Cabin camping near Pierson is a great way to escape into nature, yet still have all the comforts of home. Find the best information on cabin camping near Pierson, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Search nearby cabins or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida. The national forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest.
The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby. For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horseshoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
The semi-tropical region gives the campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.
Salt Springs is very close to Lake George, a great fishing destination.
$31 - $65 / night
Located in a shady hammock near the Tomoka River, each of the park's 100 campsites has a picnic table, grill, electric hook-up and water. A dump station is located within the park. Three restrooms with hot showers, two of which have accessible facilities, are located in the campground.
$24 per night plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Includes water and electricity.
Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older or who hold a Social Security disability award certificate or a 100-percent disability award certificate from the federal government are permitted to receive a 50-percent discount on current base campsite fees. Proof of eligibility is required.
Well-behaved pets are allowed in the campground in accordance with our Pet Policy.
Maximum recreational vehicle (RV) length is 34 feet.
For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
$24 / night
Blue Spring State Park has 51 campsites (recreational vehicles up to 40 feet long) located in the sand pine scrub and are within walking distance to the spring. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, water, electricity and a grill. A dump station is available in the park. Pets are welcome in the Blue Springs camping area in accordance with our Pet Policy. ADA Accessible sites at Blue Springs State Park camping are offered on Reserve America and two new bathhouses are complete with accessible showers and bathroom stalls. Conservation measures can produce astounding results. In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200 and by 2018, that number skyrocketed to a record 485. Besides "sea cows," fish abound in the spring run, and these attract a variety of wading birds, ospreys, eagles and kingfishers. To see the park’s wonders, visitors can hike along the spring run or on the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail. Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals are available at the park) or take a guided river boat cruise.
$24 - $95 / night
Wekiwa Springs Camping offers slopes of gently rolling hills supporting longleaf pine among other specialty plants is the Sandhill habitat where the 60 spacious campsites are located. Each wooded site has water and electrical hook-up, a fire ring with grill and a picnic table. Some sites also have sewer hook-ups and a dump station is located at the campground. Accessible camp sites can be requested at the time of reservation. Two accessible restrooms with showers are located in the camping area. Firewood is available at the ranger station. Well behaved pets are allowed in the campground in accordance with our Pet Policy.
Silver Springs State Park’s campground offers Cabins, RV and Tent Sites, and Group Primitive Camp Sites. Located beneath shady oaks and beautiful pine trees, Silver Springs’ vacation cabins accommodate up to six people. Each cabin has a full dining area, two bedrooms, one bath, stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, gas fireplace (October 1 to April 30), central cooling and heating and a large screened porch. Fifty-nine spacious sites in two campground loops easily accommodate even large camping units, with a maximum recreational vehicle length of 50 feet. Tent campers are welcome as well. Each site offers water and electric hook-up, as well as a fire ring, barbecue grill and picnic table. The primitive group camping area, set amid shady oaks, is for organized groups only, with preference given to youth groups. The area includes picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Non-potable water is available and there are no shower facilities. For more information and to make a group reservation for primitive camping, please call the Ranger Station at (352) 236-7148. This number is for primitive group camping reservations only.
$24 - $110 / night
With 1,500 linear feet of Atlantic Ocean beachfront for your enjoyment, Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort is one of the few RV resorts situated directly on a seawall along the beach. Located directly in the middle of St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city 32 miles to the north, and Daytona Beach, 30 miles to the south, there are nearby attractions for everyone. We are truly a year-round premier camping destination.
Located between Orlando and Daytona, our Central Florida RV Park is surrounded by state-owned preserve land, but is still only 5 miles from Sanford, FL. The campground has a total of 817 sites, 569 of which offer full hookups, and there are plenty of over-sized RV sites to accommodate big rigs and small RVs alike. Wekiva Falls RV Resort and campground also offers tent camping at our Orlando-area campground. Some sites are equipped with picnic tables and grills, while others have fire pits, and some are located far back in the woods. Wekiva Falls is a premiere RV Resort and campground destination ideally located in beautiful Sorrento, Florida between Daytona Beach and Orlando. Before Walt Disney came to the area in the 1970’s, Orlando was a sleepy town with an economy based on citrus and cattle. Since then, Orlando has blossomed into one of our nations most sought-after destinations. That’s why the founders decided to build Wekiva Falls right up to the road, in Sorrento, Florida. The founders wanted to be close enough to all the attractions and local shops, without being disturbed by the noise, or frustrated by the stop and go traffic. Sorrento, Florida is truly one of the last peaceful reserves in Central Florida. With its near-perfect mild temperatures that last all year-round. Built on over 100 acres, you’ll find the beauty of the great outdoors stretches in every direction, as far as the eye can see. At Wekiva Falls a beautiful beach awaits, winding trails call your name, and a variety of nearby wildlife dot the picture-perfect landscape.
