Best Campgrounds near Ponte Vedra, FL

For SP's like this, there should really be a 6 star rating for this park to be properly ranked! I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything quite like Crooked River State Park located in SE Georgia – and the more I poked around as I explored the massive grounds of this gem and asked from the local rangers, the more and more impressed I became.  Whether driving an RV, toting a 5th Wheel or looking to pitch a tent, either in an established, traditional campground setting or in a primitive hike-in oasis, you won't have any issues finding the perfect spot to get lost in nature here at Crooked River SP.

While this SP lends itself moreso to the RV’ing crowd (the # of RV spots seriously outweighed the # of tent campsites), there are several very decent options for tent campers like myself, who either want to drive in or, for those who prefer to add a bit more struggle and discomfort to their nature experience, they also offer primitive or pioneer tent camping as well. Bordering the, um, well, crooked river, the campgrounds have a fantastic river view (as well as excellent water access points, for those hauling boats, flotillas and yachts behind their vehicle) – and check this out: there’s even a bait shop near the boat launch run by the SP, so no need to dig up your own bait before arriving here.

Surrounding you throughout the entire park are fantastic amounts of vegetation, trees accompanied by plenty of four-legged furry critters, high-flying foul as well as even a honey farm, where the rangers make and sell some of the most amazing honey on-premises. When is the last time you were able to buy honey from a park ranger at any state park?!

Oh, but it gets better – especially if you’re coming here in a big group: (1) You can rent the entire pioneer camp area (that’s 3 sites somewhat removed from the general population, that can easily accommodate up to 5 families; (2) There’s 5-6 group shelters (and by shelter, I don’t just mean an open-walled shelter with a few picnic tables) that look brand spanking new and come complete with a ton of amenities, including 4 walls, their own bathrooms and meeting rooms; and (3) Group activities, like visiting the Nature Center (yes, they have one of these too), the Bird Outlook Landing (for those folks that like to use their binoculars) and Miniature Golf. Wait, did he just say, Miniature Golf?!  In a State Park?!  Why yes, I did.  And the ranger I spoke of previously will rent you clubs and a golf ball at a price that is so incredibly cheap, you’ll be tempted to rent them throughout your entire stay.

For those families or groups who like the idea of going camping, but who actually don’t want to camp, but receive all of the benefits of camping and being in the middle of nature, but who want all of the uncomfortableness removed from the equation, then the SP rents either stand alone houses (I almost called them cabins, but they’re not - they’re actually houses) or duplexes. Both have access to a screened-in lanai (you know, to get away from those pesky bugs you might actually encounter out in the wild) as well as a brand new playground for the kiddos.

While we’re on the subject of "Wow, I can’t believe SP's actually have this!" line of descriptions, here I will add that the restroom facilities might be the most immaculate I have ever come aross (sorry, Van Damme in Cali, these guys here in Georgia have you beat, but just by a small bit, as they don’t charge you 5 quarters for a 5 minute shower – yes, the state actually gives you a free shower if you pay the price of admission).  

But the excitement and surprises don’t stop here.  No, things get even better!  This campground even offers a curated sunset cruise aboard one of their very own skiffs (comfortably accommodating families up to 6 people) and will let you actually bring a bit of booze on the cruise (6-pack or a bottle of wine – but I got a ‘wink wink’ when I asked about a flask of alcohol, so be discreet, homies), but be sure to tip your ranger captain, as these outdoor experts are truly in a league of their own.

From well paved roads, to immaculately kept grounds, this place has so much to offer just about anyone who is looking to do some 'outdoorsing,' but wants a premium, well-groomed experience. Here's the straight truth about this Crooked environ: I can’t wait to get back to this place soon. 

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With an Australian theme (yeah, Walkabout didn’t initially impress upon me that Aussies were in our own backyard, silently and slowly planning to take over the country, one RV park at a time, but they’re here – and actually pretty nice!), complete with street names hailing aboriginal animal names, such as Kangaroo Lane, Kuala Bear Drive (OK, you get the picture), this place is very well kept, has decent open spaces and feels somewhat communal. 

