20 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Campgrounds near Lake Butler, Florida range from developed facilities to more rustic experiences across north-central Florida. O'Leno State Park offers both the Dogwood and Magnolia campgrounds with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations approximately 25 miles west of Lake Butler. Other options include Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park with cabins and campsites about 20 miles east, while Cobb Hunt Camp provides a more primitive dispersed camping experience northwest of town. Several campgrounds in the area feature waterfront locations, with places like Ocean Pond Campground offering boat-in access and swimming opportunities.
Summer camping in this region requires preparation for Florida's characteristic heat and humidity, with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and afternoon thunderstorms common from June through September. Winter months (November through March) provide more comfortable camping conditions with daytime temperatures typically in the 60s-70s°F. Most developed campgrounds near Lake Butler have water and electric hookups, while dispersed sites generally offer minimal facilities. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly during spring break periods and holiday weekends when sites fill quickly. A review mentioned that "Etoniah Creek State Forest offers very nice primitive camping just off the Palatka-Lake Butler Bike trail with picnic tables, fire rings with grates, and latrines nearby."
The natural environment near Lake Butler provides outdoor activities beyond simply pitching a tent. Campers report high satisfaction with water-based activities at nearby springs, rivers, and lakes. Swimming areas at Hart Springs Park and Ginnie Springs are particularly popular, with one visitor noting they are "gorgeous and the swimming area is large." The Suwannee River borders several campgrounds in the western part of the region, offering paddling and fishing opportunities. While some campgrounds like O'Leno State Park receive praise for their "spacious, well-shaded sites within easy walking distance to bathhouses," others emphasize the more rustic aspects of camping in the area. Many campgrounds feature hiking trails through mixed pine and oak forests draped with Spanish moss, creating what one camper described as that "old Florida feel."
"The campsites are spacious, well shaded, and with in easy walking distance to the Bathhouse/Restrooms. The facilities are kept clean and neat."
"You know, like quintessential state or national park imagery where you would expect to see“Smoky The Bear” around the next bend."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 / night
"A fantastic spot for an overnight camping stop in Florida. Beautiful surroundings with great hiking and cycling trails to explore. Perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Well worth a visit!"
"Great campground with beautiful scenery by the lake! This campground reopened on March 31, 2021 at 50% capacity. We stayed there 5 nights- March 31 to April 5, 2021."
"A “real Florida” campground originally built by the CCC. Sites are decent size with typical Florida flora between the sites for some privacy. 30 amp/water hookups on site."
"Grounds are well kept as are most Florida parks. Short drive to several other park and springs in the area. Clean bathrooms."
from $18 / night
"This is clearly one of the best natural springs in all of Florida complete with 250 wooded acres of pure Florida wilderness."
"Favorite springs in Florida and one of my favorite places to camp and spend a few days in Florida or the country in general. Awesomely maintained, plenty of sites."
from $45 - $60 / night
"Just left STARK FLORIDA KOA. No shade but a huge amount of space between sites and set up on an angle which increased the sense of space. Sites had full hook up, elec, water, sewer."
"KOA - Stark, FL: We spent Christmas Eve here on our way to south Florida. Bill greeted us, took us to our site, guided us in. Very friendly reception."
from $34 - $58 / night
"Around here, it’s all good. All of the time. Ocean Pond Campground sits on the north shore of Ocean Pond, which is a striking 2-mile-wide lake within Osceola National Forest."
"Relatively quiet campground on a lake (boats, jet skis, kids sounds). Camp hosts very friendly. Decent bathrooms, laundry, showers. Dog friendly!"
from $6 - $60 / night
"This is a relatively small, privately owned RV campground just off of I-75 in northern Florida. We felt that it was a little pricey at $40 (with a Good Sam discount) for its location."
"Located halfway between UF Gatorland in Gainesville and Lake City right of I75, High Springs Campground is an ideal location that puts you smack dab in the middle of all of the state’s northernmost natural"
"The Florida State Trail passes through the park and is well marked. The ravines section is my favorite area in the park. In the greener months, it feels like a rain forest."
"The Florida Trail is my favorite part of my visits. The cabin we stayed in was small but nice. The ravines are gorgeous. You can access it with a vehicle, but you must walk down many stairs."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $100 / night
"We stopped in here on our way to Stone Mountain, coming from south Florida. It is conveniently located right off of I-75N with some restaurants nearby. Pull through full hook up site with cable."
"Found this location here on Dyrt and I'm so glad we did. We were tired along our drive and needed a place to park and rest."
