Best Campgrounds near Florahome, FL

Florahome, Florida is surrounded by diverse camping environments ranging from state parks to recreational areas and private campgrounds. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, located approximately 15 miles northwest of Florahome, offers tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Etoniah Creek State Forest Green Camp provides primitive camping options along hiking and equestrian trails. The camping landscape includes several mixed-use campgrounds supporting both tent and RV camping, with some facilities like Rooterville Animal Sanctuary offering unique glamping options in covered wagons.

Many campsites require advance reservations, particularly during peak winter and spring months when northern visitors seek Florida's milder climate. Road access varies throughout the region, with some areas requiring navigation of sandy or gravel roads. A reviewer described Etoniah Creek State Forest as having "campgrounds about 4 miles in on bikeable hard roads" with "six sites that have picnic tables, lots of room, fire ring with grate, BBQ grills, a latrine nearby." Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can occasionally dip below freezing. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though seasonal flooding may affect access to certain areas, particularly after heavy rainfall.

Campers consistently highlight the natural features and wildlife viewing opportunities in the area. Several visitors mentioned the excellent hiking trails, with Gold Head Branch State Park receiving particular praise for its ravine system and spring-fed creek. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the cabins at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park are popular with families, with one camper noting it was "great for family camping thanks to the restroom/bathing facilities." Wildlife sightings commonly include white-tailed deer, various bird species, and occasionally black bears. The region's lakes and streams provide fishing and paddling opportunities, with Little Lake Johnson at Gold Head Branch State Park offering swimming, boating, and fishing. Most developed campgrounds provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms, while primitive sites typically require self-sufficiency.

Best Camping Sites Near Florahome, Florida (217)

    1. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground & Cabins

    32 Reviews
    Keystone Heights, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (352) 473-4701

    $20 - $100 / night

    "The Florida State Trail passes through the park and is well marked. The ravines section is my favorite area in the park. In the greener months, it feels like a rain forest."

    "The Florida Trail is my favorite part of my visits. The cabin we stayed in was small but nice. The ravines are gorgeous. You can access it with a vehicle, but you must walk down many stairs."

    2. Rodman Campground

    28 Reviews
    Welaka, FL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (386) 326-2846

    $12 - $22 / night

    "Sites 1-39 are not near the Florida Trail but it was not a bad walk to the other side of the campground to get to the trail. Would stay again."

    "This peaceful campground provides a serene setting surrounded by towering pines and lush Florida foliage."

    3. Salt Springs Recreation Area

    59 Reviews
    Salt Springs, FL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (352) 685-2048

    $37 - $69 / night

    "There are no laundry facilities but if you exit park and drive left there is a laundromat, local food, dollar store, bait tackle."

    "Located in the center of the state, you’ll have near equal access to both the Atlantic Ocean to the east as well as the Gulf shores to the west."

    4. Anastasia State Park Campground

    115 Reviews
    St. Augustine, FL
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (904) 461-2033

    $28 / night

    "You really can have it all at this campground - with its 'next door' proximity to one of the most amazing beachheads on Florida's Atlantic coastline and quick access to the country's oldest town (St."

    "Great location & in close proximity to St. Augustine. One of my favorite places to visit in Florida. If you've never been to St."

    5. Etoniah Creek State Forest Green Camp

    2 Reviews
    Florahome, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (386) 329-2552

    $9 / night

    "Located just about 20 minutes due northwest of Palatka – dubbed ‘Florida’s State Farmers Market’ where you will easily discover that this north central town is teeming with fresh agriculture every which"

    "Just off the Palatka-Lake Butler Bike trail. Campgrounds are About 4 miles in on bikeable hard roads. Six Sites have picnic tables, lots of room, fire ring with grate, bbq grills, a latrine nearby."

    6. Connors Family Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Florahome, FL
    4 miles
    +1 (423) 777-1247

    "You can do anything from buying an RV renting an RV a camper tent if you're not from around there bill will help you out overall great customer service"

    7. Rooterville Animal Sanctuary

    1 Review
    Florahome, FL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (352) 262-7313

    $164 - $210 / night

    8. Lake Oklawaha RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Interlachen, FL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (352) 546-5500

    $58400 - $120000 / night

    "Neat trails and plan to return for summer and warmer weather and will bring atvs. Pet friendly. Seen a black bear roaming at night. John the firewood guy brought wood around for $10 in evening."

