316 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds surrounding Citra, Florida center around a mix of lakeside resorts and established parks within a 30-minute drive radius. Silver Springs State Park and Salt Springs Recreation Area both provide cabin accommodations along with traditional tent and RV camping options. Grand Lake RV & Golf Resort and Sportsman's Cove Resort offer waterfront camping on Orange Lake with amenities designed for extended stays. Several locations feature a mixture of short-term sites and seasonal or long-term residency areas.
Access to most campgrounds requires no special vehicle requirements, with paved roads leading to the majority of established sites. "This is a great location, simple, clean, safe, good people. Tents, vans, skoolies, pop ups, RVs/motorhomes. A mix of long term and short term," noted one camper about Royal Palm RV Park. Summer months bring high humidity and temperatures, while winter attracts numerous seasonal residents to the area's RV parks. Many campgrounds maintain year-round operation with full hookups, though amenities like camp stores may operate with limited hours during off-peak seasons. Several campgrounds, including Citra Royal Palm RV Park, accommodate a range of camping styles from tent camping to RVs, with modest sites at relatively affordable rates compared to coastal Florida destinations.
Lakefront camping represents a significant draw in the Citra area, with Orange Lake and nearby waterways providing opportunities for fishing and boating. As one visitor reported, "Great place to stay. Layed back atmosphere. Small campground right on a lake. The lake is natural and undisturbed." Sportsman's Cove and other waterfront locations offer kayak rentals and fishing access, attracting outdoor enthusiasts. Mixed-use campgrounds like Grand Lake RV & Golf Resort provide additional amenities such as golf courses, restaurants, and community activities specifically designed for longer-term guests. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound at several locations, with Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park offering excellent birding opportunities and occasional sightings of wild horses and bison. Developed campgrounds in the region typically provide clean restrooms, showers, and electrical hookups, though site size and privacy vary considerably between locations.
"We rode our bikes around the campground and were amazed as almost all the sites were huge! Live oak trees with Spanish moss...this campground is truly the "Real Florida"."
"Silver Springs Silver Springs SP Beautiful Florida campground with 60 sites, many pullthrus. The sites are huge with lots of space and privacy. Lush surroundings."
from $24 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Very close to the University of Florida. Nice campground recently renovated."
"There is a picnic table & a fir pit the fire pit was a little to close to the camper to have a fire. It is a very quiet and woodsy campground."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"There are no laundry facilities but if you exit park and drive left there is a laundromat, local food, dollar store, bait tackle."
"Located in the center of the state, you’ll have near equal access to both the Atlantic Ocean to the east as well as the Gulf shores to the west."
from $38 - $70 / night
Check Availability"They have a little dog park, walking trails, off property is a nice bike ride, huge swimming pool, activities, laundry room and friendly people. At night the stars are amazing."
"Stopped here on the way north to get out of the Florida Keys. Stayed 2 nights and used the laundry(wash was 1.50 per load, and 25 cents per 18min for drying). It was very affordable."
"Sites 1-39 are not near the Florida Trail but it was not a bad walk to the other side of the campground to get to the trail. Would stay again."
"This peaceful campground provides a serene setting surrounded by towering pines and lush Florida foliage."
from $12 - $22 / night
Check Availability"A perfect place to enjoy fishing, wildlife and the Florida Birding Trail. Clean Restrooms, friendly stuff."
"The park is in a great area Mcintosh and Micanopy are historical towns with great walk, and bike ability. Right in Orange Lake yoy can kayak. They have rentals for 10.00."
from $39 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The amenities and facilities are very clean and the lake view is awesome. Will definitely be back soon."
"Pulling into Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost near Fort McCoy feels like arriving somewhere that doesn’t rush you, where the tall trees and wide river channels invite the kind of slow, unhurried breathing that"
"This is old rural Florida, no glitz. We did a full day trip on the River. Lots of birds, alligators and very quiet and remote. GPS was misleading."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Great group of people with positive energy and diversity of both people and rigs. Long term, tents, tiny homes, skoolies, and traditional travelers all in one place."