$40 - $73 / night
Bulow RV Resort is the perfect location for those who appreciate an unspoiled Florida environment. Nestled on the banks of Bulow Creek, many of our guests enjoy boating, fishing, hiking and cycling. With direct access to Bulow Creek or a short drive to the Intracoastal Waterway, Bulow RV Resort is a water lover's paradise. Staying at an Encore Flagler Beach-Palm Coast RV resort gives you incredible access to a number of outdoor recreational activities in Flagler Beach, Daytona Beach and St. Augustine - including six golf courses nearby. Closer to home, Bulow RV Resort guests enjoy a small-town feeling in our community, complete with an on-site shop, bar and activities center. You'll feel right at home among your friendly neighbors. A water lover's paradise at a Flagler Beach, Palm Coast RV resort Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Bulow RV Resort. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
North Beach Camp Resort is dedicated to offering you a memorable North Florida beach camping stay. Enjoy our resort amenities, complete RV Park, tent campground & cabin rentals and easy access to our area activities. Enjoy the shade and privacy afforded by our tall, moss-laded oaks and palmettos. We have outstanding sunrises and sunsets.
North Beach Camp Resort is located on 30-heavily-wooded acres on a barrier island between the saltwater North River and the Atlantic Ocean, just 4.5 miles north of historic downtown St. Augustine and 24 miles south of Jacksonville Beach. Our prime northeast Florida beach camping location makes us the destination of choice for in the know campers!
$67 - $245 / night
LG01
$18 / night
Scout
We have stayed here on more than one occasion. We have always stayed in the camping cabins because they are located on the properties small pond. It’s nice to feed the ducks while you’re sitting on the porch swing having your coffee. It’s a short distance to town, and also the beaches. There’s also an amphitheater nearby that usually has great concerts.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. So happy to welcome this partner to our platform. Immerse yourself in this quiet and relaxing getaway. Splurge a little and spring for the private chef meals, we heard they are amazing!! Hang out in the hot tub while looking at the lake. Book your stay today and come back here to leave them some love.
Guide
This campground is top notch, tons of amenities- pool, hot tub, restaurant, bar, dock, fitness center. We enjoyed bingo night at the activities center.
Only thing we didn’t like- no fires at the campsite.
We will definitely return!
Scout
Love it here. Easy access to bike trails, camp fire nights and log cabins available if you don't have an RV.
GuideGreat full hook up, paved site with easy access to beautiful St Augustine Beach. There’s also a large, clean pool area with hot tub, big fishing dock with small boat/kayak ramp, and bar/restaurant at the pool. Staff is friendly, facilities are clean. Sites are small, but we didn’t spend much time outside of the site. Beautiful sunsets over the dock.
Legend
If you’ve landed on this review hopefully its because of a primary decision to visit one of the greatest beach communities in all of Florida – New Smyrna Beach. This super-slim archipelago boasts some of the most perfect white sugar sand beaches anywhere – plus, the best part is that this beach is a proper ‘drive-on’ beach, so whatever you would normally have to haul in a cart or wheeled by trolley to the beach, you can simply keep in the trunk or bed of your SUV / car / truck. And if you are here, hopefully you have planned to be here for some time – or, upon seeing how simply amazing New Smyrna Beach is, have decided that you need a place to stay ... but unfortunately, you and a couple thousand other people have come to the same conclusion. So what do you do?
Well, you look for simple and affordable accommodations nearby, and that’s what will attract you to Sugar Mill Ruins Travel Park, which is conveniently located only 15 minutes drive or so from beachside bliss. While this is definitely an RV-laden outpost, the vibe here is quite contagious, with its main office greeting you immediately upon arrival, where just past this wooden log cabin structure pure hedonism awaits with vibrant bouncing beach balls popping up and down in this overgrown campside Florida shaped-pool bursting with loud southern country music (yee-haw!) and nearly everyone en towe brandishing a coozie with some cheap domestic beer and endless “hey y’all’s” and smiles to boot at the ‘Tiki Hut’ (warning – there’s nothing here that resembles a ’Tiki Hut’ apart from the drinks they pour, although even here, no umbrellas!). This place feels like Spring Break for the adults toting 2-3 kids with them as they dwell in their mobile manufactured temporary housing.
