Best Cabin Camping near DeLand, FL

If you’ve landed on this review hopefully its because of a primary decision to visit one of the greatest beach communities in all of Florida – New Smyrna Beach. This super-slim archipelago boasts some of the most perfect white sugar sand beaches anywhere – plus, the best part is that this beach is a proper ‘drive-on’ beach, so whatever you would normally have to haul in a cart or wheeled by trolley to the beach, you can simply keep in the trunk or bed of your SUV / car / truck. And if you are here, hopefully you have planned to be here for some time – or, upon seeing how simply amazing New Smyrna Beach is, have decided that you need a place to stay ... but unfortunately, you and a couple thousand other people have come to the same conclusion. So what do you do? 

Well, you look for simple and affordable accommodations nearby, and that’s what will attract you to Sugar Mill Ruins Travel Park, which is conveniently located only 15 minutes drive or so from beachside bliss. While this is definitely an RV-laden outpost, the vibe here is quite contagious, with its main office greeting you immediately upon arrival, where just past this wooden log cabin structure pure hedonism awaits with vibrant bouncing beach balls popping up and down in this overgrown campside Florida shaped-pool bursting with loud southern country music (yee-haw!) and nearly everyone en towe brandishing a coozie with some cheap domestic beer and endless “hey y’all’s” and smiles to boot at the ‘Tiki Hut’ (warning – there’s nothing here that resembles a ’Tiki Hut’ apart from the drinks they pour, although even here, no umbrellas!). This place feels like Spring Break for the adults toting 2-3 kids with them as they dwell in their mobile manufactured temporary housing. 

With all the proper hook-ups being provided (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer, water), this oversized RV menagerie feels like it’s been carved out of a forest of tall needle-pine trees sheltering its residents from the sweltering heat of NE Florida. The family-friendly restrooms and shower facilities are fairly clean and there’s picnic tables and BBQ grills sporadically littered all over the place. Sugar Mill Ruins also rents out very affordable cabins (12 x 20) with twin bunk beds and fold-out futon (nice) complete with mini-fridge, table, chairs, microwave and even a porch with deck chairs. There’s more than 200 sites to choose from complete with a playground for the kiddos, game room with 2 billiards tables, plus 3 acres of lake fishing along with a cool pavilion with games and events (this is the main building that you’ll first encounter). 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While not exactly a destination, Sugar Mill Ruins is so dang convenient to some of the best beach experiences you might ever encounter, depending upon your leaning, leave early and spend as much time as you can at New Smyrna Beach; (2) If you’re looking for a different place to soak some suds, I highly recommend Norwood’s Treehouse Bar, which has fantastic cocktails and local live music; and (3) For simply sublime food, check out Outriggers Tiki Bar& Grille, which has a pretty gracious happy hour where you can spot manatees and dolphins while biting down on some of the freshest catch in Florida, but with outstanding accoutrement, like key lime coconut beurre blanc and sticky bamboo rice or pineapple and peppadew rhum butter infused fish entrees. 

Happy Camping!

We have stayed here several times over the last few months. This is a bigger RV and golf resort with some 1200+ sites (a mix of mobile homes and open RV sites). The staff at the front gate were very welcoming and accommodating as the first site we were assigned was too small for our TT and was further away from the amenities (like the heated pool and hot tub) than we prefer, they quickly found other available sites for us to choose from and switched us to one that worked for us. The campground is family friendly but there is a big senior/retiree presence, they also have a decent playground and a fenced in Dog Park.

Has by far not been my favorite. It’s divided into 3 parts. We are Accross the road with no swimming pool or dog park. The main camp has a pool but the hot tub is broken. The dog park they do have has been closed the entire time we have been here. The main camp ground is very crowded and close together but at least there is a lot going on compared to our side which is very very quiet except for the fair people who have started coming in. There is another pool in the third section but that has been closed forever. I also am not fond of the area itself. For some this might be great but if you have small kids I don’t think this is the camp ground for you. Luckily we have a membership because with the lack of amenities I would have been disappointed to pay the going rate.

The park isn’t the best park we have been to but the surrounding area and safety and nice people make up for it. The bathroom is very nice and modernized. Laundry is more pricy than any other but they take card so it’s nice not having to get cash or quarters every time. Don’t like being towered the front of the park right next to the road. Love to be in the back where all the shady trees are. Sometimes neighbors play loud music until pretty late. The people in the park are so nice. The heated pool and hot tub are wonderful though could use some more water in it at times. One of the bathroom stalls has been closed forever and isn’t being fixed so there is only two in the main one. There is another set though in the club house area. Has a nice library and a mail room. Mount Dora and down town Eustis are beautiful.

Good RV Park near Disney and it is a very pretty, lush, tropical park. Old town Kissimmee is right next door, and it has several loud amusement rides. This is definitely an active RV Park, lots of people out enjoying all of the activities. Spaces are tight and roads are narrow and lots of curves and curbs. The only bummer we noticed was the dumpster area in the middle of the park would get hot and it would stink pretty bad, Florida is breezy and it was pretty unpleasant.

They have golf cart rental, thought that was pretty cool.

They have a gate guard shack thing and lots of staff members. They have dark green polos ride around on golf carts. They were very friendly and they have many planned activities for guests and residents.

They have a few sections: -The premium spots on the south side of the park were the nicest with the most space. -Thousand Trails section is on the West side and they do not have sewer (they said they are working on this in 2020)

Lots of built in units for rental, some streets are narrow and challenging to navigate. Many spots did not have sewer, but they had free pump outs every Wednesday and a dump station. They will be fixing this during 2020- per management.

Cell signals: Decent cellular service for AT&T and Very good T-Mobile service.

They have: Pool Cafe/Bar 1 Hot Tub Mini Golf Volleyball Courts Shuffle Board Club House Mail Room Camp Store Basketball Laundry Shower Houses Kids play room and play area Gym Pool Tables Creek running through the middle

Cabin "camped" at Lake Louisa for a long weekend. The cabin was absolutely amazing, clean, spacious, and stocked with everyone we needed. Just had to bring food. Sitting on the porch at night in the glider rocker was so relaxing, there was hardly anyone at the park and it was very quiet. Paddled one of the lakes and did some productive bass fishing. There are kayaks to rent, or you can bring your own. BBQ'd in a pavilion one eve and it was super clean too. Biked the paved roads and hiked miles and miles of wooded trails. The public bathrooms were immaculate and the rangers we ran into were so very kind and helpful. Just bring plenty of bug spray! We can't wait to go back to tent camp next time!