Olustee is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Olustee, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Olustee, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
DOG1
$18 / night
Located on the Santa Fe River in High Springs Florida, Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest springs in Florida. The 72-degree water is perfect for river tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba and cave diving. Visitors to Ginnie Springs Outdoors can enjoy camping (wilderness sites or sites with electricity), an overnight rental cottage, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing and volleyball.
$20 - $25 / night
Gopher
$20 - $100 / night
Ocean Pond hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually. The two-mile wide lake has a shallow, sandy beach and facilities for fishing, picnicking, hiking, restrooms, fire rings and picnic tables. Ocean Pond is a favorite for boaters and skiing enthusiasts. A public boat launch and a 67-site campground attracts visitors from many parts of the country. The early bird gets the worm! Come early for lakeshore camping. Nineteen sites have electric and water hook-ups, 27 have water hook ups and there are twenty primitive sites. Water and electric are paved spurs with a 50-foot capacity. Each site has a lantern post, picnic table, fire ring and convenient access to bathrooms and hot showers. Campers can enjoy the boat launch and swimming area. If you are interested in day-use activities, the Olustee Beach has full bathrooms with showers, beach, boat launch, fishing pier, trails and picnic areas. The Great Florida Birding Trail and the Florida National Scenic Trail pass through the campground. Motor boats and trailers can be kept in the boat trailer parking across from the boat ramp. Ocean Pond is just four miles away from the Olustee Battlefield Park, site of Florida's only Civil War battle in 1864. The Olustee Battle Festival and Re-enactmentis held annually in Lake City. The campground is located approximately 1 hour from the First Coast Atlantic beaches and a short half-hour to multiple State Parks, local springs and caves.
Located just north of Live Oak, Fla, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. The Spirit of the Suwannee is proud to host a variety of events throughout the year. In addition to these events, the park offers live music during the week in the Music Hall and a natural amphitheater for outdoor music festivals.
MAG1
$18 / night
$60 - $79 / night
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is the newest addition to Florida State Parks!
The park contains a collection of natural springs, including a large second magnitude spring that produces an average of 44 million gallons of water per day. This spring, known as Gilchrist Blue, has outstanding water clarity and discharges water through a shallow spring run about one-quarter mile to the Santa Fe River. The other named springs on-site are Little Blue Spring, Naked Spring, Kiefer Spring and Johnson Spring.
The most significant ecological habitats within the park include the spring run stream and floodplain communities. The main spring run is renowned for its support of a diversity of wildlife species including turtles, fish and invertebrates.
Paddling, snorkeling and swimming are all popular at the main springhead and spring run. Pavilions are available and a concession stand provides food and beverage service. Other popular activities include hiking, nature study and picnicking.
The park features 23 campsites: 16 sites for RV/tent camping (30 amp available) and seven tent-only camping.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
$10 / night
DOG1
$18 / night
Gopher
$20 - $100 / night
Ocean Pond hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually. The two-mile wide lake has a shallow, sandy beach and facilities for fishing, picnicking, hiking, restrooms, fire rings and picnic tables. Ocean Pond is a favorite for boaters and skiing enthusiasts. A public boat launch and a 67-site campground attracts visitors from many parts of the country. The early bird gets the worm! Come early for lakeshore camping. Nineteen sites have electric and water hook-ups, 27 have water hook ups and there are twenty primitive sites. Water and electric are paved spurs with a 50-foot capacity. Each site has a lantern post, picnic table, fire ring and convenient access to bathrooms and hot showers. Campers can enjoy the boat launch and swimming area. If you are interested in day-use activities, the Olustee Beach has full bathrooms with showers, beach, boat launch, fishing pier, trails and picnic areas. The Great Florida Birding Trail and the Florida National Scenic Trail pass through the campground. Motor boats and trailers can be kept in the boat trailer parking across from the boat ramp. Ocean Pond is just four miles away from the Olustee Battlefield Park, site of Florida's only Civil War battle in 1864. The Olustee Battle Festival and Re-enactmentis held annually in Lake City. The campground is located approximately 1 hour from the First Coast Atlantic beaches and a short half-hour to multiple State Parks, local springs and caves.
