Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
B M.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jun. 4, 2020

Relaxing campground

We stayed in site #38 it's a shaded site with water & electric. 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. There isn't much real close by so grocery before you get there.  There are some hikes in the park that are good you can see wild horses near the lookout tower sometimes and along the paths.  There is a dump station onsite.

There are several places to go observe the wetlands, shorebirds and gators can be seen. If you drive to North Paynes Prairie you will see lots of Gators, Bison and wild horses and certain times of the year White Pelicans. The trail along the lake & creeks are loaded with gator once you head to the back lookout tower you will see Bison & Wild Horses. We counted 150 gators in a mile & a half. If you google horse stomping gator in Paynes Prairie you will see a great video. 

On the way to the North Prairie you pass Sweetwater preserve it's loaded with all kinds of birds from Woodstorks, Herons, Egrets, Hawks, Ibis and Sora's. You can spend hours there watching the birds. There are some gators but nothing like North Prairie.

Watched the sunset for the picnic area on the lake.

Site38
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020
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  • Review photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground by B M., June 4, 2020