Searching for a tent camping spot near Osceola National Forest? Find the best tent camping sites near Osceola National Forest. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Florida tent camping excursion.
This drive-up primitive campground has ten tent sites. A Clivus mulching toilet system is available behind site 5. A communal, 2-table pavilion, grills, and a campfire ring with benches is located across from site 6. No electric hook-ups. No potable water. Pets must be on a leash. Hunting occurs during scheduled hunt seasons, as listed at http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures/. Trail users should wear day-glo orange during hunt seasons. Wildlife proof all food Forest is open for day use visitors from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
$9 - $10 / night
Primitive camping area on the north edge of the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness.
The Woods Ferry tract features a canoe launch and the first river camp on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The river camp provides 5 sleeping platforms, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent camping area. The Jerry Branch tract is a primitive recreation site. Visitors may enjoy biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads.
We are a 12.5 acre campground on the Sante Fe River.
We have cabins as well as primitive car campsites directly on the river as well. See the following distances:
Ginnie Springs - 6 miles
Blue Springs - 9 miles
Ichetucknee Springs - 4 miles
Gainesville - 38 miles
Rum 138 - 8 miles
Lake City - 27 miles
White Springs - 38 miles
Branford - 13 miles
High Springs - 12 miles
Dollar General - 3 miles
Publix - 15 miles
Bobs River Place - 20 miles
$45 - $105 / night
Cabins and tent sites are accessed by walking trails. Push carts available to transport gear. Visitors are responsible for bringing their own linens, cookware, and dishes. Camping-style mattresses provided in cabins and treehouses. RV or car camping is not permitted in the park.
Camp Chowenwaw (Cho’-wen-waw), is a beautiful 150-acre site at the mouth of Black Creek, near its confluence with the St. Johns River. The Girl Scout Council of Duval County operated the site as a camp for over 70 years. The original cabins and the Big Cabin were built with federal aid using logs cut on site. The camp opened on July 1, 1933. Camp Chowenwaw has played an important role in the lives of three generations of young women in Northeast Florida. Thousands of campers have stayed at the Camp; many have gone on to be leaders in our community. In 2006, Clay County purchased the camp from the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council with assistance from Florida Communities Trust using Florida Forever funds. It is now a public park offering a variety of recreation including trails, camping and overnight cabins, nature programs, fishing pier, canoe launch, picnicking, swimming pool, museum, playground, and meeting rooms. The Park is managed as a conservation, historic preservation, and outdoor recreation area.
On the Holton Creek tract, visitors may enjoy fishing, as well as biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing on administrative roads. Hunting is for persons who are mobility-impaired. The Holton Creek River Camp is the second river camp between White Springs and Branford and provides 5 screened shelters, a picnic pavilion, restrooms with hot showers, and a tent-camping area.
Primitive camping year-round, available only to hunters during general gun season in the fall.
Adams Tract is just a few miles upriver from Troy Spring State Park. It is located within a Suwanee River Water Management District Tract and provides ample hiking trails to explore throughout a longleaf pine community. There are some open, treeless areas of the camp that are ideal for stargazing with the nearest city lights miles away.
From Adams Tract, a 9.3 mile paddle will bring you to Branford.
Trail Guide: https://www.sjrwmd.com/static/lands/trailguides/blackcreekravinestrail.pdf St. Johns River Water Management District lands are natural, wild and scenic places. While camping on district lands, you may have an opportunity to see various wildlife, sit under the stars, listen to a soft evening breeze rustling tree leaves and experience Florida much as some of the earliest settlers did. However, be prepared to rough it. Only primitive tent camping is allowed on district lands and only at designated locations. No travel trailers, campers or RVs are allowed. Most properties offer no amenities such as rentals, restrooms, potable water or shelters. Many of the campsites are in remote areas and can be reached only by hiking, bicycling, boating or horseback riding. Campers should use the designated campfire rings for fires and should carry out all garbage with them when they leave. Check the notices section of this website for updates on any current burn bans. First come/first serve and reservable camping sites are available at most district properties. Reservable campsites require a reservation and permit from the district. Campers must make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. All camping is limited to a maximum of seven days per visit and you may camp no more than 30 days on a property per year.