Located just north of Live Oak, Fla, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. The Spirit of the Suwannee is proud to host a variety of events throughout the year. In addition to these events, the park offers live music during the week in the Music Hall and a natural amphitheater for outdoor music festivals.
MAG1
$18 / night
$60 - $79 / night
Traveler
I stopped here to stay overnight on a Thursday as I was passing through. There was only one camper but did not know that until I left the next morning. It was quiet and felt secluded. The sites were close as you would normally get in an established campground but there was plenty of brush to separate each site.
Scout
It’s quiet, peaceful. Sites are large, fire rings, picnic tables, grass! Not well lit, no bath house, no propane, no pool. They have plenty of ideas though.
Legend
Large sites. Very nice pool. First rate laundry facilities. Great playground and dog park.
Scout
First time, only been here a couple of days because of evacuation from Milton. Sites are nice size and some include a cabana. I suspect gets pretty busy during season. Strange there is no office.
Traveler
We just purchased our 33’ Salem travel trailer and we used Island Oaks as our shakedown trip. Honestly, its going to be hard to top this first trip. My Wife and I traveled with our 2 young children and our pup. We never had to leave the park, they had EVERYTHING. Heated resort pool with tiki pool bar & music, beach front lake with a massive inflatable obstacle course, an on-site restaurant & ice cream shop, not to mention multiple fenced dog parks. I cant say enough positives about this place! I chose a pull through site and it had sewage, water, & electrical hook ups. They do offer free Wifi, however I would not rely on it, it was spotty at best. Dont think twice. Give this resort a try. It’s a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere!
Ranger
This campground is really dark, quiet and pretty. The bathhouse was always clean. You can smell the well water in the bathhouse. Brings me back to my childhood memories. We rode our bikes to the observation tower, but we were not lucky enough to see any bison or wild horses. Still nice to see the open prairie. We had a big rainstorm and the back of our site did become a lake, but it was gone overnight. The bugs lit us up all hours, so make sure you different bug sprays.
Legend
I imagine that Suwannee Music Park Campground was borne out of the wonderful brainchild idea of someone who was fortunate enough to attend the original Woodstock back in ’69 and after leaving the upstate NY experience, woke up 3,000 miles away here on the shores of the Suwannee and said to themselves,“hey, why not try to create that experience here in NW Florida?!” And thus, this nature-embracing outdoor musical playground was given birth.
Let’s begin with the sheer size of this place: with 800+ acres and over 600 campsites to choose from, this thickly wooded sprawling campground expanse is massive. And when it comes to the camping itself, no matter what type you might be thinking of - from RV and 5th Wheelers to those towing Horse Trailers and, Primitive Camping and Treehouses as well as Cabins for lease, every type of outdoor camping is offered here.
The major attraction here, apart from the live music performances that get booked very frequently in this camping outpost, is the direct access you’ll have to the historic Cypress tree-lined Suwannee River, which is nothing short of fantastic if you enjoy paddling a kayak or canoe. If you are looking for something just as active but different, there’s a dedicated disc golf course as well as endless miles of trails, perfect for hiking and biking.
