Best Equestrian Camping near Palm Coast, FL

Recent Equestrian Reviews in Palm Coast

46 Reviews of 14 Palm Coast Campgrounds

• S

  Serena S.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 8, 2024

  Encore Bulow RV

  Pool was okay, but the staff wasn’t.

  I asked my parents to book this RV site because it has a pool and WiFi. First things first, you have to pay for WiFi. I spent $15 on WiFi for ONE DAY for 7 people because if you make only one account it allows only 3 devices to sign it with it. Doesn’t mention anything about that on their website or on here. The plants here and the views are really pretty. The pool was okay, and the one day and night we stayed there we met some friendly people who were staying there as well. The next morning, (40 minutes before checkout time) they were already calling my mom and asking us when we were leaving. Are you serious? Put an earlier check-out time on your business if you want people to leave earlier. It sucks because I recommended this site to my parents, and they treated my mom very crummy. We won’t be back here again.

• L

  Louis B.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 15, 2024

  Princess Place Preserve - Moody Campground

  Beautiful place

  This is an excellent place to pitch a tent and spend time in nature without traveling far. Great hiking trails and the Pelicer Creek is available for fishing. Bring a kayak.

  The camp sites are huge. The tent sites are elevated which should help keep the soil dryer in case of rain.

  Keep in mind that there is no water available at the camping sites or the entire park for that matter. Potable or non potable so you have to bring in all drinking water and water for washing dishes if you plan on doing some cleanup. Also, there are bathrooms but they’re pretty far. The campsites do have nearby porta potties.

• B

  Brian K.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 26, 2024

  Etoniah Creek State Forest

  Very Nice primitive camping

  Just off the Palatka-Lake Butler Bike trail. Campgrounds are About 4 miles in on bikeable hard roads. Six Sites have picnic tables, lots of room, fire ring with grate, bbq grills, a latrine nearby. Etonia Creek is a couple miles from camp but a beautiful destination on its own

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2024

  Etoniah Creek State Forest

  Equestrian Trail-Riding w/ Primitive Camping Options

  Located just about 20 minutes due northwest of Palatka – dubbed ‘Florida’s State Farmers Market’ where you will easily discover that this north central town is teeming with fresh agriculture every which way you look – Etoniah [pronounced: ET-oh-NI-ah, not E-TOE-nia] Creek State Forest is a little known gem(which is actually inaccurate as far as descriptors go as this State Forest is nearly 9K square acres) that many folks will bypass enroute to Gainesville, without even noticing the secrets that this pine tree lined park paradise has to offer. With tons of hiking trails and a nice southwest access point for some great fishing at Georges Lake (just further north is Mike Roess State Park, which is nothing short of amazing itself, but see my reviews on this SP elsewhere for the details) offers about 500 feet of lake frontage. 

  Named after the Etoniah Creek that runs through the northeast of this state forest, to discover the lone primitive campsite that is available, you’ll actually have to head clear to the southeast corner of the forest. You’ll discover all sorts of wildlife here from white-tailed deer and a dozen or so different hawk species, wild turkey and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, to name a few. If you are into hiking and longing for some serious P&Q, then Etoniah has you covered with 3 different trails: (1) George’s Lake hiking trail, which is about a mile rountrip and will place you at an observation deck overlooking the lake; (2) Lake Blossom Trail is an even shorter½ mile loop around the tall grass marshes; and (3) Longleaf Pine Trail, which is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and takes you to the southern end of the park, which is where the primitive camping spot is located. 

  As for the primitive campground itself, in order to stay in the stand-alone Iron Bridge shelter, you must book this really unique free-standing camping spot WELL in advance. This enclosed camping shelter is one part simple 4-walled wooden framed open-air lodge that is one half (lower) wood and one half (upper) metal screen encased unit all with a fortified roof and solid foundation. There is even a wooden loft built inside the structure that allows for 2 people to sleep comfortably well-above the floor as a well as a proper porch. We weren’t lucky enough to book this unit, so we set up our tent camp adjacent to the Iron Bridge shelter, which served us up just fine. 

