We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Ocala National Forest. Finding a cozy cabin in Florida has never been easier. Search nearby cabins or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida. The national forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest.
The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby. For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horseshoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
The semi-tropical region gives the campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.
Salt Springs is very close to Lake George, a great fishing destination.
$31 - $65 / night
Silver Springs State Park’s campground offers Cabins, RV and Tent Sites, and Group Primitive Camp Sites. Located beneath shady oaks and beautiful pine trees, Silver Springs’ vacation cabins accommodate up to six people. Each cabin has a full dining area, two bedrooms, one bath, stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, gas fireplace (October 1 to April 30), central cooling and heating and a large screened porch. Fifty-nine spacious sites in two campground loops easily accommodate even large camping units, with a maximum recreational vehicle length of 50 feet. Tent campers are welcome as well. Each site offers water and electric hook-up, as well as a fire ring, barbecue grill and picnic table. The primitive group camping area, set amid shady oaks, is for organized groups only, with preference given to youth groups. The area includes picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Non-potable water is available and there are no shower facilities. For more information and to make a group reservation for primitive camping, please call the Ranger Station at (352) 236-7148. This number is for primitive group camping reservations only.
$24 - $110 / night
Blue Spring State Park has 51 campsites (recreational vehicles up to 40 feet long) located in the sand pine scrub and are within walking distance to the spring. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, water, electricity and a grill. A dump station is available in the park. Pets are welcome in the Blue Springs camping area in accordance with our Pet Policy. ADA Accessible sites at Blue Springs State Park camping are offered on Reserve America and two new bathhouses are complete with accessible showers and bathroom stalls. Conservation measures can produce astounding results. In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200 and by 2018, that number skyrocketed to a record 485. Besides "sea cows," fish abound in the spring run, and these attract a variety of wading birds, ospreys, eagles and kingfishers. To see the park’s wonders, visitors can hike along the spring run or on the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail. Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals are available at the park) or take a guided river boat cruise.
$24 - $95 / night
Wekiwa Springs Camping offers slopes of gently rolling hills supporting longleaf pine among other specialty plants is the Sandhill habitat where the 60 spacious campsites are located. Each wooded site has water and electrical hook-up, a fire ring with grill and a picnic table. Some sites also have sewer hook-ups and a dump station is located at the campground. Accessible camp sites can be requested at the time of reservation. Two accessible restrooms with showers are located in the camping area. Firewood is available at the ranger station. Well behaved pets are allowed in the campground in accordance with our Pet Policy.
Located in a shady hammock near the Tomoka River, each of the park's 100 campsites has a picnic table, grill, electric hook-up and water. A dump station is located within the park. Three restrooms with hot showers, two of which have accessible facilities, are located in the campground.
$24 per night plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Includes water and electricity.
Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older or who hold a Social Security disability award certificate or a 100-percent disability award certificate from the federal government are permitted to receive a 50-percent discount on current base campsite fees. Proof of eligibility is required.
Well-behaved pets are allowed in the campground in accordance with our Pet Policy.
Maximum recreational vehicle (RV) length is 34 feet.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
$24 / night
LG01
$18 / night
TURK
$20 - $100 / night
On the shores of beautiful Lake Waldena in Silver Springs, Florida, nestled in the Ocala National Forest, is a restful, quiet camping resort. The best-hidden treasure in central Florida.
We have 46 RV Sites. All RV sites are on brick pavers and accommodate big rigs. We have an on site restaurant, tiki bar, pickleball courts and marina. Live entertainment on the weekends. We are located on the St. Johns River, near Silver Glen Springs, Salt Springs, Ocklawaha River, Mud Springs, Welaka Springs, Juniper Run. Pontoon boats and jet skis are available for rent on the property.
$80 - $190 / night
About the Property:
• Located above the shoreline overlooking the breathtaking 12,000 acre Lake Oklawaha
• Surrounded by over 400,000 acres of timber that is the Ocala National Forest
• Gateway to over 250 miles of hiking, and four-wheelin' fun
• Just 30 miles from Ocala and less than two hours to Florida's East and West coasts
Resort Amenities:
• General Store with personal items, and camping provisions
• Gather in our 7000 S.F. free-span Activity Lodge
• Enjoy our shaded dog park, playgrounds, sand volleyball court, horse shoes, Lake Ocklawaha overlook beach, movie nights
• Modern laundry and bathhouses with Staffed Guardhouse Security
• Complimentary WiFi with high-speed options
• On demand grocery delivery service
$58400 - $120000 / night
Scout
We have stayed here on more than one occasion. We have always stayed in the camping cabins because they are located on the properties small pond. It’s nice to feed the ducks while you’re sitting on the porch swing having your coffee. It’s a short distance to town, and also the beaches. There’s also an amphitheater nearby that usually has great concerts.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. So happy to welcome this partner to our platform. Immerse yourself in this quiet and relaxing getaway. Splurge a little and spring for the private chef meals, we heard they are amazing!! Hang out in the hot tub while looking at the lake. Book your stay today and come back here to leave them some love.
Guide
This campground is top notch, tons of amenities- pool, hot tub, restaurant, bar, dock, fitness center. We enjoyed bingo night at the activities center.
Only thing we didn’t like- no fires at the campsite.
We will definitely return!
Scout
Love it here. Easy access to bike trails, camp fire nights and log cabins available if you don't have an RV.
