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Silver Springs State Park Campground accommodates pets alongside tents, RVs, and cabins with full hookup sites for electricity, water and sewer connections. Lake Griffin State Park and Salt Springs Recreation Area also welcome pets at their camping facilities with similar amenities. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, with typical restrictions limiting pets to two per site and prohibiting them from swimming areas and public buildings. Southern Oaks RV Resort maintains well-kept grounds with clean facilities and level sites, making setup easy for RVers traveling with animals. Lake Waldena Resort extends pet-friendly policies to their cabin accommodations, one of the few locations near Ocklawaha offering enclosed shelters that accept animals.
The Ocala National Forest surroundings provide multiple trail systems accessible to leashed dogs, with the Santos Trailhead & Campground connecting directly to popular hiking paths. Campers note the spacious sites at Grand Oaks RV Resort offer ample room for pets to relax while still maintaining appropriate boundaries with neighboring campers. Summer heat considerations are important when camping with pets in this region, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F during peak months. Most locations provide water hookups that allow for pet hydration stations, though campers should bring portable bowls for trail excursions. Local veterinary services are available in Ocala and The Villages, approximately 20-30 minutes driving distance from most Ocklawaha area campgrounds. Several parks enforce quiet hours starting at 10 p.m., when excessive barking becomes a particular concern.
"The sites are large and spacious with shady trees surrounding each site. It is very quiet and peaceful. Note that pets are allowed in the campground area but not in any other areas."
"We rode our bikes around the campground and were amazed as almost all the sites were huge! Live oak trees with Spanish moss...this campground is truly the "Real Florida"."
from $24 - $110 / night
Check Availability"This pet friendly campground has many magical options. The Florida Trail runs right through this spot and has a natural spring connection as well."
"The spring pool is gorgeous and quite, very pretty trails to watch spring boils and turtles. Very sunny during the day and very cool at nigth."
from $38 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Two nice trails and playground. Pet friendly. Boat ramp. Great for kayaking and fishing."
"We enjoyed the hiking trail, but VERY muddy. Bring a watercraft to explore more. Been there- done that- probably don’t need to go back. The site: our campsite was small but sufficient for our use."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"Although in a populated area of Ocala, this campground is positioned in the trees and makes you feel like you are miles from civilization. The sites are spacious and most are shaded."
"This campground is located near Ocala, FL. on the cross florida greenway. It is a small loop of only 22 sites with water and electric. Has clean restrooms with showers."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"We Enjoyed the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings while listening to the Owls Hooting ~while we sat at our campfire ."
"Situated in Ocala, this park offers a wonderful get away for bicycling, horseback riding, or hiking Great trails The park itself is open with few trees but an amazing host."
from $46 - $188 / night
Check Availability"There are no laundry facilities but if you exit park and drive left there is a laundromat, local food, dollar store, bait tackle."
"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."
from $38 - $70 / night
Check Availability"This was one of the busier places I have camped in Florida. The facilities were clean and provided showers."
"We found this campground while looking for a stealth spot near some springs and it was getting late and we had our car and our dog so just came here."
from $38 - $70 / night
Check Availability"There is a convenient dog run on the back side of the park my dog loves swimming in. The park is maintained very well"
"This is a quiet little park that sits around a lake with some woods. Let’s see, the Wifi is poor, but we still were able to stream our favorite show at night."
"We found the office & lake area & it's great! The boats & kayaks are free for campers. You just have to sign one out at the office. "
"Beautiful location off of a major highway but due to lots of trees - very little road noise. Sites were huge!! Semi shaded with picnic tables and great full hookups. Nice roads to walk your dog. "
"Nearby shops and such are within 10 miles(gas, groceries, restaurants, flea markets, etc.). Overall, a nice park, but I wouldn't go during the rainy season in Florida."
TravelerPricey but it's Disney. Lots of activities to do at the campground without going to the parks. Clean and well maintained campsites and bathrooms. The roads are narrow in the loops and the sites can be difficult to get into. Pet friendly with dog parks and trails.
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!
