Best Campgrounds near Lake Mary, FL

We got there late in the night and it easy to find a spot to spend the night

Great place to camp and very friendly and helpful staff only issue was port cell service, but it was expected to be out there. Very nice place

If only the resort was still maintained as website displays. Was assigned a small lot for our van. Risers for power, water, and cable were functional, but not weatherproof designed. I’d fear an electrical hazard when it rains. By my account, 4/7 washers and 4/8 dryers were tagged out of order. Suspect they been that way for some time due to faded and weathered signage. Restroom and shower area were large with multiple stalls, but in need of cleaning. Garbage dumpsters were overflowing with bags and trash. Dirt roads meandered throughout park with turns and overhanging trees, so may be challenging for long or high rigs. AT&T cell reception was poor. Free WIFI was weak and hard to connect/stay connected. But they offer upgraded service for $4/day. Park was quite quiet overnight given the numerous units. One lone owl hooting under the moonlight was nice. Did not use pool or visit poolside bar.

I like all the vegetation around the campsite which gives you a little privacy. The ground is level and it includes a fire pit and picnic table. Has water hook up and 30 amp power; no sewer on site. There is a dump station nearby…so close we can smell it while sitting outside. The only other issue is our site (#2) has a large oak tree in the middle that prevents us from opening the awning. Aside from that we like this campground.

Nova Family CG is a laidback, clean and friendly campground. The pool is beautiful and quiet. The grounds are well maintained, facilities are clean and the plus was yoga on Wednesdays!!

The main road in has huge deep ruts, the other road has a water crossing that was over my bumper on my lifted Mojave. I talked to another person that use to go out there and said she has seen a panther. I’ve yet to see anything. The campground is overgrown, and not many ppl visit due to not being able to get back. If you don’t have 4wd and recovery gear I wouldn’t risk it. There is a nice creek area where you can swim and or fish if you have the right equipment to get back there it can be fun, but if you don't you will be stuck until Some one comes by.

While there are many natural springs throughout north central Florida, Salt Springs is considered by many to be one of the best preserved and well-maintained springs throughout the state as well as being the ‘main attraction’ here in the Ocala National Forest, where you’ll find yourself at should you choose to swing by Salt Springs. Located in the center of the state, you’ll have near equal access to both the Atlantic Ocean to the east as well as the Gulf shores to the west. What’s great about Salt Springs SP is that there’s a lot more to experience and explore here than just the springs themselves, which you can swim, fish and canoe in, but nearby, there’s Lake Kerr, which offers up some additional on-the-water adventures.

As for the CG itself, to be clear, there are (2) campgrounds here at Salt Springs SP – one exclusively for the mobile-minded, while a second for the tent-pitchin’ breed. I will isolate my comments here for the former, which features 106 back-in and pull-through slots available for those camping with RVs, 5th Wheelers and / or trailers complete with FHUs offering up 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage, making this the largest CG of any in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with FHUs. And while most RV-centered CGs tend to line up parking pad slots so close together you’ll wonder whether or not you are a sardine, the spaces here are actually nice and spacious although there’s not a ton of trees or brush within the center or between sites to provide campers with any sense of privacy, although the arrow tip-shaped CG is flanked around its perimeter with decent tree-line cover and thick bush. And while each of the sites appeared to be quite level and perfectly accommodating to most RV sizes, you’ll want to take note there are gently rolling hills around this CG, which features nicely paved driving pathways and cement, grass and gravel pads.

Amenities: There are (2) very well-maintained and incredibly clean restroom facilities located centrally, with shower facilities in the tent CG, recycling dumpsters located on the northern perimeter, boat launch near Salt Springs Marina, small fishing canal just due north of the tent camping area, dump station, overflow parking, horseshoes and shuffleboard on the western edge, drinking fountains, picnic tables, fire rings, standing BBQ grills, pavilion with basketball court on the southern perimeter, camp store on the far eastern edge near the springs parking area, canoe rentals (offered up on a first-come, first-served basis… so you’ll want to get yours bright and early!) additional overflow and boat parking on the eastern flank betwixt this CG and the primitive tent area and, of course, likely the entire you’ve come here in the first place, the Salt Springs itself.