Available this weekend
from $69 - $99 / night
GuideA “real Florida” campground originally built by the CCC. Sites are decent size with typical Florida flora between the sites for some privacy. 30 amp/water hookups on site. Roads are hard pack sand/gravel and not real smooth. A nice family campground for smaller size rigs. A playground accessible to most sites and classic bathhouse with showers is conveniently located. Lots of hiking trails. There’s an orange tree on my site!
GuideI liked this park it is large, lots to explore. We took our dog on her first camping trip and she was fantastic. I would like to go back without her though because I think I could hike better without her. There are a number of trails, but it rained for some of our stay so we getting get away from our camp too much. It was still lovely. I think a trip back is in order because we definitely didn’t experience all we would like to have experienced. We had our kayaks but since we had the dog we didn’t go. But I can see us returning for more adventures. We did walk over the suspension bridge, that was beautiful, a nice after the rain thing to do.
GuideMy husband and I went here for a long weekend, it was a really nice park we saw a lot of deer. There is 4+ miles of the Florida State Trail that runs through this park that we hiked. The terrain changes multiple times giving you a nice change in scenery. There is a ravine there too. The staff was great, and the facilities were clean. You can buy patches there too if you like to collect patches (or stickers) from the State Parks. And if you have the Florida State Park passport they have a stamp. It’s a good sized park and kept us busy.
LegendYou’ll only need to drive 30 minutes or so outside of JAX to access this one-of-a-kind back-country state forest featuring 24K acres of some pretty pristine thin longleaf pine forests complete with wiregrass where you’ll discover 9 pretty amazingly carved foot trails as well as 4 equestrian trails to take your noble steed for a ride. The roads in and around Jennings SF are unpaved heavily packed sandy dirt roads, so what that means when there’s lots of rain is a bit of a muddy mess where in some places you’ll need to be careful not to get stuck.
As for Hammock Campground, you’ll drive several miles to reach this camping outpost, but if you’re on the hunt for real P&Q and being nearly completely secluded, then the journey is well worth it. Just following the half dozen or so signs that beckon you here and upon arrival – you can’t miss it as there is one of those iconic FL shaped state park signs greeting you – just follow the lone, 1-way loop around the campground until you find your assigned # campsite. This is a primitive campground, so apart from an in-ground fire-ring w/ fold-over grill, 15 X 15 wooden perimeter tent camping pad (with raised sand silt ground) and standard issued picnic table, there aren’t many other amenities.
The single-use restrooms offer up a vaulted toilet and are - truth be told - God awful (make a note to bring your own TP) and not clean at all. There was a small communal area that featured a wonderful sheltered pavilion and a half dozen picnic tables along with a much larger communal fire pit with a half dozen seemingly brand new wooden benches – perfect for a bonfire or group s’mores for a party of 20 or so. I found the space between campsites along the serpentine-like drive to be perfectly spaced apart giving you decent distance between you and your neighbors with relatively good-to-great brush providing decent privacy.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) From a fauna standpoint, you’ll be sharing this SF with the likes of white-tailed deer, otters, gray fox, eastern cottontail, raccoons, opossums, wild turkeys and the Florida black bear, so be sure to plan accordingly; (2) While we didn’t think to bring our bicycles with us, we regretted it – so be sure to load up yours as there are miles and miles of great bike trekking to be had, but do ensure you bring fatter bike tires that can get you through the heavy sand roads; (3) Should you have a kayak or canoe, you should bring it as there are some 4 different kayak launches to choose from that will have you oaring; (4) Jennings SF is connected to the Great Florida Birding trail and features such fowl as northern bobwhite quail, pine warbler and an assortment of hawks; and (5) Make no mistake about it friends, this is a thick forest and is a host to some of the worst ticks you can catch – so take it from me and bring the tick repellant and be sure to wear trousers.
Happy Camping!
LegendPulling into Boogerville Hideout right off US 17 feels less like arriving at a campground and more like rolling into a full-on Roadhouse movie sequel where you’d expect Jake Gyllehnhaal (nee Patrick Swayze) to be bouncing at the front door. Upon entry, you might hear the rumble of bikes, the glow of string lights and the pulse of a live music set the tone before you even park. Located just south of Green Cove Springs, this biker bar and restaurant has recently carved out roughly a dozen RV slots behind and surrounding the property, creating a unique overnight option that blends convenience with a high-energy, social atmosphere. The setting is open and informal, with gravel and packed dirt surfaces, easy pull-in access and a layout that wraps around the main bar, stage and outdoor beer garden patio area.
