RV parks near Waldo, Florida cluster along the Highway 301 corridor in a region characterized by freshwater lakes, springs, and pine forests. The terrain consists mainly of flat woodlands interspersed with wetland areas at elevations averaging 150-200 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can occasionally drop below freezing despite mild daytime conditions.
What to Do
Swimming in natural springs: Hart Springs Park offers year-round swimming in 72-degree water. "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 camper about the Hart Springs Park swimming area.
Explore nearby wildlife preserves: The area surrounding Waldo provides access to several nature areas. "If exotic animal sightings are in your game plans during your outing, then give thought to heading about 15 minutes northwest to Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Sanctuary, where you can meet up with jaguars, cheetahs, lions, tigers," suggests a visitor to Gainesville RV Park.
Paddle sports on local lakes: Multiple lakes around Waldo offer kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "Traveling with kayak or canoe and looking for a nice aquatic launching pad? While you won't be able to do anything at the small pond at Gainesville RV Park, just due south you can access Lake Alto Park, which has some decent oaring potential."
What Campers Like
Lakeside camping: Several parks provide direct water access. At Camp Blanding RV Park, "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," shares one visitor.
Entertainment amenities: Many parks offer recreational facilities beyond basic camping. At Island Oaks RV Resort, "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!"
Wooded sites for shade: The Florida heat makes tree cover valuable. "There's about 50 or so pull-through and back-in RV slots complete with full hook-ups (50 amp electric at every site along with water and sewage)... perhaps the best feature of the entire place is the top-notch gate access and security surrounding the entire perimeter," notes a camper at Cooper Lake RV Community.
What You Should Know
Seasonal availability: Winter brings significant occupancy changes. At Ocala North RV Park, "We stayed here last June and came back for the winter. Now we are staying indefinitely and loving it. There is mature landscaping in the original part of the resort."
Hookup placement challenges: Some parks have inconvenient utility placement. "When they designed the park, the hook ups are on the wrong side of the spots. We needed 50 feet and our friends 80 feet of sewage hook ups! The sewer connection is not sink and does not drain properly."
Alcohol restrictions: Some parks have limitations on alcohol. "This is a dry county on Sunday but that's only one day. You will not be disappointed to stay there. They also have live music on Saturday and so far it's never been disappointing," notes a visitor regarding Sunday restrictions.
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for kid-friendly water features: Water activities keep children entertained in hot weather. "We camped here in the fall and the kids had a great time. Our site was right on the lake so the kids had a great time playing in the water for something to do. We could hang our hammocks and the paved roads allowed for the kids to ride their bikes," shares a visitor at Camp Blanding.
Find parks with playground equipment: Some facilities offer dedicated play areas. At Compass RV Park, "Lots of things for kids to do at the campground (pool, playground, cornhole, ping pong table, fishing pond, etc). Had a small issue with the water hookup when we first arrived but their maintenance guys quickly rectified it."
Consider parks with splash pads: Water play areas provide safer alternatives to natural water bodies. "The spring is a short nature walk or drive away and it does get packed on weekends with locals so check with staff because they have a tendency to limit the amount of people in the spring. The spring itself is really nicely kept and they have a small but very nice splash pad for the kids."
Tips from RVers
Cell service and connectivity: Internet access varies considerably between parks. "The cell service (for both T-Mobile and Verizon) didn't work very well, and the Wi-Fi is iffy at best," reports an RVer about Compass RV Park. Another notes that Santa Fe Palms offers "high-speed fiber optic WiFi" that performed well during their stay.
Site leveling considerations: Some parks have challenging terrain. A visitor to Ocala North RV Park mentioned sites being "a bit unlevel but I was too amazed by the number of open pull through spots."
Extension cord requirements: Utility placement may require additional equipment. "When they designed the park, the hook ups are on the wrong side of the spots. We needed 50 feet and our friends 80 feet of sewage hook ups! The sewer connection is not sink and does not drain properly. When we told the front desk we were told we could purchase extenders which were parked up 100%."