  Insider’s tips: (1) Day use is from sunrise to sunset here and they’re pretty stringent upon locking the gates before and after these times; (2) Etoniah is part of a wildlife corridor that offers up safe passage for the black bear, so be sure to read up on how to prepare to encounter black bears in these parts(although none were spotted during our particular outing); (3) If you have horses and are interested in taking your steed for a nice ride, there is a fantastic horse trail that runs the circumference of this park and the sandy-dirt trails are perfect for horseshoes!; and (4) When you get tire of thinking about that next meal and don’t want to build a fire to cook something, then check out the local scene just due east in Palatka, where I would recommend you check out mi Jamaican bredren at Caribbean 450 for some nice jerk chicken, grilled mojo chicken, oxtail and some coconut water to wash it all down with. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2024

  Trails End Outdoors RV Park & Cabins

  Hidden Equestrian Campground Gem

  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!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 3, 2023

  Cooper Lake RV Community

  Shaded Lake-Side RV Parking Bliss

  This RV parking pad is located in north central Florida, just due southwest of Palatka (a.k.a. the Sunshine’s State Farmer’s Market) where you’ll find southern charm hanging from more than the moss off the ancient Oaks here, which underscores one of the best highlights of Cooper Lake RV Community: its abundance of shade. Conveniently located right off (and I mean in front of) Highway 20 about 4 miles just due west of Interlachen, you’ll discover the eponymous Cooper Lake (for which this RV stand is named after) is located just behind the small body of fresh water and offers up some decent catch & release fishing, albeit this lake is more of a pond. If you cross the highway, due south and just a couple of stone’s throws away, there’s much bigger Lake Galilee to contend with and is much better for boat fishing IMHO. 

  As for the pet-friendly campground itself, there’s about 50 or so pull-through and back-in RV slots complete with full hook-ups (50 amp electric at every site along with water and sewage) along with a gathering area complete with horseshoes, shuffleboard, community fire pit, frisbee golf, gazebos, picnic tables and BBQ grills. While the bathrooms are very well-maintained, when we visited there were no showers per se (although in speaking with the management, some are in the works to be built, so I would definitely call ahead if this is a deal-breaker).  There’s WiFi here (but it’s not so good), designated dumpsters, vehicle storage as well as a fairly decent laundr-O-mat near the clubhouse. Rates for Cooper Lake RV Community: $45-$55/daily; $250-$300/weekly; and $650-$700/monthly. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While Cooper Lake RV Community is not a destination in and of itself, this is a really nice place run by very well-meaning folks and while this RV spot is definitely new it’s definitely worth the stop if you find yourself out this way; (2) When you get tired of staring into your onboard mini-fridge and/ or want to try out some of the local cuisine, head on over to True Grits, well, for the grits of course, Nanny's Country Café for simple breakfasts or Smokedogs Bar-B-Q for quite possibly some of the best brisket and homemade cole slaw in the world!; and (3) If you are looking for some great water to dip your kayak or canoe in, head south to Lake Ocklawaha where there’s a half dozen or so spots where you can launch from. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 17, 2023

  Princess Place Preserve - Moody Campground

  A Waterfront Camping Diamond in the Rough

  If you're like me and think that the most perfect campsite is the one that sits on the water's edge that provides both a simply amazing waterfront view as well as EZ access into the waters that you are just digging to try your kayak and canoe on, then welcome to what is, quite possibly, one of the best waterfront campground destinations in the whole of Florida (and given all of the access to both salt and fresh water access here in the Sunshine State, that's saying something!).  Trust me, every once in a while, along comes a very special campground that upon reflection, one thinks that maybe they should just keep this little secret for myself. But then what good are secrets if they aren’t (eventually) shared, me thinks? 

