Are you planning a tent camping trip to Ponce Inlet? We've got you covered. With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Ponce Inlet campgrounds for you and your tent. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Ponce Inlet, Florida's most popular destinations.
The East Camp Zone is located within Little Big Econ State Forest (Seminole County), about 40 miles east of Orlando, FL. The East Camp Zone is only accessible by boat and consists of six suggested camp zones. There is no water, electric or amenities... Recreational activities featured here are: boating, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, wildflower viewing and nature study. The Little Big Econ State Forest offers two camp areas for primitive camping. The West Camp Area is located near the Barr Street hiking trailhead and can be accessed only from the hiking trail and by canoe or kayak from the Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail. The East Camp Area can be accessed only by canoe and kayak at this time. Overnight camping is allowed by obtaining a State Forest Use Permit available at the Little Big Econ State Forest office. For more information and to get a State Forest Use Permit, please contact the forest at (407) 971-3500 or email the Little Big Econ State Forest.
For visitors wishing to backcountry camp in the seashore, primitive camping is available on designated islands throughout the Intracoastal Waterway and Mosquito Lagoon. These campsites are available by reservation only and require a permit. You may reserve campsites for $20 per night and up to six months in advance. RV or vehicle camping is not permitted within the seashore.
The following conditions apply to all backcountry camping permittees: The permittee identified on this permit shall retain and present the permit upon request to the National Park staff.
$20 / night
Tent Camping Only (No RV's). Tent Camping is allowed at designated campsites in the Princess Place Preserve.
Princess Place Preserve, with its rich history and 1500 pristine acres, attracts nature enthusiasts from near and far. It provides a glimpse of old Florida. Visitors can take in its splendor while on one of the many hiking trails, fishing the salt marshes along the Matanzas River and Pellicer Creek, or camping out under the stars. The preserve is a popular spot for horse enthusiasts, with an equestrian campsite and plenty of trails that make it is easy to embrace nature while enjoying a ride.
This beautiful 1,500-acre preserve is situated in the northern part of Flagler County. It was purchased by Henry Cutting in 1886 and passed on to his widow Angela Mills Cutting Worden, who eventually married Boris Scherbatoff, an exiled Russian prince. Angela assumed the title of princess and it was then that the once named "Cherokee Grove" came to be known as "Princess Place." The original lodge, built by Henry Cutting, stills stands as Flagler County's oldest intact structure. It is also home to Florida's very first in-ground swimming pool.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. There are Lodge tours Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. on a first come first serve basis. There is no reservations for the tours, simply meet the Rangers at the Lodge at 2pm. Camping check-in is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ranger Station. For more information about camping or pavilion rentals, call Parks and Recreation at 386-313-4020.
$20 / night
Mullet Lake Park is a 55-acre park located in Geneva. It offers a pavilion, camping, and boat launching in a rustic setting. There are 8 individuals campsites and one group campsite available for rent. All campsites have a fire ring, a picnic table and appropriate parking spot.
$15 - $30 / night
King's Landing is located directly on the pristine waters of Rocks Springs Run, one of three main tributaries that feeds the Wekiva River Basin, a designated National Wild and Scenic River. Offering a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy, from self-guided rentals, adventure tours and even nightly escapes that will have you gazing under the stars. There's no better way to immerse yourself in true Florida nature, wildlife around every paddle and emerald waters below.
The Eagle Boy Scout Retreat Campground is just steps away from King's Landing and has provided a quality camping experience for members of the Boy Scouts of America and campers across the country. We believe that scouting is adventure, family and leadership, helping one grow to their very best future self.
CAMPSITE DETAILS
DYRT PRO MEMBERS 10% DISCOUNT
$30 / night
Traveler
Not good for tent camping. Clean park. Friendly staff.
Guide
This is a beautiful campground with proximity to the Florida Scenic Trail. Ideal for tent camping, as the forest service roads were a little rough for our RV. Campground is along a beautiful and unique wet prairie. No cell service, no electric or water hookups. Worth a stay in a tent! Recommend using entrance off route 19 via forest service road 86.