The RV sites themselves offer basic hookups, making it functional for a quick overnight, but amenities beyond that are minimal. There are no traditional bathhouses, no playgrounds and no campground-style comforts, just port-a-potties that are shared with patrons of the bar. The vibe here is unapologetically lively, especially on weekends when live bands, karaoke, and DJs turn the outdoor beer garden into something closer to a small festival than a campground. Navigation is simple enough, and setup is quick, but this is clearly not designed for quiet evenings, early bedtimes and families with small kids - trust me - would not want to ‘drop anchor’ here for sure.
Surrounding the property, you are positioned along US 17 with quick access into Green Cove Springs for supplies, where you will find grocery options like Dollar Tree and El Supremo, gas stations like BP and casual dining spots like The Pub @ Magnolia Point, Roger That Wings & Things. If you are looking to balance the energy of Boogerville with a bit of calm, nearby parks and the St. Johns River offer opportunities to reset during the day before returning to the action at night.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Choose a site as far from the stage and US 17 as possible if you plan to turn in early, as music can run late on weekends; (2) Expect noise, this is part of the experience, not a drawback to be avoided; (3) Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper; (4) Plan to use your own onboard facilities if possible, as port-a-potties are shared and can get busy (and somewhat messy, particular closer to midnight on the weekends); (5) This is best treated as an overnight stop tied to enjoying the bar and music rather than a traditional campground stay; (6) If you are looking for any great grub in the vicinity, you’ve just hit the BBQ jackpot as less than a 20 minute drive from here, you’ll discover the legendary Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ that will be – without any contention – the greatest spot for smoked grub you will find IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA (yeah, I know, that's a big statement - so prove me wrong); and (7) If you’ve had 1 or 2 too many, you want to be incredibly careful and not try your luck up or down US 17 as this stretch of pavement is continuously patrolled by Florida’s finest, which is just yet another reason you should consider laying up for the night here @ Boogerville Hideout.
Happy Camping!
GuideThe six sites available are spread out in the Cary State Forest. You can see the tops of some RV’s but they’re not close. The site has a very nice picnic table, fire pit,benches around the fire pit, a free standing grill, water, electric and a concrete pad to park on with a tent site behind the pad. Grass is freshly cut and the site is clean!
ScoutI organized a group camping weekend here October 2 to 4, 2026. My group booked and paid for more than a dozen campsites and approximately 40 people, all next to each other, so the people around my site were my own friends. On Saturday afternoon we were sitting in our chairs when a security officer walked up and demanded that I lower my music. Nobody refused. I was turning it down as I explained that the music was for my whole group and that the neighbors around us were all our people. I also asked who had complained. Instead of answering, he snapped,"You do what I said and turn the music down." I told him I already had. With no attempt to calm things down, he shouted that we were out of there and had 30 minutes to pack up and leave. Nobody in my group raised a voice or got hostile. We were polite and we complied, and we were still treated like criminals. When we went to the front desk to report how he had behaved, the clerk made it clear that our whole group was the issue and that they were watching us and that I had to leave. That told me this was never about one speaker or lowering the music. We were singled out while other groups were left alone. I even heard from others that were allowed to stay, that they heard Spanish music blasting at 1am AFTER QUIET HOURS! So, why were we kicked out? Discrimination! No refund was offered. They kept our money for a stay they cut short. We have held several events here over the years, about 8 visits in the last three years. There will be ZERO in the future. The springs are beautiful, but the way security and the front desk treat paying guests is not. My group is taking our events and our money somewhere else!
GuideA fantastic spot for an overnight camping stop in Florida. Beautiful surroundings with great hiking and cycling trails to explore. Perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Well worth a visit!
ScoutI love this campground very clean and has nice big sites.
Dispersed camping spots near Lake Butler, Florida offer primitive sites with minimal facilities, situated within the Osceola National Forest's pine flatwoods ecosystem. The region has a humid subtropical climate with sandy soil that typically drains well after rainfall, allowing for year-round camping opportunities. Mosquitoes become prevalent from May through September when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity.
Paddle the springs network: Visitors at Ginnie Springs Outdoors can access multiple natural springs through connecting waterways. "The spring gets packed with tubers, floaters, coolers, kayaks, canoes, scuba divers and every other human powered vessel as well but that just gives Ginny it's vibe. What most people don't realize is that if you get to the spring EARLY in the morning you can have it mostly to yourself and that includes the spring run and river too!" according to Perry J.
