Central Florida's RV campgrounds near Groveland sit at elevations between 70-160 feet above sea level, creating excellent drainage during summer rain seasons. The area averages 233 sunny days annually with temperatures exceeding 90°F from June through September, making winter and spring the peak camping seasons. Campgrounds in this region offer varied terrain from lakefront properties to more wooded settings.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Lake Harris offers excellent bass fishing with direct access from RV parks like Hide-A-Way Harbor RV Park. "The views and wildlife were great also. We will go back!!" reports Tanya B. about the fishing opportunities.
Golf courses on-site: Several campgrounds integrate golf as an amenity, saving travel time. "Must Stay. We stay here through Thousand trails and love it! There are so many amenities and even a full golf course!" notes Derick B. about his experience at Clerbrook.
Local towns exploration: Mount Dora and downtown Eustis provide day trip destinations with boutique shopping. "Mount Dora and down town Eustis are beautiful," mentions Kurtess R., highlighting the appeal of these nearby communities for off-campground activities.
Biking trails: Access to the West Orange Trail provides paved routes from some campgrounds. A visitor at Winter Garden noted, "Our favorite activity is biking to the trail head for the West Orange rails to trail which is located downtown @ 3 miles from campground. This rail to trail is 22 miles long."
What campers like
Proximity to theme parks: Thousand Trails Orlando provides convenient access to major attractions without city congestion. "It's only 30 minutes from most of the Orlando theme parks and shopping/restaurants are within 5-10 minutes," reports Brandie B., highlighting the location advantages.
Lake views: Waterfront sites create premium experiences for those willing to book early. "Watching the sunsets from the dock was almost the best part of the day!" shares Linda H. about her stay at Hide-A-Way Harbor.
Wildlife viewing: Many parks offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Sometimes the cows from next door get loose and come visit. Sometimes there are alligators underneath RVs," notes Laura H. about the unexpected wildlife encounters at Thousand Trails Orlando.
Heated pools for year-round swimming: Most parks maintain heated pools even during cooler months. "The heated pool and hot tub are wonderful though could use some more water in it at times," mentions Kurtess about the amenities at Encore Southern Palms.
What you should know
Reservation timing critical: During winter months (November-April), campgrounds fill months in advance. "We stayed a week. Friendly, helpful office. When we arrived we were guided back to our site and we were offered help backing in," explains Cynthia D. about Southern Palms' busy season procedures.
Site surface variations: Some campgrounds have concrete pads while others offer only grass sites that can become problematic during rain. "When it rains it does get muddy and it looks like there is a propensity towards standing water after a rain," warns a reviewer about Winter Garden.
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity affects several parks. "Road noise was heard during the day but late in the evening things quieted down nicely," reports Robert M. about Southern Palms, noting the traffic noise pattern.
Electrical limitations: Some parks have older electrical systems with capacity issues. "We kept tripping the 30A breaker with AC on and a hot plate or microwave. But in the end price seemed reasonable for what it was," shares Craig F. about his Winter Garden experience.
Tips for camping with families
Pool availability checks: Always verify pool status before booking. "The pool was cold and closes early. It is basically a place to stay and not very scenic," notes Karen S. about Encore Sherwood Forest.
Dog park access: Not all parks maintain functional dog areas year-round. "The dog park they do have has been closed the entire time we have been here," reports Missy C. about Southern Palms, highlighting a common seasonal facility issue.
Playground conditions: Playgrounds vary significantly between parks. "The kids enjoyed ice cream, the bike trail, and the splash pad, all while the parents enjoyed the brewing company and coffee shop," shares Kasey M. about Winter Garden's family-friendly amenities outside the campground.
Bike-friendly parks: Some campgrounds offer extensive internal roads safe for children cycling. "The kids love the ability to ride their Bikes around the campground and love the pool," mentions Jeremy G. about his family's experience at Encore Tropical Palms.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling blocks as many sites require adjustment. "A nice campground with large concrete pads. Some site are not perfectly level, but easily rectified," advises deb K. from her stay at Fisherman's Cove Golf and RV Resort.
Site selection strategy: When possible, request sites away from main roads. "We were surrounded by empty sites which was probably due to the pandemic. This was a great central location to visit lakes, gulf coast, springs and historic towns," shares Mary H. about her strategic site placement at Southern Palms.
Hookup placement variations: Some parks have unusual utility layouts. "On check in we were given a back in site (fine) only to find the the hook up we're on the WRONG side! We pulled in front first so hook up could be achieved," explains Ralph L. about an unusual setup at Clerbrook.
Wifi limitations: Coverage varies significantly within large parks. "The park is in Clermont, FL and it's not a huge town but decent sized town. There isn't great cell service. The park is further from a tower and there are so many RVers in the area that don't count towards the population, it becomes a bandwidth issue," explains Laura H. about connectivity challenges.