    "Pluses: everything was really clean,

    • there is a pool available,
    • spacious dining hall,
    • you have freedom to pick your own spot
    • stunning lake view
    • nice nature trail"

    9. Cooper Lake RV Community

    2 Reviews
    Interlachen, FL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (386) 983-1478

    $45 - $55 / night

    "This RV parking pad is located in north central Florida, just due southwest of Palatka (a.k.a. the Sunshine’s State Farmer’s Market) where you’ll find southern charm hanging from more than the moss off"

    "Quiet, friendly park away from the hustle & bustle.  Close to St. Augustine, Gainesville, and Ocala. New owners so renovations and upgrades are at the top of their list. We will be back!"

    10. Ordway-Swisher Biological Station

    1 Review
    Keystone Heights, FL
    6 miles
    Website

    "to camp here you have to apply for one of the 3 spots available for fall term or spring term per the University of Florida school calendar. Total of 6 spots (12 people)."

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Recent Reviews near Florahome, FL

1201 Reviews of 217 Florahome Campgrounds


  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Osceola National Forest Ocean Pond Campground

    Rustic Charm Meets Sandy Beach at Ocean Pond

    In general, I try to stay away from terms like ‘rustic,’ which honestly, usually just means ‘old’ (read: and in dire need of repair or refurbishment), but this place actually lives up to the word 'rustic' – so, take it from me, nothing needs fixin’ here. Everything is functionally sound. Maybe what you’ll discover is somewhat dated, but embrace it. Around here, it’s all good. All of the time. Ocean Pond Campground sits on the north shore of Ocean Pond, which is a striking 2-mile-wide lake within Osceola National Forest. The name is a bit of a misnomer as it’s more lake than pond, and trust me, the water that you will experience here isn't Ocean … but all of this confusion is actually part of the appeal. As you drive in, you’ll pass a fairly well-paved serpentine-like forest roadway lined by pine flatwoods and cypress wetlands. The lot layout is heavily forested and incredibly quiet, with a mix of shade and sun, and a natural, mellow campground vibe rather than resort polish.

    Ocean Pond offers a total of 67 campsites in three tiers: 19 with electric+ water hookups, 27 with water only and 20 primitive sites. That’s right, if you read between the lines, there’s no sewage hook-ups, but that’s OK, as there’s a proper sewage dump area as you exit the premises (free to registered campers; small fee for non-registered). The hookup sites are on paved spurs and rated up to about 50 feet capacity. Every site comes equipped with a picnic table, fire ring / grate, lantern post and access to restrooms, which honestly, are very well taken care of and, again, quite functional. Nothing to write home about, but it will get the job done. The campground includes flush toilets, hot showers in the electric & water sections, and more basic restroom access for primitive sites (in fact, these particular facilities were the only low point). For lake access, there’s a boat ramp, sandy beach swim area reserved for campers, fishing pier and a public boat launch. Camping is year-round, but there’s a 14-day stay limit within any 30-day span. Check-in is 2 p.m., checkout at 11 a.m.

    The real star here is Ocean Pond itself. It’s a playground for anglers, boaters, swimmers and paddlers. Expect to fish for largemouth bass, speckled perch, crappie and catfish. The Florida National Scenic Trail passes through here and you can take a 3-mile out-and-back hike from the campground along forest roads and a boardwalk for swamp views. Wildlife is abundant: expect herons, egrets, turtles, occasional alligators, birds in the wetlands and forest edge, where all around you, you’ll encounter the quiet hum of frogs and chorus of insects at dusk. Nearby, you’ll find Olustee Battlefield State Park just 4 miles away, an historic site with ties to the Civil War, plus various springs, state parks and rural roads to explore.

