Best RV Parks & Resorts near Palm Coast, FL

What’s in a city, you ask? I would think organization, solid utilities, an infrastructure, stated rules and a semblance of community. If that’s the definition, then I guess Orange City RV Resort lives up to that moniker. As soon as you turn into this RV enclave, located just a stone’s throw from the major I4 highway, just due north of Orlando, this place will immediately impress you with it’s very organized and structured way that it lays out its design, from grid-like, well-paved streets and well-lit infrastructure to the outsized number of amenities you will discover here. If ease of access and turn-key entrance is on your check-list than OC RV has you covered. 

Back to those amenities – here you’ll discover some fairly premier RV resort living plus-ups from a heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi, state-of-the-art work-out facility, multi-purpose community center (complete with fully operational kitchen), onsite laundry, shower and restroom facilities, doggie park, recreation hall (bingo, billiards tables, game room, card tables, etc.), dedicated mail center, private small pond (catch& release only), a handful of picnic pavilions, BBQ grills, traditional RV hook-ups (electric, water and sewage) plenty of games such as bocce ball, horse shoes, petanque and, of course (in Florida, the prerequisite) shuffleboard. 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. 

OC RV Resort offers up a number of different types of sites to choose from between standard, premium and ‘super sites’ – as you can imagine, ranked by size as well as position within the resort. Of course, the more modest size comes with less land, compromised vistas and places you in very close proximity to neighbors. In addition to open back-in and pull-through RV sites and slots, you will discover that there are also a number of 1BR cottages and newly constructed mini-homes available for lease. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) The biggest tip I can give you is that literally only a 10 minute drive due west, you’ll hit arguably one of the best natural springs in all of Florida – Blue Spring State Park. And while there’s a small fee to get in, trust me, it’s worth it!; (2) To my fellow tent campers, if you’re reading this, my apologies, because OC RV Resort doesn’t offer up any spots to pitch your shelter for the night. That said, Blue Spring SP has some pretty awesome campsites that I would absolutely recommend, and if you want tent camping paradise, then just a bit further afield is Trimble Park Campground, arguably, some of the best tent camping in the entire state – for more details, you can read my reviews on both of these campgrounds on The Dyrt; and (3) As you would guess being located this close to Highway 4, you’ll come across all the usual franchise restaurant chains (Chili’s, Tijuana Flats, Perkins, Applebee’s, etc.), but if you’re looking for a nice meal, check out Riverwalk Pizzeria for some pretty great pies and fresh suds.

Happy Camping!

We arrived to the RV Park pretty late and excited to get hooked up and in bed quickly! Once we got parked we realized that the hookups were on the wrong side and we weren’t in a pull through so this was a problem. We hooked up what we could and decided to phone the front office to be relocated to another site the following morning. We called and were repeatedly told that we would have to have Thousand Trails assign us a new spot or we could pay to be relocated. Thousand Trails confirmed that they do not assign spots at RV Parks but the front office staff still insisted and offered to move us for a fee. We ended up driving through the grass and maneuvering around trees and poles to turn our trailer around and things worked out but the tone was set. We didn’t spend much time at the RV Park and won’t be returning. There wasn’t WiFi and the cell reception for Verizon was hit and miss. Almost everyone but us has golf carts they used while inside the park.

If you were any closer to Daytona Speedway, you’d be feeling the constant swoosh! of cars racing by non-stop. This RV pitstop conveniently located just off Florida’s main interstate highway I-95 and just due north of its second most well-driven highway 4 (the gateway to Orlando), you’ll discover Daytona RV Speedway, which is just a few hundred yards walk to the reason likely you’ve come here in the first place – the Daytona 500 (or any of the other spectacles that call this car track home). And if you are just passing by, then Daytona RV Speedway offers a quick and convenient place for you to drop anchor for the night. 

Apart from its easy access and proximity to the Daytona Speedway, you’ll enjoy the flat, well-laid out pet-friendly RV park here along with all of its amenities: the typical RV hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage), 80’ (max) pull-through sites, on-site mini-mart / store, WiFi& Cable, restroom & bathhouse facilities (from the 80’s but clean nonetheless), firewood and propane (for purchase), coin-operated laundry as well as scattered picnic tables and BBQ grills. As for the campus itself, the RV slots have pretty decent space between them with just OK shade (with an odd tree here and there). 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you find yourself lucky enough to be here on the weekend, you’ll want to check out Daytona Flea & Farmers Market conveniently located right across the street from Daytona RV Speedway; (2) While you couldn’t find a place more heavily trafficked in the entire state of Florida, in just a short 20 minute drive further west, you can discover Tiger Bay State Forest, which has an amazing hiking trail called Buncombe Hill Trailhead that’s a nice distraction from this otherwise concrete jungle; (3) As you’re a stone’s throw away from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early!; and (4) While you are surrounded by a ton of franchise restaurant chain eateries like Cracker Barrel, BJ’s, Tijuana Flats and Waffle House, I highly recommend Double Barrel Grill, which functions as one part whiskey distillery and also operates a shooting range – who says you can’t shoot and eat your meal too?! 

