Cary State Forest Campground offers primitive equestrian camping west of Fernandina Beach, Florida. The forest maintains six designated campsites with water and electrical hookups within a pine forest setting approximately 30 miles from coastal attractions. Sites accommodate both RVs and tent campers with concrete pads that can handle larger vehicles. The surrounding area features multiple state forests and conservation lands with trail systems available for day use and overnight camping.
What to do
Explore forest trails: The trail system at Cary State Forest provides opportunities for hiking through native Florida ecosystems. "We didn't get to check out bathrooms so I can't speak to those. Park was super clean and they provide a trash can at the edge of the site. We will definitely be going back when the temperature drops a little," reports David S.
Bird watching: Multiple conservation areas near Fernandina Beach support diverse bird species. "In our week there we only saw a handful of birds and a squashed dead pygmy rattlesnake. There was something just a bit sad about it. Do have some hiking trails and short boardwalks," notes Christina about her experience at Cary State Forest.
Riverside camping: Bayard Conservation Area offers primitive campsites with river access. "Great riverside campsite. Hiked in about 3.3 miles, but OnX user beware, trust the trail's red marks, not the trail marked on most maps! Part of the trail was reblazed to go around a washed out section," advises Nate D.
What campers like
Quiet atmosphere: The limited number of campsites at horse campgrounds near Fernandina Beach creates a peaceful environment. "We like this park a lot because we like large sites, peace and tranquility. We only got to stay there 2 nights," shares Annell N. about Cary State Forest.
Wildlife viewing: Conservation areas provide opportunities to observe native Florida wildlife. "On our way to our campsite we were able to spot many animals including: deer, otter, turkey, and wild pigs," reports Jenn B. about her experience at Bayard Conservation Area.
Site privacy: Campsites are typically well-separated from neighboring sites. "This campground was an absolute gem. Sites are spread out and HUGE!! Several trails and plenty of room for kids to play on site," explains David S. about Cary State Forest Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal insects: Bug protection is essential when camping in North Florida forests. "TAKE BUG REPELLENT... MOSQUITOES ARE BAD. Electric and water hookups with a sanitary dump station," warns Robert L. about his stay at Cary State Forest.
Trail conditions: Many trails in the area can become muddy after rain. "Note the roads are hard-pack and it is a Florida pine forest so it gets a bit muddy (and mosquito-y) on rainy days. Dump station is not fully paved so it too, gets muddy," explains J V. about Cary State Forest.
Primitive facilities: Some equestrian campgrounds near Fernandina Beach have limited amenities. "The bathroom looks like it belongs on a horror movie the river camp spot is beautiful the forest one had deer drinking from the stream," reports Geoffrey S. about Bayard Conservation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Bring activities: Some campgrounds offer limited structured recreation. "This campground was arranged by my kids scouts group. It was beautiful but maybe that's because there wasn't a lot of human traffic. A few people brought their horses out there which was nice to see," shares Sualen L. about Cary State Forest.
Prepare for wildlife encounters: Children should be supervised due to potential wildlife interactions. "During our stay, my only annoyance were the wasps in the bathroom. The spiders we stayed away from lol but found a pigmy rattlesnake that we caught in a bucket and walked it a little further away from the bathroom and camping site," notes Sualen L.
Consider site location: Some sites are better suited for families than others. "Sites are roomy. TAKE BUG REPELLENT... MOSQUITOES ARE BAD. Electric and water hookups with a sanitary dump station. This was a perfect stopping point on our way to the southwest coast of Florida," advises Robert L.
Tips from RVers
Check hookup compatibility: Verify your RV's hookup requirements match site configurations. "The only thing preventing me from giving five stars is we got the only site that had electric and water on passenger side so we had to run electric under our rig. If we would have been in a class B or C you could go nose first," notes David S.
Prepare for electrical issues: Some campgrounds may have maintenance challenges. "When we arrived and hooked up the 30amp breaker kept flipping. We had just left crooked river and hadn't had any issues. We told the camp host and she moved us to site 4 for the night," reports Hayley S. about her experience at Cary State Forest.
Consider road conditions: Access roads may present challenges during wet weather. "The place is big enough to maneuver a big rig around the areas. We enjoyed it. Stayed 2 days," shares Gwoo T. about navigating Cary State Forest Campground.
