Best Tent Camping near Branford, FL
Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Branford? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Branford. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Branford's most popular destinations.
Best Tent Sites Near Branford, FL (16)
1. Adams Tract — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
O'brien, Florida2 Reviews•14 Photos•28 SavesAdams Tract is just a few miles upriver from Troy Spring State Park. It is located within a Suwanee River Water Management District Tract and provides ample hiking trails to explore throughout a longleaf pine community. There are some open, treeless areas of the camp that are ideal for stargazing with the nearest city lights miles away.
From Adams Tract, a 9.3 mile paddle will bring you to Branford.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
2. Peacock Slough River Camp — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Mayo, Florida2 Reviews•16 Photos•21 SavesOn this primitive site, visitors may enjoy biking, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads. The Peacock Slough River Camp is the fourth river camp between White Springs and Branford and provides 5 sleeping platforms, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent-camping area.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
3. Bowman's Landing
Fort White, Florida1 Review•28 SavesWe are a 12.5 acre campground on the Sante Fe River.
We have cabins as well as primitive car campsites directly on the river as well. See the following distances:
Ginnie Springs - 6 miles
Blue Springs - 9 miles
Ichetucknee Springs - 4 miles
Gainesville - 38 miles
Rum 138 - 8 miles
Lake City - 27 miles
White Springs - 38 miles
Branford - 13 miles
High Springs - 12 miles
Dollar General - 3 miles
Publix - 15 miles
Bobs River Place - 20 miles
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Cabins
$45 - $105 / night
4. Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Campground
Mayo, Florida3 Reviews•17 Photos•44 SavesCABIN LOOP
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$100 / night
5. Woods Ferry River Camp — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
White Springs, Florida4 Reviews•40 Photos•41 SavesThe Woods Ferry tract features a canoe launch and the first river camp on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The river camp provides 5 sleeping platforms, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent camping area. The Jerry Branch tract is a primitive recreation site. Visitors may enjoy biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
6. Dowling Park River Camp — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Mayo, Florida2 Reviews•7 Photos•18 SavesThe Dowling Park River Camp is the third river camp between White Springs and Branford and provides 5 screened shelters, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent-camping area.The Christian tract north river access point provides a canoe launch, and the south parking area overlooks Shirley Springs.
Visitors may enjoy fishing, as well as biking, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
7. Off Grid River Escape
White Springs, Florida1 Review•2 Photos•6 SavesLocated on the historic Suwannee River with Many Springs and historic areas to enjoy. Canoe, Kayak, fish, hike. Bring your horses and ride miles of trails on Water Management property.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
$50 / night
8. Holton Creek River Camp — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Suwannee, Florida2 Reviews•21 Photos•32 SavesOn the Holton Creek tract, visitors may enjoy fishing, as well as biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads. Hunting is for persons who are mobility-impaired. The Holton Creek River Camp is the second river camp between White Springs and Branford and provides 5 screened shelters, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent-camping area.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
9. Fine Life World
Be the first to review!Bell, Florida•7 Photos•3 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Picnic Table
$15 - $30 / night
10. Moonlit Avenue
Be the first to review!Fort White, Florida•9 Photos•1 SaveA private treelined driveway leads to the back of the property to the primitive campsite where the deer have a regular route along with other forest animals. Goats, chickens (including a rooster), dogs and cats are domesticated nearby.
Birds especially love this area and the serenade gets better each year with a wide variety of bird songs. Owls reside nearby and bats have also been known to fly in the sundowning sky! Make sure to bring your blankets for sitting around the campfire and stargazing as temps still get into the 50s and 60s overnight.
Whether you're in need of forest bathing, a dip in real fresh spring water (always around 70F or 21C degrees year round!) or looking to explore by water or land, this is a great location for a base to launch from and enjoy nearby fresh water swimming, paddling, boating or fishing via public parks and private outfitters. Close to Gilchrist Blue Springs and Ichetucknee State Parks, Rum Island Park, and Ginnie Springs Recreation Park.