With all the proper hook-ups being provided (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer, water), this oversized RV menagerie feels like it’s been carved out of a forest of tall needle-pine trees sheltering its residents from the sweltering heat of NE Florida. The family-friendly restrooms and shower facilities are fairly clean and there’s picnic tables and BBQ grills sporadically littered all over the place. Sugar Mill Ruins also rents out very affordable cabins (12 x 20) with twin bunk beds and fold-out futon (nice) complete with mini-fridge, table, chairs, microwave and even a porch with deck chairs. There’s more than 200 sites to choose from complete with a playground for the kiddos, game room with 2 billiards tables, plus 3 acres of lake fishing along with a cool pavilion with games and events (this is the main building that you’ll first encounter).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While not exactly a destination, Sugar Mill Ruins is so dang convenient to some of the best beach experiences you might ever encounter, depending upon your leaning, leave early and spend as much time as you can at New Smyrna Beach; (2) If you’re looking for a different place to soak some suds, I highly recommend Norwood’s Treehouse Bar, which has fantastic cocktails and local live music; and (3) For simply sublime food, check out Outriggers Tiki Bar& Grille, which has a pretty gracious happy hour where you can spot manatees and dolphins while biting down on some of the freshest catch in Florida, but with outstanding accoutrement, like key lime coconut beurre blanc and sticky bamboo rice or pineapple and peppadew rhum butter infused fish entrees.
Happy Camping!
Traveler
Best site around. Outdoor kitchen and shower both with hot water! Flush toilets. Adorable tiny cabin rental is available. Social distancing is being practiced. Creativity is bounding. Artists and musicians are highly encouraged to visit. You'll wish you came sooner.
Traveler
We have stayed here several times over the last few months. This is a bigger RV and golf resort with some 1200+ sites (a mix of mobile homes and open RV sites). The staff at the front gate were very welcoming and accommodating as the first site we were assigned was too small for our TT and was further away from the amenities (like the heated pool and hot tub) than we prefer, they quickly found other available sites for us to choose from and switched us to one that worked for us. The campground is family friendly but there is a big senior/retiree presence, they also have a decent playground and a fenced in Dog Park.
Guide
If you are looking to stay at a beachside RV resort with a large pool look no further! There are two pools: a large pool for everyone and a smaller adult only pool with hot tub. The location is perfect with several restaurants and a grocery store close by. Review the map before selecting your site as some are tight but many are pull thru making it easier. The roads are dirt and hold water after a rain but nothing major. Site #81 is a pull-thru/back-out site that is close to the beach walkway. This site has a covered patio with a picnic table. Our 26' travel trailer fit plus a vehicle with no problem. We will definitely be back!
Guide
Has by far not been my favorite. It’s divided into 3 parts. We are Accross the road with no swimming pool or dog park. The main camp has a pool but the hot tub is broken. The dog park they do have has been closed the entire time we have been here. The main camp ground is very crowded and close together but at least there is a lot going on compared to our side which is very very quiet except for the fair people who have started coming in. There is another pool in the third section but that has been closed forever. I also am not fond of the area itself. For some this might be great but if you have small kids I don’t think this is the camp ground for you. Luckily we have a membership because with the lack of amenities I would have been disappointed to pay the going rate.
TravelerThe park isn’t the best park we have been to but the surrounding area and safety and nice people make up for it. The bathroom is very nice and modernized. Laundry is more pricy than any other but they take card so it’s nice not having to get cash or quarters every time. Don’t like being towered the front of the park right next to the road. Love to be in the back where all the shady trees are. Sometimes neighbors play loud music until pretty late. The people in the park are so nice. The heated pool and hot tub are wonderful though could use some more water in it at times. One of the bathroom stalls has been closed forever and isn’t being fixed so there is only two in the main one. There is another set though in the club house area. Has a nice library and a mail room. Mount Dora and down town Eustis are beautiful.
Legend
Centrally located between Eustis, Tavares, Umatilla, and Leesburg you will find this lovely RV resort on Lake Harris in Central Florida. Their busy season starts in Oct and goes through April with many guests staying throughout the months. Off season it is very easy to get a spot.
They are in the middle of a large number of renovations. All sites will have concrete pads by late 2019, New clubhouse is scheduled but behind schedule.
They have 7 hotel units they advertise as vintage but they are just full of ancient furnishings and poorly lit - yet they will take you back in time to when the park first opened in the 50's. There are about 5 lodges and over 300 RV sites. Best sites seem to be up on the hill and they boast a beautiful view of Lake Harris and the 9 hole golf course. They are spacious but not private and there are no picnic tables at sites.
At the lower portion of the resort you will find the marina, 160 high and dry racks, about 60 wet slips, current clubhouse, bathrooms, brand new laundry facility and a very small store. They have golf clubs to loan if you want to check out their 9 hole course, there is a decent pool, gym, and showers. The hot tub is permanently out of commission. Grounds and facilities were very clean and you can tell that fresh painting had recently been done.
With all the small town Florida vibe in the area it is not hard to find the perfect place for dinner, shopping, exploring or just taking a boat out for some fishing. Staff is very knowledgeable of the area and can refer you to many resources. In busy season they have themed pot luck dinners, live music and other activities to keep everyone entertained.
With some of the best prices in the area you really can't go wrong with a stay here - unless you are looking for high end or luxury amenities. This home town park will make you feel like you just came home.
While you are here check out some of the local trails and parks!