  Well, here’s one helluva campground find that comes with pristine natural surroundings and, depending upon what type of camping you are looking for, Princess Preserve offers up just about every outdoor possibility that one could conjure up and wish for. As far as Princess Preserve itself is concerned, there are more than 1,500 square acres to explore that will offer the best of sea and land. When it comes to frackish (combo of salt and fresh H20) water, you’ll have the trifecta of salt marshes from the Matanzas River, slow-moving currents of the Moody Creek and abundant fishing of the Pellicer Creek to contend with – all three of which make for perfect kayak, canoe and paddle board exploration (just be on the watch for gators!). Back on land, there’s plenty of hiking trails that provide a bevy of well-cleared fully-functioning foot paths, while on the other hand, you will discover trails that are in dire need of some decent pruning.  And if you come with your noble steeds, you'll find simply sublime trails to 'giddy up' on.

  The name Princess Preserve comes from the widow Angela Cutting who remarried a Russian prince and assumed the title of princess (although there was no coronation). The entire park is managed by the very good folks from Flagler County Parks & Recreation, who enlist some great support from locals in the community who work together in passionate way to keep this beautiful natural gem in pristine condition. To begin with, Princess Preserve, complete with an endless array of live, ancient Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss every which way you look, features not just 1 single campground to choose from, but rather 5 individual, completely differentiated campgrounds– one just as unique and different from the other as the next. For this particular review, I will be focused on the Moody Campground. 

  If you, like me, believe that the very best campsites are those that are located waterfront and/ or at least have some view of the water, be it a silent stream, roaring river or the lapping waves of an ocean, then here at Moody Campground, you have hit the outdoor camping lottery jackpot! In addition to being very flat and well-shaded, PPP offers up spacious campsites, which I'm sure you’ll also absolutely fall in love with this very particular campground that places you so incredibly close to waterfront camping bliss that you will be able to open your tent flap door, take 10 paces and launch your kayak or canoe. Seriously, it does not get any better than this! And the view here is simply outstanding. There’s only a small handful of campsites to reserve (5 in total) and most of those sit right in front of the river, so book early and pointedly. 

  Camping here is fairly basic and primitive with just water spigots, fire ring and designated trash receptacles as well as a port-O-potty, but each campsite has a wooden frame (14 x 14) sandy perimeter to pitch your tent on for the night. Please note that here at Moody Campground you are located in the easternmost in all of Princess Place Preserve and the Equestrian Campground is just a very short distance from where you are (so perhaps you can convince someone over there to let you tie up your horse). Amenities include: no shortage of hiking, biking & riding trails, campfire rings, BBQ grills, canoe / kayak launch, historic sites, interpretive exhibits, picnic tables, pavilions (available for rent), restroom facilities and natural preserves. For those not coming with their own tents or trailers, there are 3 cottages (1 ADA) that are available for rent. 

  Insider’s tips? Sure, here’s a few: (1) Over at Moody Campground, where most of the campsites sit alongside the river, you’ll want to be aware of alligators and snakes – and one big tip I have for keeping these reptiles at bay is keeping a fire going throughout the night, or if not, when the coal and embers of the fire burn down, use your shovel or trowel to place the still warm coals in a perimeter around your tent – this small amount of warmth will keep reptiles at bay; (2) Everywhere you go the water is non-potable, so be sure to bring your own fresh water to drink; (3) If you are interested in taking advantage of the historic tours that are offered here, please note that they are offered up on a first-come, first-served, so upon arriving here, be sure to check in with a Park Ranger for availability; (4) While the kayaking here at Princess Preserve was nothing short of awesome, after a few days of paddling down the same rivers, we were given well-heeded advice to drop on over to Faver-Dykes State Park, located just due north of Princess Preserve (you can actually paddle over there from PPP, or better, drive over and launch from there); and (5) When you get tired of firing up frank & beans for dinner and don’t mind throwing on a polo shirt, head on over to 386 (only a 20 minute drive from Princess Place Preserve), where they’ll delight you with the best of surf (1 lb rock lobster, Mexican triggerfish and blue crab flounder) & turf (prime filet, pork chop with peach chutney). 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2023