GuideGreat full hook up, paved site with easy access to beautiful St Augustine Beach. There’s also a large, clean pool area with hot tub, big fishing dock with small boat/kayak ramp, and bar/restaurant at the pool. Staff is friendly, facilities are clean. Sites are small, but we didn’t spend much time outside of the site. Beautiful sunsets over the dock.
Legend
If you’ve landed on this review hopefully its because of a primary decision to visit one of the greatest beach communities in all of Florida – New Smyrna Beach. This super-slim archipelago boasts some of the most perfect white sugar sand beaches anywhere – plus, the best part is that this beach is a proper ‘drive-on’ beach, so whatever you would normally have to haul in a cart or wheeled by trolley to the beach, you can simply keep in the trunk or bed of your SUV / car / truck. And if you are here, hopefully you have planned to be here for some time – or, upon seeing how simply amazing New Smyrna Beach is, have decided that you need a place to stay ... but unfortunately, you and a couple thousand other people have come to the same conclusion. So what do you do?
Well, you look for simple and affordable accommodations nearby, and that’s what will attract you to Sugar Mill Ruins Travel Park, which is conveniently located only 15 minutes drive or so from beachside bliss. While this is definitely an RV-laden outpost, the vibe here is quite contagious, with its main office greeting you immediately upon arrival, where just past this wooden log cabin structure pure hedonism awaits with vibrant bouncing beach balls popping up and down in this overgrown campside Florida shaped-pool bursting with loud southern country music (yee-haw!) and nearly everyone en towe brandishing a coozie with some cheap domestic beer and endless “hey y’all’s” and smiles to boot at the ‘Tiki Hut’ (warning – there’s nothing here that resembles a ’Tiki Hut’ apart from the drinks they pour, although even here, no umbrellas!). This place feels like Spring Break for the adults toting 2-3 kids with them as they dwell in their mobile manufactured temporary housing.
With all the proper hook-ups being provided (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer, water), this oversized RV menagerie feels like it’s been carved out of a forest of tall needle-pine trees sheltering its residents from the sweltering heat of NE Florida. The family-friendly restrooms and shower facilities are fairly clean and there’s picnic tables and BBQ grills sporadically littered all over the place. Sugar Mill Ruins also rents out very affordable cabins (12 x 20) with twin bunk beds and fold-out futon (nice) complete with mini-fridge, table, chairs, microwave and even a porch with deck chairs. There’s more than 200 sites to choose from complete with a playground for the kiddos, game room with 2 billiards tables, plus 3 acres of lake fishing along with a cool pavilion with games and events (this is the main building that you’ll first encounter).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While not exactly a destination, Sugar Mill Ruins is so dang convenient to some of the best beach experiences you might ever encounter, depending upon your leaning, leave early and spend as much time as you can at New Smyrna Beach; (2) If you’re looking for a different place to soak some suds, I highly recommend Norwood’s Treehouse Bar, which has fantastic cocktails and local live music; and (3) For simply sublime food, check out Outriggers Tiki Bar& Grille, which has a pretty gracious happy hour where you can spot manatees and dolphins while biting down on some of the freshest catch in Florida, but with outstanding accoutrement, like key lime coconut beurre blanc and sticky bamboo rice or pineapple and peppadew rhum butter infused fish entrees.
Happy Camping!
Traveler
Best site around. Outdoor kitchen and shower both with hot water! Flush toilets. Adorable tiny cabin rental is available. Social distancing is being practiced. Creativity is bounding. Artists and musicians are highly encouraged to visit. You'll wish you came sooner.
Traveler
We have stayed here several times over the last few months. This is a bigger RV and golf resort with some 1200+ sites (a mix of mobile homes and open RV sites). The staff at the front gate were very welcoming and accommodating as the first site we were assigned was too small for our TT and was further away from the amenities (like the heated pool and hot tub) than we prefer, they quickly found other available sites for us to choose from and switched us to one that worked for us. The campground is family friendly but there is a big senior/retiree presence, they also have a decent playground and a fenced in Dog Park.
Guide
If you are looking to stay at a beachside RV resort with a large pool look no further! There are two pools: a large pool for everyone and a smaller adult only pool with hot tub. The location is perfect with several restaurants and a grocery store close by. Review the map before selecting your site as some are tight but many are pull thru making it easier. The roads are dirt and hold water after a rain but nothing major. Site #81 is a pull-thru/back-out site that is close to the beach walkway. This site has a covered patio with a picnic table. Our 26' travel trailer fit plus a vehicle with no problem. We will definitely be back!
Guide
Has by far not been my favorite. It’s divided into 3 parts. We are Accross the road with no swimming pool or dog park. The main camp has a pool but the hot tub is broken. The dog park they do have has been closed the entire time we have been here. The main camp ground is very crowded and close together but at least there is a lot going on compared to our side which is very very quiet except for the fair people who have started coming in. There is another pool in the third section but that has been closed forever. I also am not fond of the area itself. For some this might be great but if you have small kids I don’t think this is the camp ground for you. Luckily we have a membership because with the lack of amenities I would have been disappointed to pay the going rate.