Insider’s Tips: (1) If you are looking to cast a line in nearby Lake Kerr complete with its cypress tree-lined shores, you can do so by accessing any one of the main piers and fishing docks that are scattered around this freshwater bastion of aqua marine or you can cast a line to catch bountiful small- and largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, blue gill, warmouth and shellcracker at one of the peninsulas that poke into this lake either at Lake Kerr Key to the north, Point Pleasant on the western edge or, right near Salt Springs by taking NE 247th Ct to the dead end on Juniper Street; (2) While there’s not a ton of eateries that are all that tempting in these parts, if you do decide to ‘get off the reservation’ nearby, there’s a Subway, Salt Springs Pizza, Square Meal, Hunt Brothers Pizza and Southern Buffet, that are honestly all just ‘mid,’ so for those that don’t mind a slightly longer drive, check-out Elis River Park Café, Townsend Cove, Renegades on the River, Sunset Landing and The Grill Out; (3) It is HIGHLY advisable that you make your CG reservations here at Salt Springs SP WAY in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 or booking online at Recreation.gov; (4) There is a single 2-mile hiking trail that is at best, moderate, although the path offers up a nice boardwalk midway through with excellent views of trees endemic to the Ocala National Forest like the many varieties of Oaks (Chapman, Sand Live, Ancient, Live, Myrtle), Big Scrub, Saw Palmetto, water-logged Palmettos and, of course, the Southern Magnolias, most of which you’ll find dripping with Spanish moss; and (5) Like most natural springs, as the day progresses, the spring will get busier and busier, so I always recommend if you are camping at a spring – because this grants you automatic admission unlike those who are just visiting for the day and are therefore subject to being turned away once the spring reaches capacity – that you chose to go either early or later in the day – as the water’s temperature doesn’t change remaining constant at 72 degrees throughout the day and, in fact, all year round.

Happy Camping!

The campground has large spots and are easy to back into. There was no reservation required. The spring is a short walk from the campground or a quick bike ride.

My and my family drove one loop around and it was busy we couldn't stay. And their tent camping area is this little loop. Very disappointed.

Property well maintained beautiful sunsets over the lake. Kind and helpful host.

When back in area will camp here again.

*Cabin 5 stars- Clean with comfortable furniture, updated decor, t.v. in living room and bedroom, nice size bathroom and bedroom, plenty of storage cabinets/closets, washer and dryer in bathroom, shower only-no tub, dishwasher, garbage disposal, very well stocked kitchen-even had a crock pot, spacious front porch, gravel driveway with this unit-some were paved, no picnic table, small charcoal grill, linens provided-very thick towels, decent pillows *Campground 4 stars- Clean, quiet, maintained landscaping, very few trees, cottage backs up to overlook an apartment complex, check-in office is a small building that has a walk up window for check in with limited hours, no gate *Amenities 4 stars- Clean and spacious rec center, 2 pools (1 with a kiddie pool), small but nice playground, shuffle board, lake, no putt-putt, no camp store, limited activities *Staff 4 stars-friendly

I called the Winter Garden number listed, which transfers to Encore, Thousand Trails reservations 888-07-1477.  They were very helpful to inform me that there are only RV sites at this location. Tent camping 27 miles away at Tropical Palms.

Very small park with only 15 campsites. Each site has power and water connections. Water access by pier for relaxing or fishing.

Great site, took grandson on his first camping trip. He thought it was great. He was planning on future visits here. Noise wasn’t bad, just background noise that you forget is even there. Restroom and shower pretty clean. The place and staff get a big thumbs up.

Electric and water went out several times during the month the laundry machines were locked a good portion of the time I would not recommend this establishment. They won’t answer your phone calls nor emails when it comes to giving you your deposit back.