  Welaka State Forest

  Solemn Equestrian Campground Experience

  As you approach Welaka State Forest, it feels as though you’ve arrived ‘at the end of the line,’ and not in a bad sense either. Here, you’ll feel as though you’ve escaped the crowds, left the commercial world only to discover a truly pristine natural jewel. You’ll be overwhelmed by the incredibly loud silence and solitude of this far-reaching outpost and the moment that you’ve crossed the threshold (or the gravel road) entering Welaka State Forest, you’ll be incredibly grateful for the wide open expanse of the place and the communion with nature that it provides. 

  Just due south of Welaka – where there’s a minute scattering of local eateries and distractions, this spot is fairly off the ‘beaten path,’ a good half hour south of Palatka in central Florida, along the banks of the historic St. Johns River. This federal turned state park was founded in 1935 (under the Federal Resettlement Administration) and today is both a major conservation area as well as fish hatchery for the State of Florida. In all, there’s 4 miles of river frontage area on the east bank of Little Lake George, making for some decent kayaking and canoeing, although most of this is fairly difficult to navigate as it’s swamp-like, where overgrown Cypress and Pine trees provide a very thick canopy of forested shade throughout. 

  If you’ve got horses en towe, then you have hit the ‘lottery of equestrian campgrounds’ as Welaka State Forest is perhaps the most perfect place to camp if you’ve brought your four-legged steeds and looking for a place that offers up nearly 20 miles of equestrian trails for plenty of galloping, including the 6-mile Sandhill Horse Trail (part of the Florida Trailtrotter Program: www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/State-Forest-Recreation/Recreational-Activities/Horseback-Riding/Trailtrotter-Program)..) The campground here at Welaka State Park is made for you horse-loving outdoor enthusiasts and provides 2 – I repeat that 2 – 24 stall horse-ready stables, show horse stage, training area, along with 6 primitive campsites along with 5 full hook-up RV drive-through sites. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are looking to get some hiking in, there’s 2 decent trails (both integrated into the Florida forest Service’s ‘Trailwalker Hiking Program’ with the first, Spring Trail, offering a short 2-mile loop that ends in Mud Springs and the second, John’s Landing Trail, offering either a 3.5 or 4 mile loop; (2) Not interested in hiking? Not a problem, you can follow the scenic Indian Pond Road from the comfort of your own vehicle. Near here there are 2 primitive campsites that you can rent that places you right on the St. John’s River; and (3) While this SP doesn’t have much to offer apart from encounters with nature, if you find yourself missing civilization, in less than a 5 minute drive, you can join a sweltering crowd at either Shrimp R Us or, for amazing river-front gnashing, check out Welaka Lodge & Resort (for more details on this particular campground, check out my review on The Dyrt on this site). 

  Happy Camping!

• n

  nicholas

  Scout

  

  Dec. 24, 2022

  Lake George Conservation Area

  Not a camping spot.

  This site is a gated community not a camp ground

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 13, 2022

  Encore Bulow RV

  RV Compound Lives Up To Extensive Resort Offerings

  While just a short jaunt from I95, in under 7 minutes from 3-lane express highway traffic, you’ll find yourself sauntering south on a meandering paved entranceway with white picket fences and swear that you were driving onto the set of Dallas (for those of us that remember that Texan drama series!). Once you swing around the bend, a blockade of Ancient Oaks and Magnolias draped in an excessive amount of Spanish Moss are there to greet you to Bulow RV Resort (which is run by Encore RV Resorts). And WOW! does this place pack a lot in! 

  For starters, this RV campground is MASSIVE with nearly 400 back-in and pull-through slots to choose from. Nestled on the banks of the Bulow Creek and nearby to the Intracoastal, with the famed Flagler Beach just beyond, this campground is perfect for those seeking water (of any kind). And for those that prefer land, no worries, out here, you are completely surrounded by 6+ golf courses and a ton of great hiking trails. Don’t have an RV? Cringe at the thought of setting up a tent? Absolutely not a problem here at Bulow RV Resort, where they’ll rent you 1 of 5 types of cabins / cottages (note: no pets allowed on these premises though). 

