Camping options around Hernando, Florida combine fresh water access with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. The area sits near multiple spring-fed rivers and the 157,479-acre Withlacoochee State Forest with its mix of pine flatwoods and cypress swamps. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for outdoor recreation.
What to do
Manatee viewing excursions: Tours at Nature's Resort pick guests up directly from the marina for wildlife encounters. "A local tour guide picked us up right at the marina to go swim with the manatees (Manatee Tours and More with Captain Anna... excellent)."
Kayak crystalline waterways: Explore the clear water at Mutual Mine Campground with its swimming hole and access to multiple trails. "The pond seems clean enough for a swim," notes one camper, while another mentions, "We hike extensively in this tract and used Mutual Mine campground as one of our stop-overs."
Pontoon boat rentals: Several campgrounds offer direct boat access to springs and rivers. "Pontoon boat rentals. Close to Three Sisters Springs where you can kayak with the Manatees," shares a camper at Crystal Isles RV Resort.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the secluded feel at Silver Springs State Park Campground. "Wonderful large private sites. Showers, laundry, store, restaurants and glass bottom boats and canoe, kayak rentals." The campground maintains that "old Florida feeling" with "sites are big and have plenty of space between them."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and showers. At Mutual Mine, reviews mention "Bathrooms but no showers. Free potable water," while another camper notes, "The bathrooms were well maintained."
Wildlife observation: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities. "Many opportunities to spot wildlife close by. Buffalo, deer, eagles, alligators, owls....Visit Sweetwater," writes one visitor. Another adds, "We were able to see wild horses, bisons, snakes and gators. Great for fishing and kayaking."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Summer heat brings mosquitoes. A Paynes Prairie camper noted: "Hot with skeeters the majority of the year, cold overnight in the winter." Plan accordingly with repellent and appropriate clothing.
Site selection matters: Some luxury glamping near Hernando features waterfront options, but they book quickly. At Nature's Resort, "Waterfront sites and are so tightly packed your neighbor's slide is sitting at your picnic table. The sites are less than 18' across but you get boat parking behind your site."
Pet restrictions on trails: Some parks limit where dogs can go. One visitor to Paynes Prairie mentioned: "The biggest disappointment for this state park is that all of the things they advertise - bison, horses, wildlife - are all on trails where pets are not allowed."
Weekend crowds: Encore Crystal Isles gets livelier on weekends. "On the weekends this park is a lot of fun with the boaters and weekenders. This park likes to party!"
Tips for camping with families
Multiple kid-friendly amenities: Resorts like Crystal Isles cater specifically to children. "Great place to stay with the kids. Facilities were great. Pool was amazing as was the playground. Would stay again."
Designated swimming areas: The mine pond at Mutual Mine Campground provides safe swimming. "The watering hole helped us stay cool and the camp host was very informative and friendly."
Educational opportunities: Idlewild Lodge and similar glamping sites near Hernando offer wildlife learning experiences. Silver Springs features "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."
Tips from RVers
Pad selection: Choose sites with concrete pads for easy setup. "We loved the concrete pad. Made it very easy to set up one night."
Hookup inspection: Check electrical connections before settling in. One Crystal Isles visitor cautioned: "When we arrived at the lot and parked, we discovered someone had melted the 30 amp connection, so no power."
Site sizes vary: Larger rigs need careful placement. "Some RV sites are a challenge to get into, some are larger. They prioritize based on the size of your rig mostly."
Cell service quality: Service varies by carrier and location. At Crystal Isles, "Cell signals: T-Mobile was great, AT&T was decent."