Hickory Point Park 27341 State Road 19 just around the corner
Flat Island Preserve 2388 Owens Rd, Leesburg
For more fun visit Trout Lake Nature Center, Crystal River Kayak Company, and the Goblin Market (fantastic crab bisque)
LegendIt’s not common to find a spot that you can plant your RV on and go out to hit the links for the day all in the same location, but here at Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort you can hit par on both fronts. Located right off Route 27 just due west of Lake Apopka in central Florida, Clerbrook offers nearly 300 acres of prime landscape that posits 1200+ RV slots for your parking and vacationing pleasure. Here you’ll be able to perfectly blend a golfing oasis that blends its RV offering complete with lush vegetation, interconnecting ponds and narrow canals all surrounded by ancient Oaks draped with Spanish Moss.
As far as amenities goes, Clerbrook does not disappoint. Here’s just a small list of all the great amenities you’ll find: Welcome Center, Heated Swimming Pools, BBQ and Picnic tables, Planned Activities, Clubhouses, Billiard Room, Card Rooms, Post Office, Fishing Area, 18 Hole Golf Course with Pro Shop (note: first 9 holes are complimentary with a visit to the Pro Shop), Exercise & Fitness Center, Horseshoe Pits, Recreation Hall, Laundry, Shuffleboard Courts, Library, Nature Walks, Pets Welcome, Picnic Pavilion, Driving Range, Dog Park, Wood Shop, Basketball Court, Playground, Restrooms & Showers, Softball Field, Hot Tub, RV Storage, complimentary WiFi, Arts and Craft Classes as well as Live Entertainment on the weekends. Of course, for RV’ers you can expect both back-in and pull-through slots with all of the traditional water, sewage and electric (30 / 50 amp) hook-ups.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’ve got wine on your mind (and why wouldn’t you when on holiday?!), just meander a few miles south of Clerbrook and you’ll discover a fairly respectable winery called Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards offering tours and tastings featuring Muscadine grapes (apparently a prominent grape varietal down in these parts known for their antioxidant qualities; (2) When you get tired of fixing every meal from your mini-fridge or cooler, then you’ll have to head south to Clermont where you’ll find PeruRican Ceviche, which for these parts is pretty outstanding and if you are still longing for pizza, check out Mamma Rita’s Pizzeria for some good pies and pasta; and (3) If nature is calling and you want to get out for a good hike, then head due south to Hiawatha Preserve that has a few dog parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, hiking paths, and of course, access to Lake Hiawatha, in case you want to drop your kayak or canoe in the water.
Happy Camping!
LegendWhat I love about Ocean Grove is that it puts you smack dab due south of St. Augustine (a.k.a. Ancient City), but far enough away where you can get away from the noise, traffic and otherwise touristy area of the country’s oldest city. While the downside is that this roadside RV stand is, well, located roadside and in fact, right on the AIA, it does place you within a few minutes’ drive to some of the best beaches, like Crescent Beach, which is only 4 blocks away. Given that this is a fairly well-known attractive area known for its beaches and southern way of seaside life, there’s also no shortage of tiki bars, fish shacks and taco stands to choose from, all within walking distance.
As for the RV Resort itself, Ocean Grove lives up to the word ‘resort’ given all the amenities that you’ll find here, especially the very well-maintained, amazingly massive heated in-ground pool, gargantuan paved patio deck (with separate area for dining) complete with patio chairs, umbrellas and lounge chaises, along with the overgrown group-sized bubbling hot tub, in addition to offering a very well-stocked market store, restaurant and bar (can anyone say “Mai Tais poolside, por favor?!”) as well as perhaps its most impressive asset, offering direct water access to the Intracoastal (along with kayak rentals, in case you forgot yours).
Additional amenities include: basketball and bocce ball courts, coin-operated laundr-O-mat (complete with community book exchange / library), billiards and foosball tables, propane refilling station, pull-through and back-in RV slots complete with full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, sewer and water), perfectly level paved RV pads to park on, picnic tables, horseshoe ring, fishing pier on the San Julian river, lagoon with turtle watching, children’s playground, doggie park with designated dog run, boat ramp, RV / boat / jet ski storage area, complimentary WiFi, large picnic pavilion, cable TV (additional charge), golf cart parking, designated dumpsters, community fire pit (the only place on the premises where fires area allowed), recreation hall with A/C and oversized wall-mounted TVs, heated and air-conditioned bath houses with showers. Extra points here for Ocean Grove providing a gated entry point with actual staff that adds additional layers of security, important given the proximity to the AIA.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) IMHO the best spots here at Ocean Grove are those that are waterfront: F138–F141 next to the fishing pier or J100–J126; (2) One of the very few detractors at this place is that of the 208 RV slots available, you will notice that Ocean Grove attempts to make every square inch count, so no matter where you are parked, there won’t be a ton of privacy and your hook-ups will feel very crowded (sewage line right next to the picnic table, hmm, not very enticing to say the least!); (3) When you get tired of trying to figure out what that next meal is going to be when staring down at your mini-fridge or cooler, then check out some local haunts, like Salt Water Cowboy (where anything from the Land, Sea and Swamp section like fried Alligator is pretty amazing), World Famous Oasis Restaurant or Connolly’s Shore Grill for fresh caught seafood; and (4) If you are looking for a decent place to do some great hiking, then look no further than due southwest of Ocean Grove where you can check out Matanzas State Park, that has miles and miles of unspoiled hiking trails with virtually the entire place to yourself (save the deer and gators that you might come across).