Ranger
One of our favorite places to visit. The springs are amazing. Camping facilities are nice. Would be 5 stars if they had some sites with electric hookups. Outside of that a great place for tent camping.
Traveler
Blike trails, from rv. to tent camping, year round enjoyment. Was there with 4 children 2 adults during a freezing cold snap. Didn't lower our enjoyment, the challenging cold 20°F, made it all the more fun!
Guide
We tent camped for 1 night on our East Coast bike tour. There was an open field w a fun artisric tree stump, fire pit, picnic tables, and water. We charged phones in the bathroom. Nice warm showers. Would stay again!
Ranger
I enjoy going to Blue Springs. Many activities for the family. Biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, boating, and watching nature. There is cabins or areas that allow RV or tent camping. There is even areas that you can go fishing.
Guide
Nice spots for tent camping. Got surprisingly cold when I visited. Would’ve been 5 stars if it weren’t for obnoxiously loud and rude neighbors that were yelling/screaming until midnight. If you camp here, expect to hear lots of partying.
Ranger
Stopped for a night here on the drive down the coast. Lots of turtle nest sites blocked off and an empty beach. RVs are wall to wall with tent sites so bring your earplugs if you're a tent camper or you'll be hearing generators all night.
Traveler
Stayed 1 night in a tent site, car camping. Arrived a bit late and had to set up in the dark. Efficient lighting and close to washrooms. A cold front came in and thankfully I was prepared and was toasty warm.
Guide
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.
GuideLovely place to camp, bike, and swim! Easy access from tent sites down to the springs. Many manatees can be seen while exploring the springs. Check out the Head spring and cave entrance at the northern end of the swimming area—nothing short of magical.
RangerWe loved how private our site felt within the big oak trees, but we noticed they had a lot of other sites that weren't as private. They did have buddy sites, tent camping, and cabins. There was a cop almost every night patrolling. The area is nice, it is next to a historic sugar mill, and not far from the beach. I know it's a small thing, but the laundry had the CSC app which is super convenient to pay on.
TravelerThis campground is right on the river, and has both RV and tent camping sites. The lanes are rather narrow, and it’s all one way, so depending where you’re at, you may end up circling the whole campground just to take your trash out.
We were there in late spring/early summer for a month, and it was okay. They do allow long term tent campers, so you’ll see lots of tents with huge tarps over them.
This campground fills up on the weekends, so it’s busier, more crowded, and a little loud.
I would probably not recommend this for long term, but it is one of the most reasonably priced campgrounds (that aren’t 55+) in the area.
Guide
Super 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!
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 :)
Ranger
This was the first RV campground we stayed at when we became Full time. We stayed an entire month and LOVED it. *This review is prior to COVID so there may be changes since.
Pros
Super family-friendly! This used to be a KOA but now is privately owned and operated. You're only a 10-15 min drive to the closest beaches (further for the lighthouse and Ponce Inlet). It had a great pool, a playground, and a dog run. Great rates for monthly and seasonal. The location is close to grocers, shops, beaches, and more. People are kind in the camp store, and our kids were very welcomed. Also, there was cable, which is a fun plus for rainy days. Trash pickup service and Community events!
Cons:
We luckily didn't have anyone besides us for the month, but the sites are rather tight and not all have shade. Prices do fluctuate because of high volume season (snowbirds).
Scout
We had a tent site near the bathhouse. The bath house is very nice and clean. The sites are all pretty much shaded. There are some swings and a cleared area the kids ran around/played chase right in front of the bath house. A short walk leads to a very nice playground with typical park equipment. My kiddos loved that playground. My favorite part was the springs that also had a little "beach"where my youngest played in the sand after tubing. To reserve it you will need to go to the Orange County Park and Recreation website.
Traveler
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.
