If you find yourself in the center of Jacksonville in NE Florida, then this is a good stop for an overnighter. Situated in a southern nook of Doctors Lake, you’ll have quick and easy access to St. Johns River here if you’ve got a boat, kayak or canoe(or any mode of water transportation for that matter). What’s super cool about Whitey’s is that, first and foremost, it’s a proper fish camp, meaning that it’s both a restaurant as well as a spot where you can bring your catch from the day and for a small fee, have them clean and carve up the fish you’ve caught and will prepare it just about any way you would like(although they did balk at our suggestion of sashimi– fried, grilled or sauteed are the typical options here).
This family-owned spot is fairly legendary in Jacksonville since 1963 and you would be hard pressed to find something more authentic and traditional in the way of fish camps beyond Whitey’s. Sure, there’s Palm Valley, St. Augustine, Jullington Creek and North Beach fish camps, but these are purely restaurants. What’s unique about Whitey’s is that as you pull into the property, you’ll find the restaurant to the west / left and there’s an RV pull-through site on the east / right. It’s basically an oversized parking lot with not much in the way of frills, but if you want ease and access complete with all the basic hook-ups, then look no further. Plus, did I mention that there’s direct access here with docks and boat ramps? So again, if getting on the water is your goal, then you’ve hit the lottery here.
Insider’s tip? I’ll give you a few. First, if you want to get out on the water, get out there early (like before 7am) especially on the weekends and holidays, otherwise it gets pretty busy after this time. Second, if you are looking at being out on the water most of the day, be sure to head due north and stop off at Mulberry Cove Walk. Third, if you’d like to get some excellent hiking complete with amazing cypress forests, then head south to Camp Chowenwaw Park or Bayard Conservation Area (see my other review for more on these two campground locations). Lastly, and perhaps the best tip of the day, while the food at Whitey’s is pretty great (I highly recommend the fried gator bites, sweet potato waffle fries and whole catfish), one of the best restaurants in all of Jacksonville is Woodpecker’s and from Whitey’s that’s just a short 20 minute or so drive for some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had in my life.
Happy Camping!
