21 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Camping areas around Starke, Florida include both private and state-managed campgrounds, with options ranging from rustic tent sites to full-service RV accommodations and cabin rentals. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, located about 15 miles south of Starke, offers cabin camping and developed sites within a natural setting, while the Starke-Gainesville NE KOA provides more amenity-rich options with 135 sites directly in town. Camp Blanding RV Park on the western side of Starke serves military personnel with lakefront access. Several campgrounds in the area feature full hookups for RVs, with a mix of seasonal and year-round availability.
North central Florida's subtropical climate makes camping accessible throughout the year, though summer months bring higher humidity and occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Most developed campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, with peak season running from October through April when temperatures moderate. "We spent Christmas Eve here on our way to south Florida. A crazy storm came through and the temperature dropped drastically, but awoke in the morning and continued our trip," noted one camper at the KOA. Road access to campgrounds near Starke is generally good, with paved approaches to most developed sites. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays and during winter months when "snowbirds" from northern states frequently fill campgrounds to capacity.
Waterfront camping receives particular praise from visitors to the area, with Camp Blanding's lakeside sites highlighted for their recreational potential. "Our site was right on the lake so the kids had a great time playing in the water. We could hang our hammocks and the paved roads allowed for the kids to ride their bikes," shared one visitor. Campgrounds with full hookups typically provide amenities such as shower houses, laundry facilities, and WiFi, though quality varies between locations. Privacy between sites differs significantly among the various campgrounds, with state park locations generally offering more natural separation than private RV parks. Some developed campgrounds near Starke have recently undergone management changes, resulting in mixed reviews about staff interactions and facility maintenance, particularly at the KOA, which has experienced both positive comments about spacious sites and complaints about management practices.
"The Florida State Trail passes through the park and is well marked. The ravines section is my favorite area in the park. In the greener months, it feels like a rain forest."
"The Florida Trail is my favorite part of my visits. The cabin we stayed in was small but nice. The ravines are gorgeous. You can access it with a vehicle, but you must walk down many stairs."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $100 / night
"Just left STARK FLORIDA KOA. No shade but a huge amount of space between sites and set up on an angle which increased the sense of space. Sites had full hook up, elec, water, sewer."
"KOA - Stark, FL: We spent Christmas Eve here on our way to south Florida. Bill greeted us, took us to our site, guided us in. Very friendly reception."
from $34 - $58 / night
"The children loved the close proximity of the lake. We were approximately 10 feet away from the water. The area had two sets of swings nearby and a dock."
"Beautiful lake"
"Nice, quiet campground on the outskirts of Jacksonville. Had a nice time out there with my buddy and the pup. Would recommend!"
"This little campground is tucked away in Jennings forest. Everything is so peaceful back here!"
Available this weekend
from $9 / night
"The campsites are spacious, well shaded, and with in easy walking distance to the Bathhouse/Restrooms. The facilities are kept clean and neat."
"You know, like quintessential state or national park imagery where you would expect to see“Smoky The Bear” around the next bend."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 / night
from $50 - $90 / night
from $55 - $99 / night
"I recently stayed at the Island Oak RV Park in the beautiful town of Glen St Mary, Florida and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the facilities and overall experience."
"Heated resort pool with tiki pool bar & music, beach front lake with a massive inflatable obstacle course, an on-site restaurant & ice cream shop, not to mention multiple fenced dog parks."
from $60 - $79 / night
"Very close to the University of Florida. Nice campground recently renovated."
"There is a picnic table & a fir pit the fire pit was a little to close to the camper to have a fire. It is a very quiet and woodsy campground."
Available this weekend
from $18 / night
"Tucked away just outside Keystone Heights, North Florida Christian Camp feels like a place designed more for connection than convenience, where winding sandy roads lead you beneath tall pines and into"
"I mostly stayed near the softball field but I saw they had a lot of fun stuff. Zip lines and a incredibly beautiful beach.
Also there was comfy cabins"
GuideA “real Florida” campground originally built by the CCC. Sites are decent size with typical Florida flora between the sites for some privacy. 30 amp/water hookups on site. Roads are hard pack sand/gravel and not real smooth. A nice family campground for smaller size rigs. A playground accessible to most sites and classic bathhouse with showers is conveniently located. Lots of hiking trails. There’s an orange tree on my site!