Traveler
Princess Place Preserve is a beautiful campground for short overnight camping or even longer stays. It's off the beaten path sky there is very little traffic in the park compared to other local parks. PPP's camp sites have docks where you can pull a boat up if you are fishing. Some of the tent campsites are directly on one of the small rivers that empties into the Intercostal. Some of the sights only have a Porto potty but there are showers and full service restrooms a short drive away. Both tent and hammock camping is allowed!
Legend
I have been visiting Highland Park Fish Camp for over 8 years. I was sold the first time I went. This family run location has bee in operation for over 50 years and is working on their 4th generation! They offer 50 sites with full hookups (some 50 amp), tent sites and hot showers. They also just added to the number of cabins they have. There are fire pits and picnic tables at tent site and outside of cabin area there is a nice community fire pit area. Bathrooms are kept clean.
There is a free catch and release pond that is kept well stocked and a great place for the kids or beginners to learn how to fish. You will often see yellow labs strolling or lounging by the office Ruger and Copper - they are super mellow and love getting a scratch or pet.
You can rent a pontoon boat, bass boat for a half or full day and explore the rivers and lakes connected to the camp. Freshwater fishing anywhere along here is just amazing! Lots of wildlife including manatee, shorebirds, bears and more can be seen. You can hire a guide to take your out or you can go on your own. It is only $5 to launch your kayak or canoe here.
Camp store has nearly all the equipment you would need for a fishing trip including live bait (crickets, shiners, worms, etc) There is a huge, covered cleaning station for preparing your catch of the day. You will also find frozen treats, soda, water and other snacks. Ice can also be purchased.
recently they have expanded their "Hammock" special event area. There is a stage, lots of seating, tables, & outdoor lighting making this a great place for group or special events. There is an outdoor wedding chapel area and many folks from all over the state come here for a rustic wedding.
They really make you feel welcome here and right at home. I hope you get a chance to check out this wonderful location!
Legend
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!
TravelerThe park was full. We got one of the last two spots left, which were the only two that were full sun so it was very hot! We checked in around midnight and they had security at the gate that just kept an eye on things. Our whole purpose of camping is to fish so although they had a nice pier to fish off of, you could see straight through the 1’-2’ deep water with no drop off in sight. All you can catch really are horseshoe crab and rays. This was very disappointing for us. To make it up, there is a pool on site which was great for the kids. The bath houses were clean and always had soap and toilet paper and parking also so you don’t have to walk. Unfortunately there was a bad apple there that decided to vandalize one of the game tables while we were there but management posted updates on the main doors of the office about what activities were available or unavailable. It was a good place to watch the shuttle launches. If you go to the right of the pier there are benches under the palms so you can sit and watch. Go to spaceflight.com for launch info. We did notice they have a dog park with waste bag stations but nobody was in there. Primitive tent camping is closer to the water but not waterfront while RV camping is behind the tents. You are only allowed one shade structure per RV, no tents on RV sites. The sites are really squished together so I felt like I was walking in the backyard of the RV next to us every time I went outside. We used the 30 amp electric and water hookups without problems. They do have picnic tables at each site. Fires are allowed but have to be off the ground, no fire rings. Our site backed up to the drainage ditch which was full of shrubs and no water whatsoever. Overall it was a good trip. The kids rated it 4 stars each (I’m sure because of the pool) but we do not plan on returning any time soon as we want to explore more fishing options. However we will return if we just want to get away and the kids can swim their little hearts out!
GuideThis campground is in Ocala National Forest, which is always beautiful. The campsites are large, we fit 3 4+ person tents. This was one of the busier places I have camped in Florida. The facilities were clean and provided showers.
Legend
While located a bit off the beaten path in a part of Florida that few find themselves in, Magnolia Park Campground, featuring 56 acres of pristine Florida wilderness, is located on an elbow curve where if you don’t look close enough or slow down and look to the right(heading NW), you’re gaze will be captured by the awesome view of Lake Apopka (and isn’t the name just fun to pronounce?!). So plug Magnolia Park in your GPS and follow the directions to arrive at this pristine little campground jewel.
