Are you in need of a campground near Branford, FL? Branford is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Branford, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Located on the Santa Fe River in High Springs Florida, Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest springs in Florida. The 72-degree water is perfect for river tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba and cave diving. Visitors to Ginnie Springs Outdoors can enjoy camping (wilderness sites or sites with electricity), an overnight rental cottage, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing and volleyball.
$20 - $25 / night
DOG1
$18 / night
MAG1
$20 / night
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is the newest addition to Florida State Parks!
The park contains a collection of natural springs, including a large second magnitude spring that produces an average of 44 million gallons of water per day. This spring, known as Gilchrist Blue, has outstanding water clarity and discharges water through a shallow spring run about one-quarter mile to the Santa Fe River. The other named springs on-site are Little Blue Spring, Naked Spring, Kiefer Spring and Johnson Spring.
The most significant ecological habitats within the park include the spring run stream and floodplain communities. The main spring run is renowned for its support of a diversity of wildlife species including turtles, fish and invertebrates.
Paddling, snorkeling and swimming are all popular at the main springhead and spring run. Pavilions are available and a concession stand provides food and beverage service. Other popular activities include hiking, nature study and picnicking.
The park features 23 campsites: 16 sites for RV/tent camping (30 amp available) and seven tent-only camping.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Located just north of Live Oak, Fla, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. The Spirit of the Suwannee is proud to host a variety of events throughout the year. In addition to these events, the park offers live music during the week in the Music Hall and a natural amphitheater for outdoor music festivals.
Gopher
$20 - $100 / night
$50 - $65 / night
MAG1
$18 / night
DOG1
$18 / night
MAG1
$20 / night
Located just north of Live Oak, Fla, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. The Spirit of the Suwannee is proud to host a variety of events throughout the year. In addition to these events, the park offers live music during the week in the Music Hall and a natural amphitheater for outdoor music festivals.
Gopher
$20 - $100 / night
Scout
It is too bad that they allow people to bring their airboats. Airboats have zero utility out here unless you want to run on land and water like a swamp. Shired Island is not a swamp, it's a wildlife refuge. Since they have no rules against airboats, the loudness of the machines gives visitors noise pollution where they might otherwise enjoy the sounds of the sea and the waves hitting the shore. If the airboats are there, everything natural is drowned out and, meanwhile, they feel as though they can run up on the land and ruin the habitat on the wildlife refuge. Airboats should definitely be made illegal at this location. Terrible.
Scout
I have trouble walking. I'm at site 38 and no handicap parking for showers. The shower doors and walls are nasty. Also, where I parked with 2 dogs. Was nothing more than a pile of dirt. Both are filthy after 5 days. I was also told that the station had no handicap parking for showers?
ScoutAwesome place to camp but it's closed due to storm damage
Traveler
My family and I had an incredible experience at black prong. Massive RV pad, full hookups, Golf Cart, plus privacy between you and your neighbor. As an added bonus we were able to bring our horse for trail rides throughout the park. Tons of room and friendly staff. Highly recommend. (Didn’t use the pool or hot tub but they looked nice and well kept)
ScoutPeaceful secluded campsites. Most have a wooded buffer. There are full hookup sites available. We stayed in site 33. Sites have fire ring and picnic tables.
Scout
It’s quiet, peaceful. Sites are large, fire rings, picnic tables, grass! Not well lit, no bath house, no propane, no pool. They have plenty of ideas though.
Legend
Large sites. Very nice pool. First rate laundry facilities. Great playground and dog park.
Scout
If you have to change or cancel your reservation your gonna lose your money. The owner will keep every dime of your reservation even if you can't camp there.
LegendWe stayed one night on a grass spot with harvest host. While we did not “pay,” we were still treated as royalty. The entire team was amazing. The grass spit was up front by all of the amenities. The other lots are beautiful and further back. The pool is gorgeous. They have bikes that you check out with the bracelets, and the restaurant was top notch with live music.
Scout
First time, only been here a couple of days because of evacuation from Milton. Sites are nice size and some include a cabana. I suspect gets pretty busy during season. Strange there is no office.