"Great location, simple, clean, safe, good people. Tents, vans, skoolies, pop ups, rvs/motorhomes. A mix of long term and short term. Great fire circle and clubhouse with bathrooms and showers."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We wereet at the entrance by a gentleman in a golf cart. He brought us directly to our site, and helped us get squared away. He recommended the local restaurant for dinner."
"A lot of people drinking and walking."
ScoutExercise caution with this reservation. The website says pet friendly but only after you reserve the site do they make you aware of pet size limit and breed restrictions. And your reservation is not refundable.
GuideSpent two nights here again. Sept. 27th and 28th. During the day time there were a lot of Love Bugs. My camping kitty loved chasing them. At night or at sun down I was bombarded with bugs. Even if I tried to attract them to a higher light and I was in the dark, didn't help. So this time of the year, sunset = go inside.
Also, the description above is wrong.
This dispersed camping area within Ocala National Forest DOES NOT provide water hookups, restrooms, and picnic tables along with standard amenities like trash service and campfire permissions.
The campground DOES NOT maintain water availability throughout the site and DOES NOT HAVE ANY clean restroom facilities.
Other than that, I will be back.
GuideSpent two nights here again. September 27th and 28th. This is a great dispersed camping area. You only need to know your limits with soft sand. During the day there were a lot of love bugs and the water was great. As soon as the sun sets, at this time of the year the bugs were terrible. Even if you tried to attract them up in the air with a Devos light you will be bombarded. Sunset = go inside. Other than the night time bugs, it's a great place. I will be back.
GuideGreat little spot, easy access to silver springs. Glass boat tour was cool - just the right amount of cruising time before little ones breaking points! Ice cream afterwards of course and good local pizza joint.
ScoutWe had an awesome time here. The camp hosts were very helpful, professional, and friendly. The bathrooms and showers were exceptional and clean. If someone moved out, within 30 minutes there was someone checking their site for anything they may have left behind. The only complaint I have, is the other campers that let their dogs do their business and not pick it up. This is not a negative against the campground and their employees.
TravelerOak tree is more of a trailer park home opposed to being a campsite but there are people who live in tents on the property
ScoutI love this campground very clean and has nice big sites.
ScoutI visited Preservation Point in June and really enjoyed the stay. The property is a quiet with a lot of open space and natural scenery. The RV sites were clean, brand new, level, and easy to get set up on. The hookups were simple, and everything felt well laid out with plenty of room for the RV. Gail was very helpful and welcoming, which made the whole experience easy from the start. There is plenty of room to relax, enjoy the wildlife, and take in the natural setting. It is also a nice location for exploring nearby Inverness, the Withlacoochee State Trail, and other Central Florida spots. You can tell the park is still growing, but the foundation is excellent. For anyone looking for a clean, quiet, RV-only place with easy hookups and a peaceful setting, Preservation Point is definitely worth considering.
ScoutMy husband and I love spending time here and overlooking the water, the sunsets and taking our boat out spending time with our family ,everyone there is super nice and friendly 😊
Campgrounds surrounding Citra, Florida offer diverse camping experiences beyond traditional sites. The area sits at a modest elevation of 70 feet above sea level in north-central Florida's lake country. Winter temperatures typically range from 45°F to 70°F, while summer brings consistent 90°F+ days with high humidity levels. Most camping areas remain accessible year-round with paved roads leading to established facilities.
Kayaking the Ocklawaha River: Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost & Resort provides river access with canoe and kayak rentals. "This is a friendly campground with canoe/kayak rentals and a shuttle service. The tent area is near the river and very wooded--lots of places to hang a hammock or pitch a tent, and has drive-in access," notes one visitor at Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost & Resort.