You’ll be greeted by a well-appointed sign and newly fresh paved roads where there’s the main ranger station where you’ll check-in immediately to your left – here, you’ll check-in and be given information about the campground, park and local area by quite possibly some of the nicest, well-meaning park rangers I have ever met. As this is a county managed campground and park, you’ll be impressed by just what an amazing job these guys do in keeping everything well organized, cleaned up and seemingly brand new. From a camping perspective, this sight is perfect for both tent-camping as well as those with RV’s. In fact, I like how they separate these two populations, preserving a real sense of solitude and communion with nature for us tent campers, while providing all the typical hook-ups and amenities for the RV crowd.
Of course, you’ll discover each site comes with a nice flat area to plant your tent or roll your RV onto, picnic table and BBQ grill. One of the huge assets of this campground is the tons of park amenities that exist here: playground, scattered picnic areas, dog walking trails, lakeside pavilions, dedicated fishing areas, basketball courts, baseball fields, small pond for catch & release fishing, decent number of restrooms, volleyball court, boat ramps … and the list goes on. For those looking for something a bit different from most campgrounds, this place has its very own butterfly garden, which my kids absolutely loved.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) There still exists some heavy road construction in this area, along South Binion Road, so expect slight delays and just remember to take it slow as there was lose gravel when we drove through; (2) The new Eco Education Center that they have been building for over a year now is finished and features a playground, fishing piers, dock, pavilion and some of the cleanest restrooms; (3) For one of the greatest biking trails I’ve ever taken, get your bicycle on the Lake Apopka Trail, where you’ll be impressed by the views as well as the pristine conditions of the trail itself; (4) For the best campsites, if you want close access to restrooms / showers, then I’d recommend sites #14–17, but if you’re looking for a quieter, more remote vibe, I would recommend sites #7–13 and if you’re RV’ing it, you’ll have to duke it out for a spot between #1– 4; and (5) When you get tired of roasting hot dogs fireside, I recommend either Nauti Lobstah for some good old New England seafood fun or Porkie’s BBQ for some decent central Florida smoked meats.
Happy Camping!
Legend
To begin with, Juniper Springs Rec Area, boasts not 1, not 2, but 3 individual campgrounds (Tropical, Sandpine and Fern Hammock Springs) to choose from. Recently having traveled here with a bunch of camping buddies, we were able to experience all 3 campgrounds, but for this review, I’ll focus on what I believe to be the best of the 3 campgrounds to choose from: Fern Hammock Spring Camp Area. This is the only of the 3 campgrounds where only tent camping is permitted, so if you’re looking to RV or trailer camp, then you’ll have to look at Tropical or Sandpine. And no, before you ask, not all of these campgrounds are created equal.
Here at Fern Hammock Springs, you are still within earshot of highway 40 (where all of the swooshing of passing by traffic comes from) and located the furthest east in the Juniper Springs campground area, but this is easily the most secluded of the 3 campgrounds. There are 18 campsites, with the least attractive sites being #61-63, #71-74 and #78 as they are connected to the main trail (and primary entrance road), which can be a bit busy with all of the hiker traffic and cars coming and going. If you have a good-sized group, I would recommend the end of the cul-de-sac here, which are sites #72-74, but hereto, the main trail passes right by these 3 sites and exits right in front of #74, which is completely oversized and can easily place 3-4 tents (although you are only supposed to have 2 tents per site – there were easily 4 when we hiked by) in this one site alone. To get away and be even more secluded, look at sites #64-70 that is made up of its own singular loop, but this area isn’t terribly private, although you will feel less like you are caught up in the ‘drive by’ hiking and driving traffic. The best area to choose from IMHO are sites #75-79, which are completely shrouded in privacy from the rest of this camp area. Our site, #78, was perfect as there is a tree line that creates privacy between its neighbor(#76), but has full open views with sites #77 and#79. Likely the very best site to book is site #75, which is completely shrouded in its very own blanket of shrubbery.
