just due northeast of this spot where you’ll walk / drive due east to the Circle K and then take the country road due north about a ¼ mile before you reach this spot; (2) If you are coming with either a canoe or kayak, the best place to drop anchor is Newmans Lake, which you will be able to access at a number of places, although I strongly recommend Palm Pointe Park, but if too busy, just due south is Earl P Powers Park, where both of these locations have excellent boat launches; (3) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your onboard mini-fridge fridge or roto-molded, bear-proof Cordova cooler and want to check out some of the local fare, there’s a handful of no-frills options, but hey, life is short, so I’ll let your GPS help you find those spots and instead, I’ll recommend 'don’t miss options' like Satchell’s for the best pizza in town with an Instagram-worthy backdrop; and (4) Should you want to hit the links, nearby Santa Fe Palms RV Resort is Ironwood Golf Club, which is decent, not amazing, but gets the job done.
Happy Camping!
GuideStaff: respectful, informative and available
Sites: Clean; limestone gravel with concrete patios on most; premium waterfront sites with decks; newer hookups; big rig friendly with many pull through sites, lots of trees.
Extras: Club house, boat ramp, ice machine, small child gym set, dog wash, dog run, boat slips.
GuideElectric and water hook ups. Camping sites are large enough for 2 tents. Shaded well. There’s a decent boat ramp with over flow parking for the truck and trailer. Great for kayaking and Small boating. Trails are great for hiking and a few for mountain biking. Neat cemetery back in the grass lands near ranger station, lots of tortoises to see. Pet friendly for domestic pets. Ranger station was very helpful and knowledgeable about trails for longer distance biking. Wood for sale. Hot water bath house as well. Site has picnic tables. Very clean area.
LegendAlright, it’s KOA, so if a fabricated outdoor ‘camping moment’ is what you are after and don’t mind the concocted grounds you are on and want an easy-breezy no frills outing underneath the stars you will encounter, then the KOA pitstop located in Starke (NE of Gainesville) has you covered. You’ll find this commercially-produced camping outpost right off the worn pavement of highway 301, which runs right through north central Florida is easy to find, conveniently sandwiched between the Murray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership to the south and the Tractor Supply Co due north (but don’t worry, there’s also an IHOP right across the street, completing this concrete jungle campground adventure).
This camping depot is too well organized for my taste and has over 100 slots perfect for the RV and trailer parking crowd, 5 spots for tent campers (unfortunately, nearest the highway – so bring your earplugs!) along with 2 cabins and 2 studio lodges. The standard RV slots are on Elm, Oak, Pine, Maple and Hickory, while the more premium sites are located on Walnut, Chestnut, Magnolia and Spruce. Big Birch lane separates coach class camping from first class – but hey, we’re all out in nature, so is there really a divide?
Amenities? And while this KOA is older and battle-worn more than most of the other properties I have driven by, this also has a ton of amenities, including: a heated pool, complete with lounge chairs and sun umbrellas, community fire pit, game room, dog parks(one for bigger breed and one for small pups), horse shoe pit, shuffleboard, playground and swings, sandbox, propane filling station, picnic tables, bocce ball, designated trash and recycling bins, nature trails, WiFi, Cable / TV as well as full RV hook-ups including water, sewage and electric (30 / 50 amp). For anyone that is in need of anything they may have forgotten or run out of (like all KOA’s) there’s a mini-mart on-premise that has ice, wood, sodas and just about anything else you could think of (and for anything they don’t have, there’s a Walmart and Ace Hardware so close you could just walk to either). And don’t worry if by chance you forgot your RV, trailer or tent – if you are in need of somewhere to call home for the night, this KOA has you covered as they rent a few studio lodges and rustic cabins.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are on the look-out for a REAL camping experience and don’t want to settle for this KOA manufactured experience … then don’t. There are options! Within a 30 minute drive of here, I would recommend Mike Roess Gold Head Brand State Park, which is simply FANTASTIC and provides more than 5 different campgrounds from primitive to RV-heavy and everything in-between; (2) When you get tired of foraging for the next meal from your onboard RV cooler, then head into the town of Starke for some local grub, wherein I highly recommend anything from the ‘Swamp Things’ portion of the menu at Cedar River Seafood, where afterwards you can finish the meal off with a scoop of the cold stuff at nearby Strickland’s; and (3) If you are looking to experience some of the best nature in the area, be sure to check out either Camp Chowenwaw Park and Black Creek Park and Trail, both conveniently located just due northeast of KOA Starke/ NE Gainesville.