Guide
I love KOA because they are consistent… And I have a membership that gives me a bit of a discount. I find they are a good value as a rule. This one was really a surprise for the area which did not look that special but the KOA was so bright and cheery and wonderful. We’ve enjoyed it. They had great pull through a dog park lots of amenities and a super great park.
Traveler
We just purchased our 33’ Salem travel trailer and we used Island Oaks as our shakedown trip. Honestly, its going to be hard to top this first trip. My Wife and I traveled with our 2 young children and our pup. We never had to leave the park, they had EVERYTHING. Heated resort pool with tiki pool bar & music, beach front lake with a massive inflatable obstacle course, an on-site restaurant & ice cream shop, not to mention multiple fenced dog parks. I cant say enough positives about this place! I chose a pull through site and it had sewage, water, & electrical hook ups. They do offer free Wifi, however I would not rely on it, it was spotty at best. Dont think twice. Give this resort a try. It’s a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere!
Ranger
This campground is really dark, quiet and pretty. The bathhouse was always clean. You can smell the well water in the bathhouse. Brings me back to my childhood memories. We rode our bikes to the observation tower, but we were not lucky enough to see any bison or wild horses. Still nice to see the open prairie. We had a big rainstorm and the back of our site did become a lake, but it was gone overnight. The bugs lit us up all hours, so make sure you different bug sprays.
LegendI have camped at many KOA campgrounds, and periodically, I've come across a shining star. This is one of those times. The staff at check-in was terrific, friendly, and just loved what they were doing. The campsites are well-spaced. The facilities are clean. My site A9 was a back-in site, newly added, with a gravel base, perfectly level, full hookups, and 96 channels of crystal clear cable TV. The internet speed was over the top. I was there for two nights and even got to spend time at the local bluegrass festival.
Legend
I imagine that Suwannee Music Park Campground was borne out of the wonderful brainchild idea of someone who was fortunate enough to attend the original Woodstock back in ’69 and after leaving the upstate NY experience, woke up 3,000 miles away here on the shores of the Suwannee and said to themselves,“hey, why not try to create that experience here in NW Florida?!” And thus, this nature-embracing outdoor musical playground was given birth.
Let’s begin with the sheer size of this place: with 800+ acres and over 600 campsites to choose from, this thickly wooded sprawling campground expanse is massive. And when it comes to the camping itself, no matter what type you might be thinking of - from RV and 5th Wheelers to those towing Horse Trailers and, Primitive Camping and Treehouses as well as Cabins for lease, every type of outdoor camping is offered here.
The major attraction here, apart from the live music performances that get booked very frequently in this camping outpost, is the direct access you’ll have to the historic Cypress tree-lined Suwannee River, which is nothing short of fantastic if you enjoy paddling a kayak or canoe. If you are looking for something just as active but different, there’s a dedicated disc golf course as well as endless miles of trails, perfect for hiking and biking.
Other amenities include: horse stables, children’s playground, covered pavilions, a bird sanctuary, chapel, small lake with fishing dock (catch & release only), bat house (apparently the largest in the US), tree house, craft village, boat launch, barn museum, drum circle, horse wash / manure disposal, arcade game room with pinball machine, live music pavilions, shelters, potable water stations, karaoke, riverside beach, viewable bee hives, golf cart rental, designated dump stations, WiFi, on-site cafe and general store (firewood, ice, beer, T-shirts, hats and caps), bar and music hall, pickin’ shed, geocaching, rock waterfall, first aid stations, swimming pool (that also serves up ice cream and pizza poolside), multiple music stages, restrooms and shower facilities and Suwannee River dock. For the RV crowd, Suwanee Music Park offers 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage hook-ups.