TravelerThe park isn’t the best park we have been to but the surrounding area and safety and nice people make up for it. The bathroom is very nice and modernized. Laundry is more pricy than any other but they take card so it’s nice not having to get cash or quarters every time. Don’t like being towered the front of the park right next to the road. Love to be in the back where all the shady trees are. Sometimes neighbors play loud music until pretty late. The people in the park are so nice. The heated pool and hot tub are wonderful though could use some more water in it at times. One of the bathroom stalls has been closed forever and isn’t being fixed so there is only two in the main one. There is another set though in the club house area. Has a nice library and a mail room. Mount Dora and down town Eustis are beautiful.
Legend
Centrally located between Eustis, Tavares, Umatilla, and Leesburg you will find this lovely RV resort on Lake Harris in Central Florida. Their busy season starts in Oct and goes through April with many guests staying throughout the months. Off season it is very easy to get a spot.
They are in the middle of a large number of renovations. All sites will have concrete pads by late 2019, New clubhouse is scheduled but behind schedule.
They have 7 hotel units they advertise as vintage but they are just full of ancient furnishings and poorly lit - yet they will take you back in time to when the park first opened in the 50's. There are about 5 lodges and over 300 RV sites. Best sites seem to be up on the hill and they boast a beautiful view of Lake Harris and the 9 hole golf course. They are spacious but not private and there are no picnic tables at sites.
At the lower portion of the resort you will find the marina, 160 high and dry racks, about 60 wet slips, current clubhouse, bathrooms, brand new laundry facility and a very small store. They have golf clubs to loan if you want to check out their 9 hole course, there is a decent pool, gym, and showers. The hot tub is permanently out of commission. Grounds and facilities were very clean and you can tell that fresh painting had recently been done.
With all the small town Florida vibe in the area it is not hard to find the perfect place for dinner, shopping, exploring or just taking a boat out for some fishing. Staff is very knowledgeable of the area and can refer you to many resources. In busy season they have themed pot luck dinners, live music and other activities to keep everyone entertained.
With some of the best prices in the area you really can't go wrong with a stay here - unless you are looking for high end or luxury amenities. This home town park will make you feel like you just came home.
While you are here check out some of the local trails and parks!
Hickory Point Park 27341 State Road 19 just around the corner
Flat Island Preserve 2388 Owens Rd, Leesburg
For more fun visit Trout Lake Nature Center, Crystal River Kayak Company, and the Goblin Market (fantastic crab bisque)
Ranger
Located in Ocala National Forest in central Florida, this park is great for fishing, canoeing and snorkeling. This was a wedding trip for us so we had to keep the exploration to a minimum, I did however get a chance to take a dip in the springs and had a blast, can't wait to go back with better camera and video equipment.
LegendIt’s not common to find a spot that you can plant your RV on and go out to hit the links for the day all in the same location, but here at Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort you can hit par on both fronts. Located right off Route 27 just due west of Lake Apopka in central Florida, Clerbrook offers nearly 300 acres of prime landscape that posits 1200+ RV slots for your parking and vacationing pleasure. Here you’ll be able to perfectly blend a golfing oasis that blends its RV offering complete with lush vegetation, interconnecting ponds and narrow canals all surrounded by ancient Oaks draped with Spanish Moss.
As far as amenities goes, Clerbrook does not disappoint. Here’s just a small list of all the great amenities you’ll find: Welcome Center, Heated Swimming Pools, BBQ and Picnic tables, Planned Activities, Clubhouses, Billiard Room, Card Rooms, Post Office, Fishing Area, 18 Hole Golf Course with Pro Shop (note: first 9 holes are complimentary with a visit to the Pro Shop), Exercise & Fitness Center, Horseshoe Pits, Recreation Hall, Laundry, Shuffleboard Courts, Library, Nature Walks, Pets Welcome, Picnic Pavilion, Driving Range, Dog Park, Wood Shop, Basketball Court, Playground, Restrooms & Showers, Softball Field, Hot Tub, RV Storage, complimentary WiFi, Arts and Craft Classes as well as Live Entertainment on the weekends. Of course, for RV’ers you can expect both back-in and pull-through slots with all of the traditional water, sewage and electric (30 / 50 amp) hook-ups.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’ve got wine on your mind (and why wouldn’t you when on holiday?!), just meander a few miles south of Clerbrook and you’ll discover a fairly respectable winery called Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards offering tours and tastings featuring Muscadine grapes (apparently a prominent grape varietal down in these parts known for their antioxidant qualities; (2) When you get tired of fixing every meal from your mini-fridge or cooler, then you’ll have to head south to Clermont where you’ll find PeruRican Ceviche, which for these parts is pretty outstanding and if you are still longing for pizza, check out Mamma Rita’s Pizzeria for some good pies and pasta; and (3) If nature is calling and you want to get out for a good hike, then head due south to Hiawatha Preserve that has a few dog parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, hiking paths, and of course, access to Lake Hiawatha, in case you want to drop your kayak or canoe in the water.
Happy Camping!
Ranger
We ended up deep in the ocala national forest. Make sure you look at a map before you go. Once you reach the forest you will lose all reception on phones. Campground states free WiFi but plan to be without. No WiFi worked while we were there. Neat trails and plan to return for summer and warmer weather and will bring atvs. Pet friendly. Seen a black bear roaming at night. John the firewood guy brought wood around for $10 in evening. Nice bathhouse if you need it.