Other amenities include: horse stables, children’s playground, covered pavilions, a bird sanctuary, chapel, small lake with fishing dock (catch & release only), bat house (apparently the largest in the US), tree house, craft village, boat launch, barn museum, drum circle, horse wash / manure disposal, arcade game room with pinball machine, live music pavilions, shelters, potable water stations, karaoke, riverside beach, viewable bee hives, golf cart rental, designated dump stations, WiFi, on-site cafe and general store (firewood, ice, beer, T-shirts, hats and caps), bar and music hall, pickin’ shed, geocaching, rock waterfall, first aid stations, swimming pool (that also serves up ice cream and pizza poolside), multiple music stages, restrooms and shower facilities and Suwannee River dock. For the RV crowd, Suwanee Music Park offers 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage hook-ups.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Despite being pretty far removed from civilization for those really wanting to embrace a nice chunk of untouched nature, I have to admit this place was overwhelmed with golf carts when we visited, which really takes away from the ambiance of being out in nature in the first place IMHO. Many times this place felt more like the Villages (the world's largest and most well-heeled retirement community located south of here in central Florida) than a remote camping outpost; (2) Should you need anything, the town of Live Oak is just a 20 minute drive south of here wherein you’ll find just about everything you are looking for, including a Busy Bee for excellent bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities, Walmart Supercenter and Publix for groceries as well as just OK restaurants like Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Zaxby’s and a Waffle House, but for actual really good food, keep on heading south to the center of town where you’ll find Big Wood BBQ & Grill, The 406 or Brown Lantern; (3) If you were fascinated by the drama, murder and mayhem on the Netflix series Tiger King, then head south of Live Oak to Mystic Jungle where you can see all of their amazing wild cats that normally you would only be able to see while on safari; (4) For my primitive tent pitching bredren, of all the amazing places to consider here, I would strongly recommend those primitive camping spots that are either located near the Bat House over just north and west of Farm Field or the primitive camping sites just east of Spirit Lake; (5) Only downsides include: very overcrowded in some places, lots of bugs (so be sure to bring the Citronella!), uneven land to pitch a tent in the primitive camping area, RV sites are pretty close to one another, WiFi is intermittent and weak in many places, ‘golf carts gone wild’ scenarios, lots of restrictions and rules (destroys that Woodstock vibe I thought we would find here), dated bathrooms will take you back to the 1970s; (6) Upsides include: incredibly friendly staff, very close to Highway 10 making this spot very easy and quick to access, incredibly well-stocked general store; and (7) For best bat viewing, come at dusk to watch them leave by the tens of thousands turning the sky dark, and then come before dawn to watch them all return while sipping your Americano in a lawn chair.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Typically up here in northern Florida, whether you are on the coast or further inland, when you hear or see the name ‘fish camp,’ depending upon where you are from (or honestly, where you're at), the name typically conjures up one or two images - a mossy covered waterside restaurant serving up some freshly caught fish, typically fried, and with a whole lot fo southern fixin’s like grits, black-eyed peas, fried okra and the like. Or, it’s a reference to an actual campground that just so happens to be located right alongside a nice stretch of water, which could be a massive river like St. Johns in these parts, or a smaller, meandering outlet that either connects to a larger body of water, say a lake, or even the ocean. So let’s set the record straight, when visiting this particular fish camp, we are definitely talking about the latter, rather than the former.
Heading towards Gainesville recently, I came across Kate’s Fish Camp, very conveniently located in the the middle of nowhere, but altogether, sitting on a very nice bit of a water trail called Prairie Creek, which I was told, would eventually, through perseverance and timing your luck between low and high tide, have you arrive at the ocean, but I have to admit, I don’t know how that is even possible, as we were only able to make our way to Orange Lake, but hey, it was my first try. Maybe you will have more luck, or perhaps I got it wrong and at some point, you just need to strap your kayak or canoe on top of your vehicle and drive it closer to a ‘frackish’ inlet that will allow you to ultimately reach some salt water.
As far as Kate’s Fish Camp go, the wonderful duo of Mike & Monica run this roadside camping rest stop and upon entry, you will marvel at just how intimate and compact the place is complete with substantial shade that blocks all of the harsh Floridian sunshine from otherwise roasting you in its humid inferno. The main office looks like something out of Duck Dynasty and is an old-schooled wooden single-story structure with restrooms and shower facilities (both pretty basic, but clean, albeit poorly lit) towards the front, and the entrance to the actual office on the rear-side, closer to the creek access point. On the subject of water access, let’s just say that while the meandering creek is definitely of interest and should be explored, the real find here is the nearby access to Newnans Lake, which just sits north of Kate’s Fish Camp and, unfortunately, requires a quick drive to Palm Point Park (around the corner from here) in order to access this body of water, but it’s totally worth it, especially if you have an engine-powered fishing boat and are looking to get out on the water to do some decent fishing.