  Really, the only downside to this entire place is the lack of privacy that you’ll encounter here – apart from being surrounded by Florida’s most amazing natural wilderness.  Once inside this RV compound, it is quite barren and therefore doesn’t offer much in the way of privacy or a sense of seclusion. So if living in an RV city, complete with road signs and attractions is your idea of paradise, then Bulow RV Resort could be ideal for you. 

  As for amenities here, you won’t be disappointed – although you may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to do! Starting with the basics, there are scattered picnic tables and BBQ grills and very well maintained restrooms and clean shower facilities. For RVers, all of the basic water, sewage and electric (30 / 50 amp) hook-ups are available and most of the spaces are fairly wide-open and barren, so you won’t have much privacy anywhere in this campground. In addition, there’s RV storage, ballroom/ banquet hall (because you never know when you might need to throw a big party, right?!), horseshoes, mini-golf, sand volleyball court, designated picnic / bbq areas, clubhouse / lounge, dog park and all the WiFi for your social media surfing pleasure. There’s also a fairly well-stocked market on-site, propane refill station, plenty of designated dump stations, shuffleboard, full service bar (yes, I couldn’t believe it either!) and an activities center that has a full lineup of daily events. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a fairly decent sized pool that has an absolutely pristine laundr-O-mat located right next to it. I know! Mai Tais, floaties and running a load of whites all-in-one! 

  Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) For those that are spending just a few nights (or even a week), you’ll want to find a spot much closer to the front of the property – as the back of the property is organized more for longer-term monthly ‘residents’; (2) For those that enjoy hiking, I strongly recommend heading just due south of this RV resort to Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic Park, where you can hike Bulow Creek Canoe Trail, which is quite short and basic, or head further south to Boardman Pond where there’s a pretty cool observation platform for bird-watching; (3) For tent campers, you’ll discover that this resort has isolated a place directly in front (near those white picket fences), where you will be separated from the RV community.  Again, because there is ZERO ground coverage, you will feel a little like a ‘spider in a bathtub,’ so I would recommend if you are going to camp here, to opt for a site as far west as you can (towards those Ancient Oaks and Magnolias I first mentioned – in fact, I would just go primitive and head in that direction anyway); (4) If you’re looking to drop a kayak or canoe in the water, you can either do that directly on-site where the Bulow Creek merges with the Halifax River (nearby the swimming pool) or further afield and southernly, you can drop your watercraft in Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve where you’ll enjoy much wider expanses; and (5) When you get tired of firing up the grill for each meal and want to venture out into the local area, go try out Flagler Fish Company which has been a local (funky) favorite for years or The Anchor, both of which serve up just amazing seafood done up any which way you can imagine. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Michael H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 14, 2022

  Welaka State Forest

  Campground is not closed

  Campground is not closed

• 

  Will C.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 10, 2022

  Connors Family Campsite

  Overall as listed. Bill is great to work with

  You can do anything from

  buying an RV renting an RV a camper tent if you're not from around there bill will help you out overall great customer service

• 

  Will C.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 7, 2022

  Connors Family Campsite

  Great Experience

  Host did the best he could to make a wonderful vacation for our family site is exactly as advertised if not better

• 

  Erica S.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 1, 2022

  Encore Bulow RV

  Pretty and spacious if you can handle road noise

  Another nice stop on our East Coast bike tour! Spacious sites with picnic tables and water. Charge phone in the bathroom. No hot water for shower the night we were there though, and the tent camping area backs up to the main road into the neighborhood, so we heard car noise throughout the night.

• C

  Carol B.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 26, 2021

  Encore Bulow RV

  Not a value

  Sites were sand/grass. Gravel is badly needed. Overnight rain left sites in standing water. Pool was lovely. Restrooms and laundry were clean.