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Despite being pretty far removed from civilization for those really wanting to embrace a nice chunk of untouched nature, I have to admit this place was overwhelmed with golf carts when we visited, which really takes away from the ambiance of being out in nature in the first place IMHO. Many times this place felt more like the Villages (the world's largest and most well-heeled retirement community located south of here in central Florida) than a remote camping outpost; (2) Should you need anything, the town of Live Oak is just a 20 minute drive south of here wherein you’ll find just about everything you are looking for, including a Busy Bee for excellent bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities, Walmart Supercenter and Publix for groceries as well as just OK restaurants like Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Zaxby’s and a Waffle House, but for actual really good food, keep on heading south to the center of town where you’ll find Big Wood BBQ & Grill, The 406 or Brown Lantern; (3) If you were fascinated by the drama, murder and mayhem on the Netflix series Tiger King, then head south of Live Oak to Mystic Jungle where you can see all of their amazing wild cats that normally you would only be able to see while on safari; (4) For my primitive tent pitching bredren, of all the amazing places to consider here, I would strongly recommend those primitive camping spots that are either located near the Bat House over just north and west of Farm Field or the primitive camping sites just east of Spirit Lake; (5) Only downsides include: very overcrowded in some places, lots of bugs (so be sure to bring the Citronella!), uneven land to pitch a tent in the primitive camping area, RV sites are pretty close to one another, WiFi is intermittent and weak in many places, ‘golf carts gone wild’ scenarios, lots of restrictions and rules (destroys that Woodstock vibe I thought we would find here), dated bathrooms will take you back to the 1970s; (6) Upsides include: incredibly friendly staff, very close to Highway 10 making this spot very easy and quick to access, incredibly well-stocked general store; and (7) For best bat viewing, come at dusk to watch them leave by the tens of thousands turning the sky dark, and then come before dawn to watch them all return while sipping your Americano in a lawn chair.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Typically up here in northern Florida, whether you are on the coast or further inland, when you hear or see the name ‘fish camp,’ depending upon where you are from (or honestly, where you're at), the name typically conjures up one or two images - a mossy covered waterside restaurant serving up some freshly caught fish, typically fried, and with a whole lot fo southern fixin’s like grits, black-eyed peas, fried okra and the like. Or, it’s a reference to an actual campground that just so happens to be located right alongside a nice stretch of water, which could be a massive river like St. Johns in these parts, or a smaller, meandering outlet that either connects to a larger body of water, say a lake, or even the ocean. So let’s set the record straight, when visiting this particular fish camp, we are definitely talking about the latter, rather than the former.
Heading towards Gainesville recently, I came across Kate’s Fish Camp, very conveniently located in the the middle of nowhere, but altogether, sitting on a very nice bit of a water trail called Prairie Creek, which I was told, would eventually, through perseverance and timing your luck between low and high tide, have you arrive at the ocean, but I have to admit, I don’t know how that is even possible, as we were only able to make our way to Orange Lake, but hey, it was my first try. Maybe you will have more luck, or perhaps I got it wrong and at some point, you just need to strap your kayak or canoe on top of your vehicle and drive it closer to a ‘frackish’ inlet that will allow you to ultimately reach some salt water.
As far as Kate’s Fish Camp go, the wonderful duo of Mike & Monica run this roadside camping rest stop and upon entry, you will marvel at just how intimate and compact the place is complete with substantial shade that blocks all of the harsh Floridian sunshine from otherwise roasting you in its humid inferno. The main office looks like something out of Duck Dynasty and is an old-schooled wooden single-story structure with restrooms and shower facilities (both pretty basic, but clean, albeit poorly lit) towards the front, and the entrance to the actual office on the rear-side, closer to the creek access point. On the subject of water access, let’s just say that while the meandering creek is definitely of interest and should be explored, the real find here is the nearby access to Newnans Lake, which just sits north of Kate’s Fish Camp and, unfortunately, requires a quick drive to Palm Point Park (around the corner from here) in order to access this body of water, but it’s totally worth it, especially if you have an engine-powered fishing boat and are looking to get out on the water to do some decent fishing.