LegendFHU, unleveled concrete pad with a picnic table. So close to the FT resident in the tiny home next to us, that we could not sit outside comfortably. Also, our area was right by her sewage hook up. And then there was a storage shed, leaf piles, random stacks of supplies, and a residential trailer behind us. The Pool was small but clean, we didn’t use. Dog park was ok, but other people don’t pick up after their pets, even with signs, and available poop disposal can. Maybe if management put mutt-mitts out, pet owners might use them. We booked months ago, and we arrived a bit after 5 due to traffic, there was no welcome packet, and no one answered the phone, with the posted #. Thankfully, the maintenance guy was friendly and helped us find our spot. It wasn’t easy to get to, or to see where it was. It was way too small to accommodate our 5th wheel and Dooley. If someone had been in the spot in front of us, we wouldn’t have been able to get in. The map online doesn’t even have our site listed. We were visiting family, so thankfully we weren’t there much. The area has lots of good restaurants, attractions, fishing, and springs! I do not leave 3 star reviews, but my honest review is to help others from paying $400 a week, at this park. I was hard pressed to leave a 3 star…. But Because of the area attractions, FHU, and helpful maintenance employee, was the reason I did. I would not reserve here again. Especially at the high price.
RangerThis is probably the largest park we have ever stayed in. We normally go for the smaller quaint parks but we decided to try it out. We went along the outside rim in site Mako 7. The sites are large enough and have most have full hook ups. Not many trees for shade, but it is in Florida so that is to be expected. We were fortunate to have a couple of grassy areas around close to walk the dog. There is a dog park but it was on the other end of the campground. We did go one day and the park is nice. It’s sand and has poop bags. But no water for drinking so take your own. This side of the park had more trees and was nice for walking around with the dog. No WiFi in the area closest to the dog park. Sites seemed mostly level but only the new section has nice concrete pads. The older sections are hit and miss as to what the site looks like. All in all it’s a great location for visiting all the local attractions... (but we didn’t do that).
TravelerEasy access to I 75 Has nice pond with wildlife , cabins to rent and all services . Friendly staff and dog park.
LegendThe Hog Island Recreation Area is located on the eastern bank of the Withlacoochee river close to the small town of Nobleton. Part of the recreation area includes the Hog Island Nature Trail, part of the Trailwalker Program and officially certified as part of the longer Florida National Scenic Trail. The Hog Island Campground (fl-dof.com) provides nicely shaded and dry campsites for tent and RV campers with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. These sites are amazingly screened from each other with natural understory vegetation and access to the Withlacoochee River. Restroom with showers (which could use a little love and care), water spigots and a dump station are located nearby. Campers arriving by canoe can stay at a riverside campsite that includes access to drinking water.
This is a good campground with pretty decent warm/hot showers and electric hookups, so you aren't going to really be spending a few days completely off the grid. Although, cellular service is spotty, but mostly usable. The camp hosts were really nice and supposedly no pets are allowed, but I definitely heard some dogs at night. Just a few steps away is the Hog Island boat ramp, nature trail and a section of the Florida National Scenic Trail leaving you with lots to do.
You get your standard nice campground features
· Large shared picnic area
· Good fishing
· Canoe and boat launch
· No pets allowed.
*I heard some dogs and there were basically no one around, so maybe the host let some people get away with it…
· 2-mile loop Nature Trail.
· Hiking trails:
· Equestrian trails:
TravelerThis campground was awesome for a weekend away with the family and dogs. It was still very hot and buggy in Florida so be warned If this is an issue for you. Large campsites with a picnic table, electric, and water. Pet friendly and clean bathrooms with a small walking path for the pups. Been to better but a great weekend away!
GuideLoved our stay at Fort Wilderness. Our favorite Disney Resort. Super dog friendly with an amazing dog park. Great location and so many wonderful things to do here.
TravelerWe wereet at the entrance by a gentleman in a golf cart. He brought us directly to our site, and helped us get squared away. He recommended the local restaurant for dinner. Not a lot of options, but all the options were good!
Great dog park, 2 separate zones!!!
This is a golf/ lake community that is like the old TV shows. People walking dogs, riding golf carts, and meeting at the club house. We will return when we have more time to stay!
Ocklawaha offers camping options nestled within central Florida's unique freshwater ecosystem at 42 feet above sea level. The area sits at the edge of the Ocala National Forest which contains over 600 lakes, rivers and springs. Summer humidity regularly reaches 90% with average July highs of 92°F, making access to water recreation particularly valuable during peak camping season.
Wildlife viewing at dawn/dusk: Silver Springs State Park Campground offers exceptional viewing opportunities along its trails. "The spring pool is gorgeous and quite, very pretty trails to watch spring boils and turtles," shares Marisol R. about nearby Juniper Springs Rec Area.