Happy Camping!

I have to admit, with a name like International RV Park Campground, I was expecting, I don’t know, something much more like Epcot Center but for the RV’ing crowd, but there was no real cosmopolitan or multicultural experience (or foreign languages or exotic restaurants for that matter) to be had. That said, if you have an RV and are in town for Daytona Speedway or perhaps even the beaches (although for this latter attraction, I would submit that you are too far west), then International RV Park Campground provides super easy off-road access to a fairly spartan and incredibly quiet night underneath the stars (that is, if your RV has a moon roof). 

From an amenities standpoint, you’ll find nice flat, well-paved roads throughout the campground, full RV hook-ups (water, electric and sewage), where free WiFi is offered for your non-stop web surfing pleasure, an onsite mini-mart (say hi to Sean for me!), coin-operated washer and dryers, a fairly cool club house (where you can take over a table, throw down some cards and have a nice poker match), outdoor pavilions, sanitary dump station, scattered picnic tables, BBQ grills, propane gas refilling station, pin-coded bathhouse and restrooms (that are incredibly clean) and two different community pools with patio lounge furniture. Everywhere you go, pets are welcomed, so bring your furry friends! 

While International RV Park Campground isn’t the only campground in town or nearby, what distinguishes it from the others is that it has 2 different small lakes that really amp up the natural feel to the place. Plus, unlike many of the other campgrounds that are placed too close to I95 and I4 for my taste, in just a short time after exiting either highway, you really can get lost from all of the concrete jungle and feel as though you have truly escaped all the noise, traffic and congestion that is less than a mile away from this place. Add to this, the camping community that I discovered here is absolutely fantastic with staff that are incredibly welcoming and helpful. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As nice of a roadside pit stop this might be, it is not a destination, so get in late, leave early, but make a reservation well in advance; (2) If you find yourself lucky enough to be here on the weekend, you’ll want to check out Daytona Flea & Farmers Market conveniently located down the street from where you are staying and right across the street from Daytona RV Speedway; (3) While you couldn’t find a place more heavily trafficked in the entire state of Florida, in just a short 20 minute drive further west, you can discover Tiger Bay State Forest, which has an amazing hiking trail called Buncombe Hill Trailhead that’s a nice distraction from this otherwise concrete jungle; and (4) Even though you are surrounded by a ton of franchise restaurant chain eateries like Cracker Barrel, BJ’s, Tijuana Flats and Waffle House, I highly recommend Double Barrel Grill, which functions as one part whiskey distillery and also operates a shooting range – my recco for this restaurant is the fried bologna slider - don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! 

Happy Camping!

If you find yourself in North Central Florida and in need of a patch of land to call home for the night, located just off Highway 17 just 5 miles due south of Palatka, you’ll encounter Lynch’s Landing RV Park, which offers immediate access to St. Johns River, where there’s plenty of fantastic boating and fishing to be had. That said, this spot should be looked at as a layover or a step towards your final destination, as while the access to fresh water is amazing, the campground offering is meager at best. Currently this ‘park’ is in the midst of a major refurbishment as ownership has recently changed hands. 

Amenities here include: direct access to fishing on St. John’s River on the proprietary pier, full-service RV hook-ups (water, sewage and 30 / 50 amp electric) and a fairly decent boat ramp, in case you are towing your own behind you. Here you’ll discover that there’s every kind of boat docking at Lynch’s Landing from dinghies, yachts, canoes and kayaks and even the 40-footer fishing boats that you’ll occasionally see in these parts. With all 37 sites, there is complimentary WiFi offered for your web-surfing pleasure, along with just OK bathroom and shower facilities, an onsite laundr-O-mat, 200-foot fishing dock (panoramic sunset views are complimentary!). 

No RV? Not a problem. Lynch’s will rent you a riverfront bungalow (but book way in advance!) complete with microwave, bathroom (with solo shower), fridge and TV. Surprisingly, there are no picnic tables or BBQ rings anywhere – I guess these ‘campers’ are cooking everything inside this fairly RV-exclusive mini-park versus throwing meat on the grill for their meals. Apart from this property’s close proximity to St. Augustine (30 minutes), Daytona Beach (60 minutes) or the City of the Most Famous Mouse (90 minutes), what is pretty impressive is the low $’s you’ll pay for the nightly, weekly and even monthly rental. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) In my view, Lynch’s Landing is not a destination – at least not at this moment until they refurbish the place, so my recommendation is to arrive late and depart early, unless you are really here for an excellent access point to the lower point of St. John’s River; (2) If you are looking to get some hiking in, look no further than Welaka State Forest, where there’s 2 decent trails (both integrated to 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; and (3) While Lynch’s doesn’t offer much in the way of a natural spot to socialize and get to know the community, if you do find yourself missing civilization, in less than a 5 minute drive, you can join a sweltering crowd at either Oasis, which is a small roadside joint featuring beer and wine or Chico’s, which is the local Mexican cantina. 