Back at the campground, here’s what you need to know. For starters, there’s about a dozen or so sites that are offered with each being pull-through ready. While this campground feels more geared towards the RV driving or 5th Wheel toting crowd, as a tent pitcher myself, this place is pretty OK from a tent camping standpoint. You’ll definitely appreciate all the shade that is offered here, as well as close proximity to the basic amenities (showers/ bathrooms) and river access. The picnic tables are pretty standard and there are scattered BBQs and fire rings. There’s also some pretty great WiFi here for those that need it. One of the huge upsides apart from direct river and bike path access is a number of really great hiking trails that you can explore both flora and fauna alike.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) One of the huge upsides to Kate’s Fish Camp is the direct access you’ll have to the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Bike Trail, which if you wanted to, could lead you all the way into Gainesville to enjoy the UF campus and surrounding area without having to put up with traffic; (2) While Kate’s Fish Camp boasts about providing you with DIRECT access to Newnan’s Lake, it was our experience that you could not access the lake directly and that eventually, you would have to return to camp, pack your kayak on your vehicle and drive a quarter mile to the actual boat launch in order to access the lake - I don’t know why they tell folks that they provide direct access; (3) For RVers you will want to take note that Kate’s doesn’t provide sewer hook-ups, just water and electric (20 / 30 / 50 amp) for all of their pull-through sites; (4) You should take note that this campground is literally located right next to a fairly busy 4-lane highway, so if P&Q is important to you, consider another location, otherwise, bring some earplugs!; (5) It’s Florida, it’s the summer, and unless you weren’t already aware of it, you’re landlocked here in the middle of the state, so what does that mean? Mosquitos and bugs, so yeah, come prepared (and don't complain about mosquitos - they are endemic to FL)!; (6) When you get tired of sifting through your on-board mini-fridge or toto-molded Cordova cooler to conjure up what your next meal is going to be, then check out nearby dining options such as Antonio’s Made In Italy, Georgie’s Lakeside or Eagles Nest - and of course, there’s all the generic restaurant-fare that you’ll find in nearby Gainesville, but I’ve tried to suggest some slightly off-the-beaten path joints. If you want an Instagram-worthy dining experience that also lives up to the hype when you bite into their succulent pies, then head on over to Satchel’s Pizza for their deep dish pizza and local brews.
Happy Camping!
RangerStayed here for 4 nights and really enjoyed it. Large paver sites with plenty of space. Beautiful horse farm setting. Pool and amenities were awesome. Can’t wait to come back!
GuideQuiet, lots of wildlife (wild horses, bison, alligators, deer, birds, turtles); plenty of hiking and biking trails with beautiful sunsets on the lake. Restroom facilities are showing some age but clean. Walk-in tent sites are pretty close to the Restrooms.
Traveler
Nice quite campground. Well maintain. Clean bathrooms and working laundry machines (1 each) 1.75 for wash and 1.75 for dry. Lake and beach access are nice and maintained.
Guide
The office staff is very helpful and nice.
The location itself is pretty remote and not close to many amenities. The sites are pretty difficult to get into based on the layout. I would not recommend this place to a newbie as it is nearly impossible to get into a lot of these sites without having nearby sites empty to use their space. I struggled even with the adjacent sites being empty. The sites are close together, but the staff does a good job spreading out their reservations. We booked a riverview site, but there is a good amount of marsh between our site and the river, so the view is not that impressive. The single digit sites have a better river view than double digits. The site is pretty level, and I do like that it is rock/gravel and not dirt. The hookups are at the front of the site, which requires you to have an additional 25 feet of hose and power. The staff does warn you prior to arrival of this, so we were well prepared. Wifi is good within the campground, but I couldn't get the cable to work. There is a boat slip and boat rentals available on-site. There is also a pool and hot tub ( the hot tub was not functional during our visit). Good amount of shade within the entire campground, which is nice in the summer months. Depending on what you are looking for, this campground may or may not be for you.
Legend
We enjoyed this campground (CG) as this was our 4th year coming back. There is plenty of signage and GPS takes you right to the CG. You turn left after the railroad tracks that will take you around the golf course, past the clubhouse, and to the check-in office. Do not go to the clubhouse to register, it is a small parking lot not suitable for RVs. After we checked in, we proceeded to buddy sites 60 and 60A. We easily backed into 60A and set up for our two-month stay. Madison had a rough 2023 with hurricane damage that was still being cleaned up when we arrived in mid-February. Our nightly rate is based on the monthly rate and golf package. We enjoyed golfing on their 9-hole course. WiFi is better than normal for this sized CG and we got two bars on Verizon. We had clear shots of the southern or northern sky for satellite and several OTA channels. On the back of the office are showers and a laundry room with 4 washers and 4 dryers. Firewood& propane were available and included propane pickup(set the tank at the end of your site) and firewood delivery if requested. The CG has a nice mix of back-in and pull-thru sites. Our buddy site was spacious, but we would rate the other sites as"nearby." They also have three cabins for rent. This CG is not a kids’ destination(big pro for us) as there is no playground nor much to do for the young ones. The CG is more adult-oriented with a pickleball court and activities such as group walks or special events like golf tournaments/leagues, karaoke, game nights, and potlucks. There is a large(about 2 acres) fenced dog park with a fenced-off area for small dogs. If you are allergic to train noise, a train track is adjacent to the CG. Trains run periodically normally during the day. Otherwise, this is a quiet park considering its size.