LegendWhat I love about Ocean Grove is that it puts you smack dab due south of St. Augustine (a.k.a. Ancient City), but far enough away where you can get away from the noise, traffic and otherwise touristy area of the country’s oldest city. While the downside is that this roadside RV stand is, well, located roadside and in fact, right on the AIA, it does place you within a few minutes’ drive to some of the best beaches, like Crescent Beach, which is only 4 blocks away. Given that this is a fairly well-known attractive area known for its beaches and southern way of seaside life, there’s also no shortage of tiki bars, fish shacks and taco stands to choose from, all within walking distance.
As for the RV Resort itself, Ocean Grove lives up to the word ‘resort’ given all the amenities that you’ll find here, especially the very well-maintained, amazingly massive heated in-ground pool, gargantuan paved patio deck (with separate area for dining) complete with patio chairs, umbrellas and lounge chaises, along with the overgrown group-sized bubbling hot tub, in addition to offering a very well-stocked market store, restaurant and bar (can anyone say “Mai Tais poolside, por favor?!”) as well as perhaps its most impressive asset, offering direct water access to the Intracoastal (along with kayak rentals, in case you forgot yours).
Additional amenities include: basketball and bocce ball courts, coin-operated laundr-O-mat (complete with community book exchange / library), billiards and foosball tables, propane refilling station, pull-through and back-in RV slots complete with full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer and water), perfectly level paved RV pads to park on, picnic tables, horseshoe ring, fishing pier on the San Julian river, lagoon with turtle watching, children’s playground, doggie park with designated dog run, boat ramp, RV / boat / jet ski storage area, complimentary WiFi, large picnic pavilion, cable TV (additional charge), golf cart parking, designated dumpsters, community fire pit (the only place on the premises where fires area allowed), recreation hall with A/C and oversized wall-mounted TVs, heated and air-conditioned bath houses with showers. Extra points here for Ocean Grove providing a gated entry point with actual staff that adds additional layers of security, important given the proximity to the AIA.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) IMHO the best spots here at Ocean Grove are those that are waterfront: F138–F141 next to the fishing pier or J100–J126; (2) One of the very few detractors at this place is that of the 208 RV slots available, you will notice that Ocean Grove attempts to make every square inch count, so no matter where you are parked, there won’t be a ton of privacy and your hook-ups will feel very crowded (sewage line right next to the picnic table, hmm, not very enticing to say the least!); (3) When you get tired of trying to figure out what that next meal is going to be when staring down at your mini-fridge or cooler, then check out some local haunts, like Salt Water Cowboy (where anything from the Land, Sea and Swamp section like fried Alligator is pretty amazing), World Famous Oasis Restaurant or Connolly’s Shore Grill for fresh caught seafood; and (4) If you are looking for a decent place to do some great hiking, then look no further than due southwest of Ocean Grove where you can check out Matanzas State Park, that has miles and miles of unspoiled hiking trails with virtually the entire place to yourself (save the deer and gators that you might come across).
Happy Camping!
Legend
OK, so maybe it’s not quite like Margaritaville (nor do I think there is any aspiration to be like Jimmy Buffet’s version of paradise), but if you’re toting an RV and looking to dock up to a lakeside marina that is perfectly attuned to the ‘living in outdoors but comfortably’ mindset, then there’s one heck of cantina waiting for you with cold 'tall boys' and some pretty amazing local catch fried / grilled / baked up any which way you’d like.
Hidden under the shade of Ancient Oaks, Magnolias and tropical Palms, there’s few better places that I would recommend to find respite from the busy week than this Lodge & Resort in Welaka. Located just about 20 minutes south of North Central Florida’s Palatka and right on St. Johns River, with plenty of amazing fishing spots to cast from, whether on land or in watercraft, this very well could be your slice of perfect natural heaven.
As far as amenities go, all RV sites offer 20 / 30 / 50 electric amp hook-ups. And no worries if you don’t have an RV, because the good folks at Welaka Lodge & Resort will rent you one of their many (there’s about 10) river-front cottages. Regardless of where you lay your head for the night, there’s a proper heated swimming pool and jacuzzi here with an adjacent community bar making ‘sipping & sudsing’ quite easy to accomplish. There’s decent WiFi for all your devices and social media navigating pleasures as well as lending library, laundr-O-mat, boat slips in addition to kayak and canoe rentals. Located in this same community complex are the shared restroom and bathhouse facilities (which were just OK, to be honest). Back at the main office, you’ll find that there’s a little store where they have a small amount of sundries, booze, camping supplies and ice to purchase. The best part? I found the Boat Bar to be an EXCEPTIONAL amenity that no other waterfront RV resort can compare with – even if I wasn’t staying here, I would absolutely be hanging out at the bar every night to catch the blissful sunset as well as enjoy the outstanding locally caught and cooked seafood. If cruising on the river / lake isn’t your idea of fun, there’s tons of fantastic options for land lubbers too.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Not more than a 7 minute drive from Welaka Lodge & Resort is the under-visited natural gem of Welaka State Forest, just teaming with interesting paths to hike, horse trails to ride and all sorts of endemic wild animals to scout; (2) If tent camping is your thing (because they don’t offer this back at the Resort), there’s plenty of tent pitching options here that will be sure to delight. For more on this, please visit my TheDyrt review of Welaka State Forest; (3) If you are satisfied with being on the water in front of Welaka Lodge & Resort, but want to get off ‘the plantation’ anyway, there’s a few great excursion options that I would highly recommend from Shrimp R Us for excellent locally caught seafood and great happy hour specials that will allow you to mix and mingle with the locals; (4) Just libations? Then there’s Long’s Log Cabin, which is just a saloon for good ‘ol boys (and the lasses that put up with them!) who like to keep things pretty down to earth; and (5) Just down the road from the Lodge is Sunset Landing, which is an amazing spectacle for the eyes as well as fantastic little kitchen that makes pretty great appetizers to keep your sundowners company.