Happy Camping!
Legend
OK, so maybe it’s not quite like Margaritaville (nor do I think there is any aspiration to be like Jimmy Buffet’s version of paradise), but if you’re toting an RV and looking to dock up to a lakeside marina that is perfectly attuned to the ‘living in outdoors but comfortably’ mindset, then there’s one heck of cantina waiting for you with cold 'tall boys' and some pretty amazing local catch fried / grilled / baked up any which way you’d like.
Hidden under the shade of Ancient Oaks, Magnolias and tropical Palms, there’s few better places that I would recommend to find respite from the busy week than this Lodge & Resort in Welaka. Located just about 20 minutes south of North Central Florida’s Palatka and right on St. Johns River, with plenty of amazing fishing spots to cast from, whether on land or in watercraft, this very well could be your slice of perfect natural heaven.
As far as amenities go, all RV sites offer 20 / 30 / 50 electric amp hook-ups. And no worries if you don’t have an RV, because the good folks at Welaka Lodge & Resort will rent you one of their many (there’s about 10) river-front cottages. Regardless of where you lay your head for the night, there’s a proper heated swimming pool and jacuzzi here with an adjacent community bar making ‘sipping & sudsing’ quite easy to accomplish. There’s decent WiFi for all your devices and social media navigating pleasures as well as lending library, laundr-O-mat, boat slips in addition to kayak and canoe rentals. Located in this same community complex are the shared restroom and bathhouse facilities (which were just OK, to be honest). Back at the main office, you’ll find that there’s a little store where they have a small amount of sundries, booze, camping supplies and ice to purchase. The best part? I found the Boat Bar to be an EXCEPTIONAL amenity that no other waterfront RV resort can compare with – even if I wasn’t staying here, I would absolutely be hanging out at the bar every night to catch the blissful sunset as well as enjoy the outstanding locally caught and cooked seafood. If cruising on the river / lake isn’t your idea of fun, there’s tons of fantastic options for land lubbers too.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Not more than a 7 minute drive from Welaka Lodge & Resort is the under-visited natural gem of Welaka State Forest, just teaming with interesting paths to hike, horse trails to ride and all sorts of endemic wild animals to scout; (2) If tent camping is your thing (because they don’t offer this back at the Resort), there’s plenty of tent pitching options here that will be sure to delight. For more on this, please visit my TheDyrt review of Welaka State Forest; (3) If you are satisfied with being on the water in front of Welaka Lodge & Resort, but want to get off ‘the plantation’ anyway, there’s a few great excursion options that I would highly recommend from Shrimp R Us for excellent locally caught seafood and great happy hour specials that will allow you to mix and mingle with the locals; (4) Just libations? Then there’s Long’s Log Cabin, which is just a saloon for good ‘ol boys (and the lasses that put up with them!) who like to keep things pretty down to earth; and (5) Just down the road from the Lodge is Sunset Landing, which is an amazing spectacle for the eyes as well as fantastic little kitchen that makes pretty great appetizers to keep your sundowners company.
Happy Camping!
Legend
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!
Legend
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!
LegendFor those of you who find yourself hauling your vacation behind you and / or looking to rent a cabin in a small corner (er, intersection, actually) in the country’s oldest city, and don’t mind a completely pre-fabricated outdoor experience in the midst of an otherwise strip mall environ, then look no further than St. Augustine KOA. While there’s a lot of qualifiers here, I understand, one of the huge upsides to this otherwise overcrowded 2-lane 115 slot filled faux campground RV-slanted outpost is that it places you closest to St. Augustine’s greatest treasure (and no, that wouldn’t be the fabled ‘Fountain of Youth’) – it’s beautiful Atlantic coastline with white powder sand and shark-tooth strewn beaches.
As for this KOA campground itself, you’ll find this urban jungle outpost on the corner of Pope & AIA, which you’ll stumble across just a block south after taking Highway 312 from St. Augustine proper to Anastasia Island, which is separated from the mainland by the Matanzas River. But don’t worry, for any of you who break out in hives at the thought of leaving civilization when upgrading for a night underneath the stars (which BTW will be drowned out by the light pollution here at this KOA), you will be comfortably surrounded by all the creature comforts of the materialistic surrounding you (pretend) thought you were trying to escape, as there’s a CVS, McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and Domino’s Pizza in a single stone’s throw of where you are ‘camping out in nature’ here at St. Augustine KOA.