    Insider Tips? Yup, let’s do that: (1) Arrive early to snag one of the few electric + water sites as they’re HOT and in high demand and, well, because this place is ‘first-come, first-served’ let’s just say that ‘the early bird gets the worm’ here; (2) If you want more shade, pick a site tucked under the pines away from the beach; (3) Launch your kayak or boat in the early morning when the lake is calm and the mist lingers over the water; (4) Use bug spray especially near dusk and in the swampier sections; (5) Hike sections of the Florida Trail nearby with the swamp boardwalk segments being especially scenic; (6) While Ocean Pond CG is definitely pet-friendly, you’ll need to keep your domesticated furry friend on a leash at all times and not bring it swimming with you – and please do everyone a favor and don’t leave your pet tied up to a tree as this basically amounts to a ‘gator snack’; (7) Effectively there’s 3 loops here at Ocean Pond CG that I’ll refer to as Lakefront (Sites#1-19), Mosquito Hell (Sites#20-45) and Primitive Back-Country (Sites#46-67) and they are all priced ($30,$20 and $12 respectively) and preferred in that order, so IMHO the best spots are: #10, 12, 13, 16-19; and (8) Please say ‘hello’ to Katie who is absolutely one of the most amazing SP campground managers who helms the front gate with a big smile and an incredibly warm welcome.

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Cary State Forest Group Camp

    Where Family Reunions Meet Mosquitos

    Tucked deep into the pinewoods of Cary State Forest, the Group Campground isn’t your average weekend getaway, but more like a full-blown opportunity to gather the family together for a reunion, a game of flag football and potluck under the pines. Picture this: aunts swapping recipes over the campfire, uncles arguing over who forgot the marshmallows, and about ten tents forming a perfect (if slightly lopsided) circle of chaos and laughter. If your clan believes bonding means battling mosquitoes the size of chickadees and trying to keep toddlers from feeding raccoons, then this is your kind of paradise.

    This group campground site - and to be clear, there is ONLY one - is designed for tent camping only, so no RVs, trailers or plug-in (although, there's an easter egg hidden below) luxuries here. Amenities are basic but functional, including potable water, restrooms with showers, a group pavilion complete with a half dozen picnic tables and an old-fashioned crank BBQ grill (which is EASILY the greatest amenity I have ever encountered at ANY campground), which if you are familiar with this style of BBQ grilling, then educate yourself before arriving here and you will become legend around the campfire. The group campground here at Cary SF is rustic, peaceful and wrapped in tall pines that whisper 'you are somewhere far from civilization, so enjoy the silence (nod to DM).' Roads into the area are sandy and can get sloppy with the rain, but once you’re in, you’ll appreciate the sense of seclusion that makes it feel like your family owns the forest.  There is literally no one else around you here.

    Wildlife sightings are part of the fun here with plenty of deer, owls and the occasional armadillos wandering close to camp (likely curious about all that bacon grease). A short walk leads you to Thomas Creek, perfect for a quick morning stroll or some quiet birdwatching along that new boardwalk that was recently cleared and built. As for the patch of land that you’re big group – whether a family reunion, scout troop outing,10-year old birthday celebration sleepover or men’s church group celebration weekend – it’s about half the size of a football field with enough space for about 20 or so medium-sized tents, 5-6 wooden benches encircling a large community firepit / bonfire and a half dozen or so stand-up BBQ grills scattered throughout the area.

    The best bit about this slice of nature is that adjacent to this wide-open patch of grass is a back-in RV slot (the mysterious site #7) that has a perfect level slab of concrete along with a picnic table and access to electric outlets and running water – so even though you didn’t bring an RV here, this spot will give you those 'back-at-home' amenities that you likely thought you'd have to go without. You’ll also discover that besides the 5-story tall ranger viewing tower on the north of the site, there’s solid shade around the perimeter of this place, although little to none on the interior, so I would still encourage you to bring your own portable shade with you.

    Insider Tips: (1) Set up tents before dusk as mosquitoes clock in at exactly 6:01 PM; (2) The pavilion is your best friend during Florida’s afternoon storms and spontaneous family talent shows; (3) The restrooms are incredibly clean but rustic (but for once, in the good sense of the word), but you’ll want to bring your own TP just in case; (4) Thomas Creek is great for spotting herons and otters, just keep little ones at arm’s length; (5) Cell service is limited, which is ideal if you’ve ever wanted to see teenagers panic without Wi-Fi; (6) Stock up in nearby Bryceville or along US-301 before heading in here as there’s no store for miles, and Uncle Jim will absolutely forget the coffee; and (7) In the event that you grow weary of cooking yet another meal over the open fire, nearby there's a few modest offerings like Everybody's Restaurant serving up Southern fire in a diner-like environ or Cousin Willie's Smokehouse for some very authentic Que like smoked turkey with a side of fried pickles dipped in a cup of Brunswick stew.

