Best Dispersed Camping near Hawthorne, FL

Dispersed camping options surround Hawthorne, Florida, with most sites located within the Ocala National Forest to the southeast. Primitive camping areas like Davenport Landing and Trout Lake Primitive Sites offer basic, no-frills experiences for self-sufficient campers. These sites typically feature flat, sandy terrain under canopies of magnolia, sweetgum, and maple trees. Many locations provide access to waterways such as the Ocklawaha River, which connects to the St. Johns River system. Cobb Hunt Camp, though periodically closed for maintenance, represents another dispersed camping option within driving distance, situated near Sanderson to the northwest of Hawthorne.

Road conditions present significant challenges for accessing many camping areas in the region. Narrow, rutted dirt roads with tight clearances often require high-clearance vehicles or four-wheel drive. As one camper at Trout Lake noted, "Main road entry is packed dirt; smaller access road to sites is two-track about 1/4 mile through woods—very narrow tree clearance. 4WD recommended." Cell service remains spotty throughout the area, even with signal boosters. Most dispersed sites lack amenities entirely—no potable water, toilets, or established fire rings. During hunting season, some areas like Cobb Hunt Camp receive portable toilets and trash collection, but campers should plan to bring all necessary supplies, including water.

Wildlife encounters shape the camping experience near Hawthorne. Alligators frequent the waterways, particularly in warmer months. According to visitor reports, black bears and "coyo-dogs" (coyote-dog hybrids) have been spotted in some camping areas, especially at night. Several sites experience varying levels of long-term occupancy, which can affect the camping atmosphere. Safety concerns have been reported at some locations, particularly in more remote sections of Ocala National Forest. The Davenport Landing area includes a 1.2-mile interpretive hiking trail leading to a historic steamboat landing, offering educational value alongside the camping experience. Fishing opportunities abound in the rivers and lakes, with local anglers reporting good catches in the Ocklawaha River system.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Hawthorne, Florida (7)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Hawthorne, FL

6 Photos of 7 Hawthorne Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Hawthorne, FL

19 Reviews of 7 Hawthorne Campgrounds


  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 25, 2024

    Davenport Landing

    Magnolia-Shaded Cul-de-Sac Primitive Camping

    Located a hefty trek down a winding gravel road west of Route 19, you’ll have to maneuver around divots and potholes along this narrow gravel, dusty roadway for the better part of 2 miles before arriving to a small sign on the left-hand side of the road that indicates you’ve arrived at Davenport Recreational Area – so finding this place is relatively easy. Unless you make the unwise decision to turn into one of the small handful of options beforehand that would have you drive down a patch of road that likely you are not authorized to, my only advice would be not to exceed 15 MPH on this road as the poor condition of the road could do damage to a lower-lying vehicle. Once you come across the Davenport Recreational Area sign, take a right and slowly (as the road conditions worsen as you get off the main road) follow the narrow tire-rutted pathway to a fork, where on the right you’ll see TRAILHEAD marked on a tree to your right– here you want to turn left instead and follow the pathway to its conclusion, which is a round-about that you will have no other alternative but to stop and park your vehicle.

    Here at literally ‘the end of the road,’ you’ll be greeted by a dozen or so medium-sized Magnolias that blot out the sun’s rays and cast an unusually spooky shadow on this area, made even more dramatic by all of the Spanish moss falling from the tree limbs of these magnificent trees. While the ground here is flat – welcome to Florida, where for the most part, that’s par for the course – but barren and comprised of a combination of dirt and sand silt, which isn’t so bad when it’s dry, but when there’s rain, we’re talking some pretty messy mud-like conditions. As for what you’ll find here at this natural cul-de-sac, there isn’t anything. Literally. No picnic tables. No fire ring. No stand-up grill. No potable(or for that matter, non-potable) water spigot. Nothing. There is what looks to be a small wooden sign that likely was filled with information at some point in time that might have educated you about your stay here, but even that had nothing on it, apart from a single hand-made sign above it, indicating: “You are trash, if you leave trash,” which I wholeheartedly agree with. In all, perhaps there’s 5-6 individual spots that you could make a campsite from.

    If you are a true primitive camper who really wants NOTHING to complement or aid their outdoor survivalist experiment, then you have hit the primitive camping jackpot! Apart from the solid peace & quiet you’ll experience here, there’s an amazing little access point here to the Ocklawaha river that runs through this neck of the woods – which used to be a riverboat stop where steamboats would stop to fuel or disembark enroute to Silver Springs via the St. Johns which this tributary eventually connects to. Apart from being a scenic access point to the river, if you are looking to catch and eat your meals, then this will certainly be an added bonus. The steps down the ravine to the river basin are somewhat steep, but for anyone towing a light-weight kayak or paddleboard, me thinks you could likely manage to bring your watercraft down here and easily access emerald-green waters shouldered with an abundance of spade-shaped lily pads to grab some great oaring.

