Camping options near Hastings, Florida extend beyond just riverside accommodations, with several locations offering rustic experiences in pine forests and scrub habitats. The area sits at approximately 16 feet above sea level in Florida's flat coastal plain, contributing to its distinctive wetland and forest ecosystems. While summer humidity remains high from June through September, winter camping between November and March offers consistently mild temperatures with daytime averages in the 60s and 70s.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Rodman Campground offers excellent access to the 9,000-acre Rodman Reservoir. "We saw deer at dusk meandering through the woods," notes Jeff E., who also mentions the site's proximity to water activities: "The river access is fantastic and the ocean is an easy walk across A1A."
Hiking through diverse ecosystems: Faver-Dykes State Park Campground features a 2.6-mile nature trail through native habitats. One visitor described it as "Nice place! Has a great drive in. Plenty of wild life. Has a great 2.6 mile trail. Very secluded and quiet," though they caution to "Watch out for those no see'ms."
Saltwater fishing access: North Beach Camp Resort provides both river and ocean access for fishing enthusiasts. "Beautiful beach on the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful sunsets along the inter coastal," explains Sean A., who adds, "My families favorite campground. My young girls never get bored. Minutes from historic downtown St Augustine also."
Springs exploration: Salt Springs Recreation Area offers swimming in natural springs that maintain a constant 72-degree temperature year-round. "The springs are nice," one camper noted, while another mentioned, "Road our bikes to the springs, and they were spectacular!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds in the area provide vegetation buffers between campsites. At North Beach Camp Resort, "The sites are good sized and private. They have foliage in between every site that makes you feel like you could be out here all alone," according to Robert.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance of bathhouses and common areas. At Rodman Campground, visitors noted "Bathrooms are so clean you could literally eat of the floors," while another mentioned, "The bathrooms were spotless."
Natural waterfront settings: Half Shell Resort offers remarkable waterfront experiences. "I've been here 2 months and love the peace and quiet and amazing sunsets by the St. Johns River," shares Jody J., adding, "We go out by the marina and docks with our dinner and sit at the picnic table."
Space for relaxation: Many campgrounds feature generously sized sites. At Anastasia State Park Campground, "These campsites offer a serene amount of privacy with the space the campgrounds are working with," and Issa F. notes, "the foliage and large campsites provide a lot of privacy throughout the day and night."
What you should know
Reservations essential for winter: The popularity of winter camping requires advance planning. For Salt Springs Recreation Area, "It is HIGHLY advisable that you make your CG reservations here at Salt Springs SP WAY in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 or booking online at Recreation.gov."
Ticks and insects: Several campsites report issues with ticks, particularly in wooded areas. At Faver-Dykes, one camper reported, "Left park after one night because of ticks. There were tick warning signs posted," while another mentioned they "returned with quite a few ticks" after hiking.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby attractions or roads. At Rodman Campground, a visitor warned about potential noise from a nearby ATV resort: "If there is an 'ALL HOURS WEEKEND' at the nearby Hog Waller Campground and ATV Resort, then the trails remain open 24 hours and you will not have any tranquility or relaxation all night."
Variable site conditions: Campsite quality can vary significantly within the same property. At St. Augustine Beach KOA, a visitor noted, "Most tent spots are shade-less, which is a shame for KOA to choose. Baked in the heat," suggesting campers should "go for spot number 11 or 12 with shade."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access amenities: Compass RV Park offers family-friendly features and transportation to beach areas. "Lots of things for kids to do at the campground (pool, playground, cornhole, ping pong table, fishing pond, etc)," notes Daniel G., who also mentions their "helpful and friendly staff."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide excellent wildlife spotting for children. Rodman Campground features diverse wildlife where "you'll easily be able to spot: bald eagle, foxes, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, hawks and owls, osprey and the American alligator."
Kid-friendly water activities: Paddleboat rentals provide safe water recreation for families. St. Augustine Beach KOA offers "paddle boats you can rent to go into the pond with. Also bikes and other bike related things to rent," making it accessible for children of various ages.
Site selection for shade: When camping with children in summer, prioritize shaded sites. At Salt Springs Recreation Area, one camper emphasized, "What a beautiful site we had! Shady and it was 96 degrees!" – critical for keeping kids comfortable in Florida's heat.
Tips from RVers
Level site considerations: Some RV sites require additional equipment for leveling. At St. Augustine Beach KOA, a visitor observed, "some of the pull thru site had a decent incline hill/drop at one end or the other. I seen some guys using fully extended leveling gear and 4-8 leveling blocks to fill the voids to get level."
Full hookup availability: Stagecoach RV Park offers comprehensive services for larger rigs. "All sites were pull through gravel full hook ups. For as crowded as the place was it was very quiet," according to Faith J., who also noted amenities like "a dog park and a basketball court."
Site privacy varies: RV parks differ significantly in how sites are arranged. 4 Lakes Campground features "pull through (some with lake view) and back in sites. Gravel sites outlying level with full hook-ups 30/50 amp, sewer, water and satellite cable tv, grills and picnic tables," as described by George J.
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies by location and carrier. At Compass RV Park, Daniel G. warned, "The only down side is that the cell service (for both T-Mobile and Verizon) didn't work very well, and the Wi-Fi is iffy at best," important information for remote workers.