Being surrounded completely by either palms or mighty tall pines in the Ocala National Forest was absolutely wonderful and apart from just a few basic amenities: flat sandy floor campsite, fire ring w/ flip grill, standing grill, massive bear-proof safe boxes (honestly, the largest I have ever seen!) and lantern post / garbage hanger. The campground also provides a fairly nice (coin free) bathroom / shower facilities along with a single oversized kitchen sink for cleaning up dishes. There’s a community water spigot (no washing dishes here though) and a dilapidated shelter that is closed (again, due to ill repair) along with outdoor amphitheater seating and a small screen for viewing (all closed while we were there).
As for Juniper Springs itself, while most of the amazing natural springs scattered throughout central Florida are nothing short of fantastic attractions in their own right, I was quite disappointed to discover just how miniscule the natural springs were here at Juniper Springs Rec Area. The spring itself is really just an oversized pavilion pool with tons of seagrass apart from two very small outcrops beneath the crystal-clear water where you’ll see a bit of Sulphur bubbling to the surface. The nearby visitor center is brand-spanking-new, complete with a substantial outdoor seating and picnic area to utilize, and the spring pavilion itself is nice in that it offers up a few rows of concrete seating that surrounds the spring. Nevertheless, when compared to the many other springs in Florida, Juniper Springs is quite small and while nice with a recently refurbished old mill with a fully functioning water wheel that propels water downstream, I would easily recommend other more substantial springs like Rainbow and Wekiva Springs.
Further, while I normally bring my tandem kayak everywhere I go camping, we didn’t have the time or capacity to bring it this time – and we were in luck, because the canoe / kayak launch was closed. Additionally, there were numerous hiking pathways and boardwalks that were closed down having fallen apart due to lack of maintenance with no clear indicator that the State Park was working on fixing all of the amenities that are clearly falling in disrepair. On both fronts, I was quite bummed to discover so much of the park lacking proper access to enjoy the number of amenities that I thought my camping fee was paying for. The State Park should do a much better job of communicating what amenities are not available / closed and / or consider offering discounted fees to access their park or to camp.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) There are a ton of other springs in Florida to choose from that I would highly recommend (just check out my reviews for Rainbow and Wekiva Springs) as they offer MUCH more in the way of actual natural and man-made amenities;(2) Please note that you cannot bring inflatables here to Juniper Springs; (3) If you don’t really care about enjoying the springs or having any access to a proper river to kayak or fish in and are simply looking for a nice place to camp, then Juniper Springs wouldn’t necessarily be a bad decision as the campgrounds themselves here are so amazing; (4) If you do decide to come to Juniper Springs and want to camp in Fern Hammock, I highly recommend site #74 and #75 as well as, to a lesser degree, sites #65– 68; and (5) When you get tired of digging through your cooler to figure out what the next meal will be, I highly recommend a riverfront bar & grill called Drifters that is in nearby Astor and just a 20 minute drive due east from Juniper Springs – I recommend the deep fried shrimp, corned beef as well as the ice cold pints of Stella that they’re pouring.
Happy Camping!
Legend
If like me, you find yourself on the never-ending, all-consuming search to find the very best campground on earth, then you will rejoice at what I discovered here in little known, far out-of-the-way Trimble Park Campground located just due south of Mount Dora – one of the quaintest small towns in the US (more on this later).
Allow me to begin by saying that the first thing I look for in a ‘magical unicorn campsite’ is that it truly is a unique discovery. Not made for – or even known by – the masses. Following a series of turns, and likely getting lost at least twice enroute and then having to double-back more than a few times where you’ll find yourself cursing as to whether or not the destination you are seeking out is actually even worth it … is exactly when you find yourself discovering this very particular slice of natural paradise. It’s here where I mistakenly came across one of the most amazing campgrounds I have ever been so excited to uncover in all of my backpacking, tent-unfolding, fireside grilling and midnight star-gazing sojourning.
