363 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping in the Inverness, Florida area centers around the Withlacoochee State Forest, with several established campgrounds including Holder Mine, Mutual Mine, and Flying Eagle Preserve. These public lands provide a mix of tent and RV sites with varying levels of amenities. The region includes both primitive camping areas for those seeking a more natural experience and developed facilities with electric hookups, water access, and in some cases, cabin rentals. Withlacoochee State Forest offers multiple recreation areas within a short drive of Inverness, making it a convenient base for exploring central Florida's natural landscapes.
Road conditions within the forest are generally good, though some primitive camping areas may require careful navigation during wet weather. Most established campgrounds are accessible via paved or well-maintained gravel roads. "The Withlacoochee travels around the different campgrounds here and there is a large day use boat ramp onto the lake away from the campgrounds," noted one visitor about the Crooked River area. Seasonal considerations include Florida's hot, humid summers when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making spring and fall more comfortable for tent camping. Winter brings milder temperatures and lower humidity, though occasional cold fronts can drop overnight temperatures into the 40s. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak winter months when seasonal visitors from northern states increase demand.
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the Inverness area, with several sites situated near lakes or along the Withlacoochee River. Potts Preserve and Flying Eagle Preserve provide tent and RV camping with direct river access, while Rainbow Springs State Park Campground offers clear spring water for swimming and paddling. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region's campgrounds, with visitors regularly spotting deer, turtles, armadillos, and various bird species. As one camper at Withlacoochee River Park described, "We saw armadillos, turtles, large Ospreys, and a small gator by the fishing dock." Cell service can be spotty in more remote camping areas, though most developed campgrounds maintain reasonable connectivity. Campfire restrictions may apply during dry periods, particularly in the spring and early summer when wildfire risk increases.
"I had site 1, which sites 1 and 2 are next to the entrance gate. It was fairly quiet at night. There was a few times I heard loud vehicles gojng down the road but not enough to complain about."
"Best thing about this place is the surrounding area: lots of (walking only) trails but my favorite, the seemingly endless off roading sandy Jeep trails throughout this forest state park - lovely!"
from $23 / night
Check Availability"I have been to quite a few campgrounds in Florida over the past 20+ years."
"The primitive camping is tucked back away from most of the RVs and has a bathhouse with very hot water/ toilets and hot hand dryers. Each site is spaced properly so not each person is too close."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"My group goes to this campground several times a year due to the location to home and for being able to play off road in the surrounding trail system."
"This is an excellent place to camp because it is secluded with large private campsites surrounding a clear swimming hole. It is a short drive from the Chaz, and affordable."
from $14 / night
Check Availability"It is part of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Conservation Lands. Youtube Video Review: https://youtu.be/_n8q3ib0kPo"
"It’s a huge open space with entrances to walking trails and beautiful views of the river. The back-country area has an outhouse."
"Great spot with amenities and close to everything we want to do. Just make sure you don't get a site along the road."
"Site 127A was so close to us that our picnic table was beside their septic hose. Would stay here again just in an inner site."
from $40 - $63 / night
Check Availability"To get to the camp site:
- go to the Circle K linked below
https://goo.gl/maps/qCoojcRZWhjXTjC77
- use google maps walking directions to get to Flying Eagle Preserve."
"Flying Eagle was clean a lot of airboat noise close to town"
"Excellent park, great attractions nearby! We have tried to come here each year. It is a larger park, with many residents or longer term or leave the rig weekenders."
"We had a spot on the lake which was very nice. The staff is super nice. When we arrived someone was parked in our spot but they were not around."
"Perfect location on the springs, right next to the famous Homosassa Springs park. The site has its own marina where you can easily rent pontoon boats."
"The sites are less than 18' across but you get boat parking behind your site."
"There is a designated area to leave vehicles, and the sites on the river are walk in only. The area is open, but you can no longer pull your vehicle in next to your campsite. "
"Hands-down my new favorite camping spot in Florida. Free, primitive, private, secluded. Pet-friendly, hammock friendly, boat friendly, fire friendly, & more."
"The positive is that the sites, especially around the outside loop, are spaced nicely and private. It’s not a bad drive to Crystal River or Ocala."