You’ll go for a decent drive to the middle of nowhere to find this spot, but it’s pretty well worth it. Here you’ll find amenities such as a decent size pool that is very well maintained, an actual petting zoo complete with egg-laying chickens, 'all-eating' goats (that also serve as non-stop lawn mowers) and a raccoon dressed up like a Kuala Bear (OK, that last one isn’t true, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had seen one). For the kiddos, there’s a play area, slides, swings and a big tire hanging from the tree just begging to be pushed around.  There's also a beach volleyball, pickleball and basketball courts for fun diversions of any age.

The space itself is just a simple single loop with a couple dozen or so slots for the RV-minded camper offering all of the standard FHUs.  There's a proper clubhouse complete with stand-up bar along with excellent laundry facilities as well as a complete gym along with complimentary WiFi (that was spotty at best).  The residents were all very welcoming and get together just about every night for a proper sundowner near the pool where the Aussies who run the place, come out and tell stories from their fabled lands. 

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This hike-in only campground is but one of two such campgrounds that you’ll find here at Phillips Branch Crossing in Jennings State Forest. To reach Mule Landing Campground, you’ll have to first park in the Phillips Branch Crossing parking lot and from there, you’ll just want to follow the Dunns Farm Trail, passing the first campground (Dunn Farms) after about 1/3 of a mile in, where you’ll need to keep hiking for another mile until you reach the banks of the slow-moving Black Creek. You’ll wind around and ascend a slight incline before reaching Mule Landing, but trust me, if you are looking for one of the best private hike-in campgrounds, you’ve just arrived.

Like every primitive campground I’ve ever experienced, this one is no different and offers very little in the way of amenities, but what this place lacks in accoutrement, it more than makes up for by the simply pristine slice of nature that you’ll find yourself surrounded by. There’s enough room here for 2, maybe 3 small-to-medium sized tents with fairly level ground that is softened by all the downed leaves. There’s a single fire ring with a fold-over grill grate and a handful of logs to use for firewood. You’ll discover that there’s also this really cool bartop table with a matching bench that is perfect for whipping up a cocktail or eating dinner from. You’ll discover what looks to be like a trail heading west and away from the campground, but when I took it, this deadends, which might make me think this was created as a latrine of sorts. There was also a large 10 gallon blue Lowe’s plastic bucket that had been strategically left behind in case you wanted to bring some water from the nearby creek up to cook with or even drink (providing of course that you treat the water first). Oh, and there’s this simply sterling wooden bench (that I think our friends at TheDyrt planted here) overlooking the Black Creek at a place called Osteen Overlook that offers a great vantage point, which reads: “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few are Dirt.”

Insider’s tips? There’s just a few here:(1) You really want to stay on the trails at all times as there are both deer ticks and rattlesnakes in these parts that, trust me, you don’t want to come into contact with; (2) While you might be thinking about biking on this long trail to make quicker time getting to Mule Campground, you can’t bike on any of the hiking trails here – but even if you could, take my word for it, you wouldn’t want to as the terrain is tough with decent inclines and declines, on top of what can be some rough footing on account of the tree roots; and (3) From this CG to Black Creek is only about 60 or so yards that you’ll have to navigate a set of handcrafted stairs and while we couldn’t find a decent place for a kayak or canoe to land here, I’m sure that there’s a spot nearby if you looked close enough – so rather than hiking in, you might be able to simply float your way here, but I would definitely call the FL State Ranger and inquire about this.

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I have stayed at this campground several times. The bathrooms are always clean and showers are great. It is bikeable with trails and road bike options to town.

