Starke-Gainesville NE KOA

Large sites. Very nice pool. First rate laundry facilities. Great playground and dog park.

Nice sites. Staff is great. Good stopover when in the area. Second time here. This is not a remote campground, you can walk to a few stores if you desire. Pool looks very clean and maintained. Camp store was well stocked. Nice KOA.

Alright, it’s KOA, so if a fabricated outdoor ‘camping moment’ is what you are after and don’t mind the concocted grounds you are on and want an easy-breezy no frills outing underneath the stars you will encounter, then the KOA pitstop located in Starke (NE of Gainesville) has you covered. You’ll find this commercially-produced camping outpost right off the worn pavement of highway 301, which runs right through north central Florida is easy to find, conveniently sandwiched between the Murray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership to the south and the Tractor Supply Co due north (but don’t worry, there’s also an IHOP right across the street, completing this concrete jungle campground adventure). 

This camping depot is too well organized for my taste and has over 100 slots perfect for the RV and trailer parking crowd, 5 spots for tent campers (unfortunately, nearest the highway – so bring your earplugs!) along with 2 cabins and 2 studio lodges. The standard RV slots are on Elm, Oak, Pine, Maple and Hickory, while the more premium sites are located on Walnut, Chestnut, Magnolia and Spruce. Big Birch lane separates coach class camping from first class – but hey, we’re all out in nature, so is there really a divide? 

Amenities? And while this KOA is older and battle-worn more than most of the other properties I have driven by, this also has a ton of amenities, including: a heated pool, complete with lounge chairs and sun umbrellas, community fire pit, game room, dog parks(one for bigger breed and one for small pups), horse shoe pit, shuffleboard, playground and swings, sandbox, propane filling station, picnic tables, bocce ball, designated trash and recycling bins, nature trails, WiFi, Cable / TV as well as full RV hook-ups including water, sewage and electric (30 / 50 amp). For anyone that is in need of anything they may have forgotten or run out of (like all KOA’s) there’s a mini-mart on-premise that has ice, wood, sodas and just about anything else you could think of (and for anything they don’t have, there’s a Walmart and Ace Hardware so close you could just walk to either). And don’t worry if by chance you forgot your RV, trailer or tent – if you are in need of somewhere to call home for the night, this KOA has you covered as they rent a few studio lodges and rustic cabins. 

Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are on the look-out for a REAL camping experience and don’t want to settle for this KOA manufactured experience … then don’t. There are options! Within a 30 minute drive of here, I would recommend Mike Roess Gold Head Brand State Park, which is simply FANTASTIC and provides more than 5 different campgrounds from primitive to RV-heavy and everything in-between; (2) When you get tired of foraging for the next meal from your onboard RV cooler, then head into the town of Starke for some local grub, wherein I highly recommend anything from the ‘Swamp Things’ portion of the menu at Cedar River Seafood, where afterwards you can finish the meal off with a scoop of the cold stuff at nearby Strickland’s; and (3) If you are looking to experience some of the best nature in the area, be sure to check out either Camp Chowenwaw Park and Black Creek Park and Trail, both conveniently located just due northeast of KOA Starke/ NE Gainesville. 

Happy Camping!

Nice lots. Friendly staff. Located in town environment.

Stayed few days Nice quite roomy sites. Wi-Fi and cable work good Walmart right down road. Several good places to go. Silver springs glass bottom boat ride about 1 he away

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. Big playground. Dog park was up in front by office so long walk when hot. Laundry was reasonable $1.25. Office staff were friendly. Starke is very small and not much to do. Sonny’s BBQ is good!! Gainesville is an hour away.

Everyone was very nice, the Saturday breakfast was cheap and delicious, they were very welcoming and the kids had a blast! We only stayed 2 nights, but will definitely come back next time we’re in town.

We staid 1 night traveling from southern to northern Florida. It's clean, well maintained, and reasonably priced. Wouldn't want to stay for a longer vacation unless your in the area for other reasons, but definitely will be back for a stop over. Also, would never stay in a tent as the sites are small and in a busy very lot area. Enjoy.

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. I love it when you meet some one who really enjoys the work they do. A crazy storm came through and the temperature dropped drastically, but awoke in the morning and continue our trip. A few things of note: campground is very clean and well kept, staff is super friendly and helpful, no campfire pits or grills at the sites. There is a central area if want a fire. Full hook-ups at most sites. Sites fairly close together and not much privacy, but we liked it enough to stay here again on News Years Day (on our way back home). Bill was just as helpful the second time.

The people were so friendly. the facility was clean, showers were clean, water pressure at the sites was great, pool was very pretty, space was great between sites - not on top of each other. Quiet.

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. Very clean laundry, heated pool, camp store, propane, activities. Very nice people.

Clean amenities. Cabins available.