Maybe the pines are whispering to each other, but if that’s the case, even they would be shut out with all of the passing by noise from this heavily trafficked highway that passes just in front of Whispering Pines RV Park. Located just due south of Starke in central Florida right off US Highway 301, Whispering Pines feels more like your retired grandpa’s backyard that he decided to turn into a small grassy RV parking lot than it does an actual fully-functioning campground, but if you are looking for a spot to park your RV for the night, it will do in a pinch.
While most of this RV compound is beset with overgrown grass and sparsely planted foliage and trees (ahem, Whispering Pines), if you are looking for a no frills easy place to roll-up to and drop anchor for the night, then you could find worse places than this. In all, there’s about a dozen spots and while I can’t verify that all traditional hook-ups were offered, as we only used the 50 amp electric, beyond having a completely flat surface to park upon, you won’t discover much further than this from an amenities standpoint.
For those that don’t mind a non-traditional roadside RV stand and the pretty intimate surroundings that you’ll find yourself in, all for an incredibly cheap evening rate, then all there really is to contend with here is the street noise (which can be quelled with a simple pair of ear plugs).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are looking for a nice nature experience, do give consideration to visiting Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation in nearby Gainesville – think Netflix’s 'Tiger King,' but PG-rated; (2) When in need of some decent hiking, just head due northeast to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, where you can drop a kayak and swim in the lakes / springs; and (3) When you get tired of foraging for the next meal from your onboard RV cooler, then head back north 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.
Happy Camping!
