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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