• N

  Nate D.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 15, 2021

  Bayard Conservation Area

  Quiet, pretty, and peaceful

  Great riverside campsite. Hiked in about 3.3 miles, but OnX user beware, trust the trail’s red marks, not the trail marked on most maps! Part of the trail was reblazed to go around a washed out section.

  Otherwise, the campsite itself was great. It’s right next to the river, and includes plenty of space, a fire pit with cooking grates, and a picnic bench. Tons of squirrels, osprey, an owl, and I’m sure more if you’re able to hike a little quieter than myself and my 7 and 9 year old boys.

  Only problem we had is it was a little tough to find nice dry firewood. Most of the log sized potential firewood was pretty green, but there’s plenty of tinder and kindling to make up for it.

  There’s a stop on the way near the other campsite that includes some picnic benches, a (non-potable) water pump, and a bathroom with a roof and toilet paper. What more could you want?

• 

  B H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2021

  Welaka State Forest

  Overall Satisfying Stay

  Very nice new concrete RV/Trailer pads with electric and water hookup. The trailer in and out was easy even with a good sized rig (~30feet). Each spot had a picnic table and grill. I was a little disappointed that the hookup sights did not also have fire rings but the primitive tent sights do have fire rings. There is a dump station at this sight but it was not clear to me if the station was ready for use at the tone of my stay. The bathrooms and the shower rooms were very clean and well kept, it looks like they recently redid much of it. The location itself was very quiet and peaceful with good trails. There were a several other campers at the hookup sights. I did find it a little unsettling that at least two of the other campers at the hookup sight looked like they were a permanent/semipermanent resident and they were not using the space for equestrian activities as the sight intends. It’s a little disappointing because ethos who do want to camp with horses have limited sights so to see two of these taken by non equestrians in was seems to be a longer term stay was somewhat disappointing.

• 

  Katie M.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 4, 2021

  Princess Place Preserve

  Enchanting Summertime Solitude

  When I planned my trip to the Smokies, I left the last few days open, so I could decide at a later time what kinda ✨vibe✨ I was feeling.

  Would I want to travel through more of Tennessee and down through central Georgia, skipping North and South Carolinas entirely? Maybe spend some time in Asheville? Backtrack the same way I came? Wholly free spirited and wondrously stupid, given the holiday weekend.

  But I learned on the way out that it takes about six and a half hours to drive from Miami to the state border on the most direct route, I-95, which is also the dullest route, so I wanted to break up that stretch on my way home. By the time I began planning my return leg of the trip, every campground within an hour of 95 was booked.

  Then I can across Princess Place Preserve and it appeared to mainly be an equestrian campground from what I read, but I called them anyway. I don’t know any horse people, but they can’t be that bad, right? And luckily there were several sites still available, so I snagged one.

  Well, this is not all what I expected and I haven’t seen a single horse or horse person since I’ve been here, but this place might be my ✨favorite campground of all time.✨ There are only 13 camp sites in the entire park and they are all spread out. The park doesn’t seem like it gets busy in general, but it closes to the public at 6 pm, so that means you basically have the next three hours of daylight to roam the entire place by yourself! And there’s ✨so much to roam!!✨There are so many trails and winding, sandy roadways to bike or hike that I squeezed every last ounce of sunlight out of the day. The peace and serenity that Princess Place provided was the perfect ending to this road trip.

• A

  AnnMarie E.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 2, 2021

  Welaka State Forest

  Very quiet and peaceful

  This is a beautiful, quiet and secluded equine campground. It’s the perfect spot for those who love the outdoors. Staff is very polite and very helpful!! Please note there isn’t much close by, so stop at the grocery and get fuel before you turn off 17.