Amenities? Well, it’s KOA, so get ready for the massive download on what this camping theme park has to offer: heated pool w/ neon color lounge chairs & umbrellas, 50 max amp back-in RV slots, cable TV, KampK9 (that’s a doggie park in KOA speak), laundr-O-mat, thin tree lines, tetherball, picnic tables, dilapidated wooden fence, fishing (don’t ask me where or how good), firewood (for sale, of course), BBQ, ticks, fire frills, WiFi, propane refilling station, gift shop, tour shuttle, playground, little moat, paddle boats, fleas, banana bikes, automatic key-card security gate, designated trash dumpsters, showers & restrooms (quite in need of some decent cleaning and refurbishment IMHO), micro-swamps, deluxe cabin rentals (a dozen or so) and (the ever so marked-up KOA) convenience store.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) This is easily the most outdated, run-down KOA I have ever had the unfortunate experience to visit. While I would EASILY recommend MANY other places to ‘drop anchor for the night’ and to have a REAL outdoors camping experience (just drive 3 minutes away to Anastasia Island SP or 15 minutes away to North Beach Campground), if it’s late at night, you’re tired of looking around and are excited to be this close to the beaches, then check-in, grab a coozie and chill at the pool until sunrise when you can leave; (2) While you may be tempted by some of those pretty un-amazing fast food or ‘hole-in-the-wall’ local joints, I would encourage you to drive just a little bit for some otherwise excellent restaurants, including Fillin’ Station, Beachcomber, La Cocina or Sunset Grille; (3) If you’re a tent camper like myself, you’ll be incredibly disappointed by this place, although they do offer up 10 or so designated tent sites (inconveniently located right near all the swooshing car traffic and honking on Pope Road; (4) While you might be living the blues while staying at this KOA, you can actually just head up the street and listen to the blues at probably one of the coolest outdoor venues in the country at St. Augustine Ampitheater; and (5) Make the most out of the fact that you are literally only ¾ mile from St. Augustine Beaches, so while this KOA is not ideal (to say the absolute least), you will relish the fact that you can leave it as early and return as late as you want to experience one of the best white sand beaches in the Sunshine State.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Like the opening for 'Waterboy' (starring Adam Sandler), when you first rock up to Twin Lakes Fish Camp, somehow you feel as though you are visiting family in the very deep south with the likes of Bobby Bocher (pronounced BOO-Shay) greeting you upon arrival with a dilapidated golf cart eager to show you around this fairly minuscule one lane, dead-end campground that is more swamp outpost than pine forested campground. While definitely geared more towards the slightly semi-permanent resident than the overnight camping crowd, you’ll find a mixture of heavily seasoned RV trailers that don’t look as though they’ve moved anywhere in the past several years(or decades) along with a small handful of cabin rentals. Sure, there are a few spots here and there that you might park a 5th wheeler, RV or even see a pitched tent, but those spots are far and few between, if available at all.
As you make your way down this single lane refuge, on the right, you’ll notice fairly tightly packed together RVs or 5th wheelers lining the tree-ensconced periphery, where on the left you’ll spot sites that have a bit more space to them and with less crowded confines. Also on the left, you’ll easily notice a decent inlet that is perfect should you be towing any form of small watercraft with you, be that a kayak, canoe or even small engine boat. As you make your way down this single lane, pass the river inlet boat parking structure on your left, you’ll spot the 4-5 cabins that are for rent before making your way to the very end of the lane, which you’ll discover the manager’s office on the right. It’s here where you’ll check in. Just beyond this spot is where the waterline begins, albeit for the first 20 or 30 yards, completely encased by Spanish moss of every variety hanging from ancient Oaks, Palmettos and the odd Pine. For dramatic effect, there’s even a partially sunken house boat (or two) in the rather shallow waters just off this small inlet, where you can easily walk on and cast a line or two from.
With regards to amenities, apart from the swamp-like, down-home feel to this place, you’ll encounter fully-furnished cabins equipped with Direct TV, a small general store (that was closed when we visited), a tackle shop, WiFi (albeit incredibly weak), a recreation room (that didn’t have much but incredibly well-worn paperback books and a single fold-up table accompanied by the prerequisite ashtray), TV, scattered fire pits, covered picnic pavilion, small laundry room (that was closed while we were there), horseshoe pit, restrooms (that were anything but clean), full hook-ups with 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage as well as a designated dump station and a fish cleaning station alongside that fishing boat parking structure.