WOW -- was great.  Only sites (I had #2 -- a little bigger) No one else there.  Amazing stars -- great view of incredible moon.As one of the other commenters wrote --- its amazing you are 10 minutes from a major highway yet feel like you are 1000 miles from anywhere.  Easy to get to --- gps has much of it listed as walking but can drive up.  Roads are rough but not terrible (i have a jeep wrangler - but 4 wheel drive not necessary)  was there 2 nights -- definitely the time of year to be there [January] --- no bugs, no animals.  Passing through and will definitely stop by again when I can.  Rangers were super nice too.

First of all we stayed during thanksgiving week. The amount of families and kids having fun and exploring nature was so refreshing! The check in was quick and easy. Even though I messed up my reservation the campground made the accommodations available work for myself, my partner, and our dog. The walk from the camp to the beach was short and the bathhouse was close and clean as well! This was a great experience for us and a place every family should visit and try.

This campsite has it all. Full hookups, plenty of space, a gorgeous view, ample lounge areas, and a fantastic host. I have stayed here twice in girls’ trips and always felt incredibly safe.

North Beach campground is super pretty with oaks and palm brush creating privacy between sites. Our site 27 was really great, although it did have the street in back so you can hear cars but mostly during the day. The beach is GORGEOUS and right across the street with a great restaurant, The Reef. In back of the property was the river/intercoastal where there was another restaurant, Aunt Kates. We loved having both options! Location is about 10-15 minutes from old town so just know you have to drive and find parking. I do wish the campground offered WIFI bc cell signal was pretty much 2 bars. None of this hampered our visit though, we will 100% come back!

I stopped here to stay overnight on a Thursday as I was passing through. There was only one camper but did not know that until I left the next morning. It was quiet and felt secluded. The sites were close as you would normally get in an established campground but there was plenty of brush to separate each site.

I tried to get reservations on the state park website and kept getting an error message. On further investigation it appears they closed in Feb 2024 because of erosion. I'll keep checking and will update this review if/when they reopen.

We have stayed here several times over the past few years. It's very convenient and bear the beach. Very nice sites and plenty of shade for the summer months. The staff are very helpful and friendly. I gave it a 3 star only because we have had multiple problems with electric not keeping up with running the ac and microwave. This time we had an issue with the sewer hook up. It was so high above ground we had to raise our rear end of the RV to empty the tanks. We stayed at over 5 different sites. Everything is far to get to. You will need to drive or ride a bike. The bathrooms weren't cleaned during our two day stay even though the checklist in the bathroom said it was cleaned.

We had site 111, which we picked up last minute as there was a cancellation. Great site with plenty of room to spread out. Just big enough for our 33’ Class A. The beach was a 7 minute walk and easy. Nice gift shop and restaurant if food is needed and very close to the amphitheater.

Tons of spiders (nature). The bathrooms and showers are right at average. Ranger was very nice.

OK, I get it. Maybe it’s late at night, you’ve been on the road for hours (if not days) and maybe you’ve even got little ones who just need to get some fresh air. We’ve all been there, so maybe it’s late one night and you are contemplating whether or not to layover here at Horne Lake RV Resort. Perhaps it’s dark out and pure exhaustion is about to set in, so you shrug your shoulders and are about to decide to spend the night. But wait, just hold onto that thought a little longer.

My personal advice would be to look at some of the other nearby campgrounds and RV parking lots around and chose a better spot. Trust me, there’s quite a few GOOD ones to choose from, but hey, if you’re too tired and just don’t care, well, then this place won’t kill you. Plus, it’s dark at night, so you probably won’t see what a borderline nasty spot this actually is. That said, be weary of all the bad roads as you drive through this little highway roadside campground spot, which has one small loop that is jam-packed with other road weary travelers like yourself driving either a big rig or RV.