Happy Camping!
ScoutIf you love to ride ATV’s, Jeeps or any OHV, then this is the campground for you! The campground is OHV friendly and there is even a trail that takes you from the campground right into the Ocala National Forest! Aside from that, the staff was friendly and very accommodating. Campsites are first come first serve so you are able to pick whatever site you like when you get there. There are two bath houses and both were clean with hot showers. Restrooms were also clean and they had a laundry room too. The pool was clean as well. Overall we had a great time and can’t wait to come back.
LegendGreat CG in the Ocala National Forest. Older paved site, with awesome hook ups. The camper sat on a fairly level paved pad which was a pleasant surprise. Easy drive to the Salt Springs, which is in the same park and a must see. Staff and guests were all so friendly and helpful. It was about an hour and fifteen minutes to Daytona and St Augustine. We have Verizon and Dish Network, which both worked perfectly. No cable, WiFi or other cell carriers. Not much in the area, but it did have gas stations and a few places to eat close. Overall a very good experience. Should be a 4.5 star review
LegendSalt Springs Recreation Area is part of the Ocala National Forest. It’s the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River and protects the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest. The Salt Springs gets its name from the magnesium, sodium and potassium levels in the water, giving it a slight salinity. We made our reservations online at www.recreation.gov you can also call 877-444-6777 the local office is(352) 685-2048. We’re a married couple in our forties traveling with two dogs and a cat in our 37 foot motorhome. We stayed at Salt Springs campground for about a week in February. It was$34 for full hookups or$23 for tent camping. American Land& Leisure does a great job managing this recreation and camping area, the staff are professional and friendly. It’s a very safe and well lit campground. Activities include spring swimming, basketball courts, horseshoe pit, fishing, snorkeling, hiking, boating and kayaking. Canoe rentals are available. Nearby in the town of Salt Springs you will find a grocery store, gas station, restaurants, post office and laundromat. Don’t expect big box stores to shop in, this is a very small town and a place to get away from the world. We stayed in a full hookup site and had lots of space to ourselves, at least 25 yards to our neighbor on either side and about 40 yards to the next loop behind us. It was a flat site and very easy to level our motorhome. Sites are fully equipped with fire ring, grill, lantern post and picnic table. The tent sites include a bear locker. We loved the recycling opportunities at each trash container. They recycle plastic, glass and aluminum. The bathhouses are a gem, extremely clean and well taken care of. For campers in tents they offer a kitchen sink area to clean your dishes. Overall we loved our stay here, we went swimming multiple times with our snorkel gear and drove down to Silver Springs on two separate days(one for the glass bottomed boats and a second day to go kayaking).
GuideWhen in Ocala National Forest, we stayed at Salt Springs, Juniper Springs and Alexander Springs. Our favorite camping site was Juniper Springs.
Heads up! The different sites within the forest are operated by different concessionaires and you have to pay to use (even day use) them individually! If you’re camping, you don’t have to pay day use fee. If you want to see multiple sites and ok with moving camp, you can save a few bucks
Pros
Cons
Legend
One of the few crown gems you’ll discover along Beverly Beach, Camptown RV Resort & Campers Village is MASSIVE! But I must forewarn my tent pitching brethren – this is 100% an RV hangout (for the most part) of the concrete jungle kind. That said, if you’re looking for a spot to park your mobile living room for the night (or the month) and want to be able to either quickly access, or better yet, have amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean with simply outstanding beaches, then look no further than Camptown!
From an amenities standpoint, all slots are either vertical or diagonal (facing directly towards the ocean or across the street towards the Intracoastal) with both sides offering full hook-ups (water, sewer and 50 amp electrical service - Camptown offers 30 amp adapters free of charge) as well as complimentary cable and WiFi for all your social media surfing needs. Don’t have an RV? Not a problem, Camptown has you covered with their cabin rentals (but there’s only about a half dozen, so make a reservation early if you want these). Onsite you’ll discover a fairly full-service market with gifts and souvenirs, fishing gear, beach items, snacks and soda, booze and mixers as well as all the RV camping supplies you might need while here.
What I love most about Camptown is that it puts you SMACK DAB in front of one of the most beautiful beach shorelines on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. One warning I would give, having stayed shortly after Hurricane Nicole hit, is that a decent amount of the coastline has been demolished and there are several oceanfront businesses and access-ways that are now defunct and under construction. Additionally, Camptown is midway between 2 great locations – St. Augustine (aka ‘Ancient City') to the north and Daytona Beach to the south. Both offer additional great beaches (but you should have no problem on this front here at Beverly Beach) as well as a ton of nightlife, culinary, cultural and entertainment options.