If you can get past the overall dilapidated condition of this place that transports you to a swamp-like wonderland, the upside is that Twin Lakes Fish Camp places you smack dab right in the heart of some pretty amazing fishing country. With Twin Lakes situated between Lochloosa and Orange Lakes, it’s the mouth of the famous Cross Creek that will return you right back here to Twin Lakes Fish Camp. Nearby, there’s the very quaint town of Micanopy, where you can load up on sundries and groceries as well as, if need be, travel further afield to either Gainesville to the north or Ocala to the south for many more dining and entertainment options.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Rather than stay here, what I would HIGHLY recommend, whether you have an RV or are looking to pitch your tent, is to instead, seek another location for your camping adventures. If it were me, I would double-back to Paynes Prairie SP and book a spot there and simply come here to Twin Lakes Fish Camp to disembark on a fishing odyssey. Remember, it’s always important to note and differentiate a place that might be nice to visit versus a site that you want to call home for the night!; (2) Should you want to rent a 'jon boat', kayak, canoe or sumptknocker, you can easily do that here for $35/ day (and something tells me, you could probably talk the owner down a bit); (3) This place is fairly economical at $35 per night / $175 per week / $375 per month, but I would definitely recommend you look at the photos I’ve posted as well as do a bit of research on-line before booking anything here; (4) When you grow weary of cooking up ‘franks& beans’ for your next meal, and want to check out some local fare, just down the road is a very nice, quaint and actually somewhat upscale joint called The Yearling that serves up low-country delights like fried green tomatoes, fried gator bites and conch fritters in addition to main entrees like blackened red fish or shrimp & grits; and (5) While you won’t find any decent hiking in or around Twin Lakes Fish Camp, if you double-back to Paynes Prairie SP, you’ll find a ton of really great paths to both hike & bike.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Blue Springs Florida Blue Spring State Park Campground has 51 campsites, w/e for tents, trailers and smaller RVs. My favs are 29 32 and 34 Cabins are also available for rent. There's are kayak rentals, picnic areas, boat ramp, playground and hiking trails. The sites are sandy, have a picnic table and firepit. There's good spacing and shade. Very nice bathhouses with large stalls and family bathrooms. Laundry$2.50 No street lighting so good for star gazing. A few mosquitoes out at dusk in January🙄 Best thing here is all the manatee!! The spring is the largest on St Johns river.There's over 500 present with lots of babies. Very nice viewing areas all along the spring. We went early in the mornings and enjoyed the place to ourselves. They do have narrated boat tours and ranger talks. Water activities like swimming and kayaking are closed mid Nov to Apr. Can kayak on St John's river. Convenient shopping and restaurants a few miles away.
Legend
I was surprised to see this awesome cabin listed, but I’m happy it is :) We went here with family since many relatives were in town doing touristy stuff it was a great ‘base camp’ for everyone to stay at. It worked out well as some family members like the cabin experience and others were able to stay in tents near the cabin. There are lots of places to sleep (bunk beds, queen, etc). The lake is beautiful! We used the canoes that come with the cabin multiple times as well as trying our luck fishing on the dock. The yard has a picnic table and fire pit. It’s only about an hour from Orlando. Our family loved this cabin :)
Ranger
Has beautiful sandy trails and near the silver springs park that allows kayaking and boat access on 40. You can rent a cabin or park rv. Not the most beautiful Florida park.
Legend
Depending upon what type of camping you are looking for, Princess Preserve offers up just about every outdoor possibility that one could think of – from hike-in group camping and family-style tent compound in an open range and river-front tent pitching at its best to 5 star cabin / cottage rentals. IMHO the cabins that are for rent here at Princess Place Preserve are, without a doubt, some of the very best waterfront cabins you will ever find here in the entire state of Florida. Not that I have been everywhere, mind you, but I have been to an awful lot of campgrounds in the ‘Sunshine State’ and I have yet to find better.
Princess Place Preserve offers an endless array of live and ancient Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss every which way you look, featuring not just 1 single campground to choose from, but rather 6 individual, completely distinctive campgrounds – each one completely different and incredibly unique from one another. The individual campgrounds within Princess Place Preserve include: Group Campground, Hill Campground, The Cottages, Pellicer Campground (also referred to as Dock Sites), Equestrian Campground and Moody Campground. For this particular review, I will be focused on the The Cottages.
