Camping near San Mateo, FL

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    The San Mateo area in Florida provides access to a variety of camping experiences within the surrounding region. Campers can find established campgrounds like Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest, which offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Other nearby options include Rodman Campground near Palatka with both tent and RV sites, and North Beach Camp Resort in St. Augustine featuring oceanfront camping. The region encompasses both freshwater and coastal camping opportunities, with sites ranging from primitive to full-service. Many campgrounds in this area provide direct access to water activities on St. Johns River, Lake Crescent, and various springs. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near San Mateo for detailed information on amenities and availability.

    "This campground is in Ocala National Forest, which is always beautiful. The campsites are large, we fit 3 4+ person tents," noted one visitor about Alexander Springs Recreation Area. Florida's climate allows for year-round camping in the San Mateo region, though summer months bring high humidity, frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and mosquitoes. Most established campgrounds require reservations, especially during winter months when snowbirds flock to the area. Water levels can affect accessibility at some locations, particularly after heavy rainfall. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near larger towns like Palatka and St. Augustine. Many campgrounds feature sandy soil typical of the region, which drains quickly after rain but can be challenging for tent stakes.

    Several visitors highlight the region's natural springs as standout features. Clearwater Lake Campground receives praise for its "water conditions typically providing excellent visibility to the mostly sand-bottomed swimming area." Campers frequently mention the abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, including manatees in colder months at Salt Springs. The proximity to historic St. Augustine is another draw, with Anastasia State Park described as "magnificent" with "abundant shade and privacy" cut from the jungle. Campgrounds closer to highways like I-95 tend to be more developed with full hookups but offer less seclusion than those deeper in forested areas. Sites near water bodies fill quickly during peak seasons, with reviewers consistently recommending advance reservations for waterfront locations.

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    Best Campgrounds near San Mateo (254)

      1. Salt Springs Recreation Area

      4.4(61)19mi from San Mateo160 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "There are no laundry facilities but if you exit park and drive left there is a laundromat, local food, dollar store, bait tackle."

      "Located in the center of the state, you’ll have near equal access to both the Atlantic Ocean to the east as well as the Gulf shores to the west."

      from $38 - $70 / night

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      2. Anastasia State Park Campground

      4.7(119)26mi from San Mateo120 sitesRVs, Tents

      "You really can have it all at this campground - with its 'next door' proximity to one of the most amazing beachheads on Florida's Atlantic coastline and quick access to the country's oldest town (St."

      "Great location & in close proximity to St. Augustine. One of my favorite places to visit in Florida. If you've never been to St."

      from $28 / night

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      3. Rodman Campground

      4.6(28)14mi from San Mateo65 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Sites 1-39 are not near the Florida Trail but it was not a bad walk to the other side of the campground to get to the trail. Would stay again."

      "This peaceful campground provides a serene setting surrounded by towering pines and lush Florida foliage."

      from $12 - $22 / night

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      4. Half Shell Resort

      4.0(6)2mi from San MateoRVs

      "Close to town for all your needs. It's right on the St John's river.  We made some awesome friends while we were their. Can't wait to get back"

      "Nice restaurants nearby. No picnic table at campsites. Everyone very friendly."

      from $55 / night

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      5. Faver-Dykes State Park Campground

      3.9(21)20mi from San Mateo27 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Far down a dirt road and very quiet you wouldn't know you were that close to the interstate. Only complaint would be the distance the dumpsters are from the CG"

      "Close to saint Augustine and Daytona."

      from $18 / night

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      6. 4 Lakes Campground

      4.4(5)11mi from San MateoRVs

      "It’s quiet and away from any tourists. St Augustine is 30 minutes away."

      "We stayed at 4 Lakes for 6 months for work and it was really nice! Staff are super friendly and helpful and make you feel like family."

      from $40 - $80 / night

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      7. North Beach Camp Resort

      4.4(47)28mi from San MateoRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We stayed in number 18 and we were very close to the bathroom area (which has AC) and close to the Pool."

