318 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and forests surrounding Dunnellon, Florida feature diverse camping options centered around the area's natural springs and waterways. Rainbow Springs State Park Campground offers both tent and RV sites with water and electric hookups, situated along the crystal-clear Rainbow River. Ross Prairie Campground, part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways, provides a smaller, quieter experience with approximately 15 pull-through sites. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access the Withlacoochee State Forest's campgrounds and the more primitive options at Potts Preserve. The region's camping landscape ranges from full-service RV resorts to basic tent sites, with many locations providing river or spring access.
Reservations are essential for most developed campgrounds, particularly during winter months when temperatures remain mild and snowbirds flock to central Florida. Road access varies significantly between locations, with state park campgrounds featuring paved roads while forest service areas may require higher clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "The primitive camping is tucked back away from most of the RVs and has a bathhouse with very hot water. Each site is spaced properly so not each person is too close." Summer brings intense heat and humidity along with afternoon thunderstorms, while winter temperatures can occasionally drop below freezing. Cell service is generally available at developed campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote areas.
Water activities dominate the camping experience near Dunnellon, with the Rainbow River serving as a central attraction. "Spent the day kayaking in April on the Rainbow River. It was an easy kayak paddle upstream as the current is not overpowering," reported one visitor. Many campgrounds provide direct water access for swimming, fishing, or paddling. The area's oak hammocks with Spanish moss create naturally shaded campsites that campers frequently praise. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, particularly at dusk when, according to one regular visitor, "different animals or birds appear." Road noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near Highway 200, prompting experienced campers to request sites farther from main roads. Most developed campgrounds offer clean facilities with hot showers, while primitive sites typically provide basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables.
"Took a day trip while visiting friends that live in Gainesville to Dunnellon. Was an easy drive. Spent the day kayaking in April on the Rainbow River. We rented kayaks for a reasonable price."
"The primitive camping is tucked back away from most of the RVs and has a bathhouse with very hot water/ toilets and hot hand dryers. Each site is spaced properly so not each person is too close."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Excellent park, great attractions nearby! We have tried to come here each year. It is a larger park, with many residents or longer term or leave the rig weekenders."
"We had a spot on the lake which was very nice. The staff is super nice. When we arrived someone was parked in our spot but they were not around."
"Located near Dunnellon, FL and is part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways. Smaller campground - 15ish sites. All sites are pull thru for you rvers out there!"
"Pluses are everything is super clean, the camp hosts are amazing, its easy to get to, great access to Ocala or Dunnellon, all sites are pullthrough, ground is small and quiet, 50 amp, and access to great"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"I had site 1, which sites 1 and 2 are next to the entrance gate. It was fairly quiet at night. There was a few times I heard loud vehicles gojng down the road but not enough to complain about."
"Best thing about this place is the surrounding area: lots of (walking only) trails but my favorite, the seemingly endless off roading sandy Jeep trails throughout this forest state park - lovely!"
from $23 / night
Check Availability"Great spot with amenities and close to everything we want to do. Just make sure you don't get a site along the road."
"Site 127A was so close to us that our picnic table was beside their septic hose. Would stay here again just in an inner site."
from $40 - $63 / night
Check Availability"It is part of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Conservation Lands. Youtube Video Review: https://youtu.be/_n8q3ib0kPo"
"It’s a huge open space with entrances to walking trails and beautiful views of the river. The back-country area has an outhouse."
"Easy access to hiking and riding trials. Short drive into both Belview and Ocala."
"I came for a night since it was close to other parks I wanted to visit, but I do think I’ll come back and have my father in law bring his horse with next time."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"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"The park is centrally located to many of the attractions including Weeki Wachee, Silver Springs, Homosassa State Park and others."
"Lots of biking, hiking, kayaking opportunities nearby. Manatee watching center of the world just 9 miles away. Management is friendly and helpful, residents very nice."
from $50 / night
Check Availability
ScoutOld RV park where most of the people seem to live there. They initially charged me $200 for 2 nights (a Thursday and Friday). They had me by the dumpsters so the smell was pretty strong depending on the breeze. Tried to get a different site but was denied on the options I chose but atleast it was only 2 nights.
ScoutThe facilities were very clean but no room in between campers and most look like seasonal. No trees or bushes for shade or privacy. Kids all over in golf carts and scooters. Would not come back again.