Back at the campground, here’s what you need to know. For starters, there’s about a dozen or so sites that are offered with each being pull-through ready. While this campground feels more geared towards the RV driving or 5th Wheel toting crowd, as a tent pitcher myself, this place is pretty OK from a tent camping standpoint. You’ll definitely appreciate all the shade that is offered here, as well as close proximity to the basic amenities (showers/ bathrooms) and river access. The picnic tables are pretty standard and there are scattered BBQs and fire rings. There’s also some pretty great WiFi here for those that need it. One of the huge upsides apart from direct river and bike path access is a number of really great hiking trails that you can explore both flora and fauna alike.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) One of the huge upsides to Kate’s Fish Camp is the direct access you’ll have to the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Bike Trail, which if you wanted to, could lead you all the way into Gainesville to enjoy the UF campus and surrounding area without having to put up with traffic; (2) While Kate’s Fish Camp boasts about providing you with DIRECT access to Newnan’s Lake, it was our experience that you could not access the lake directly and that eventually, you would have to return to camp, pack your kayak on your vehicle and drive a quarter mile to the actual boat launch in order to access the lake - I don’t know why they tell folks that they provide direct access; (3) For RVers you will want to take note that Kate’s doesn’t provide sewer hook-ups, just water and electric (20 / 30 / 50 amp) for all of their pull-through sites; (4) You should take note that this campground is literally located right next to a fairly busy 4-lane highway, so if P&Q is important to you, consider another location, otherwise, bring some earplugs!; (5) It’s Florida, it’s the summer, and unless you weren’t already aware of it, you’re landlocked here in the middle of the state, so what does that mean? Mosquitos and bugs, so yeah, come prepared (and don't complain about mosquitos - they are endemic to FL)!; (6) When you get tired of sifting through your on-board mini-fridge or toto-molded Cordova cooler to conjure up what your next meal is going to be, then check out nearby dining options such as Antonio’s Made In Italy, Georgie’s Lakeside or Eagles Nest - and of course, there’s all the generic restaurant-fare that you’ll find in nearby Gainesville, but I’ve tried to suggest some slightly off-the-beaten path joints. If you want an Instagram-worthy dining experience that also lives up to the hype when you bite into their succulent pies, then head on over to Satchel’s Pizza for their deep dish pizza and local brews.
Happy Camping!
GuideQuiet, lots of wildlife (wild horses, bison, alligators, deer, birds, turtles); plenty of hiking and biking trails with beautiful sunsets on the lake. Restroom facilities are showing some age but clean. Walk-in tent sites are pretty close to the Restrooms.
Traveler
Nice quite campground. Well maintain. Clean bathrooms and working laundry machines (1 each) 1.75 for wash and 1.75 for dry. Lake and beach access are nice and maintained.
RangerGreat state park well off the main road. Quiet and wooded with limestone pads.
Guide
Beautiful place, nothing to complain about
GuideStayed in key west area. You can tell it was just opened because grass is still growing in. Staff was wonderful.
GuideSecond time here. Will be back
Ranger
Site# 54 Check in: 1pm Check out: 11am Full hook- up Easy to level Gravel back-in (Most, if not all sites are Buddy sites - so be prepared to face a neighbor you do not know. -We were literally looking at each other for ten weeks - with us having two dogs and neighbors having three dogs-complete bark fest). We were so close our awnings would not go out all the way or we would touch.