Happy Camping!
LegendFormerly known as Water’s Edge Oak RV Park, this lakeside RV retreat has been completely refurbished under new ownership who have renamed this outdoor camping respite Old Florida RV Park, so do take note of these changes as of October, 2024. This RV resort, complete with just 34 FHU (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage) slots that dot a small, simple single loop, sits right on Orange Lake. One of its great assets is the quick and EZ access you’ll have to this formidable fresh water lake that is very decent in size and is perfect for kayaking, canoeing and boating along with fishing where you’ll have no problem reeling in redear sunfish, large- and smallmouth bass, black crappie and bluegill. When we rocked up, all we needed to do was scan the QR code to book a slot for the night – while somewhat impersonal, it was incredibly convenient and EZ enough to find our slot and apart from meeting all of our neighbors, we never actually got to meet the owners as it seems as though they run this RV park on remote control.
This RV resort lives partially up to the name of ‘resort’ as there’s freshly minted Tiki huts throughout the property that look to be like they are in partial construction-mode, although when finished, these freestanding structures will definitely be a draw for those wanting to sip their Mai Tais under a straw-covered canopy. The road that leads you into this CG is perfectly smooth but wide enough only for a single vehicle moving in a one-way direction around the loop, where you’ll easily find diagonally-slotted pull-through (in the center) or back-in (on the exterior) RV sites complete with a perfectly paved adjoining patio decked out with brand new picnic tables. And while the interior of the RV resort is barren, exposing you to all of your soon-to-be-neighbors, the exterior perimeter is surrounded by a decent thick tree line along with brush and a new fence that encircles the property adding to the sense of safety and security here.
From an amenity’s standpoint, what exists now is very good, but apparently there are plans to develop a lot more, like an in-ground pool, pickleball courts, horse shoe rings, game room as well as kayak and canoe rentals along with offers of wildlife and fishing tours. There’s also the promise of a general store, full Tiki bar (open to the whole community), weekend food trucks and a community grilling area. There’s a lot of ‘Coming Soon’ amenities, so hopefully the good folks here at Old Florida RV Park make good on their plans, but those newly built Tiki Huts, which apparently will be offered only with the more premium sites (read: upcharge), are a good indication that all of these other amenities will be offered shortly. What is currently on-site is in either fairly excellent condition and / or brand-spanking new, like a facility that has an 8-seat movie theater, showers and restrooms, excellent boat ramp launch as well as a community fire pit.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Unfortunately, for mi tent-pitchin’ bredren, there are not sites that allow for you to set up for the night, so you’ll have to keep looking for higher ground; (2) Should you be in the mood to check out some local fare, there’s just a small smattering of offerings in the nearby hamlet of Citra with options like Phil’s Grille and Sweet Baby Cheese’s or you’ll have to head a bit further west to the tiny town of Orange Lake to feast on Eagles Nest Bar & Grill, Lupita’s Taqueria, Southern Cooking and Georgie’s Lakeside Restaurant; (3) If you haven’t tried your go at a spring here in Florida, you need to add this to your bucket list – and fortunate enough for you, Salt Springs, which is one of the best springs in all of Florida, is located just about 20 minutes away from Old Florida RV Resort, so bring your goggles and fins and head on over to Salt Springs where if you are lucky, you’ll find some friendly manatees to swim alongside.
Happy Camping!
GuideThe roads and campsites are a bit narrow since this was built long ago before big rigs, but we didn’t have any trouble navigating with our 30’ travel trailer. The campsites are relatively level and have beautiful trees and scenery. There’s a good bit of distance between you and your neighbor which is always nice. The campsites have electricity and water and there is a dump station on-site. We only stayed a few days in January 2019 to visit some friends in the Gainesville area, but would love to come back to explore the area more. Easy access to the park and to Gainesville. We had good internet service for AT&T and Verizon. From the park, you can see the Santa Fe River flow below the ground to the Santa Fe sink. Overall, it was a very nice state park and we will definitely stay again.
LegendStrawberry Fields for RVers has lots of potential. It's a clean and well kept area for RVs to park and stay for a few nights. Nice and quiet. The laundry and bathhouse are impeccable, we look forward to the owners building more in the expanded areas. This park looks to have long term construction so there may be some noise at times. We will certainly be returning as this is the best location for transiting to central Florida while staying off the interstates. Sites have full hookups but missing picnic tables.
Explore the charm of RV camping near Bell, Florida, where lush landscapes and inviting campgrounds await outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Bell, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Bell, FL is Hart Springs Park with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
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