Hike forest trails: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers multiple hiking paths with elevation changes unusual for Florida. A camper noted, "Nice hikes and birding abound! Amazing sunrises with the birds at the lakes. It's quiet, and the sites are relatively private." These trails feature ravine systems where temperatures can be noticeably cooler than surrounding areas.
Experience river disappearance: The Santa Fe River's underground section at O'Leno State Park creates a unique geological feature. "The park had nice hiking trails, but I enjoyed the kayaking most of all. There is a swimming section. The river goes underground but you can't kayak in this area," explains Sean B., highlighting this unusual natural phenomenon where the river vanishes into limestone caverns.
Clean, modern facilities: Regular maintenance at Magnolia Campground ensures comfortable restrooms despite wilderness surroundings. "The bathhouse here is a perk. Clean and individual, large hot showers. O'Leno is in a great location to visit Ichetucknee, Ginnie, Gilchrist and Poe springs. Only about 15min drive!" reports Leslie M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Dawn and dusk bring active wildlife periods at several campgrounds. A camper at Magnolia Campground shared, "The campground is quiet. There are tons of birds, tortoise, and deer. This is one of our favorite campgrounds." Morning birdwatching yields frequent sightings of woodpeckers, hawks, and wading birds.
Variety of swimming options: Natural water features provide alternatives to typical pool swimming. At Ocean Pond Campground, campers appreciate the designated beach area: "We were the only ones utilizing the beach area which was super small. But worked great for a family of 3 such as ourselves." The sandy-bottom swimming areas contrast with the crystal-clear spring swimming available at nearby locations.
Site positioning challenges: Some campgrounds have utilities placed in inconvenient locations. At Island Oaks RV Resort, "When they designed the park, the hook ups are on the wrong side of the spots. We needed 50 feet and our friends 80 feet of sewage hook ups! The sewer connection is not sink and does not drain properly." This design issue requires extra hose length for many sites.
Weekday vs. weekend experience: Visitor numbers fluctuate dramatically between weekdays and weekends at popular springs. "Ginnie Springs is an absolute blast! The float is gorgeous and the springs are clear and the perfect temperature all year round. My only advice would be do not bring small children to Ginnie. It is more like a huge party with plenty of drunken antics all day and all night," warns April L.
Limited services in rural locations: Most camping areas near Lake Butler have minimal nearby shopping options. When staying at Ocean Pond Campground, a visitor noted: "The only bad thing there is not much for resupply or stores around. There is one small store but that's about it. So make sure you have what you need." The nearest major grocery stores are in Lake City or Starke, both approximately 20-25 miles away.
Midweek visits for quieter experience: Family camping benefits from less crowded weekday scheduling. "It is not quiet in any way and the partying never seems to stop. The kids will start riding their bikes, playing ball and flying drones in the AM so get your sleep while you can," reports one camper about weekend crowds at Ginnie Springs.
Tick prevention essential: High Springs RV Resort and surrounding areas require thorough insect preparation. "Tried going on a little family hike and all ended up with ticks so make sure you spray really good if this is on your agenda," cautions a visitor at O'Leno State Park. Long pants tucked into socks and regular tick checks after hiking help prevent issues.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some locations provide specific facilities for children. A visitor to Island Oaks RV Resort shared: "Tons of amenities and lots of activities for the kids and full bar for the adults!" The campground includes playgrounds, organized activities during summer months, and shallow swimming areas appropriate for supervised children.
Extension cord necessities: Electrical connections at several campgrounds require longer-than-standard cords. At Starke-Gainesville NE KOA, a visitor noted: "Our rig is 42' w/ 4 slides and had lots of space. Escorted to our site. Nice picnic tables. Pool area was clean and inviting." Despite spacious sites, utility connection points may be positioned far from RV hookup locations.
Navigation challenges: Some camping areas have tight turns and low-hanging branches. A camper at Magnolia Campground observed, "The roads are very narrow and I was impressed watching some of the big rigs navigate through." RVs over 30 feet should call ahead to confirm site accessibility and may need to request specific sites away from dense tree coverage.
Water and humidity precautions: The humid climate affects RV systems and comfort. "We stayed in one of the water-only sites. The camp hosts were friendly and helpful. We hiked several nearby sections of the Florida trail, and we got some strange insect bites, plus ticks," reports a visitor to Ocean Pond Campground. Running dehumidifiers inside RVs helps prevent mold issues during extended stays in summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lake Butler, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Butler, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 194 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Butler, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lake Butler, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Butler, FL is Dogwood Campground — O'Leno State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Butler, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Butler, FL.
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