Glass-bottom boat tours: Silver Springs State Park offers unique underwater viewing. "The glass bottom boat tour is an absolute must, we had such a wonderful time and the boat captain had lots of interesting information. We have a 4 year old and a 10 year old and they both really enjoyed the boat tour also," shares one camper at Silver Springs State Park Campground.
Wildlife observation: Multiple trails allow viewing diverse Florida species. "We were able to see wild horses, bisons, snakes and gators. Great for fishing and kayaking," reports a visitor at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground.
Dark skies for stargazing: Several campgrounds offer minimal light pollution. "Great location with plenty of dark skies. The spots are well spaced in the woods, with plenty of room. The location is great for visiting the prairie and easy access to Gainesville," notes one camper about Paynes Prairie.
Natural springs: Consistent 72°F water temperatures year-round. "While there are many natural springs throughout north central Florida, Salt Springs is considered by many to be one of the best preserved and well-maintained springs throughout the state as well as being the 'main attraction' here in the Ocala National Forest," explains a visitor at Salt Springs Recreation Area.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds connect to the Florida National Scenic Trail. "It was quite a relief to be able to secure reservations for both the beginning and end of my trip... After my six night foray, I returned to spend two more nights just enjoying the park and resting my muscles. What a scenic setting for a campground!" shares a backpacker at Silver Springs State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Winter brings more campers, with some sites booking months in advance. "This park has 8 trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding... Not their fault (the state sets pricing) but primitive campsites are the same price as reserved ones with hookups, $18," notes a visitor at Paynes Prairie Preserve.
Pet restrictions: Not all trails allow dogs. "The biggest disappointment for this state park is that all of the things they advertise (and I was looking forward to) - bison, horses, wildlife - are all on trails where pets are not allowed. We did one of the only trails you can take your dog on (the Lake Trail) and drove over to the ecopassage observation boardwalk site," explains one camper at Paynes Prairie.
Noise considerations: Check nearby events when booking. "If there is an 'ALL HOURS WEEKEND' at the nearby Hog Waller Campground and ATV Resort (right across the river), then the trails remain open 24 hours and you will not have any tranquility or relaxation all night," advises a camper at Rodman Campground.
Spring swimming access: Natural springs provide safe swimming options. "The campground has large spots and are easy to back into. There was no reservation required. The spring is a short walk from the campground or a quick bike ride," shares a family at Salt Springs Recreation Area.
Educational opportunities: Wildlife programs enhance children's experiences. "Lovely Park with lots of wildlife!! La Chua trail was beautiful and we saw lots of gators. We did the Ranger led hike which was really nice, my 5 year old struggled to keep up with the Ranger and there are decent elevation changes," notes a family with young children at Paynes Prairie.
Cabin accommodations: Some parks offer cabins as alternatives to tenting. "The cabins are very large. Fireplaces. Larger bedrooms..." mentions a visitor about Silver Springs State Park.
Site selection: Many campgrounds offer varying levels of privacy. "Our stay at the campground was unfortunately cut short due to uncooperative weather, but we enjoyed our time there. The sites are roomy but fairly private or very private depending on the site, and well-kept with a fire ring and picnic table," notes an RV camper at Rodman Campground.
Full hookup availability: Check specifics when booking. "The campground has a ton of campsites and is fairly busy with people camping. It's in some sparse woods and isolated enough to give that camping feel. There's some great fishing places nearby, and the woods offer up firewood if you didn't bring your own," shares a visitor at Sportsman's Cove Resort.
Connectivity challenges: Cell service varies significantly. "Nice people new owners a little run down but they are working on it. Terrible phone service," warns an RVer about Sportsman's Cove Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Citra, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Citra, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 316 campgrounds and RV parks near Citra, FL and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Citra, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Citra, FL is Silver Springs State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Citra, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Citra, FL.
What parks are near Citra, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Citra, FL that allow camping, notably National Forests in Florida and Ocala National Forest.
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