Traveler
We stayed here at site 15 in January 2025. The sites all appeared level and most could fit sizeable RVs. We camped in a 25ft Travel Trailer. The sites were clean and the campground was quiet. I did make a video of the individual sites so others could see what they look like for planning purposes at. YouTube.com/@MapleCamps
Site 15 was not private, as it is on a big open field, but you don't have any neighbors staring right at you. It faces the playground, but its about 150 feet away. The open field allows for fun games that need a bit of space: frisbee, throwing a football, Skittle Skattle, corn hole etc. There are plenty of hiking trails within the park, as well as nearby at Big Shoals state park, Little Shoals, and Gar Pond to name a few. I also did a blog about the campground if interested at maplecamps.wixsite.com/blog
This campground is also conveniently located near I-75 and I-10
Guide
Older Florida park with roots in the CCC and Forestry Service. Large park with hiking, bike and equestrian trails. Along the Santa Fe River there is a swimming hole, suspension bridge, old buildings and a small museum. Magnolia loop would be the best loop for RVs, but spots can be had. Facilities are clean, albeit old. Camping loops and pads are hard sand. Sites vary in size and level. Separation between sits is not bad but suffered in hurricane damage. Some sites appear a bit tight with overhanging trees.
Guide
We had the pleasure of visiting recently, and to my surprise this small campground exceeded my expectations! I traveled with two children, and they had a blast the entire time! This place had everything we needed and more. My daughter says her favorite part was fishing and swimming in the river. My son‘s favorite part was riding around on the provided bicycles and playing darts & cornhole by the communal fire pit. I was thoroughly impressed and will definitely be back. Not to mention, the camp hosts are unbelievably nice and did a fantastic job, keeping the campground clean.
Guide
We found this place using this app on a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp. It is a small campground but well maintained. I just called ahead to make sure there were spaces available. Walter met us later that day. We settled at spot 13 with our 22 ft camper. A few sites have covered landings with fireplaces or fire pits. Ours had a fire pit. You can also take a short drive to the back of the property and put in a kayak or small boat into the Suwannee River. I would recommend this campground if you are looking for a quiet place to camp and/or visit the swamp. Walter was very nice and although the place is a little worn down it is well loved. It has also been around for a very long time. I will return.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
ScoutVery secluded and quiet. Great place to get away from Jacksonville for a weekend.
GuideBeautiful site plenty of camping spots
Scout
Had an enjoyable weekend tent camping here and small game hunting in the forest.
Bob the volunteer host was super nice, and the bathrooms were very clean.
The mosquitos were a little annoying right after sundown, but quickly left once we had a fire going.
Definitely camping here again and bringing the kayaks next time.
Traveler
Humble and super hospitable super friendly people they've got baby goats donkeys horses chicken that roam free during the day and at night the donkey keep predators away so it's super safe and quiet if you don't mind the roosters😆
It's 2 nights free $10 after with no electric or stay primitive for however long and 15 a night electric I believe we stayed in primitive but my brother helped do some construction for them helped finalize a house they started working on too long ago so they could sell and make a profit
Guide
Beautiful but not appropriate for kids. High alcohol and drug use and high crime rate at times. Only electric golf carts no side by sides.
Scout
3/4s of the way through the 2nd winter with Patty and her crew. The campground is very well kept. All issues are addressed immediately. And the friendliest staff you could ask for. Events are planned several times a month. With a mix of full, part-time, and temporary guests all invited. Sites include water, electrical and sewer. Access to the campground is very easy, just off Hwy 1. This is definitely my 1st choice. We stayed November through March.
RangerA perfect spot to camp and swim with your friends!!! This spot isn’t far from st Pete and is great for group camping! There is alot of space too!
ScoutNice, quiet campground on the outskirts of Jacksonville. Had a nice time out there with my buddy and the pup. Would recommend!
LegendNice sites. Staff is great. Good stopover when in the area. Second time here. This is not a remote campground, you can walk to a few stores if you desire. Pool looks very clean and maintained. Camp store was well stocked. Nice KOA.
Traveler
6 of us tent camped at site 1, Host was really nice and we stayed 2 nights. Bathhouse was really clean and served it's purpose. Wonderful place to get away and relax.
Guide
Welcome to High Springs RV Resort under new ownership!! This park has been transformed into a beauty. Conveniently located just a quarter mile off interstate 75, but nestled into the nature, hidden jem. Everything from the heated/airconditioned private bathouse to the concrete slabbed sites. This resort is a must see
ScoutThe campgrounds Unfortunately don't accept any form of online payments which caused a delay in setting up but other than that the amenities are endless great price for what you get from My camping experience!
GuideWe loved this park. Our site was level and somewhat secluded with heavy vegetation between sites where we were. Site 6 is a pull-thru, level, 50 amp and water. No sewer. The park has great museums with very interesting history about Stephen Foster and the park itself.
Our primary reason for staying here was to paddle the Suwanee River. There is a local outfitter that will provide shuttle service if you have your own boats or they do have rentals available. We did the short trip due to time considerations, but thoroughly enjoyed the paddle.
We did eat at Fat Belly's in White Springs. It was good, reasonably priced and convenient.
We only stayed two nights, but would plan to stay longer if we get by this way again.
Tent camping near Osceola National Forest in Florida offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of well-reviewed spots that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Osceola National Forest is Jennings State Forest Hammock Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
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