Inside tips? Here’s a few: (1) While boasting about being ‘pet-friendly,’ if you are thinking about renting a cabin here at Camptown, think again – no four-legged friends are allowed; (2) As you are this close to paradise, I have to make ‘treasure-seekers’ aware that if you are on the hunt for shark teeth, you are nearby one of the world’s most famous beaches for discovering the dental remains of 20 or so different Selachimorpha (and some prehistoric, if you are lucky enough); (3) When you get tired of trying to figure out what’s on the menu for your next meal, I highly recommend grabbing an oceanside brunch at Java Joint with the Country Benedict (the sausage gravy is outstanding!), ordering a pair of crab cakes at Turtle Shack Café or pursuing fresh fried conch fritters at Break Awayz; and (4) If you want to drop your kayak in some ‘frakish’ (sea and fresh water) waters, then stop by Si Como No Inn (can’t miss this vibrant oceanside hostel) that has access to the Matanzas River/ Intracoastal.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Should you find yourself in north central Florida where the sun melts the unrelenting scorching hot humid days into a bright inferno dusk before sprinkling the night sky with shining bright holes to heaven in a moonlit nocturnal ceiling of utter darkness and are looking for the perfect spot to experience what the great Sunshine State has to offer, then I would recommend a nice little respite called Trails End Outdoors RV Park& Cabins. But be forewarned, if you are driving just a bit faster than one ought to on Highway 20 just west of Palatka between the drive-by towns of Hollister and Interlachen, you might just miss this hidden gem.
To access Trails End Outdoors, you will head north on Willis Road and follow a series of quick turns and curves on this slow-moving jagged gravel road, but no worries, the good folks of this campground outpost have cunningly placed a sign to guide you along your way at any single point that you might drive in the wrong direction. After a few minutes of navigating what looks to be somewhat hidden residential areas with large country farm lawns and plenty of pasture for cattle and horses, you will eventually arrive at what looks like at first a country western ranch, where you’ll turn into the property.
Heading straight ahead, you’ll come across a massive open air hall-like structure that offers up an outdoor living room complete with chairs and lawn furniture, grills and BBQs as well as some rocking chairs. Just beyond this informal community gathering area to the left, you will see a raised pool that is quite inviting and has a nice wooden deck all the way around it- just the perfect escape from the blistering heat that this part of Florida is known for. The next two buildings will make you reminisce about the Wild West with its wooden facade country store-looking main office building, followed by a‘his and hers’ outhouse, the former of which is where you will check-in. And just beyond the main office to the north, you will glimpse vast open pastures full of farm animals hiding beneath the shade of ancient Oaks dripping with Spanish moss as though these trees had been growing long white beards for hundreds of years.
After checking in, depending upon what set-up you’ve signed up for, you’ll be directed back the way you came, where a small singular loop will take you around the property, first to the handful of scattered wooden cabins(cleverly named after famous cowboys like Wyatt Earp, John Wayne and Doc Holiday) that make up their own small cul-de-sac with each log cabin unit offering up a porch with rocking chairs and/ or patio chairs with nice tall lanterns in front of each cabin. If you continue down the lane, you’ll pass a number of conjoined trees that have fresh-cut wood, perfect for a roaring fire to be set later in the evening. Beyond the handful of cabins, you’ll arrive to the rest of the property that is reserved for RVs and 5th Wheelers. All of these spaces have a simple but effective layout with very long slots that have been freshly laid with larger black stone gravel, with the entire area very easy to navigate and pull into. Standard hook-ups are available with 30 and 50 amp electric along with septic and water. There’s no real privacy between all of the slots, so no matter where you go, while some slots have better shade than others, there will be unobstructed views between you and your neighbors.
Beyond the mobile camping parking area, there’s 20 or so open acres where you can pitch your tent. From an amenities standpoint, there’s a very good community bathhouse, just OK WiFi, as well as the communal areas that I described at the start of this review. Trails End Outdoors offers up a number of activities from fishing($35 per day), turn-key campfire set up(in 2 hour increments), ability to interact with horses and cattle as well as a(very) small pond with its own pontoon boat.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are looking for a nice slice of nature while at Trails End Outdoors, recommend heading north to Oak Hammock Camp / Rice Creek Preservation Area or Etoniah State Forest Campground, where you’ll find some pretty amazing paths to hike or some decent horseback riding trails to gallop on; (2) Should you be towing watercraft and are looking for some decent places to dip your canoe or kayak into, you’ll be delighted to know that you are surrounded by a number of small finer lakes, of which I highly recommend Lake Ida or Mirror Lake, both just due west on Highway 20 or Jewel Lake, just NW, which has a very good boat launch; (3) Should you be looking for some restaurants in the area, I suggest you try out Hog Wild Burgers& Shakes for a couple of scoops of great ice cream, Nanna’s Country Cafe for biscuits& gravy or True Grits, well, for grits, what else?!; and (4) Should you need just about anything while out this way camping, the small town of Interlachen should have you covered with a pharmacy, Ace Hardware, post office, Circle K gas station, CVS, Family Dollar store or groceries at Hitchcock’s Market.
Happy Camping!
LegendFor those of you who find yourself hauling your vacation behind you and / or looking to rent a cabin in a small corner (er, intersection, actually) in the country’s oldest city, and don’t mind a completely pre-fabricated outdoor experience in the midst of an otherwise strip mall environ, then look no further than St. Augustine KOA. While there’s a lot of qualifiers here, I understand, one of the huge upsides to this otherwise overcrowded 2-lane 115 slot filled faux campground RV-slanted outpost is that it places you closest to St. Augustine’s greatest treasure (and no, that wouldn’t be the fabled ‘Fountain of Youth’) – it’s beautiful Atlantic coastline with white powder sand and shark-tooth strewn beaches.