From an amenities standpoint, there’s not much, however, there is a small community pool and firepit along with a propane refilling station as well as a little joint that serves as a storefront / restaurant, although I wasn’t enticed to eat there. All of the basic amenities are provided: 30 & 50 amp electrical, water and sewage lines. The sites are all paved, albeit not terribly well, and oh, there’s a community laundry facility on site, but the dilapidated conditions of the units were enough to keep us away from using them. Beyond this, not much else to say about the place.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you missed it somehow on the first go around, don’t stay here, unless you have no other viable options, but per my suggestion, there’s a number of other places far better and much easier to pull up and drop anchor at than this roadside dump; (2) If you are looking for somewhere to dip the beak of your kayak or canoe, then just head due north where right at the GA / FL state-line you’ll be able to explore the very wonderfully dark St. Mary’s River, which if you follow it easterly, you’ll eventually be greeted by the Atlantic Ocean after first passing Fort Clinch State Park (a great place to park your RV BTW) on the right; and (3) When you grow weary of trying to figure out that next on-board meal from the depths of your mini-fridge, then head on over into St. Mary’s on the GA side where you can find a number of great foodie digs like The Green Room Sicilian Café & Deli, Horse & Cow Pub & Grill as well as McGarbey’s Wee Pub South.

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Ever fantasized about parking your RV so near the ocean that you could feel the salt spray coming off those Atlantic ‘white caps’? Well, look no further than Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort, which depending upon the specific RV slot you are fortunate enough to book here, you too could be kicking back and living life in the 'slow lane’ right in front of idyllic white sand beaches against a backdrop of an endless aquatic blue horizon. Located just 8 miles / 20 minutes south of St. Augustine (a.k.a. Ancient City), Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort resides on the famous A1A, but down in this neck of the woods, you will find that you have escaped the whir of traffic, busyness of everyday life and won’t have to put up with the touristy side of this northernmost Floridian outpost.

As for this location itself, Bryn Mawr boasts the largest family pool in the county (which I cannot independently verify here), although there are actually 2 swimming pools, along with a spa and private walkways with beach access to some of the finest ocean views along the eastern seaboard. Boasting some 236 RV slots, Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort is a massive RV oceanfront wonderland, hidden in the shades of the palms, wherein you’ll enter the compound through a very well appointed security gate after first being greeted by the good folks at the main office building. Once inside, you’ll swerve a bit around the bend to the right before heading straight, wherein on both sides of this RV ‘main street’ you’ll intersect four different perpendicular lanes (Sea Bird, followed by Sea Coast, then Sea Dog and finally Sea Eagle) before reaching a T intersection (at Sea Eagle) where you’ll have to either turn left or right in order to access the 9 (yes, count ‘em, 9) vertical RV slotted lanes (and unfortunately, yes, all of them also begin with the word ‘Sea’, making it very difficult to remember which ‘Sea’ lane you are in) that from north to south are called: Sea Fan, Sea Gull, Sea Horse, Sea Jetty, Sea Anchor, Sea King, Sea Ladder, Sea Millie and Sea Nettle. 

Nomenclature aside, it all doesn’t really matter if you are looking for simply the best, which are the oceanfront RV slots (that run parallel to the beach along Sea Otter lane), whose numbered sites are #219– 238. Trust me, whatever the premium is to pay and park in one of these 20 RV slots is ABSOLUTELY worth it, given the proximity to the beach, as well as the additional distance from traffic that you’ll have back here in the furthest reaches of Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort.  Oh, and then there's the priceless oceanfront views you'll have - but to be clear, that really only works out if your particular RV has a rear-facing panoramic view, otherwise, you'll have to get outside your vehicle and post a few picnic chairs to enjoy the view.