    When we stopped by, there was a team of fisherman there – not camping, mind you – but having a great afternoon nonetheless of ‘hooking‘ em’ and according to these local anglers, the fishing was great. Apart from this and the shade that the mighty Magnolias provide, the only other amenity that exists out here are the few trails that you can jump on to get a bit of hiking in. One word of caution, from my fishermen friends, is to be on the look-out for ‘Coyo-Dogs’ (a cross between canine species where a dog mates with a coyote) and black bear, both of which have been known to frequent this area, especially at night.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) There’s a 1.2 mile interpretive hiking trail called Davenport Landing Trail that will take to you to the former steamboat landing, which makes for a medium-grade hike with some interesting history; (2) If you have an explorer’s mindset, you’ll be richly rewarded here as there is a small gravesite from the Civil War that you can find along with middens along the Ocklawaha River hiding traces of the Timucuan Indians that once populated this area; (3) For fellow arborists, in addition to finding these amazing Magnolias that seem to be especially planted here for you, additionally there’s sweetgum and red maple trees; and (4) You definitely want to keep your eyes peeled for alligators in this area, where while we didn’t see any right at the ravine’s base, we were told that plenty were sunbathing right around the bend in the river from where we were.

    Happy Camping!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 26, 2024

    Trout Lake Primitive Sites

    Nice secluded sites

    Set of primitive spots near lake. Main road entry is packed dirt; smaller access road to sites is two-track about 1/4 mile through woods — very narrow tree clearance. 4WD recommended. Just barely scraped a FWD Promaster through the trees, into a pullout just before sand started. Poor cell service even with booster. Plan on returning after antenna upgrade. Not the cleanest but passable.

  • N
    Nov. 2, 2021

    Cobb Hunt Camp

    Easily accessible

    Depends on what you’re into. Great if you’re here as a hunt base camp maybe, but Cobb is not the idyllic peaceful personal campsite. I camped there with my boys in a tent, and they had a blast just playing in the dirt, but I had to figure out how to explain to them why someone had been there for the last 11 months and why we had to sleep through a running generator all night.

    We hiked in a few miles on the Florida Trail, so we had all our water supplies on our person. There’s a little pond there that we were purifying water out of with no issue, but if you drive in and car camp you can easily bring water with you.

    Not great for the backpacker, but probably pretty great if you’re driving in and hunting out of your tent or camper.

  • M
    Nov. 13, 2023

    Lake Dorr

    Area Unsafe and Had to Leave. Please avoid.

    Attempted to stay at this campground but left because it felt unsafe. Spoke to a local that warned of violence, robbery, and killings in this area of the national forest.

    Got stuck in sand on the way out and had to wait for a tow truck. Tow truck driver carried a gun because of how unsafe the area is and warned us not to stay.

    Please avoid the Ocala NF!

    If you do decide to come to this campground, avoid north part of Ron Paul Drive. You’ll either get stuck in sand or have issues to low/tight trees. Drive further south of the other side of Ron Paul Drive.

  • Destiny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2022

    Blue Sink

    Blue Sink

    Most beautiful place to stumble upon. You may need ATV or creative backpacking to get there now. The Forestry Service recently chopped down trees and covered the easy access roads.

  • M
    Nov. 9, 2023

    Cobb Hunt Camp

    Campground Closed But Camping Allowed Just Past Entrance

    We arrived late and saw the campground was taped off and a sign read closed indefinitely. However, we drove just past the campground and found many others camped on the side of the road. Trash and porta potty’s provided by National Forest.

  • Frank E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Davenport Landing

    Generally quiet primitive camping with water access

    Pprimitive, no reservations, gets some traffic visiting historic site.

  • DeziRay M.
    Jan. 9, 2022

    Cobb Hunt Camp

    Awesome

    Free no water or electricity, porta-potties . Most campers stay to themselves and there's room for privacy

  • Jamie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 3, 2019

    Cobb Hunt Camp

    Great dispersed camping

    I've camped here a few different times and loved it every time. There are some older couples that come there every year. During hunting season, there are portable toilets, but no water. Picnic tables at various spots and plenty of shady areas.


