Osceola National Forest Ocean Pond Campground

In general, I try to stay away from terms like ‘rustic,’ which honestly, usually just means ‘old’ (read: and in dire need of repair or refurbishment), but this place actually lives up to the word 'rustic' – so, take it from me, nothing needs fixin’ here. Everything is functionally sound. Maybe what you’ll discover is somewhat dated, but embrace it. Around here, it’s all good. All of the time. Ocean Pond Campground sits on the north shore of Ocean Pond, which is a striking 2-mile-wide lake within Osceola National Forest. The name is a bit of a misnomer as it’s more lake than pond, and trust me, the water that you will experience here isn't Ocean … but all of this confusion is actually part of the appeal. As you drive in, you’ll pass a fairly well-paved serpentine-like forest roadway lined by pine flatwoods and cypress wetlands. The lot layout is heavily forested and incredibly quiet, with a mix of shade and sun, and a natural, mellow campground vibe rather than resort polish.

Ocean Pond offers a total of 67 campsites in three tiers: 19 with electric+ water hookups, 27 with water only and 20 primitive sites. That’s right, if you read between the lines, there’s no sewage hook-ups, but that’s OK, as there’s a proper sewage dump area as you exit the premises (free to registered campers; small fee for non-registered). The hookup sites are on paved spurs and rated up to about 50 feet capacity. Every site comes equipped with a picnic table, fire ring / grate, lantern post and access to restrooms, which honestly, are very well taken care of and, again, quite functional. Nothing to write home about, but it will get the job done. The campground includes flush toilets, hot showers in the electric & water sections, and more basic restroom access for primitive sites (in fact, these particular facilities were the only low point). For lake access, there’s a boat ramp, sandy beach swim area reserved for campers, fishing pier and a public boat launch. Camping is year-round, but there’s a 14-day stay limit within any 30-day span. Check-in is 2 p.m., checkout at 11 a.m.

The real star here is Ocean Pond itself. It’s a playground for anglers, boaters, swimmers and paddlers. Expect to fish for largemouth bass, speckled perch, crappie and catfish. The Florida National Scenic Trail passes through here and you can take a 3-mile out-and-back hike from the campground along forest roads and a boardwalk for swamp views. Wildlife is abundant: expect herons, egrets, turtles, occasional alligators, birds in the wetlands and forest edge, where all around you, you’ll encounter the quiet hum of frogs and chorus of insects at dusk. Nearby, you’ll find Olustee Battlefield State Park just 4 miles away, an historic site with ties to the Civil War, plus various springs, state parks and rural roads to explore.

Insider Tips? Yup, let’s do that: (1) Arrive early to snag one of the few electric + water sites as they’re HOT and in high demand and, well, because this place is ‘first-come, first-served’ let’s just say that ‘the early bird gets the worm’ here; (2) If you want more shade, pick a site tucked under the pines away from the beach; (3) Launch your kayak or boat in the early morning when the lake is calm and the mist lingers over the water; (4) Use bug spray especially near dusk and in the swampier sections; (5) Hike sections of the Florida Trail nearby with the swamp boardwalk segments being especially scenic; (6) While Ocean Pond CG is definitely pet-friendly, you’ll need to keep your domesticated furry friend on a leash at all times and not bring it swimming with you – and please do everyone a favor and don’t leave your pet tied up to a tree as this basically amounts to a ‘gator snack’; (7) Effectively there’s 3 loops here at Ocean Pond CG that I’ll refer to as Lakefront (Sites#1-19), Mosquito Hell (Sites#20-45) and Primitive Back-Country (Sites#46-67) and they are all priced ($30,$20 and $12 respectively) and preferred in that order, so IMHO the best spots are: #10, 12, 13, 16-19; and (8) Please say ‘hello’ to Katie who is absolutely one of the most amazing SP campground managers who helms the front gate with a big smile and an incredibly warm welcome.

Happy Camping!