ScoutWARNING: DO NOT STAY HERE. Absolute Slum Conditions & Toxic Management. If I could give Lakeside Haven RV Resort negative stars, I would. Do not be fooled by the beautiful pictures they post online—those are from years ago when the park first opened. Today, this place is a neglected, hazardous dump run by a toxic, completely unprofessional management team. We moved in on December 27th, renting a lot and an 18-foot camper for $750/month. We were assured it was "move-in ready." That was a blatant lie. On our first day, I opened the fridge/freezer combo, and hundreds of German cockroaches fell out of it like Niagara Falls. It required three separate bug bombs just to make the place semi-livable. On top of that, Mario, the manager, left a whole turkey in the freezer that thawed out and leaked putrid turkey juices all over the appliance. There was also absolutely no hot water because the water heater had a massive crack in it. It leaked so severely that it saturated the floor, causing the kitchen floor to visibly sag. When they finally came to "fix" the water heater, they smashed a massive hole in the side of the camper and just left it wide open. Because of their negligence, my cat escaped, and my girlfriend and I spent three agonizing days waiting for him to return. Thankfully, he did. The windows were also broken and just covered with cardboard and tape, and the sink was completely backed up because the previous tenant had dumped a hoard of pennies down the drain. When I confronted the manager, Mario, about these biohazards and structural failures, he didn't offer to fix them immediately. Instead, he coldly offered a refund. He knew exactly what he was doing—he put us in a position where we either had to live in a roach-infested, broken camper or be homeless. We had to stay and watch them take their sweet time doing bare-minimum repairs. When anyone has a legitimate issue with the park, Mario gets incredibly rude, nasty, and aggressive. If you express how unhappy you are with the conditions, management's official response is literally: "Don't like it? Move." Management is rarely even on-site—maybe once or twice a month—but they sure know how to cause drama. They constantly spread lies around the park claiming we weren't paying our bills, which is defamation. We have every single receipt proving we have paid on time, every single month. Furthermore, the utility situation is a massive rip-off. There is only one meter for the entire park. Management leaves the lights on and the AC blasting at 68 degrees constantly in common areas, and because of the single meter, the tenants are forced to split the bill for their energy waste. You are also paying out of pocket for "amenities" like a laundry room that should be covered. The park looks like absolute shit. The boat dock is in such disrepair it will literally ruin your boat if you try to use it. Worse than the infrastructure is the total lack of safety. They will let anyone move in here, including active drug users and people with violent, dangerous criminal records. To give you an idea of how dangerous this place is, I accidentally butt-dialed the police once. When the cop arrived, he literally told me that they get so many emergency calls for this park—ranging from domestic abuse to drug issues—that they are forced to come out and physically verify everyone is okay, even for a confirmed accidental dial. The police are fully aware of how awful this place is. There is also zero confidentiality. Management acts friendly to get your money, but once you are locked in, they treat you like garbage and spread your personal business. They literally told brand-new tenants intimate, private medical details about a resident living here with cancer. It is deeply disrespectful, unethical, and disgusting behavior. They trap you, lie about you, neglect the property, and treat you like absolute shit. For the love of God, stay the hell away from Lakeside Haven RV Resort and Mario.
ScoutNice campground but with only one bathroom and one shower for men. So you may have to wait in line
TravelerFirst time at this State Forest campground/park and it was quiet, accessible, and had all the amenities needed for a nice weekend get away. The bathrooms are a little less modern than expected, but they do have a shower which does get hot within seconds. The iron smell is very notable in the water, however.
RangerThis is a really nice campground surrounded by beautiful nature. The bathhouse is a little older, but still fine. The area itself is really impressive though, with lots of wildlife all around. If you take a short walk, you’ll find a spot with a water view and tons of seating areas — a really beautiful place to relax. For the price, you honestly can’t complain. There are quite a lot of insects at night, so bringing good bug spray is definitely a good idea. But for our one-night stay, it was absolutely worth it.
RangerWe also only stayed here for one night, but we really enjoyed this campground. The campsites are very large and spacious, and the surrounding trees give you a decent amount of privacy. The bathhouse was very clean, and the showers were especially nice because they were big and roomy, which made them really comfortable to use. The only small downside is that there were only two showers available, at least on the men’s side. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We would definitely recommend staying here.
TravelerSwam in the beautiful springs and camped overnight in the tropical site loop
GuideMy wife and I are brand new to rving as of May, 1st of 2026. So with that being said, this is our first campgrounds we have ever stayed at rving. Check in was extremely quick and easy took less than five minutes. Being a first time rver, the spot I was given made it nice and easy to back into. I have a 39 foot class, A motorhome, and I fit with no problem and a car. Our spot was in the back of the park, and there was plenty of grass and field to walk my dog. The field behind us also has benches that you can sit down and relax and enjoy the sunset or there's a farm not too far behind, which has cows that come to the fence. I have a 50 amp, hook up and sewer and water were all provided in my spot and they were easy to connect. This place has plenty of amenities, like miniature golf, shuffleboard, horse shoes, a pool, a basketball hoop, a pool table in the clubhouse and games and books you can read. Our stay was for twenty one days and it was a zero cost because of our membership to Thousand Trails camping club. Overall, I would definitely recommend staying here for a short stay or a longer one.
Dunnellon's camping options lie within the subtropical climate zone of central Florida, where the limestone terrain creates natural springs with constant 72-degree water temperatures. The area sits at an elevation of approximately 45 feet above sea level and features several waterways including the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers. Campground access varies from well-maintained state park roads to more challenging forest service routes requiring higher clearance vehicles.
