Most RV campgrounds near Osteen, Florida sit along the St. Johns River basin at elevations below 50 feet. The inland location features sandy soil with poor drainage that affects camping conditions during Florida's rainy season from June through September. Several campgrounds experience significant seasonal population shifts with snowbirds doubling occupancy rates from January through March.
What to do
Beach access: 15-20 minute drive from Gold Rock Campground to New Smyrna Beach. "There's a Publix practically walking distance there's a Wawa right around the corner. And the ocean is 15 minutes away," notes a camper who appreciated the convenient location.
Manatee viewing: Visit Blue Spring State Park during winter months. "Awesome boardwalk and viewing stations into the crystal clear water with tons of fish, birds and of course manatees," according to one visitor who stayed at Orange City RV Resort.
Swimming options beyond pools: The lagoon at Wekiva Falls offers a natural swimming experience. "It had a center island with a slide and fountain to play in. The only bad part was the water smelled like sulfur. Kids still had a blast and we also hiked a little and found some sort of tower not far away," reported a visitor.
What campers like
Concrete pads in limited supply: Some sites at Daytona Beach RV Resort feature concrete rather than gravel. "Very nice, clean facilities. Sites are paved, have pavers or gravel. Nice pool, too," reported one reviewer at Daytona Beach RV Resort.
Canal-based layout: Sunshine Holiday Daytona has a unique design. "This RV campground is basically two very large concentric circles separated by a canal, with Circle A, the first encircled campground space that you will come to upon entry, where the main lodge, shower/restrooms, laundry, market and swimming pool is located," explains one camper who appreciates organization.
Community activities: Southern Palms offers extensive social options. "From parks, shuffle boards, evening themed dancing and lakes to bike paths, swimming pools and bocce ball. But wait, there's more... there's also: clubhouse/lounge for large group gatherings, whirlpool/spa/jacuzzi for those late night relaxing moments," observed a visitor who documented the amenities.
What you should know
Water quality varies: At Wekiva Falls RV Resort, the natural springs have a distinctive characteristic. "The springs swimming area water has a smell of sulfur, stay up wind," advises a local camper.
Traffic noise impacts sites: Crystal Lake RV Park sits close to the interstate. "Despite being next to one of the busiest interstate highways in the country, the place is completely surrounded by greenery, so some (not all - by a long shot) of the noise pollution spilling over from the highway is absorbed by all the lush vegetation."
Drainage problems during rain: Many sites have poor water management. "This road that we were on does flood during rain, as you see in pictures," notes a camper at Daytona Beach Campground, highlighting a common issue in the region's sandy soil.
Tips for camping with families
Pool alternatives: Wekiva Falls offers unique water features. "The main attraction was the swimming pool/spring in the center. Concrete borders surrounded it and there was a grassy hill to sun on or chairs to relax in too," shares a family who visited with children.
Playground access: Sunshine Holiday Daytona provides dedicated areas for children. "This place is pet-friendly and while I thought it was more of a retiree community, there were plenty of kids playing around the nice little park that they have."
Bike-friendly options: Some campgrounds offer good cycling opportunities. "Nice bike path so you can get to shopping and restaurants by bicycle if you want," reports a camper at Sherwood Forest, noting the practical transportation option for families.
Tips from RVers
Site flooding concerns: After rainstorms, many sites become problematic. "We were moved from a premium concrete pad to a muddy mess and broke down picnic table with rotten banana under it," reports a visitor at Orange City RV Resort.
Highway access tradeoffs: Crystal Lake RV Park offers exceptional accessibility. "If you prize convenience and EZ access on/off the I95 corridor as you're heading up or down Northern Florida nearby the Canaveral National Seashore, then this is definitely a consideration for the 18 wheeled mobile living room crowd. It's literally less than a 1 minute drive."
Site marking limitations: Some RV parks have poor organization. "The site numbers are not marked, thankfully when we pulled in there were some residents outside their camper and were able to tell us their site number and we figured it out from there," explains a visitor describing navigation challenges.