Amenities: dog park / pet walking area, basketball court, lighted tennis / pickle-ball courts, shuffleboard, complimentary WiFi and cable, main office with marketplace store, spartan showers & restroom facilities (there are multiple units spread throughout the RV campus), laundr-O-mat, activity center, horseshoe pitch, propane refill station and children’s playground. Of course, all RV sites come with full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric along with water and sewage) and concrete pads. There’s also scattered picnic tables, BBQ grills and fire rings.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While I’ve already HIGHLY recommended the oceanfront slots of #219– 238, I would also recommend the following locations (if being near the ocean is important to you): 82, 96, 110, 123, 135, 249, 143, 154, 167, 168, 250, 181, 195, 209 and 218; (2) This place is one of the most pet-friendly RV outposts I’ve come across, so don’t be shy about bringing all your pets – I couldn’t find a single RV’er who didn’t have at least 1 dog, if not an entire entourage of cats, iguanas, fish and even an alpaca en towe!; (3) While next to the ocean is great, you will feel a substantial lack of privacy with the spaces being quite close to one another, so if that bothers you (and let’s be honest, it should), then when booking, ask for what available spots there are to determine which of those offer up the most amount of either space or privacy; (4) 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 Cordova roto-molded 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; (5) If you are looking for a decent place to do some great hiking, then look no further than due southwest of Bryn Mawr 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); and (6) Carrying watercraft and looking for a nice spot to hit the water? Then I HIGHLY recommend Princess Place Preserve AND Faver-Dyke SP that offers access to the Matanzas and Tolomato Rivers as well as Pellicer Creek.

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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.

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Located due southeast of the country's oldest town of St. Augustine (a.k.a. Ancient City) and just a few stone’s throw west of the busiest highway that runs north-south in the entire state of Florida (I95), this RV park (more permanent vs. transitory, mind you) is perfect for anyone looking for EZ access to both I95, US1 and even slightly further afield the glorious A1A. While definitely on the smaller side with only about 30 or so slots and, thus, more intimate, this location offers up full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage) for mostly back-in and just a few pull-through sites. There's a simple circle loop to the layout, where midway through you'll come across an access point to a small tributary from the Pellicer River, which is a perfect access point for kayaking and canoeing - just beware of the alligators, which show up in packs during mating season.

As for amenities, apart from the Pellicer Creek itself and the small slice of earth that you will enjoy peace & quiet at, there isn’t much that this location offers apart from a designated picnic table and hook-ups at each site. There are no bathrooms or shower facilities per se. The place isn’t terribly level either as you drive towards the creek, it will be on a slight descent, while a slight ascent will greet you upon your return and eventual exit. That said, this place does get high marks for having a key-coded security gate to enter with, which given the very close proximity to I95 and US1 is a very welcomed feature indeed. WiFi does exist here but we barely got a bar. And as far as the slots themselves go, there isn’t much of any privacy as the slots are very close to one another, but unlike a lot of other places we’ve been to, there wasn’t much noise during the day or at night.

Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) Apart from the amazingly nice people who run this place, there is little to love about a campground that is more for RVs than actual outdoor tent campers, so if you are the latter and want a supremely amazing tent-pitching experience, then you are in great luck as just nearby and less than 15 minutes away you have Princess Prairie Preserve or Faver-Dykes SP both just due east; (2) If you have grown tired of firing up franks & beans for another meal, and while there’s not much within close proximity to this campground, fret not, jump in your vehicle and head north on I95 to Smokin’ D’s BBQ and if you are looking for some great seafood, then head east of this BBQ pit stand to The Commander’s Shellfish Camp for some great steamed shrimp and iced tall boys; (3) When you are looking for something really different to keep yourself entertained, head across the street from Pellicer Creek Campground to Shantytown Village, which is a former oyster farm that now features rustic buildings that feature local artisans, craftspeople and vendors selling their wares and on the weekend the place is transformed into a farmer’s market; and (4) While the access point to the Pellicer Creek is arguably the greatest asset this campground has, and as enjoyable as the creek is, it is slow-moving and not terribly eventful, making it a really good oaring for about an hour in either direction, but for more avid waters with which to navigate, you’ll want to head over to either Princess Prairie Preserve or Faver-Dykes SP (are you seeing a pattern here?!) for some excellent paddling.

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Bike to the Old City or see it from the water in your kayak. A beautiful beach is just minutes away by foot or bike. Was quiet at night. Super clean bathhouse. A few raccoons so take necessary precautions with trash and food storage.