As for this KOA campground itself, you’ll find this urban jungle outpost on the corner of Pope & AIA, which you’ll stumble across just a block south after taking Highway 312 from St. Augustine proper to Anastasia Island, which is separated from the mainland by the Matanzas River. But don’t worry, for any of you who break out in hives at the thought of leaving civilization when upgrading for a night underneath the stars (which BTW will be drowned out by the light pollution here at this KOA), you will be comfortably surrounded by all the creature comforts of the materialistic surrounding you (pretend) thought you were trying to escape, as there’s a CVS, McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and Domino’s Pizza in a single stone’s throw of where you are ‘camping out in nature’ here at St. Augustine KOA.
Amenities? Well, it’s KOA, so get ready for the massive download on what this camping theme park has to offer: heated pool w/ neon color lounge chairs & umbrellas, 50 max amp back-in RV slots, cable TV, KampK9 (that’s a doggie park in KOA speak), laundr-O-mat, thin tree lines, tetherball, picnic tables, dilapidated wooden fence, fishing (don’t ask me where or how good), firewood (for sale, of course), BBQ, ticks, fire frills, WiFi, propane refilling station, gift shop, tour shuttle, playground, little moat, paddle boats, fleas, banana bikes, automatic key-card security gate, designated trash dumpsters, showers & restrooms (quite in need of some decent cleaning and refurbishment IMHO), micro-swamps, deluxe cabin rentals (a dozen or so) and (the ever so marked-up KOA) convenience store.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) This is easily the most outdated, run-down KOA I have ever had the unfortunate experience to visit. While I would EASILY recommend MANY other places to ‘drop anchor for the night’ and to have a REAL outdoors camping experience (just drive 3 minutes away to Anastasia Island SP or 15 minutes away to North Beach Campground), if it’s late at night, you’re tired of looking around and are excited to be this close to the beaches, then check-in, grab a coozie and chill at the pool until sunrise when you can leave; (2) While you may be tempted by some of those pretty un-amazing fast food or ‘hole-in-the-wall’ local joints, I would encourage you to drive just a little bit for some otherwise excellent restaurants, including Fillin’ Station, Beachcomber, La Cocina or Sunset Grille; (3) If you’re a tent camper like myself, you’ll be incredibly disappointed by this place, although they do offer up 10 or so designated tent sites (inconveniently located right near all the swooshing car traffic and honking on Pope Road; (4) While you might be living the blues while staying at this KOA, you can actually just head up the street and listen to the blues at probably one of the coolest outdoor venues in the country at St. Augustine Ampitheater; and (5) Make the most out of the fact that you are literally only ¾ mile from St. Augustine Beaches, so while this KOA is not ideal (to say the absolute least), you will relish the fact that you can leave it as early and return as late as you want to experience one of the best white sand beaches in the Sunshine State.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Like the opening for 'Waterboy' (starring Adam Sandler), when you first rock up to Twin Lakes Fish Camp, somehow you feel as though you are visiting family in the very deep south with the likes of Bobby Bocher (pronounced BOO-Shay) greeting you upon arrival with a dilapidated golf cart eager to show you around this fairly minuscule one lane, dead-end campground that is more swamp outpost than pine forested campground. While definitely geared more towards the slightly semi-permanent resident than the overnight camping crowd, you’ll find a mixture of heavily seasoned RV trailers that don’t look as though they’ve moved anywhere in the past several years(or decades) along with a small handful of cabin rentals. Sure, there are a few spots here and there that you might park a 5th wheeler, RV or even see a pitched tent, but those spots are far and few between, if available at all.
As you make your way down this single lane refuge, on the right, you’ll notice fairly tightly packed together RVs or 5th wheelers lining the tree-ensconced periphery, where on the left you’ll spot sites that have a bit more space to them and with less crowded confines. Also on the left, you’ll easily notice a decent inlet that is perfect should you be towing any form of small watercraft with you, be that a kayak, canoe or even small engine boat. As you make your way down this single lane, pass the river inlet boat parking structure on your left, you’ll spot the 4-5 cabins that are for rent before making your way to the very end of the lane, which you’ll discover the manager’s office on the right. It’s here where you’ll check in. Just beyond this spot is where the waterline begins, albeit for the first 20 or 30 yards, completely encased by Spanish moss of every variety hanging from ancient Oaks, Palmettos and the odd Pine. For dramatic effect, there’s even a partially sunken house boat (or two) in the rather shallow waters just off this small inlet, where you can easily walk on and cast a line or two from.
With regards to amenities, apart from the swamp-like, down-home feel to this place, you’ll encounter fully-furnished cabins equipped with Direct TV, a small general store (that was closed when we visited), a tackle shop, WiFi (albeit incredibly weak), a recreation room (that didn’t have much but incredibly well-worn paperback books and a single fold-up table accompanied by the prerequisite ashtray), TV, scattered fire pits, covered picnic pavilion, small laundry room (that was closed while we were there), horseshoe pit, restrooms (that were anything but clean), full hook-ups with 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage as well as a designated dump station and a fish cleaning station alongside that fishing boat parking structure.