You can enjoy this private and serene primitive camping area in a forested riverfront neighborhood with a great public boat ramp a short walk away. The camping site is about one-half acre with cleared areas for tents and vehicles. A picnic table and two fire rings are provided; one has a grill. Spring well water access currently via hose. BATHHOUSE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Check out updated pictures from Moonlit Avenue here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159430995895957&type=3
Booking includes:
One Car Pass to Rum Island Park available ($5 value). Suggestion: Bring cash if you have additional vehicles that need park access.
Remember, we only accept one reservation at a time so get with your family and friends and book a date for the woods!
THE AREA:
The location provides easy access to all the area's rivers and springs, to paddle, swim or fish as well as great shops and restaurants in nearby High Springs or visit our newest addition, The Collective Food Truck Park in nearby Fort White.
Check out one of our favorite neighbors, Rum 138 @ Rum138.com! They offer rentals for kayaks and canoes, provide shuttle services and have the latest info on best places to visit on the Santa Fe River. They also host live music and a farmers market on Sunday mornings. Whether you're looking for information or even local art work about the area springs and rivers, or just a cold beer on a hot afternoon, Rum 138 has it all!
If you're interested in the Ichetucknee River, visit the state park located near by where tubing, kayaking or just exploring the river forest area great experiences! https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ichetucknee-springs-state-park
Fort White, Florida was constructed in 1836 as a military fort during the Second Seminole War. The purpose of the fort was to protect the Cow Creek Settlement. Supplies were brought up the Santa Fe River by steamboat and were distributed from Fort White to other nearby forts and settlers.
The Town of Fort White is located directly off several main thoroughfares; US Hwy. 27, US Hwy. 47, and CR 18, near several State Parks, three (3) major rivers, and crystal-clear springs, some with underwater caves all of which provide many recreational opportunities such as boating, fishing, swimming, diving, spelunking, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, bird watching, hiking, biking, etc.
Nearby historic High Springs, with a population of about 6,000, is home to a thriving downtown, community parks and is better known as the gateway to the rivers and springs in the area. The area is also a prized location internationally for underwater cave diving.
Bones of prehistoric mammals and tools of paleo-Indians have been recovered from springs and rivers near High Springs. Hernando de Soto led his expedition through this area around 1539, and in the 17th-century Indian villages and a large Spanish mission flourished near the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
$30 / night
Recent Tent Reviews in Branford
673 Reviews of 16 Branford Campgrounds
N/A
Scout
Shired Island Campground
Airboat Apocalypse
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.
- Sara R.Scout
Manatee Springs State Park Campground
Disappointed for being Handicap
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?
- jjohnScout
Shired Island Campground
Closed
Awesome place to camp but it's closed due to storm damage
- D
Dave D.ScoutManatee Springs State Park Campground
Peaceful retreat
Peaceful 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.
James P.
Legend
Starke-Gainesville NE KOA
Better than average KOA
Large sites. Very nice pool. First rate laundry facilities. Great playground and dog park.
- BBrad A.Scout
Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort
Great Location Away
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.
- MMia F.
Guide
Perry KOA
Love this bright cherry KOA!
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.
Lorilee S.
Ranger
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Pretty and quiet
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.
Kevin A.LegendPerry KOA
What a Pleasant Surprise
I 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.
Stuart K.Legend
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & Campground
Music Wonderland Camping Experience
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!
Jeff E.GuidePaynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Immersed in Nature.
Quiet, 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.
Greg B.
Traveler
Ocean Pond Campground
Ocean Pond Spot 9
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.
Josh W.Guide
Yellow Jacket RV Resort
Interesting place
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.
Eleanor the Airstream R.RangerPaynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Wooded and quiet
Great state park well off the main road. Quiet and wooded with limestone pads.
Ali P.GuideSuwannee River Rendezvous Resort
Quick 2 night stay
Stayed in key west area. You can tell it was just opened because grass is still growing in. Staff was wonderful.
- Ali P.Guide
Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort
Great place to camp
Second time here. Will be back
- JJulia H.Ranger
Otter Springs Resort Park and Campground
Be prepared for cramped buddy sites
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
- No concrete patio - no picnic table but had a fire ring
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
Erin M.TravelerPaynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Fantastic camp sites
There 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!