Kayaking natural springs: Reserve boats early for best access. "The kayaking here is awesome. Try not to go during a tourist time. The cabins are very large," notes Marlene V. from Silver Springs. Another camper adds, "You can canoe or kayak, which they offer both for rental. Its a gorgeous natural run, sometimes with obstacles depending on tide and fallen trees."
Fishing local waterways: Multiple access points available around Ocklawaha. "We found the office & lake area & it's great! The boats & kayaks are free for campers. You just have to sign one out at the office," reports Cynthia K. about Lake Waldena Resort.
Mountain biking trail networks: Extensive trail systems connect throughout the region. "The attraction here is the biking. It's an international destination for mountain biking! While there are no mountains in Florida, there are many man made ramps and jumps and turns," explains David G. from Santos Trailhead & Campground.
Natural swimming areas: Crystal clear 72-degree spring water year-round. "The spring is beautiful & refreshing in the florida heat," notes Nicole D. "The springs/swimming area is really beautiful! Huge with room for lots of people, deep diving areas, shallows children's areas."
Spacious, shaded campsites: Many sites feature mature tree cover. "The sites are big and have plenty of space between them," mentions Carlos R. about Silver Springs. At Alexander Springs Recreation Area, Joshua W. found that "shade provided protection from the sun. We were surprised with an albino squirrel sighting as an added bonus."
Trail connectivity: Walk directly from campsites to trail networks. "Easy access to hiking and biking. Miles of trails," shares Esther M. The Santos area connects to multiple trail systems, with one camper noting: "Over 30 miles of trails to explore."
Wildlife sightings: Opportunities to view native Florida species. "From glass bottom boat tours to kayaking to camping Wildlife. Hiking food. alligators monkeys Birds beautiful Springs and River," explains Noah R.
Spring water temperatures: All springs maintain constant 72°F temperature regardless of season. "It's COLD though..be warned!" advises Tessa M. about Juniper Springs.
Limited cellular connectivity: Cell reception varies significantly throughout region. The Whimcycle Trail Resort has "no WiFi service provided and our Verizon cell signal was extremely weak," according to Joni H.
Seasonal crowds: Heavy visitation during winter months and holidays. "AVOID SPRING & SUMMER WEEKENDS AT ALL COSTS or you will feel like you are at an amusement park waiting to get on a ride," warns Rebecca E.
Trail conditions: Varying terrain from paved paths to muddy routes. "We walked over to the second largest tree in Florida. It was maybe 1/2 a mile from the campsite... And it was muddy- very muddy," notes Sarah K. from Lake Griffin State Park.
Free water recreation: Complimentary equipment at select locations. Dayanis P. enjoyed Lake Waldena Resort where "free to use kayaks and water sports, my son learned how to ride a bicycle for the first time today with one of their bicycles! The lake was really a joy to swim on, the kids were in it all day."
Educational tours: Glass-bottom boat rides showcase underwater ecosystems. "The glass bottom boat tour is an absolute must, we had such a wonderful time and the boat captain had lots of interesting information. We have a 4 year old and a 10 year old and they both really enjoyed the boat tour also," shares Carlos R.
Designated swimming areas: Springs feature shallow sections for children. At Salt Springs Recreation Area, one visitor notes the "spring is a short walk from the campground or a quick bike ride" making it convenient for families with young children.
Wildlife caution: Monitor children around waterways. "We leaned to go under one of the 110 (didn't count but seems about right) leaning trunks into the river and tipped my kayak so I had to jump out," warns a camper about navigating with kids through river obstacles.
Site selection for larger rigs: Many parks accommodate big rigs with full hookups. At Thousand Trails Three Flags, campers found "nice level and spacious campsites" with Charles F. adding "Sites were huge!! Semi shaded with picnic tables and great full hookups."
Level setup considerations: Some parks require leveling equipment. "Site 7 was quite undeveloped. Thanks to Anderson levelers we were fine," notes Charles B.
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Ocklawaha: Most allow pets with restrictions. "Every camp site had dogs," observed one camper at Lake Griffin, while another mentioned that Southern Oaks RV Resort has "a convenient dog run on the back side of the park my dog loves swimming in."
Noise factors: Road proximity varies between campgrounds. Cynthia K. reports that at Lake Waldena Resort, "Traffic noise from Hwy 40 wasn't noticeable" while Richard P. found that at another location there was "Loud road noise all night and all day."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ocklawaha, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ocklawaha, FL is Silver Springs State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ocklawaha, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 329 dog-friendly camping locations near Ocklawaha, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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