Best Dispersed Camping near Cassadaga, FL

Dispersed camping near Cassadaga, Florida centers primarily in Ocala National Forest, where primitive sites exist along forest roads and near waterways. The St. Johns River Dispersed Spot, Freak Creek Dispersed Camping, Blue Sink, and Davenport Landing provide free primitive camping options without developed facilities. These public land sites typically permit camping without reservations, though visitors should verify current regulations with the U.S. Forest Service prior to arrival.

Access roads to most dispersed sites require careful navigation, with many reviewers noting challenging conditions. Freak Creek Dispersed Camping demands high-clearance 4WD vehicles and recovery equipment, with water crossings that can be impassable for standard vehicles. Trout Lake Primitive Sites feature very narrow access roads with tight tree clearance that will leave "pinstripes" on vehicles. Sites generally lack all amenities including drinking water, toilets, trash collection, and established fire rings. "Most beautiful place to stumble upon. You may need ATV or creative backpacking to get there now. The Forestry Service recently chopped down trees and covered the easy access roads," noted one Blue Sink visitor.

The dispersed areas provide opportunities for solitude and water recreation, with several sites situated along rivers or lakes. St. Johns River Dispersed Spot grants river access and clear night sky viewing when trees open up. Davenport Landing includes a 1.2-mile interpretive trail leading to a historic steamboat landing, with fishing opportunities in the Ocklawaha River. Wildlife sightings are common throughout these areas, with reports of black bears, alligators, and even panthers. Local campers warn about safety concerns in some sections of Ocala National Forest, particularly around Lake Dorr. Cell service remains limited or non-existent at most sites, requiring self-sufficiency and advance planning for navigation and emergencies.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Cassadaga, Florida (8)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Cassadaga, FL

2 Photos of 8 Cassadaga Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Cassadaga, FL

14 Reviews of 8 Cassadaga Campgrounds


  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 26, 2024

    Trout Lake Primitive Sites

    Nice secluded sites

    Set of primitive spots near lake. Main road entry is packed dirt; smaller access road to sites is two-track about 1/4 mile through woods — very narrow tree clearance. 4WD recommended. Just barely scraped a FWD Promaster through the trees, into a pullout just before sand started. Poor cell service even with booster. Plan on returning after antenna upgrade. Not the cleanest but passable.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 25, 2024

    Davenport Landing

    Magnolia-Shaded Cul-de-Sac Primitive Camping

    Located a hefty trek down a winding gravel road west of Route 19, you’ll have to maneuver around divots and potholes along this narrow gravel, dusty roadway for the better part of 2 miles before arriving to a small sign on the left-hand side of the road that indicates you’ve arrived at Davenport Recreational Area – so finding this place is relatively easy. Unless you make the unwise decision to turn into one of the small handful of options beforehand that would have you drive down a patch of road that likely you are not authorized to, my only advice would be not to exceed 15 MPH on this road as the poor condition of the road could do damage to a lower-lying vehicle. Once you come across the Davenport Recreational Area sign, take a right and slowly (as the road conditions worsen as you get off the main road) follow the narrow tire-rutted pathway to a fork, where on the right you’ll see TRAILHEAD marked on a tree to your right– here you want to turn left instead and follow the pathway to its conclusion, which is a round-about that you will have no other alternative but to stop and park your vehicle.

    Here at literally ‘the end of the road,’ you’ll be greeted by a dozen or so medium-sized Magnolias that blot out the sun’s rays and cast an unusually spooky shadow on this area, made even more dramatic by all of the Spanish moss falling from the tree limbs of these magnificent trees. While the ground here is flat – welcome to Florida, where for the most part, that’s par for the course – but barren and comprised of a combination of dirt and sand silt, which isn’t so bad when it’s dry, but when there’s rain, we’re talking some pretty messy mud-like conditions. As for what you’ll find here at this natural cul-de-sac, there isn’t anything. Literally. No picnic tables. No fire ring. No stand-up grill. No potable(or for that matter, non-potable) water spigot. Nothing. There is what looks to be a small wooden sign that likely was filled with information at some point in time that might have educated you about your stay here, but even that had nothing on it, apart from a single hand-made sign above it, indicating: “You are trash, if you leave trash,” which I wholeheartedly agree with. In all, perhaps there’s 5-6 individual spots that you could make a campsite from.