GuideI liked this park it is large, lots to explore. We took our dog on her first camping trip and she was fantastic. I would like to go back without her though because I think I could hike better without her. There are a number of trails, but it rained for some of our stay so we getting get away from our camp too much. It was still lovely. I think a trip back is in order because we definitely didn’t experience all we would like to have experienced. We had our kayaks but since we had the dog we didn’t go. But I can see us returning for more adventures. We did walk over the suspension bridge, that was beautiful, a nice after the rain thing to do.
GuideMy husband and I went here for a long weekend, it was a really nice park we saw a lot of deer. There is 4+ miles of the Florida State Trail that runs through this park that we hiked. The terrain changes multiple times giving you a nice change in scenery. There is a ravine there too. The staff was great, and the facilities were clean. You can buy patches there too if you like to collect patches (or stickers) from the State Parks. And if you have the Florida State Park passport they have a stamp. It’s a good sized park and kept us busy.
LegendYou’ll only need to drive 30 minutes or so outside of JAX to access this one-of-a-kind back-country state forest featuring 24K acres of some pretty pristine thin longleaf pine forests complete with wiregrass where you’ll discover 9 pretty amazingly carved foot trails as well as 4 equestrian trails to take your noble steed for a ride. The roads in and around Jennings SF are unpaved heavily packed sandy dirt roads, so what that means when there’s lots of rain is a bit of a muddy mess where in some places you’ll need to be careful not to get stuck.
As for Hammock Campground, you’ll drive several miles to reach this camping outpost, but if you’re on the hunt for real P&Q and being nearly completely secluded, then the journey is well worth it. Just following the half dozen or so signs that beckon you here and upon arrival – you can’t miss it as there is one of those iconic FL shaped state park signs greeting you – just follow the lone, 1-way loop around the campground until you find your assigned # campsite. This is a primitive campground, so apart from an in-ground fire-ring w/ fold-over grill, 15 X 15 wooden perimeter tent camping pad (with raised sand silt ground) and standard issued picnic table, there aren’t many other amenities.
The single-use restrooms offer up a vaulted toilet and are - truth be told - God awful (make a note to bring your own TP) and not clean at all. There was a small communal area that featured a wonderful sheltered pavilion and a half dozen picnic tables along with a much larger communal fire pit with a half dozen seemingly brand new wooden benches – perfect for a bonfire or group s’mores for a party of 20 or so. I found the space between campsites along the serpentine-like drive to be perfectly spaced apart giving you decent distance between you and your neighbors with relatively good-to-great brush providing decent privacy.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) From a fauna standpoint, you’ll be sharing this SF with the likes of white-tailed deer, otters, gray fox, eastern cottontail, raccoons, opossums, wild turkeys and the Florida black bear, so be sure to plan accordingly; (2) While we didn’t think to bring our bicycles with us, we regretted it – so be sure to load up yours as there are miles and miles of great bike trekking to be had, but do ensure you bring fatter bike tires that can get you through the heavy sand roads; (3) Should you have a kayak or canoe, you should bring it as there are some 4 different kayak launches to choose from that will have you oaring; (4) Jennings SF is connected to the Great Florida Birding trail and features such fowl as northern bobwhite quail, pine warbler and an assortment of hawks; and (5) Make no mistake about it friends, this is a thick forest and is a host to some of the worst ticks you can catch – so take it from me and bring the tick repellant and be sure to wear trousers.
Happy Camping!
LegendPulling into Boogerville Hideout right off US 17 feels less like arriving at a campground and more like rolling into a full-on Roadhouse movie sequel where you’d expect Jake Gyllehnhaal (nee Patrick Swayze) to be bouncing at the front door. Upon entry, you might hear the rumble of bikes, the glow of string lights and the pulse of a live music set the tone before you even park. Located just south of Green Cove Springs, this biker bar and restaurant has recently carved out roughly a dozen RV slots behind and surrounding the property, creating a unique overnight option that blends convenience with a high-energy, social atmosphere. The setting is open and informal, with gravel and packed dirt surfaces, easy pull-in access and a layout that wraps around the main bar, stage and outdoor beer garden patio area.