"Located near Dunnellon, FL and is part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways. Smaller campground - 15ish sites. All sites are pull thru for you rvers out there!"
from $22 / night
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GuideSite 004 has a river running through it when it rains and floods the fire pit. You will have to set tent up on compacted super hard gravel surface. Fire ants around table and fire ring. The ranger has no tact whatsoever. She was grumpy and nit picking everything
LegendThis campground is located on the grounds of the World Equestrian Center– a premier equestrian facility in the US located in Ocala. The campground is large (300 sites) campground and capable of fitting any size RV. The roads in the park are really easy to navigate and easy to back into for any size RV. All sites are back-in with 50/30A full hook-up. Sites 600-733 have more space between them and would be my preferred sites. There is really no check-in lane, you just stop on the road going into the campground and other have to go around you. The laundry is open 24-hours but be aware that people are washing horse blankets, dog beds, and other pet items, so stay away if you are allergic. Conveniently located before the campground is a fuel station (with gas and diesel). The campground is located on a venue that primarily holds equestrian events but also accommodates other sporting events. Some of the venues are quite a long walk away and parking can be difficult. Golf cart rentals are available at the campground. The camp store is nice and more of a gift shop but has a great selection of a range of items from clothes to drinks to food and RV items. They have a coffee bar and also sell alcohol. Restaurants on-site ranging from a coffee shop with pastries to fine dining and everything in between. Our site was long and level and the WIFI worked well. We had nice space between us and our neighbor and were treated to nice sunsets. Overall, we really liked this campground and would come back. We were there when equestrian events were going on and liked that we could watch them for free. Downtown Ocala is about ten minutes away and a cool town. We had lunch, walked around the square and checked out the painted horses. Lunch at the airport restaurant was great!
LegendVery pretty and clean campground. Bathhouse was clean as well. Loved riding our bikes and walking the trails.
ScoutI would highly recommend Champions Run. Sites are wide, clean and beautiful. Staff were friendly and helpful. Pool area is spacious, clean and beautiful. Drinks at the tiki bar were delicious.
TravelerIt's very peaceful. Chickens roam free and we were able to see cows and get farm fresh eggs. 50 AMP and water connections, I saw reviews about the road being bumpy but we didn't have that experience. Everything was smooth. 10/10.
ScoutOld RV park where most of the people seem to live there. They initially charged me $200 for 2 nights (a Thursday and Friday). They had me by the dumpsters so the smell was pretty strong depending on the breeze. Tried to get a different site but was denied on the options I chose but atleast it was only 2 nights.
ScoutThe facilities were very clean but no room in between campers and most look like seasonal. No trees or bushes for shade or privacy. Kids all over in golf carts and scooters. Would not come back again.
ScoutWARNING: DO NOT STAY HERE. Absolute Slum Conditions & Toxic Management. If I could give Lakeside Haven RV Resort negative stars, I would. Do not be fooled by the beautiful pictures they post online—those are from years ago when the park first opened. Today, this place is a neglected, hazardous dump run by a toxic, completely unprofessional management team. We moved in on December 27th, renting a lot and an 18-foot camper for $750/month. We were assured it was "move-in ready." That was a blatant lie. On our first day, I opened the fridge/freezer combo, and hundreds of German cockroaches fell out of it like Niagara Falls. It required three separate bug bombs just to make the place semi-livable. On top of that, Mario, the manager, left a whole turkey in the freezer that thawed out and leaked putrid turkey juices all over the appliance. There was also absolutely no hot water because the water heater had a massive crack in it. It leaked so severely that it saturated the floor, causing the kitchen floor to visibly sag. When they finally came to "fix" the water heater, they smashed a massive hole in the side of the camper and just left it wide open. Because of their negligence, my cat escaped, and my girlfriend and I spent three agonizing days waiting for him to return. Thankfully, he did. The windows were also broken and just covered with cardboard and tape, and the sink was completely backed up because the previous tenant had dumped a hoard of pennies down the drain. When I confronted the manager, Mario, about these biohazards and structural failures, he didn't offer to fix them immediately. Instead, he coldly offered a refund. He knew exactly what he was doing—he put us in a position where we either had to live in a roach-infested, broken camper or be homeless. We had to stay and watch them take their sweet time doing bare-minimum repairs. When anyone has a legitimate issue with the park, Mario gets incredibly rude, nasty, and aggressive. If you express how unhappy you are with the conditions, management's official response is literally: "Don't like it? Move." Management is rarely even on-site—maybe once or twice a month—but they sure know how to cause drama. They constantly spread lies around the park claiming we weren't paying our bills, which is defamation. We have every single receipt proving we have paid on time, every single month. Furthermore, the utility situation is a massive rip-off. There is only one meter for the entire park. Management leaves the lights on and the AC blasting at 68 degrees constantly in common areas, and because of the single meter, the tenants are forced to split the bill for their energy waste. You are also paying out of pocket for "amenities" like a laundry room that should be covered. The park looks like absolute shit. The boat dock is in such disrepair it will literally ruin your boat if you try to use it. Worse than the infrastructure is the total lack of safety. They will let anyone move in here, including active drug users and people with violent, dangerous criminal records. To give you an idea of how dangerous this place is, I accidentally butt-dialed the police once. When the cop arrived, he literally told me that they get so many emergency calls for this park—ranging from domestic abuse to drug issues—that they are forced to come out and physically verify everyone is okay, even for a confirmed accidental dial. The police are fully aware of how awful this place is. There is also zero confidentiality. Management acts friendly to get your money, but once you are locked in, they treat you like garbage and spread your personal business. They literally told brand-new tenants intimate, private medical details about a resident living here with cancer. It is deeply disrespectful, unethical, and disgusting behavior. They trap you, lie about you, neglect the property, and treat you like absolute shit. For the love of God, stay the hell away from Lakeside Haven RV Resort and Mario.