• 

  Keisha D.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 26, 2021

  Encore Bulow RV

  Better the 2nd Time

  I’m not sure what classifies RV Parks as a resort vs just a park but it should be dropped from Bulow. When I think of resort, I think luxury amenities, spacious sites, professional staff, etc.. As a full timer I’ve stayed at lots of RV Parks and this one is just ok. It’s great proximity to the beach and Daytona but lacks resort style amenities. The staff was better this trip but not very professional. The sites are so close together you can hear your neighbors breath. The permanent guests are friendly. The community center is only open at night after 7 pm. You have to pay for access to a WiFi network that doesn’t work 90% of the time and isn’t strong enough to stream. The pool is small and usually crowded. The bathhouses and restrooms are not ventilated and often not clean. I wanted to give the TV Park a second chance due to my low rating last year during COVID but there’s been no significant changes and this will likely be our last stay here.

• L

  Leah C.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 8, 2021

  Black Horse Resort Ranch

  Beautiful Property/Relaxing Stay

  I’ve had such a quiet, relaxing week here!! Everyone I’ve interacted with has been super helpful and nice. Also loved watching everyone with their horses. The site is a little sandy so make sure you have good chocks and blocks if leveling an rv and was 30 amp instead of 30/50 amp listed so bring an adapter (if needed). I would definitely stay again if I travel through this area in the future.

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  B H.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 17, 2021

  Princess Place Preserve

  Beautiful and Mosly Well-Maintained

  Equestrian campsites are nice and spacious, most sites are fairly big-rig friendly. The equestrian campsites have a garbage or two, fire ring, picnick table, 14 x 14 horse pens (uncovered but must are shaded), and some have a high-line (though ill strung). Most of the pens are kept in good repair, unfortunately my gate was off its hinges and had rusted sharp edges. I ended up wrapping it so my horse didn’t lacerate himself; this was a bit disappointing to see such disrepair in an otherwise pristine campground. Another pen had a dead and potentially dangerous limb hanging right over the area which was also unsafe. The bathrooms at the equestwian site were recently repainted and looked acceptably clean. Not the best I’ve seen but the update now makes them much more user friendly and less grimy. The grounds and trails are always very well kept. Would like to see the wild hog population controlled a bit more as we ran into a large group and saw the extensive damage the pigs left behind.

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  Marlene V.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 27, 2020

  Lake George Conservation Area

  Great for hunters. Not a lot there for hiking campers. Very primitive.

  Great for hunters. Not a lot there for hiking campers. Very primitive.

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  Taylor

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2020

  Princess Place Preserve

  Beautiful Preserve

  I stayed at Princess Place Preserve from 10/23-10/27 and cannot wait to return. You’ll see from the photos (all taken from my site) that the sites are expansive and beautifully shaded. I stayed in equestrian site 1 (EQ1) and was amazed by how much space there was and how far we were from others. This site was across from bathroom/shower (convenient & clean) but be sure to bring your own water - the water provided is non-potable. You can collect firewood as well but plan on bringing some of your own. The rangers were incredibly kind and I felt very safe. Surrounded by stunning, natural Florida habitat! We saw deer more frequently than we saw other humans lol. My dog & I were truly at peace here!

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  Jesse D.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 16, 2020

  Doe Lake Campground

  Great Group Camp

  Beautiful and quiet. Easy access to trails. Has showers and a meeting space. Set up to accommodate horses. There are bears.

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  Alyssa D.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 20, 2020

  Tram Road Equestrian Campground - Tiger Bay State Forest

  Primitive horse camp close to Ormond Beach!

  Reserve through state forest.

  Picnic table, fire ring, and grill. Some sites have small corrals adjacent.

  Only 4 sites!!

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  Rob D.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 15, 2020

  Encore Bulow RV

  Tighten up

  Driving into the resort I thought I was at a horse ranch in Ocala. Rolling acres of green grass and the biggest oak trees I've ever seen. All this room but if you get a standard lot you better bring a can opener. No angle so it's a 90deg. backup. I settled in with my slide straddling the lot line and had to pull my awning back a couple inches on the other side to keep it off my neighbour. Sitting outside I felt like I was in an alley. Strange. Scenic area lots of sights to see.