The RV sites themselves offer basic hookups, making it functional for a quick overnight, but amenities beyond that are minimal. There are no traditional bathhouses, no playgrounds and no campground-style comforts, just port-a-potties that are shared with patrons of the bar. The vibe here is unapologetically lively, especially on weekends when live bands, karaoke, and DJs turn the outdoor beer garden into something closer to a small festival than a campground. Navigation is simple enough, and setup is quick, but this is clearly not designed for quiet evenings, early bedtimes and families with small kids - trust me - would not want to ‘drop anchor’ here for sure.
Surrounding the property, you are positioned along US 17 with quick access into Green Cove Springs for supplies, where you will find grocery options like Dollar Tree and El Supremo, gas stations like BP and casual dining spots like The Pub @ Magnolia Point, Roger That Wings & Things. If you are looking to balance the energy of Boogerville with a bit of calm, nearby parks and the St. Johns River offer opportunities to reset during the day before returning to the action at night.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) Choose a site as far from the stage and US 17 as possible if you plan to turn in early, as music can run late on weekends; (2) Expect noise, this is part of the experience, not a drawback to be avoided; (3) Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper; (4) Plan to use your own onboard facilities if possible, as port-a-potties are shared and can get busy (and somewhat messy, particular closer to midnight on the weekends); (5) This is best treated as an overnight stop tied to enjoying the bar and music rather than a traditional campground stay; (6) If you are looking for any great grub in the vicinity, you’ve just hit the BBQ jackpot as less than a 20 minute drive from here, you’ll discover the legendary Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ that will be – without any contention – the greatest spot for smoked grub you will find IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA (yeah, I know, that's a big statement - so prove me wrong); and (7) If you’ve had 1 or 2 too many, you want to be incredibly careful and not try your luck up or down US 17 as this stretch of pavement is continuously patrolled by Florida’s finest, which is just yet another reason you should consider laying up for the night here @ Boogerville Hideout.
Happy Camping!
TravelerRoads are rough, Bathrooms are clean, host seemed like a good guy. Here during off season but the beach looked like fun
GuideThe six sites available are spread out in the Cary State Forest. You can see the tops of some RV’s but they’re not close. The site has a very nice picnic table, fire pit,benches around the fire pit, a free standing grill, water, electric and a concrete pad to park on with a tent site behind the pad. Grass is freshly cut and the site is clean!
ScoutI organized a group camping weekend here October 2 to 4, 2026. My group booked and paid for more than a dozen campsites and approximately 40 people, all next to each other, so the people around my site were my own friends. On Saturday afternoon we were sitting in our chairs when a security officer walked up and demanded that I lower my music. Nobody refused. I was turning it down as I explained that the music was for my whole group and that the neighbors around us were all our people. I also asked who had complained. Instead of answering, he snapped,"You do what I said and turn the music down." I told him I already had. With no attempt to calm things down, he shouted that we were out of there and had 30 minutes to pack up and leave. Nobody in my group raised a voice or got hostile. We were polite and we complied, and we were still treated like criminals. When we went to the front desk to report how he had behaved, the clerk made it clear that our whole group was the issue and that they were watching us and that I had to leave. That told me this was never about one speaker or lowering the music. We were singled out while other groups were left alone. I even heard from others that were allowed to stay, that they heard Spanish music blasting at 1am AFTER QUIET HOURS! So, why were we kicked out? Discrimination! No refund was offered. They kept our money for a stay they cut short. We have held several events here over the years, about 8 visits in the last three years. There will be ZERO in the future. The springs are beautiful, but the way security and the front desk treat paying guests is not. My group is taking our events and our money somewhere else!
GuideA fantastic spot for an overnight camping stop in Florida. Beautiful surroundings with great hiking and cycling trails to explore. Perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Well worth a visit!
Camping sites near Starke, Florida range from primitive tent camping to fully serviced RV resorts. Located in north-central Florida at an elevation of about 130 feet, the area features sandy soil and pine forests typical of the Florida inland region. Average temperatures remain mild through winter with nighttime lows in the 40s, making late fall through early spring the optimal camping season.