ScoutNice campground but with only one bathroom and one shower for men. So you may have to wait in line
Campgrounds around Inverness, Florida sit within the unique limestone terrain of central Florida's karst topography. The region features multiple spring-fed rivers and lakes with average water temperatures holding steady at 72°F year-round. Campsites near Inverness include both state forest camping with established fire rings and water management district lands requiring advance reservations but often providing free camping access.
Kayaking on Rainbow River: Launch a kayak upstream from Rainbow Springs State Park Campground and paddle through crystal clear water to the headspring. "We rented canoes or kayaks and paddled upstream to the headspring. Such a gorgeous river," notes a camper who enjoyed the emerald waters outside of tubing season.
Off-road trail riding: The extensive trail network in Withlacoochee State Forest near Holder Mine Campground offers both hiking and off-road options. "The best thing about this place is the surrounding area: lots of (walking only) trails but my favorite, the seemingly endless off roading sandy Jeep trails throughout this forest state park," reports one tent camper.
Swimming in limestone quarries: At Mutual Mine Campground, campers can cool off in a crystal-clear swimming hole formed from an old limestone quarry. "Once done retreat to camp and cool off in the waters of the mine pond," writes one visitor who uses the campground as a base for motorcycle trail riding.
Riverside campsites: The sites at Crooked River Campground offer direct access to the Withlacoochee River. "The spacious, private campsites were a plus. It truly felt like we were camping alone in the forest," shared a first-time tent camper who visited with family, mentioning that "the walk to the river from our site was so worth it."
Privacy between sites: Many campers praise the natural spacing at primitive sites. "There are three different areas to camp, all require reservations however they are free," notes a visitor to Potts Preserve, adding that "the nicest are definitely the River camping, but oak hammock is still pretty nice."
Free camping options: Water management district lands like Flying Eagle Preserve offer no-cost camping with basic amenities. "You make a free reservation and receive the gate code to get in. We had a wonderful time and ran into very few people," reports one camper who found the preserve exceptionally quiet except for occasional airboat noise.
Gate codes required: Several campgrounds in the area use secure gate systems. "Make sure to have your gate code at the ready, the gate is unmanned, and it's right off the main road as soon as you turn in," advises a visitor to Rainbow Springs, warning "there is nowhere to pull over to the side."
Navigation challenges: GPS directions can be unreliable for some preserves. For Flying Eagle Preserve, a camper notes, "Waze, google, and Apple Maps are all wrong" and provides specific directions: "go to the Circle K... head east down Eden Dr across the bike path and keep going straight."
Seasonal closures: Some riverside sites at Potts Preserve - River Primitive Campground experience flooding during certain times of year. "The downside is they are flooded some of the year," mentions a reviewer who recommends the river primitive sites as the best option when available.
Bring water toys: Rainbow Springs State Park offers excellent water recreation for children. "Great for kayaking, swimming and snorkeling! Kids have a lot of fun!" says a visitor who enjoyed the full hookup sites and water access.
Look for frog-catching opportunities: Crooked River Campground provides natural exploration activities. "The kids really loved cooling off in the river and catching frogs," shares a parent whose children enjoyed "exploring the trail and then letting the kids play in the water."
Check noise levels: Some campgrounds experience airboat traffic that may disrupt sleep. "The airboats are loud, probably on the weekend its rather distractive," notes a camper at Potts Preserve River Campground, though they still rate it as "a great part of the river" for families.
Site selection matters: At Holder Mine, RV sites vary in size and shade. "All sites have fire pit with grill, picnic table and level cement pad. We had a large beautiful oak on our site," reports a camper who appreciated the "fenced and gated" security features despite "kinda sketchy cell service."
Check water pressure: Some RV parks have infrastructure limitations. One RVer notes that in the area, "The water pressure is very poor" at some campgrounds, recommending checking with the office about this before setting up.
Reserve well ahead: Popular RV campgrounds fill quickly, especially in winter. "Plan well ahead of time. A change of plans left only one night. And I was unable to get reservations to extend our stay for longer," advises an RV camper who wished they could have stayed longer at their forest campsite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Inverness, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Inverness, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 363 campgrounds and RV parks near Inverness, FL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Inverness, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Inverness, FL is Holder Mine Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Inverness, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Inverness, FL.
What parks are near Inverness, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Inverness, FL that allow camping, notably National Forests in Florida and Ocala National Forest.
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