Kayaking at headsprings: Visitors at Silver Springs State Park Campground can paddle to the iconic headsprings. "If you enjoy kayaking, canoeing, or just floating down river on a tube in addition to camping, this is your spot. We have stayed at sites 50, which is a long pull through site, and at site 18 which was quite private," notes one camper.
Trail riding: Located near the Cross Florida Greenways, Shangri-La Trailhead & Campground offers extensive horse trails. "Sandy trails for horses, watch out for rattle snakes. Trail go on for miles and has a huge sand hill near by to ride horses on and cross over i75," advises a regular visitor.
Manatee viewing: The Crystal River area, approximately 25 minutes from Dunnellon, is ideal for wildlife observation. "Manatee watching center of the world just 9 miles away," explains one visitor to Quail Roost RV Park. The best viewing occurs between November and March when water temperatures drop and manatees gather in the warmer springs.
Clean facilities: Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park receives praise for its well-maintained grounds. "We loved our time here. There is so much room at all the sites. Great amenities and actives. Great for active walkers," shares one camper, highlighting the spaciousness compared to other parks in the region.
Privacy between sites: Site layout varies significantly between campgrounds near Dunnellon. At Ross Prairie Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtful spacing: "Lots of space between sites. Lots of Hike, bike horse trails are very nice and easy to navigate. Very clean bathroom/showers."
Natural surroundings: The oak hammock ecosystem creates ideal camping conditions. At Holder Mine Campground, "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."
Gate access: Several campgrounds require entrance codes after hours. At Ross Prairie Campground, "Gate access during closed hours for the public. Campground visitors get access code upon check in. Owners show you your site."
Road noise considerations: When booking, request sites away from major roads. One camper notes, "The only negative is that it's not far from the raid, you can hear the traffic and it's somewhat busy." This applies to several campgrounds in the area, particularly those near Highway 200.
Reservation timing: Advanced planning is crucial, especially for winter camping. "Love this campground though it can be hard to get in between the snowbirds and tubing season," warns a visitor to Rainbow Springs State Park Campground.
Kid-friendly water activities: Rainbow Springs offers excellent options for families with children. "Great for kayaking, swimming and snorkeling! Kids have a lot of fun!" reports one parent about the spring-fed waters that maintain a consistent 72-degree temperature year-round.
Bathroom facilities: When camping with children, reliable facilities become essential. Potts Preserve offers basic but functional options: "Nice campground. Probably about 4 or 5 sites in total. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table, and is semi covered from nearby campers."
Educational opportunities: Glass-bottom boat tours provide educational entertainment. "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."
Site selection: For RV camping near Dunnellon, consider site dimensions carefully. "When making reservations make sure to book towards the center of the park. We were in site 129A. The road noise was constant and loud. Site 127A was so close to us that our picnic table was beside their septic hose."
Hookup availability: Full hookups are available at several parks in the area but vary by site. "All sites are pull thru for you rvers out there! Definitely quieter here," notes a camper at Ross Prairie, which offers electric and water at all sites plus a dump station.
Dump station access: Some parks have eliminated dump stations. "The dump station is no longer in use so you have to use the bath house or dump elsewhere," reports a camper at Holder Mine Campground, highlighting the importance of planning waste management when visiting the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV parks in Dunnellon, FL and what amenities do they offer?
Dunnellon and the surrounding area have several RV-friendly options with diverse amenities. Cedars Lake MH & RV Park in nearby Old Homosassa offers charming sites around a small pond under oak canopies, with friendly management and a welcoming atmosphere. Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest provides over 150 sites with one area offering complete hookups including 50-amp service, water, and sewer. Additional RV options include Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park near Crystal River, Sandy Oaks RV Resort near Beverly Hills, and Quail Roost RV Park, all offering standard amenities like water hookups and being big-rig friendly.
Can you camp near Rainbow River in Dunnellon and what activities are available?
Rainbow Springs State Park Campground offers excellent camping directly near Rainbow River with both RV sites and primitive camping options. The campground features hot showers, clean bathhouses, and properly spaced sites. The main attraction is access to Rainbow River for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Kayak rentals are available at reasonable prices. The river flows south and is crystal clear, making it perfect for spotting fish and wildlife. Crooked River Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest is another option in the region, located on Silver Lake which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, offering additional water recreation opportunities.
What campgrounds are available in and around Dunnellon, Florida?
The Dunnellon area offers several excellent camping options. Ross Prairie Campground is a quiet, smaller campground with about 15 pull-through sites that's part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways. It features clean facilities, friendly camp hosts, and access to hiking and biking trails. Hog Island Campground — Withlacoochee State Forest offers a peaceful setting on the eastern bank of the Withlacoochee River. Other options include Crooked River Campground within Withlacoochee State Forest, Florida Sand Music Ranch in nearby Brooksville, and Santos Trailhead & Campground in Ocala which provides spacious, shaded sites despite being near populated areas.
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