Guide to Hawthorne

Rustic camping near Hawthorne, Florida centers primarily around the Ocala National Forest, which spans over 387,000 acres of pine scrub, sand pine scrub, and longleaf pine forests. The terrain features scattered sinkholes, natural springs, and seasonal flooding in low-lying areas. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity while winter nights can drop below 40°F, requiring both cooling and occasional heating strategies for campers.

What to do

Water exploration at Blue Sink: This secluded swimming spot requires determination to reach as "the Forestry Service recently chopped down trees and covered the easy access roads," according to Destiny R., who recommends "ATV or creative backpacking to get there." The effort rewards visitors with crystal-clear water surrounded by native vegetation.

Fishing opportunities: At Davenport Landing, the Ocklawaha River offers productive fishing spots. Stuart K. reports meeting local anglers who confirmed "the fishing was great" while David P. notes it's "a great tent/van spot" with easy river access for fishing excursions.

Historical exploration: The Davenport Landing Trail provides educational opportunities beyond camping. Stuart K. explains there's "a 1.2 mile interpretive hiking trail called Davenport Landing Trail that will take you to the former steamboat landing" plus "a small gravesite from the Civil War" and "middens along the Ocklawaha River hiding traces of the Timucuan Indians."

What campers like

Convenient Interstate access: Cobb Hunt Camp provides easy access for travelers. Hilary G. describes it as "open and close to I-10" with "lots of wide open area where if you have a trailer you can park," making it practical for overnight stays while traveling across northern Florida.

Shade coverage: The mature tree canopy at many sites provides essential protection from Florida's intense sun. At Davenport Landing, Stuart K. describes "a dozen or so medium-sized Magnolias that blot out the sun's rays" creating a shaded camping area enhanced by "Spanish moss falling from the tree limbs of these magnificent trees."

Privacy options: Trout Lake Primitive Sites offers isolation from crowds. Entropical Breeze E. describes them as "nice secluded sites" near the lake while Joe P. appreciates the "very narrow trails but really easy access" that limit traffic and create separation between camping areas.

What you should know

Vehicle requirements vary significantly: Access roads often demand specific vehicles. At Trout Lake, Entropical Breeze E. warns the "smaller access road to sites is two-track about 1/4 mile through woods — very narrow tree clearance. 4WD recommended." Similarly, Hilary G. notes at Cobb Hunt Camp you "can't drive thru the campground expect in a lifted truck due to water hole."

Safety considerations: Campground safety varies considerably by location. At Lake Dorr, Michael S. reports they "left because it felt unsafe" after being warned by "a local that warned of violence, robbery, and killings in this area of the national forest." The tow truck driver who helped them "carried a gun because of how unsafe the area is."

Communication limitations: Cell service remains unreliable throughout the region. Entropical Breeze E. reports "poor cell service even with booster" at Trout Lake Primitive Sites, though Chris D. found "good Verizon and TMobile cell coverage" at Cobb Hunt Camp.

Tips for camping with families

Best family-friendly option: Cobb Hunt Camp provides amenities that benefit families with children. Jamie W. reports "there are portable toilets" during hunting season and "picnic tables at various spots and plenty of shady areas." Nate D. adds his boys "had a blast just playing in the dirt" making it suitable for children who enjoy simple outdoor play.

Wildlife education opportunities: Davenport Landing offers chances to observe native species safely. Stuart K. advises "to be on the look-out for 'Coyo-Dogs' (a cross between canine species where a dog mates with a coyote) and black bear," while noting the importance of keeping "eyes peeled for alligators in this area."

Water safety planning: Families should prepare for multiple water hazards. Hilary G. observed a "small pond in the middle of the campground seems to have a few swirls" at Cobb Hunt Camp, indicating possible currents, while the riverfront at Davenport Landing requires supervision due to steep banks and wildlife.

Tips from RVers

Clearance challenges: Trout Lake Primitive Sites presents specific challenges for larger vehicles. Entropical Breeze E. describes "just barely scraped a FWD Promaster through the trees, into a pullout just before sand started," highlighting the tight clearances that could damage RVs without careful navigation.

Campground closures: Verify operating status before arrival as temporary closures occur frequently. Chris D. reports "Cobb Camp Osceola is closed though the website makes no mention of the closure" while noting "there are people camping just beyond the campground without issue" which provides an alternative.

Generator etiquette: Some campers run generators continuously at dispersed sites. Nate D. at Cobb Hunt Camp describes having "to sleep through a running generator all night" from long-term campers, suggesting RVers should consider battery or solar alternatives to avoid noise complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Hawthorne, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Hawthorne, FL is Davenport Landing with a 3.1-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Hawthorne, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Hawthorne, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.