Lot is Shaded with lots of trees. Not a big lot since you have to share space with your neighbor
Located in the middle of nowhere- Dollar General is four miles away and Walmart is 11 miles (doesn’t seem far but on all back roads, it takes a while) Closest highway (75) is 45 miles away & I-90 is an hour
Zero WiFi or Zero cell service (1 tiny bar but not enough to do a basic internet search) - once we purchased Starlink ($599), we were able to stream. No Cable TV- limited channels No Outdoor kitchen No Outdoor community sinks to clean big pots
They do not pickup garbage at site daily, Must walk to garbage dumpster - not too far
Allowed to ride personal golf carts
Not Able to rent golf carts or pedal bikes from them
Golf cart not really needed- smaller campground
Indoor heated Swimming pool
Natural Spring within park but due to rain & flooding of the Suwannee River over the ten weeks we were there, we were unable to access the spring or experience kayaking or the few amenities of the park. Very disappointing.
Had a Playground
No Bocce ball, shuffleboard, There was basketball court and volleyball court.
Good general store with basics No Activity Center for kids Unsure if there are activities for kids (there were not from January-March). There is not a snack bar/restaurant . Not a Game room, putt putt, or jumping pad for kids No Workout room
Streets are gravel/sand -not great for riding bikes in campground Great places to ride bikes outside of campground (not near this campground) though- look for Nature Coast State Trail
Lots of cabin and tent space Individual bathrooms with own sink, shower, toilet & clean
Laundry machines (one washer & one dryer) per bathhouse- only two bath houses
Dog area - not fenced in - they have a huge field behind the campground that they keep the outside mowed & is a great place to walk dogs
There were not bugs/flies initially but as it has started warming up, it has slowly gotten worse
There were trails to hike off of the campground.
The most disappointing aspect is that they were selling presidential hats in the general store. One - politics and recreation don’t go together and two- if you’re going to sell one candidate but not the other, you’re a biased business
ScoutI have stay at Island Oaks several times and we love it We had some issue when first stayed but I chalked that up to a teaching lesson. Now I have 30 amp extension and a longer 50 amp power cord. Yes it is a dry county on Sunday but that’s only one day. You will not be disappointed to stay there. They also have live music on Saturday and so far it’s never been disappointing You will enjoy it.
TravelerThere aren’t many bad sites. Great trails and walking. BRING BUG SPRAY. I wish I had time to stay longer to see everything the park had to offer. I will be back!
Traveler
This is the second time that we've been back to the state park and we love it more every time. Bath houses are clean, lots of wooded spaces, plenty of trails for biking or hiking. Appreciated the history of the old town which is within walking distance of the campsites. We also enjoyed the geological mystery of a river vanishing before our eyes!
There are signs at the bathhouse about ticks. Take heed of them! I am sure we are in the height of season, but it was really bad if you went on any of the trails. Thankful the dog is on tick meds!
We cycled from OLeno to Ichetukee Springs. 30 miles round trip! Next time we will leave early, bring swim gear and enjoy a float trip in that area.
TravelerThis is now my top 2 in parks for camping. The tent only spots are nice and secluded. You do have to walk maybe 100-200 ft from your car to the campsite. I was in site #24. Nice and open with a lot of trees for protection. Great fire pit. No power or water at this site… site #25 has those. The whole grounds were well kept and the trails were easy. At the observation tower you can see a lot of the prairie and if you’re lucky you can see wild horses.
Scout
Great place to stay! Quiet and friendly place. Stayed for 8 months while searching for a home in Jacksonville. Will recommend to family and friends.
ScoutWe stayed here for 2 weeks while getting medical treatment. staff were excellent in accommodating us on a short notice. Camp host was great at helping my husband back in. Quiet, friendly and really clean park. We will definitely stay there the next time we are in town.
TravelerVery clean and well kept rv park in Jacksonville. Easy access off I-295. 30 mins to beach. 15 mins to downtown. They allow pets. Staff is very friendly and helpful!
Guide
Nice place and nice people. Lucky for us it wasn’t that busy. Otherwise you would be packed in. Over all a nice place. Lots of road noise from the interstate.