    If you are a true primitive camper who really wants NOTHING to complement or aid their outdoor survivalist experiment, then you have hit the primitive camping jackpot! Apart from the solid peace & quiet you’ll experience here, there’s an amazing little access point here to the Ocklawaha river that runs through this neck of the woods – which used to be a riverboat stop where steamboats would stop to fuel or disembark enroute to Silver Springs via the St. Johns which this tributary eventually connects to. Apart from being a scenic access point to the river, if you are looking to catch and eat your meals, then this will certainly be an added bonus. The steps down the ravine to the river basin are somewhat steep, but for anyone towing a light-weight kayak or paddleboard, me thinks you could likely manage to bring your watercraft down here and easily access emerald-green waters shouldered with an abundance of spade-shaped lily pads to grab some great oaring.

    When we stopped by, there was a team of fisherman there – not camping, mind you – but having a great afternoon nonetheless of ‘hooking‘ em’ and according to these local anglers, the fishing was great. Apart from this and the shade that the mighty Magnolias provide, the only other amenity that exists out here are the few trails that you can jump on to get a bit of hiking in. One word of caution, from my fishermen friends, is to be on the look-out for ‘Coyo-Dogs’ (a cross between canine species where a dog mates with a coyote) and black bear, both of which have been known to frequent this area, especially at night.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) There’s a 1.2 mile interpretive hiking trail called Davenport Landing Trail that will take to you to the former steamboat landing, which makes for a medium-grade hike with some interesting history; (2) If you have an explorer’s mindset, you’ll be richly rewarded here as there is a small gravesite from the Civil War that you can find along with middens along the Ocklawaha River hiding traces of the Timucuan Indians that once populated this area; (3) For fellow arborists, in addition to finding these amazing Magnolias that seem to be especially planted here for you, additionally there’s sweetgum and red maple trees; and (4) You definitely want to keep your eyes peeled for alligators in this area, where while we didn’t see any right at the ravine’s base, we were told that plenty were sunbathing right around the bend in the river from where we were.

    Happy Camping!

  • M
    Nov. 13, 2023

    Lake Dorr

    Area Unsafe and Had to Leave. Please avoid.

    Attempted to stay at this campground but left because it felt unsafe. Spoke to a local that warned of violence, robbery, and killings in this area of the national forest.

    Got stuck in sand on the way out and had to wait for a tow truck. Tow truck driver carried a gun because of how unsafe the area is and warned us not to stay.

    Please avoid the Ocala NF!

    If you do decide to come to this campground, avoid north part of Ron Paul Drive. You’ll either get stuck in sand or have issues to low/tight trees. Drive further south of the other side of Ron Paul Drive.

  • Destiny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2022

    Blue Sink

    Blue Sink

    Most beautiful place to stumble upon. You may need ATV or creative backpacking to get there now. The Forestry Service recently chopped down trees and covered the easy access roads.

  • Frank E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Davenport Landing

    Generally quiet primitive camping with water access

    Pprimitive, no reservations, gets some traffic visiting historic site.

  • D
    Feb. 4, 2021

    Davenport Landing

    Quiet spot

    Pulled in around 9:30 pm. Big open spot. Last 100 yards driving back in were very bumpy but no problem with our van. Not sure about a larger RV. But great Tent/van spot.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2025

    Freak Creek Dispersed Camping

    Remote and lifted 4wd needed

    The main road in has huge deep ruts, the other road has a water crossing that was over my bumper on my lifted Mojave. I talked to another person that use to go out there and said she has seen a panther. I’ve yet to see anything. The campground is overgrown, and not many ppl visit due to not being able to get back. If you don’t have 4wd and recovery gear I wouldn’t risk it. There is a nice creek area where you can swim and or fish if you have the right equipment to get back there it can be fun, but if you don't you will be stuck until Some one comes by.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Trout Lake Primitive Sites

    Great spot

    Very narrow trails but really easy access, you will leave with some new pinstripes


Guide to Cassadaga

Ocala National Forest serves as the primary location for rustic camping near Cassadaga, Florida, with dispersed sites typically located 30-45 miles west of the town. These primitive camping areas offer no developed facilities and are situated on sandy forest roads that can become challenging during wet weather conditions. Winter temperatures average 45-70°F while summer months bring 75-95°F heat with high humidity.

