Best RV Parks & Resorts near Crystal River, FL

General: 59-site campground in two loops plus 10 cabins. 

Site Quality: These sites were HUGE. Many were pull-throughs. Our site (51) could easily fit four of our vans! All sites were gravel and level and had water, electric, and (I believe but we didn’t use) sewer hookups, a bbq grill, a fire ring, and a large picnic table. Each loop has a handicap-accessible site near the restrooms. In addition to the size of the sites, there was reasonable separation/privacy between them. Although I did not see the inside of them, the cabins looked beautiful – they were large with huge screened-in porches. One of the cabins was handicap accessible. 

Bathhouse: Was very clean. In addition to the men’s and women’s bathrooms, there were two family restrooms, complete with showers, and the showers had plenty of hot water.  

Activities/Amenities: There is no swimming or fishing here but you can rent kayaks. Note: the launch area is not within walking distance of the campground. We chose to do an organized tour with Get Up and Go Kayaking with glass bottom kayaks. The launch site for this tour is a quick drive from the campground. There are also several hiking trails that were well marked. There is a museum geared toward school groups that is open to the public only on the weekends (we were there during the week). Although the gate agent said there was no recycling, we saw a recycling bin near the restrooms/dumpster. It was not indicated what materials were accepted so I assumed it was single stream. Other amenities include a dishwashing sink, vending machine, a small lending library, and a washer/dryer.

This state park was a pleasant surprise and we wish we could have stayed longer!

This was our last stop on our way north to Alabama. The road to the campground is hard packed gravel but we traveled slowly and had no issues. We had a reservation and went directly to our site. Each site has a spacious level concrete pad and plenty of shade trees. Clean and well maintained campground, including the restroom/shower with very hot water. Very quiet, but cold weather could have been a factor. Firewood available for a donation is a plus. Primarily used the campground as a staging area to visit other points of interest in the local area, such as Three Sisters Springs and Copp Winery/Brewery, so we did not use the trail system, but there is easy access to the trail. Plenty of places to shop and eat nearby. Cell service with ATT was adequate. We would stay here again.

River Junction, Withlacoochee SF, Webster, FL. 1/2025:

(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.) NO PETS. Overall Rating: 4 for site privacy and river access. Bathrooms are not clean during our stay which is following a full weekend. Price 2024: $10 for seniors Security: Gate w code Usage during visit: Light during the week. Full over the weekend Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: thick shrubs Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Sand Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: none Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At site Generators: I did not see any restrictions posted.
Bathroom: Flush toilets. Not very clean upon arriving just following a full weekend. . Showers: yes. Not very clean. Pull Throughs: I didn’t notice any restrictions posted Cell Service (Verizon): Setting: Oak Forest with low growing shrubbery Recent Weather: Polar vortex is bringing the temps down to highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Solar: Some sites better than others. Insects: None. Host: Yes Rig Size: Backing can be tight Sites: Some sites back up to river with view and access from picnic area .

We love small RV parks with easy living and charm. Cedars Lake is such a park in Old Homosassa Florida. Sites are situated around a small pond, under large oak canopies. The full-time and part-time folks are friendly. The management couple, who live onsite, are welcoming and very helpful. And Ernie, the Blue Heron, is entertaining. Essentials include laundry, wifi, picnic tables, pool, rec room, etc. Close to lots of things to do, like state parks, walking trails, museums, manatee watching, fishing. There must be 30+ local restaurants nearby. The Museum Cafe (authentic Cuban sandwiches) is our favorite. We've stayed in all types of RV parks from WA to FL and this is the sweetest. Initially we reserved it for a week and, once here, stayed three weeks because it was a charming home away from home.

Formerly 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!