      "Very shady spots and plenty of space for long walks on the paths, along the river or across the street at the beach. I had 2 dogs & appreciated the doggy stations with poo bags and garbage."

      from $67 - $245 / night

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      8. Compass RV Park

      4.5(19)22mi from San MateoRVs, Cabins, Glamping

      "The pull through sites were quite close to each other where the back in sites provided more room, this was especially true near the front of the CG."

      "You just leave the trash bag out anytime and the park staff pick it up during one of their normal rounds around the park. The whole park including all the sites were very well maintained."

      9. Davenport Landing

      3.1(9)15mi from San Mateo

      "Pulled in around 9:30 pm. Big open spot. Last 100 yards driving back in were very bumpy but no problem with our van. Not sure about a larger RV. But great Tent/van spot."

      "Had no one around and nice and cool in the forest"

      10. Closed

      5.0(2)8mi from San MateoRVs

      "Close to the beach, this is the perfect pitstop. Check them out and leave them some love here!"

      from $20 - $40 / night

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    Recent Reviews near San Mateo, FL

    1269 Reviews of 254 San Mateo Campgrounds


    • Cory R.
      Jun. 11, 2026

      Lakeside haven rv park

      Garbage

      WARNING: DO NOT STAY HERE. Absolute Slum Conditions & Toxic Management. If I could give Lakeside Haven RV Resort negative stars, I would. Do not be fooled by the beautiful pictures they post online—those are from years ago when the park first opened. Today, this place is a neglected, hazardous dump run by a toxic, completely unprofessional management team. We moved in on December 27th, renting a lot and an 18-foot camper for $750/month. We were assured it was "move-in ready." That was a blatant lie. On our first day, I opened the fridge/freezer combo, and hundreds of German cockroaches fell out of it like Niagara Falls. It required three separate bug bombs just to make the place semi-livable. On top of that, Mario, the manager, left a whole turkey in the freezer that thawed out and leaked putrid turkey juices all over the appliance. There was also absolutely no hot water because the water heater had a massive crack in it. It leaked so severely that it saturated the floor, causing the kitchen floor to visibly sag. When they finally came to "fix" the water heater, they smashed a massive hole in the side of the camper and just left it wide open. Because of their negligence, my cat escaped, and my girlfriend and I spent three agonizing days waiting for him to return. Thankfully, he did. The windows were also broken and just covered with cardboard and tape, and the sink was completely backed up because the previous tenant had dumped a hoard of pennies down the drain. When I confronted the manager, Mario, about these biohazards and structural failures, he didn't offer to fix them immediately. Instead, he coldly offered a refund. He knew exactly what he was doing—he put us in a position where we either had to live in a roach-infested, broken camper or be homeless. We had to stay and watch them take their sweet time doing bare-minimum repairs. When anyone has a legitimate issue with the park, Mario gets incredibly rude, nasty, and aggressive. If you express how unhappy you are with the conditions, management's official response is literally: "Don't like it? Move." Management is rarely even on-site—maybe once or twice a month—but they sure know how to cause drama. They constantly spread lies around the park claiming we weren't paying our bills, which is defamation. We have every single receipt proving we have paid on time, every single month. Furthermore, the utility situation is a massive rip-off. There is only one meter for the entire park. Management leaves the lights on and the AC blasting at 68 degrees constantly in common areas, and because of the single meter, the tenants are forced to split the bill for their energy waste. You are also paying out of pocket for "amenities" like a laundry room that should be covered. The park looks like absolute shit. The boat dock is in such disrepair it will literally ruin your boat if you try to use it. Worse than the infrastructure is the total lack of safety. They will let anyone move in here, including active drug users and people with violent, dangerous criminal records. To give you an idea of how dangerous this place is, I accidentally butt-dialed the police once. When the cop arrived, he literally told me that they get so many emergency calls for this park—ranging from domestic abuse to drug issues—that they are forced to come out and physically verify everyone is okay, even for a confirmed accidental dial. The police are fully aware of how awful this place is. There is also zero confidentiality. Management acts friendly to get your money, but once you are locked in, they treat you like garbage and spread your personal business. They literally told brand-new tenants intimate, private medical details about a resident living here with cancer. It is deeply disrespectful, unethical, and disgusting behavior. They trap you, lie about you, neglect the property, and treat you like absolute shit. For the love of God, stay the hell away from Lakeside Haven RV Resort and Mario.