Happy Camping!

One of the few crown gems you’ll discover along Beverly Beach, Camptown RV Resort & Campers Village is MASSIVE! But I must forewarn my tent pitching brethren – this is 100% an RV hangout (for the most part) of the concrete jungle kind. That said, if you’re looking for a spot to park your mobile living room for the night (or the month) and want to be able to either quickly access, or better yet, have amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean with simply outstanding beaches, then look no further than Camptown! 

From an amenities standpoint, all slots are either vertical or diagonal (facing directly towards the ocean or across the street towards the Intracoastal) with both sides offering full hook-ups (water, sewer and 50 amp electrical service - Camptown offers 30 amp adapters free of charge) as well as complimentary cable and WiFi for all your social media surfing needs. Don’t have an RV? Not a problem, Camptown has you covered with their cabin rentals (but there’s only about a half dozen, so make a reservation early if you want these). Onsite you’ll discover a fairly full-service market with gifts and souvenirs, fishing gear, beach items, snacks and soda, booze and mixers as well as all the RV camping supplies you might need while here. 

What I love most about Camptown is that it puts you SMACK DAB in front of one of the most beautiful beach shorelines on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. One warning I would give, having stayed shortly after Hurricane Nicole hit, is that a decent amount of the coastline has been demolished and there are several oceanfront businesses and access-ways that are now defunct and under construction. Additionally, Camptown is midway between 2 great locations – St. Augustine (aka ‘Ancient City') to the north and Daytona Beach to the south. Both offer additional great beaches (but you should have no problem on this front here at Beverly Beach) as well as a ton of nightlife, culinary, cultural and entertainment options. 

Inside tips? Here’s a few: (1) While boasting about being ‘pet-friendly,’ if you are thinking about renting a cabin here at Camptown, think again – no four-legged friends are allowed; (2) As you are this close to paradise, I have to make ‘treasure-seekers’ aware that if you are on the hunt for shark teeth, you are nearby one of the world’s most famous beaches for discovering the dental remains of 20 or so different Selachimorpha (and some prehistoric, if you are lucky enough); (3) When you get tired of trying to figure out what’s on the menu for your next meal, I highly recommend grabbing an oceanside brunch at Java Joint with the Country Benedict (the sausage gravy is outstanding!), ordering a pair of crab cakes at Turtle Shack Café or pursuing fresh fried conch fritters at Break Awayz; and (4) If you want to drop your kayak in some ‘frakish’ (sea and fresh water) waters, then stop by Si Como No Inn (can’t miss this vibrant oceanside hostel) that has access to the Matanzas River/ Intracoastal. 

Happy Camping!

If you find yourself up in the northeastern corner pocket of the Sunshine State, and for some reason end-up here in Palatka (a.k.a. The Farmer’s Market of the entire State of Florida) and looking for a spot to park your mobile living room on solid ground, then Crystal Cove Marina & RV Resort might just be the spot for you. Careful though, as there are only about 8 spots here to choose from (although this RV riverside stand is promising 40 more tree-lined RV slots in the near future), but all sites come with full hook-ups including 30 / 50 electrical, water and sewage. There are no picnic tables, BBQ grills or any other amenities to speak of, but you will have direct access to St. Johns River with an amazing boat launch. That’s about it.

Other than the pavement that you will drive on upon entering this spot or the flat and level sandy locations that you will park upon, there’s not a whole lot to this particular place, although there is an incredibly nice restaurant / bar scenario called ‘The Lighthouse’ (formerly named ‘Captain’s Cove Bar’) which is a decent bar with all of the usuals on tap and on shelf. There’s food trucks and live music on the weekends, but bear in mind that your RV will be parked in the same spot as said food trucks along with all of the local parking traffic that overruns the parking lot you will find yourself in.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While there’s not much to offer in these parts, you are right near Palatka, which is kind of an overgrown town, that has a number of standard drive-by restaurants that you’ll expect (Chili’s … add every standard fast-food restaurant chain here), but there are a few hidden gems, of which, I highly recommend Corky’s Bell Seafood @ Gator Landing, which I would encourage you to try the fried whole catfish or the mahi-mahi served grilled or blackened; (2) Despite the bar offering here at Crystal Cove, which might keep you rooted because it’s just so dang easy and close, I would highly recommend a trip to Welatka Lodge Resort, which for a 25 minute ride south along the St. John's River will certainly impress; and (3) If you’re looking for a great slice of nature to discover and hike / fish / kayak / etc. then head on over to Etoniah State Forest, which is less than a 20 minute drive from Crystal Cove and there’s 4-5 amazing hiking trails to explore as well as Georges Lake with which to cast a line.

Happy Camping!