What to do

Explore historic sites: Davenport Landing features a 1.2-mile interpretive trail leading to a former steamboat landing with Civil War-era gravesites and Timucuan Indian middens. "There's a 1.2 mile interpretive hiking trail called Davenport Landing Trail that will take to you to the former steamboat landing, which makes for a medium-grade hike with some interesting history," notes Stuart K. from Davenport Landing.

Water recreation: Multiple dispersed sites provide water access for swimming, fishing, and paddling. The Ocklawaha River at Davenport Landing offers emerald-green waters lined with lily pads. "It's super secluded and quiet. Great place to put a kayak in the water," shares Adamm A. about Freak Creek Dispersed Camping.

Stargazing: Sandy clearings among pine forests create natural observation points for astronomy enthusiasts. The tree canopies at some sites open to reveal excellent night sky views. "The roads to get here are bumpy. Right next to the river and the trees open up so you get a great view of the stars," explains Mike D. about his experience at St. Johns River Dispersed Spot.

What campers like

Natural isolation: The challenging access routes deter casual visitors, creating genuine wilderness experiences. "Very narrow trails but really easy access, you will leave with some new pinstripes," shares Joe P. about Trout Lake Primitive Sites. The difficulty reaching these locations means campers often have entire areas to themselves.

Wildlife encounters: Florida's native species frequent these undeveloped camping areas. According to hilary G., "I talked to another person that use to go out there and said she has seen a panther. I've yet to see anything." Alligators, black bears, and various bird species are commonly spotted near water features.

Forest shade: The mature tree canopy provides natural cooling during hot Florida days. "We didn't see anything bad with this place when we were there. Had no one around and nice and cool in the forest," reports Ethan B. about his stay at Davenport Landing. Magnolias, sweetgum, and red maple trees create distinctive camping environments throughout the forest.

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Most dispersed sites demand high-clearance vehicles with four-wheel drive. "The main road in has huge deep ruts, the other road has a water crossing that was over my bumper on my lifted Mojave. If you don't have 4wd and recovery gear I wouldn't risk it," warns hilary G. about Freak Creek Dispersed Camping.

Access challenges: Roads to primitive sites feature tight clearances between trees, deep sand, and sometimes water crossings. "Main road entry is packed dirt; smaller access road to sites is two-track about 1/4 mile through woods — very narrow tree clearance. 4WD recommended," explains Entropical Breeze E. about Trout Lake Primitive Sites.

Safety concerns: Some camping areas have developed reputations for unsafe conditions. "Attempted to stay at this campground but left because it felt unsafe. Spoke to a local that warned of violence, robbery, and killings in this area of the national forest," cautions Michael S. regarding Lake Dorr.

No facilities: All dispersed sites lack amenities including potable water, trash collection, and toilets. Self-containment is mandatory for waste management. Cell service remains minimal or non-existent in most locations.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites carefully: Select locations based on access difficulty and reported safety conditions. "Pulled in around 9:30 pm. Big open spot. Last 100 yards driving back in were very bumpy but no problem with our van. Not sure about a larger RV. But great Tent/van spot," advises David P. about Davenport Landing.

Pack extra water: Florida's humidity increases water consumption needs. Each person requires at least 1 gallon per day plus additional water for cooking and cleaning.

Establish boundaries: Wildlife activity requires clear rules about wandering from camp. Children should remain visible to adults at all times due to potential encounters with bears, alligators, and other wildlife.

Bring multiple navigation tools: GPS devices often lose signal under dense forest canopy. Physical maps of Ocala National Forest should accompany electronic navigation systems.

Tips from RVers

Scout ahead: When possible, investigate potential sites without your RV before attempting access. "Set of primitive spots near lake. Just barely scraped a FWD Promaster through the trees, into a pullout just before sand started," shares Entropical Breeze E. about their experience at Trout Lake Primitive Sites.

Stay on established paths: Creating new routes damages forest undergrowth and can lead to becoming stuck in soft sand or mud.

Monitor weather forecasts: Rain significantly worsens road conditions and can create impassable situations for larger vehicles. Plan arrivals and departures during dry periods.

Prepare for scratches: Narrow access roads guarantee exterior contact with vegetation. "You will leave with some new pinstripes," notes Joe P. about the tight clearances at Trout Lake Primitive Sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cassadaga, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cassadaga, FL is St. Johns River Dispersed Spot - Ocala NF with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cassadaga, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Cassadaga, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.