    Happy Camping!

  • Tisch B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2025

    Osceola National Forest Ocean Pond Campground

    Great camphosts Friendly and helpful

    Im a road biker and there is almost no traffic on the roads outside of the campground. You can go for miles and miles.
    Campground quiet. Beautiful sunrise and sunsets and the full moon was amazing

  • Curtis D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2025

    Osceola National Forest Ocean Pond Campground

    My go-to campground.

    Ocean Pond really took a turn for the better. The campground host, Kate, is truly a wonderful person. The campground itself has been updated to 5 stars. The people doing the work have done an outstanding job. Thank you all. When I first got here, there were deep potholes in the primitive camping area(gravel road). The worker came in with a milling attachment attached to a skid loader and fixed every hole. Thank you for that, sir. I could go on and on, but come stay here and find out.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2025

    Princess Place Preserve - Moody Campground

    Beautiful Campground

    This campground is quiet and the sites are spread out. I'm here during the week, I'm not sure how the weekend would be. The Grounds are well kept and a lot of history here. The site i have is right on the water. It's big enough for two families. I would come back!

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2025

    Salt Springs Recreation Area

    3 night primitive (tent car camping)

    Awesome Very well kept, many trails nearby, staff, hosts and campers all very nice. Springs are great for a swim to see some of the local fish, crabs and maybe a manatee.

  • Thunderroad 5.
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Salt Springs Recreation Area

    Great place to camp

    First federal park campground i stayed in that had full hookups. Nice bathhouse. Beautiful campground with nicely sized sites. Stayed during government shutdown. Since campground is managed by private company, shutdown didn't close campground. Staff and hosts were friendly and enjoyed the stay. Only drawback was lack of any cell service, but starlink worked fine.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Davenport Landing

    Cool spot, beware of bears

    I really enjoyed this spot, but I did spot a bear on my way in and scat along the road. I wouldn't recommend this spot to beginners or inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts. There is a campground nearby that charges 10bucks a night that I would recommend for families or beginners. Delancy Campground is accessible from this (FS Road 74) location

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Rodman Campground

    Florida Wildlife, Super Clean Restrooms and Camp Sites

    This was my first stay here, but I'll be back. Really nice and clean bathrooms, showers, and camp sites. It was quiet, relaxing, nice hiking trails, and plenty of wildlife.
    They offer tent camping and RV.


Guide to Florahome

Camping near Florahome, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Rodman Campground. A visitor noted, "Bathrooms are so clean you could literally eat off the floors."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers enjoy the helpful staff at Compass RV Park. One guest mentioned, "Great location, clean facilities, helpful and friendly staff."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers love the roomy sites at Stagecoach RV Park. A reviewer said, "Very nice park, clean, quiet, no issues at all."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy. At Salt Springs Recreation Area, one camper complained about "loud and rowdy campers all weekend long."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. For example, Hopkins Prairie Campground offers no electric hookups or showers, which might not suit everyone.
  • Traffic Noise: If you prefer a quieter experience, be aware that some campgrounds, like Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground, are near busy roads, which can lead to some noise.

Tips for camping with families:

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Drainage: Some sites may have drainage issues. A visitor at Compass RV Park mentioned, "The drainage at our site... wasn't great."
  • Look for Full Hookups: If you need full hookups, Rodman Campground offers great options for RVers.
  • Be Prepared for Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds, like Hopkins Prairie Campground, have no cell service, so plan accordingly.

Camping near Florahome, Florida, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Florahome, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Florahome, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 217 campgrounds and RV parks near Florahome, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Florahome, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Florahome, FL is Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground & Cabins with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Florahome, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Florahome, FL.

What parks are near Florahome, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Florahome, FL that allow camping, notably National Forests in Florida and Ocala National Forest.