Legend
Should you find yourself anywhere near the home of The Gators here in landlocked Gainesville, then the location of Santa Fe Palms RV Resort itself will be one of its greatest assets. Located NW of town, you will find yourself just far enough away from the noise, traffic and otherwise mayhem that surrounds the college town atmosphere of UF. That said, you’ll also be close enough that just a short 10 minute drive will place you within proximity to just about anything you might want or need, from restaurants and bars, to city parks, retail store fronts as well as big box retailers and shopping malls … as well as of course, the University of Florida itself.
As for this RV resort in particular, I always have to question places that use the term 'resort' in the first place – but here at Santa Fe, they really do live up to the word ‘resort.’ Apart from discovering a seemingly newly-built and certainly very well-maintained outdoor encampment perfect for your RV or 5th Wheel parking pleasure, you'll also enjoy all of the various amenities that indeed makes this roadside campground really feel like an RV resort community in full swing. In all there’s some 115, mostly diagonal, slots to chose from that offer 30 amp, 50 amp back-in or 50 amp pull-through sites, charging $65, $75 and $85 respectively, which IMHO is (especially for the area you currently find yourself in) slightly more expensive than expected.
With higher prices, expectations rise, but I found Santa Fe Palms delivers, offering not only a premium experience, but one packed with tons of amenities, including: high-speed fiber optic WiFi, beautiful lanai patio complete with several tables, chairs and sun umbrellas that sit alongside a very generous heated in-ground swimming pool, fitness room, pickleball court as well as a laundr-O-mat and restroom / shower facilities. All sites have full hook-ups featuring electric with various amp options, water and sewage, while there’s a good amount of sites that have pull-through options where the others will have back-in. The paved roads that run throughout this place are grade A perfect and perhaps the best feature of the entire place is the top-notch gate access and security surrounding the entire perimeter. There’s even a spacious doggie park in the NW corner of Santa Fe to take your pooch for a stroll. Lastly, the main building where you would also check-in at features work stations as well as a small shop where you can buy sundries and snacks.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Unless your idea of a great hike is walking around in circles within the perimeter of Santa Fe Palms RV Resort, I would highly suggest a trek to nearby Buck Bay Flatwood Preserve, which is just due northeast of this spot where you’ll walk / drive due east to the Circle K and then take the country road due north about a ¼ mile before you reach this spot; (2) If you are coming with either a canoe or kayak, the best place to drop anchor is Newmans Lake, which you will be able to access at a number of places, although I strongly recommend Palm Pointe Park, but if too busy, just due south is Earl P Powers Park, where both of these locations have excellent boat launches; (3) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your onboard mini-fridge fridge or roto-molded, bear-proof Cordova cooler and want to check out some of the local fare, there’s a handful of no-frills options, but hey, life is short, so I’ll let your GPS help you find those spots and instead, I’ll recommend 'don’t miss options' like Satchell’s for the best pizza in town with an Instagram-worthy backdrop; and (4) Should you want to hit the links, nearby Santa Fe Palms RV Resort is Ironwood Golf Club, which is decent, not amazing, but gets the job done.
Happy Camping!
ScoutVery secluded and quiet. Great place to get away from Jacksonville for a weekend.
GuideBeautiful site plenty of camping spots
Guide
Nice spots with a bathroom book exchange and power at the bathroom if you need it.
Camping near Olustee, Florida, offers a mix of beautiful natural springs, fun activities, and a chance to unwind in the great outdoors. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a place to park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Olustee, Florida, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be prepared for the crowds and plan your activities ahead of time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Olustee, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Olustee, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 142 campgrounds and RV parks near Olustee, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Olustee, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Olustee, FL is Dogwood Campground — O'Leno State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 38 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Olustee, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Olustee, FL.
What parks are near Olustee, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Olustee, FL that allow camping, notably Osceola National Forest and National Forests in Florida.