L&A C.LegendPerry KOA
Love this KOA
Such a fun time at the Forest Festival. Walked to it from the KOA. Didn’t use laundry but nice facilities and pool & hot-tub are clean and nice! Cute playground! Our site was my favorite yet! Cows and horses are on the property behind the KOA & come up to site 27! The site also has a swing and sunrise and sunsets are so beautiful across the pasture. The bench, table, fire ring at the site, is amazing! Staff is friendly and the store is stocked and cute. Mosquitos are bad so we had to use lots of bug spray.
Amy P.Traveler
Magnolia Campground — O'Leno State Park
Great Park, but mind the ticks!
This is the second time that we've been back to the state park and we love it more every time. Bath houses are clean, lots of wooded spaces, plenty of trails for biking or hiking. Appreciated the history of the old town which is within walking distance of the campsites. We also enjoyed the geological mystery of a river vanishing before our eyes!
There are signs at the bathhouse about ticks. Take heed of them! I am sure we are in the height of season, but it was really bad if you went on any of the trails. Thankful the dog is on tick meds!
We cycled from OLeno to Ichetukee Springs. 30 miles round trip! Next time we will leave early, bring swim gear and enjoy a float trip in that area.
David G.TravelerPaynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Great park!!!
This is now my top 2 in parks for camping. The tent only spots are nice and secluded. You do have to walk maybe 100-200 ft from your car to the campsite. I was in site #24. Nice and open with a lot of trees for protection. Great fire pit. No power or water at this site… site #25 has those. The whole grounds were well kept and the trails were easy. At the observation tower you can see a lot of the prairie and if you’re lucky you can see wild horses.
- MMike B.Guide
Travelers Campground
Great Overnight Stop
Nice place and nice people. Lucky for us it wasn’t that busy. Otherwise you would be packed in. Over all a nice place. Lots of road noise from the interstate.
Jacob F.GuideOcean Pond Campground
Nice camp site
Beautiful site plenty of camping spots
Todd B.Scout
Hog Pen Landing
Peace and quiet on the water
Had an enjoyable weekend tent camping here and small game hunting in the forest.
Bob the volunteer host was super nice, and the bathrooms were very clean.
The mosquitos were a little annoying right after sundown, but quickly left once we had a fire going.
Definitely camping here again and bringing the kayaks next time.
Soren B.Guide
Ginnie Springs Outdoors
Not for kids
Beautiful but not appropriate for kids. High alcohol and drug use and high crime rate at times. Only electric golf carts no side by sides.
Lexi W.RangerGinnie Springs Outdoors
Incredible Waterfront Camping
A perfect spot to camp and swim with your friends!!! This spot isn’t far from st Pete and is great for group camping! There is alot of space too!
- bbretTraveler
Manatee Springs State Park Campground
My review
Stayed on site 22, cell service was very bad, no laundry, only stayed two nights to check the park out, very small store, gravel bumpy road in campground, would stay here again if I was passing through area
Guide to Branford
Branford, Florida, offers a fantastic array of options for tent camping enthusiasts, with beautiful natural surroundings and well-maintained facilities.
Tips for Tent Camping Near Branford
- For a unique experience, consider staying at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Campground, where all sites come equipped with power and water, making it a convenient choice for campers.
- Make sure to check water conditions before swimming at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Campground, as the spring can sometimes be affected by river levels.
- If you're looking for a pet-friendly option, Peacock Slough River Camp allows pets and features screened pavilions for a comfortable stay.
Local Attractions for Tent Campers
- Explore the stunning underwater caves at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Campground, perfect for diving enthusiasts who want to discover Florida's unique aquatic landscapes.
- The nearby Dowling Park River Camp offers easy access to the Suwannee River, making it an ideal starting point for paddling adventures.
- Don't miss the chance to hike the trails around Holton Creek River Camp, where you can learn about Florida's aquifer and enjoy the serene natural beauty.
Tent Campers Should Check Out Woods Ferry River Camp
- Woods Ferry River Camp is accessible only by water, providing a secluded experience with clean facilities and fire rings at every site.
- This well-reviewed spot features a large pavilion with picnic tables and grills, perfect for group gatherings at Woods Ferry River Camp.
- With its convenient amenities, including potable water and electricity, Woods Ferry River Camp is a great choice for those looking to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Branford, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Branford, FL is Adams Tract — Suwannee River Wilderness Trail with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Branford, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Branford, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.