If you can get past the overall dilapidated condition of this place that transports you to a swamp-like wonderland, the upside is that Twin Lakes Fish Camp places you smack dab right in the heart of some pretty amazing fishing country. With Twin Lakes situated between Lochloosa and Orange Lakes, it’s the mouth of the famous Cross Creek that will return you right back here to Twin Lakes Fish Camp. Nearby, there’s the very quaint town of Micanopy, where you can load up on sundries and groceries as well as, if need be, travel further afield to either Gainesville to the north or Ocala to the south for many more dining and entertainment options.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Rather than stay here, what I would HIGHLY recommend, whether you have an RV or are looking to pitch your tent, is to instead, seek another location for your camping adventures. If it were me, I would double-back to Paynes Prairie SP and book a spot there and simply come here to Twin Lakes Fish Camp to disembark on a fishing odyssey. Remember, it’s always important to note and differentiate a place that might be nice to visit versus a site that you want to call home for the night!; (2) Should you want to rent a 'jon boat', kayak, canoe or sumptknocker, you can easily do that here for $35/ day (and something tells me, you could probably talk the owner down a bit); (3) This place is fairly economical at $35 per night / $175 per week / $375 per month, but I would definitely recommend you look at the photos I’ve posted as well as do a bit of research on-line before booking anything here; (4) When you grow weary of cooking up ‘franks& beans’ for your next meal, and want to check out some local fare, just down the road is a very nice, quaint and actually somewhat upscale joint called The Yearling that serves up low-country delights like fried green tomatoes, fried gator bites and conch fritters in addition to main entrees like blackened red fish or shrimp & grits; and (5) While you won’t find any decent hiking in or around Twin Lakes Fish Camp, if you double-back to Paynes Prairie SP, you’ll find a ton of really great paths to both hike & bike.
Happy Camping!
RangerLocated in the Ocala National Forest in Central Florida
Campground- with 2 large camping areas with over 150 sites overall this is one of the better campgrounds we have ever visited. One campground has complete hookups, meaning 50amp, water and sewer. The cherry on top is that all the sites are paved! Wifi is ok with our booster and using our verizon jetpacks. There are two bathhouses with 3 showers.
The second campground area also has an equally large camping area that is primitive with only water and bear lockers and one bath house. This area is closer to the kayak boat launch. This area does not have paved roads and can be very sandy causing some bigger vehicles to get stuck apparently.
Your campground fee does include entry into the springs, but know that on high attendance weekends you cannot drive your car to the springs parking lot and the springs can be up to 3/4 mile walk depending on your campsite. There are no laundry facilities but if you exit park and drive left there is a laundromat, local food, dollar store, bait tackle. If you exit park and go left there will be a marathon gas station on your left- the unmarked building behind that is a small grocery store. Across the street from this unmarked grocery story is a charming veggie/fruit stand and a food truck that serves mexican inspired food with a local flair.
Note- be aware the road that leads to the boat ramp occasionally is forced to close due soft sand . (This happens when there is a drought) This means you will have to go to the Salt Springs Marina around the corner about 2 miles if you need a vehicle to drop off your boat.
Hiking-In the park there is a dedicated 1.5 mile trail called Bear Swamp Trail and there is a .5 mile trail to the springs. This park also has its own connector to the trail to the Florida Trail.
Nearby short biking/hiking distance from the park connector trail is also the Salt spring observation loop Hike. There are soo many hiking opportunities in the area because of the Ocala Forrest, Florida Trail and the connectors. Two of my favorite resources for this area are the websites Florida Hikes and the Florida Rambler.
Biking- the roads in and around the park are very bike friendly. If you are into mountain biking you will enjoy the hundreds of miles of ATV/multi use trails in the area.
Water Activities/Kayaking- Swimming in the Salt Springs-This is a natural spring area that due to the composition of minerals in the water there is a slightly salty tinge to the water. The water in the springs are generally crystal clear and having googles and/or mask would make this more fun. Water temperature is 72-74 degrees year around. (We are currently here in June and our last visit was in January of this same year.) Also- in the colder months - Chances increase of seeing manatees the salt springs run.
Just outside the swimming area is the "Salt Springs Run" which flows slowly for 4.5 miles into Lake George. This means paddling up and down the salt run is enjoyable both ways.
Other Activities outside the park- 1.5 miles away there are 4 pickle ball courts available by exiting right from the park.
Amrit Yoga institute is about 10 miles away and offers wellness weekends, yoga, pilates. There is also yoga on Tuesday nights at the Salt Springs Recreation center (next to the pickleball courts)
We hope you enjoy this park as much as we do. Enjoy the video we made for YouTube- it is below.
Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith
Legend
Blue Springs Florida Blue Spring State Park Campground has 51 campsites, w/e for tents, trailers and smaller RVs. My favs are 29 32 and 34 Cabins are also available for rent. There's are kayak rentals, picnic areas, boat ramp, playground and hiking trails. The sites are sandy, have a picnic table and firepit. There's good spacing and shade. Very nice bathhouses with large stalls and family bathrooms. Laundry$2.50 No street lighting so good for star gazing. A few mosquitoes out at dusk in January🙄 Best thing here is all the manatee!! The spring is the largest on St Johns river.There's over 500 present with lots of babies. Very nice viewing areas all along the spring. We went early in the mornings and enjoyed the place to ourselves. They do have narrated boat tours and ranger talks. Water activities like swimming and kayaking are closed mid Nov to Apr. Can kayak on St John's river. Convenient shopping and restaurants a few miles away.
Cabin camping near Ocala National Forest offers a unique blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ocala National Forest is Salt Springs Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 55 reviews.
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