RangerGreat state park well off the main road. Quiet and wooded with limestone pads.
GuideStayed in key west area. You can tell it was just opened because grass is still growing in. Staff was wonderful.
GuideSecond time here. Will be back
Ranger
Site# 54 Check in: 1pm Check out: 11am Full hook- up Easy to level Gravel back-in (Most, if not all sites are Buddy sites - so be prepared to face a neighbor you do not know. -We were literally looking at each other for ten weeks - with us having two dogs and neighbors having three dogs-complete bark fest). We were so close our awnings would not go out all the way or we would touch.
Lot is Shaded with lots of trees. Not a big lot since you have to share space with your neighbor
Located in the middle of nowhere- Dollar General is four miles away and Walmart is 11 miles (doesn’t seem far but on all back roads, it takes a while) Closest highway (75) is 45 miles away & I-90 is an hour
Zero WiFi or Zero cell service (1 tiny bar but not enough to do a basic internet search) - once we purchased Starlink ($599), we were able to stream. No Cable TV- limited channels No Outdoor kitchen No Outdoor community sinks to clean big pots
They do not pickup garbage at site daily, Must walk to garbage dumpster - not too far
Allowed to ride personal golf carts
Not Able to rent golf carts or pedal bikes from them
Golf cart not really needed- smaller campground
Indoor heated Swimming pool
Natural Spring within park but due to rain & flooding of the Suwannee River over the ten weeks we were there, we were unable to access the spring or experience kayaking or the few amenities of the park. Very disappointing.
Had a Playground
No Bocce ball, shuffleboard, There was basketball court and volleyball court.
Good general store with basics No Activity Center for kids Unsure if there are activities for kids (there were not from January-March). There is not a snack bar/restaurant . Not a Game room, putt putt, or jumping pad for kids No Workout room
Streets are gravel/sand -not great for riding bikes in campground Great places to ride bikes outside of campground (not near this campground) though- look for Nature Coast State Trail
Lots of cabin and tent space Individual bathrooms with own sink, shower, toilet & clean
Laundry machines (one washer & one dryer) per bathhouse- only two bath houses
Dog area - not fenced in - they have a huge field behind the campground that they keep the outside mowed & is a great place to walk dogs
There were not bugs/flies initially but as it has started warming up, it has slowly gotten worse
There were trails to hike off of the campground.
The most disappointing aspect is that they were selling presidential hats in the general store. One - politics and recreation don’t go together and two- if you’re going to sell one candidate but not the other, you’re a biased business
ScoutI have stay at Island Oaks several times and we love it We had some issue when first stayed but I chalked that up to a teaching lesson. Now I have 30 amp extension and a longer 50 amp power cord. Yes it is a dry county on Sunday but that’s only one day. You will not be disappointed to stay there. They also have live music on Saturday and so far it’s never been disappointing You will enjoy it.
TravelerThere aren’t many bad sites. Great trails and walking. BRING BUG SPRAY. I wish I had time to stay longer to see everything the park had to offer. I will be back!
Camping near Branford, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful natural springs and well-maintained campgrounds. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to relax or an adventure-filled getaway, there’s something for everyone.
Camping around Branford, Florida, has its perks and quirks. With beautiful parks and springs, it’s a great spot for outdoor lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Branford, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Branford, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 147 campgrounds and RV parks near Branford, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Branford, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Branford, FL is Ginnie Springs Outdoors with a 4.2-star rating from 53 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Branford, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Branford, FL.
What parks are near Branford, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Branford, FL that allow camping, notably Osceola National Forest and National Forests in Florida.