    • Celeste A.
      Jun. 7, 2026

      Indian Lake State Forest Campground

      Weekend Get-Away

      First time at this State Forest campground/park and it was quiet, accessible, and had all the amenities needed for a nice weekend get away. The bathrooms are a little less modern than expected, but they do have a shower which does get hot within seconds. The iron smell is very notable in the water, however.

    • WThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 2, 2026

      Encore Sunshine Holiday Daytona

      2nd trip under our belt

      Like the title says, this is my wife and I second campsite on our trip across America. Our stay was for 10 days from May 22 through June 1st. This site had a different vibe than the first. This park seems to be more residential folks than travelers. Grounds are well maintained with lots of activities. Activities include tennis/pickleball courts, putt-putt, playground for kids, volleyball, and a swimming pool. Conveniently located close to I95 with restaurants and shopping within 10-15 minutes. If you are beach goers, it took about 20 minutes to get to Ormond Beach by car. Also, if you are a racecar fan, the Daytona 500 Speedway is within 20 minutes. The campsite was nice and quiet during both day and night and people stayed to themselves. I will say the site's are close together and depending on how big your rig is will depend greatly on how hard or easy it will be to park. I have a 40ft Thor Challenger class A and I had to maneuver a few times before I fit. The streets are also narrow for bigger rigs. The biggest problem I ran into was when we left you have to make a U turn out of the complex to get back to I95. The big problem was I'm too big to just make a U turn anywher, if at all. I had to go a few miles out of the way to just turn around to head the right way for the freeway. Overall, I enjoyed this campsite other than the minor inconvenience of getting back to the freeway when departing.

    • mThe Dyrt PRO User
      May. 29, 2026

      Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort

      One of our favorite places!

      This is our second time visiting in the last month or so. They are still working on repairing the sea wall, but the views are breathtaking. Flagler beach is a sleepy little beach town. Great vibes!

    • Kai Z.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 29, 2026

      Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground

      Beautiful Nature Escape with cool Wildlife

      This is a really nice campground surrounded by beautiful nature. The bathhouse is a little older, but still fine. The area itself is really impressive though, with lots of wildlife all around. If you take a short walk, you’ll find a spot with a water view and tons of seating areas — a really beautiful place to relax. For the price, you honestly can’t complain. There are quite a lot of insects at night, so bringing good bug spray is definitely a good idea. But for our one-night stay, it was absolutely worth it.

    • Kai Z.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 28, 2026

      Silver Springs State Park Campground

      Spacious Campsites

      We also only stayed here for one night, but we really enjoyed this campground. The campsites are very large and spacious, and the surrounding trees give you a decent amount of privacy. The bathhouse was very clean, and the showers were especially nice because they were big and roomy, which made them really comfortable to use. The only small downside is that there were only two showers available, at least on the men’s side. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We would definitely recommend staying here.

    • rThe Dyrt PRO User
      May. 25, 2026

      St. Augustine Beach KOA

      Amazing staff

      Staff is so friendly and fun. There very informative about the town and gave great suggestions about site swing and restaurants.

    • A
      May. 24, 2026

      Black Creek Ravine

      Almost perfect

      Great hike in filled with wildlife saw lots of deer, a bunny, and I’m pretty sure a small group of coyotes. Site is very private and quiet during the day. Unfortunately, the new toll road is right on the other side of the creek which became very loud at night.


    Guide to San Mateo

    Camping options near San Mateo, Florida span both freshwater and coastal environments within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at low elevation between 5-25 feet above sea level, creating a landscape dominated by pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, and riverfront terrain. San Mateo's central location provides access to the St. Johns River system as well as Atlantic coast beaches, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F with high humidity from June through September.