What makes these cabins outstanding? Here are the top 5 reasons: (1) There are only 3 cabins to choose from, making them quite the exclusive offering for those that don’t want to pitch a tent for the night in arguably one of the most beautiful slices of nature in northern Florida; (2) Each of these cabins sit waterfront overlooking the delectable Princess Place Preserve marshes and just beyond, the expansive Pellicer River, which ultimately feeds into the Matanzas River – it’s a ‘frackish’ water wonderland at your door step! And if you have a kayak or canoe, you’re also in luck, as all 3 of these cabins have their very own river access point for easy launching; (3) From the moment you rock up to these ‘cabins’ you will be shocked to realize that these are more outfitted like fairly newly constructed houses, complete with A/C, WiFi, satellite dish, backyard screened-in porches complete with 4 wooden rocking chairs and inside you’ll discover that all of the comforts of home have been provided with each cottage offering 2 bedrooms (each with a queen bed), 2 ensuite bathrooms, separate living room (with an additional sleeper sofa) and dining room (dining table and 6 chairs) along with a fully-functioning kitchen and all of the typical items you would expect to find: dishes, glassware, silver, utensils, pots and pans, etc.; (4) At $125 per night (plus applicable taxes as well as refundable security deposit), the price is simply outstanding, considering the fact that the cabins are basically new, waterfront and places you smack dab in some of the most opulent natural settings in the state of Florida; and (5) Perhaps my most favorite thing about these cabins is that if you still want to pitch a tent outside (some of us are just die-hard campers afterall!), there’s plenty of space to do that, as well as the outdoor amenities, which include a picnic table, stand-up grill and fire ring (just like every other camping option here at Princess Place Preserve) – the huge difference here of course, is that in just a few steps, you can leave mother nature at any moment, cook up a meal like you were at home, recline in a comfy sofa, watch TV or surf the internet and enjoy a hot shower if you would like to.
As far as Princess Place Preserve itself is concerned, there are more than 1,500 square acres to explore that will offer the best of both surf (well, actually, 3 conjoining rivers) and turf (which is simply fantastic marsh). On the surf front, 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 alligators!). 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 as well as those, due to recent rainfall, will be either flooded or too muddy to trudge through.
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 Flagler County Parks & Recreation, which I have to say, apart from the bathroom / shower facilities, have done an amazing job at not just preserving this amazing nature destination, but the county is in overdrive in its restoration efforts of the place, as you will see with the main lodge and nearby buildings and horse stable that have recently received a very nice refurbishment.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are interested in booking one of these 3 cottages, you will want to book WAY AHEAD OF TIME, so plan with plenty of advance timing in mind; (2) These cottages come with linens and towels, microwave, refrigerator, but note that there are no dishwashers; (3) Interested in taking advantage of the historic tours that are offered here? Just a short walk from your cabin you will meet up at the Lodge (just past the Stables) where tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so upon arriving here, be sure to ask a Park Ranger for first availability; (4) If you are a biker, like I am, you will definitely want to bring your bicycles here, where all of the main roads and even most of the trails are simply perfect for riding on and the expansive nature of Princess Place Preserve will give you miles and miles to explore without biking on the same trail twice!; and (5) With a full kitchen at your disposal, I can’t imagine why you would want to go out to eat, but if you do, I highly suggest 386 over in Hammock Beach, where they have Wine Down Wednesday (offering 50% off bottles of wine of which I recommend the Bertani Amarone from Veneto), where you can order an expertly cut Tomahawk Ribeye Steak or the Mexican Triggerfish to wash it all down with.
Happy Camping!
Scout
I stayed at the youth camp for a 10-day training seminar in January. The youth camp is secluded from the family campground, and the cabins are nicely spaced among beautiful pines. The cabins are clean and have comfortable mattresses--some cabins have a bathroom. The shower house is not heated but never ran out of hot water! The water here tastes and smells good, it does not have a sulphur smell.
Beautiful trails, paddling and swimming in the park. Many deer and waterfowl.
Legend
Who doesn’t love spending time on an island! I came here with a group who had reserved the picnic pavilion for a birthday party. The trip to the island on the ferry was quick and easy. There was a great playground for the kids and we enjoyed a nice long hike as well. We did not stay over night but I did notice some nice looking cabins and primitive camping sites. The cabins and tent camping sites are all nestled together so it’s not very secluded except the few trees between sites. There are nice tent pads though and the cabins look like a great option with nice screened porches as well as a fire pit and picnic table. A place to go back someday :)
Guide
The springs are one of my favorite day getaways! There are beautiful walking trails, beautiful and refreshing cool springs, kayak rentals for $20. There are also some small caves there for anyone who free dives or snorkels. Perfect for a picnic or a nice relaxing afternoon near the water.
The actual campgrounds, themselves, are a ways away from the spring. It would be a good idea to bring a bike as a walk from one to the other might be far for most in the Florida summer heat. The campgrounds are very well kept with a fair bit of space and foliage between sites for privacy. Love this place!
GuideSuper cute secluded cabin directly on the lake. You have your own private boat slip, 100ft long dock for fishing & swimming, canoes/paddles/life jackets on site. You'll need to bring your own towels and linens but all Cook wear, dishes, etc are supplied. Cabin sleeps 6/8 comfortably and has 2 tent sites as well. 2 bundles of firewood are included at time of check in......Peaceful doesn't even being to describe it! Totally wort the nightly rate!
Cabin camping near Pierson, Florida offers a unique blend of nature and comfort, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle while enjoying the great outdoors.
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