So let me break it down for you. Beyond being a bit of a ‘hidden gem,’ Trimble Park Campground is idyllically sandwiched between two beautiful and very good sized lakes – Lake Carlton to the south and Lake Beauclair to the north (and just a smidge further north, you’ll come to a much larger Lake Dora) – so all you fish-catching, clear lake boat sailing and sunset-on-the-water seekers, rejoice at this very fantastic conundrum you will experience: with so many lakes at your nearby disposal, which one will you chose? Sprinkle in an ever-present chorus of tree frogs, never-ending patch quilt of verdant, green lilipads and more Spanish moss hanging from bending ancient Oaks than you’ve ever seen in your entire existence, then the charm factor of this spectacle just multiplied by 10 (at least). Add to this the simply superb way in which the local, regional rangers take METICULOUS care of this place, from the well-manicured lawns and pristine conditions of the shelters, picnic tables, BBQ grills, children’s playgrounds, fishing piers and even the newly paved flat roadways you’ll find yourself wanting to slowly crawl through so you don’t miss anything as you take in all the surroundings, this campground feels as though there is not a single blade of grass that is misplaced. It’s all been perfectly packaged to deliver a most amazing camping experience.
But the hands-down, most absolute amazing aspect of this entire experience is this: that nearly every RV / Tent campsite sits waterfront (and westward facing at that, ensuring one of the most brilliant sunsets you’ll see from the natural confines of your jungle-like make-shift camping abode). All sites come with water and electric, picnic tables, fire rings and BBQ’s, communal washing sinks and you’ll back up into the site, so as to maximize the lakefront views. There’s a separate bathroom facility that is fairly good and decently clean.
Massive insider’s tip? While there are primitive camping sites, apart from a bear pole to hang your trash, there is nothing on these sites (and they are incredibly small) – so I would highly recommend you book a non-primitive campsite (one of the very few times I have ever recommended this). Insider’s Tip#2? Further afield, you’ll want to make use of Wekiva Springs State Park – one of the best natural springs in the entire Sunshine State – you don’t want to miss this one! Last insider’s tip? If you don’t have to leave this place, then don’t. But if you must, you won’t have to mosey far to find just about everything you could want in just a 15 minute drive to the little showboat of a small town in nearby Mount Dora. This picturesque village has a number of grocery stores, small shoppes and boutiques as well as simply outstanding restaurants, which sent my Foodie radar to an all-time high. Joints I highly recommend include: Pizza Amoré, Ken’s Amish Deli & Bakery, Tony’s Clam Chowder Seafood, The Beauclaire, Jeremiah’s, Pisces Rising and 1921 Mount Dora.
For scenic shots of Mt. Dora, head to Gilbert Park where there’s a brilliant little lighthouse, flocks of seagulls and lots of aquatic rentals. On Saturdays, there’s a great little Farmer’s Market in town, called Renninger’s Farmer & Flea Market, where we bought fresh produce for our entire camping stay. Outside the main town of Mount Dora, you’ll find big box retailers like Publix, Target and Walmart. I sincerely hope I raised your expectations with regards to this particular natural campground oasis – even if I have, trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised by just what an amazing, precious camping experience awaits you here.
Happy Camping!
RangerBooked a one night stay at the campground in our rooftop tent. It was about .5 miles to the spring but close to restrooms and facilities. Mosquitos were pretty bad in March. We came home with a few in the bed. But what’s expected in Florida haha.
Tent camping near Ponce Inlet, Florida, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With various campgrounds to choose from, you can enjoy the serene landscapes and diverse activities that this region has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ponce Inlet, FL is Little Big Econ State Forest Primitive Camping - East Camp Zone with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Ponce Inlet, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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