    What to Do

    Kayaking and canoeing: Salt Springs Recreation Area offers excellent water exploration opportunities. "We decided to change the primitive camping to an easier drive in and loved it. The spot and people were perfect. The natural springs and area was amazing," notes Jj R. about Salt Springs Recreation Area.

    Beach activities: North Beach Camp Resort offers direct ocean access with privacy from crowds. "The campground was perfectly designed by someone who knows what campers want. Each site was separated from the neighbor by high brush and trees to make it seem really private. A river on the backside and the Atlantic Ocean on the front of the resort," explains Nicole C. about North Beach Camp Resort.

    Fishing: Multiple access points for freshwater fishing exist throughout the region. One camper at Rodman Campground noted, "Great access to the lake. Pull through, back in and buddy sites are available," highlighting the convenient water access at this location.

    What Campers Like

    Private campsites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between sites. At Anastasia State Park Campground, "These campsites offer a serene amount of privacy with the space the campgrounds are working with. It's not a backcountry hike, definitely a drive-up campground but the foliage and large campsites provide a lot of privacy throughout the day and night," reports Issa F.

    Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses and grounds are frequently mentioned. According to Brandie B. at Faver-Dykes, "The camp hosts keep each site impeccable and the bath house were very clean. The sites are wide and because of the vegitation almost impossible to see your neighbors."

    Waterfront options: Several campgrounds offer sites with direct water views. Lauren W. describes her experience at Rodman Campground: "Beautiful site! Full shade and very level. Water directly in front of our site. Road our bikes to the dam."

    What You Should Know

    Seasonal considerations: Summer brings heat, humidity, and insects. At Faver-Dykes, Leslie B. warns, "Only problem we had were ticks! They were literally everywhere and we were constantly picking them off ourselves and our dogs."

    Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience noise from unexpected sources. Jeff E. shares about 4 Lakes Campground: "IF there is an 'ALL HOURS WEEKEND' at the nearby Hog Waller Campground and ATV Resort (right across the river), then the trails remain open 24 hours and you will not have any tranquility or relaxation all night."

    Internet connectivity: Cell service varies widely across the region. Daniel G. notes about Compass RV Park: "The only down side is that the cell service (for both T-Mobile and Verizon) didn't work very well, and the Wi-Fi is iffy at best."

    Tips for Camping with Families

    Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer recreational amenities. Desirae L. describes Salt Springs: "We went camping here with two small kids, one of the sites closest to the springs, just a short walk. The campsite was much bigger than I expected."

    Safe swimming areas: Natural springs provide consistent water temperatures for comfortable swimming year-round. One camper at Compass RV Park noted, "They have a pool and work out room. The sites were large and easy to access. Grounds are well maintained."

    Space considerations: Look for campgrounds with room for kids to play. Vivian L. describes Celestial Acres as having "a huge grass area enclosed for kids and animals to play. Also, a beautiful burn pit for a campfire! Very safe place to ease your mind."

    Tips from RVers

    Site surface types: Different campgrounds offer various parking surfaces. According to Mike K. at Renegades on the River, "Full size RV sites with full hook up and the whole park is paved or pavers. Very nice pool and full laundry."

    Utilities and services: Hookup availability varies widely. At Salt Springs, Sue G. mentions, "Sites have paved pads but most are not level. Wifi very spotty. Springs are nice."

    Sizing considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. Sandi A. warns about Faver-Dykes: "Road into park narrow. We could not park our rv due to narrow road. They did promise a refund."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What camping is available near San Mateo, FL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, San Mateo, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 254 campgrounds and RV parks near San Mateo, FL and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

    Which is the most popular campground near San Mateo, FL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near San Mateo, FL is Salt Springs Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 61 reviews.

    Where can I find free dispersed camping near San Mateo, FL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near San Mateo, FL.

    What parks are near San Mateo, FL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near San Mateo, FL that allow camping, notably Ocala National Forest and National Forests in Florida.