Paddling opportunities: At O'Leno State Park, visitors can enjoy kayaking on the Santa Fe River with rental equipment available. "There is a swimming section. The river goes underground but you can't kayak in this area. The river has a small rapids area, for Florida. Got to see a snake sunbathing next to two turtles while kayaking," notes one camper at O'Leno State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park offers eight distinct hiking trails where visitors can observe native Florida fauna. "This park has 8 trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. We were able to see wild horses, bisons, snakes and gators. Great for fishing and kayaking," shares a visitor to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.
Hiking trails: Jennings State Forest provides miles of marked paths through natural Florida landscapes. "We hiked the beach pioneer trail and really enjoyed ourselves. The campsite is about a mile in and has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a stream nearby for water. The trail is well marked and we only saw a few others while hiking," reports a camper at Jennings State Forest.
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the natural separation between campsites at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park. "Very woodsy, plenty of walking trails, even a spring to take a dip in, if you dare!!" comments one visitor about the park's natural features.
Lake activities: Camp Blanding RV Park receives high marks for its waterfront sites and water recreation opportunities. "Some of the best camping in FL, beautiful lake, spread out camp sites, fire pit, grill and full hookups. All water sports, including fishing, boat launch, Jet skis, etc.. plenty of room to swim," notes one reviewer at Camp Blanding RV Park.
Clean facilities: Island Oaks RV Resort maintains well-kept amenities that appeal to campers seeking comfort. "The bathhouses were clean and well-maintained. The one we used has 4 stalls to it all with a private bathroom and shower in one. If I am nitpicking the water pressure was not great but it was nice and hot," shares a visitor to Island Oaks RV Resort.
Military connections: Camp Blanding RV Park requires specific credentials for access. "Even with base access, you can only camp with a military member as a guest or be in the military," explains a reviewer who stayed at the facility.
Hookup positioning: Some RV parks have design issues with utility connections. At Island Oaks, "When they designed the park, the hookups are on the wrong side of the spots. We needed 50 feet and our friends 80 feet of sewage hookups! The sewer connection is not sink and does not drain properly," warns a camper.
Pet restrictions: Some parks limit where dogs can access. "The biggest disappointment for this state park is that all of the things they advertise (and I was looking forward to) - bison, horses, wildlife - are all on trails where pets are not allowed," notes a visitor to Paynes Prairie.
Kid-friendly water access: Sites near lakes provide natural entertainment for children. "We camped here before things warmed up, but we enjoyed it. The children loved the close proximity of the lake. We were approximately 10 feet away from the water. The area had two sets of swings nearby and a dock," notes a family who stayed at Camp Blanding.
Historical education: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers learning opportunities. "Camp staff knows much about the Native American heritage in this location," mentions one camper about the educational aspects of Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park.
Recreational amenities: Island Oaks RV Resort provides extensive facilities for families. "Heated resort pool with tiki pool bar & music, beach front lake with a massive inflatable obstacle course, an on-site restaurant & ice cream shop, not to mention multiple fenced dog parks. I cant say enough positives about this place!" shares an enthusiastic family camper.
Extension cords necessary: Some parks require additional equipment for hookups. "Just left STARK FLORIDA KOA. No shade but a huge amount of space between sites and set up on an angle which increased the sense of space. Sites had full hook up, elec, water, sewer," explains an RVer at Starke-Gainesville NE KOA.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on accessibility and amenities. "The best sites at Gainesville RV Park include: PO4 – 16 (basically all the pond front sites) as well as W1– W18, which is kind of surprising as they are the cheaper slots, but back up to the treeline and are furthest away from any roads / noise," advises one experienced RVer.
Internet connectivity: WiFi quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "Would have given 5 stars if internet was decent but it was awful. Our rig is 42' w/ 4 slides and had lots of space. Escorted to our site. Nice picnic tables. Pool area was clean and inviting," reports a camper at Island Oaks about the trade-offs to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Starke, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Starke, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 212 campgrounds and RV parks near Starke, FL and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Starke, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Starke, FL is Sandhill Campground - Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Starke, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Starke, FL.
What parks are near Starke, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Starke, FL that allow camping, notably Osceola National Forest and National Forests in Florida.
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