Cary State Forest Campground features six campsites across 13,000 acres of pine flatwoods in northeastern Florida. The concrete RV pads are notably level with spacious sites positioned far enough apart to provide privacy from neighboring campers. During summer months, temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, creating challenging conditions for those unprepared for Florida's intense heat.
What to do
Trail exploration on foot: Multiple hiking paths wind through the pine forest with limited elevation changes, making them accessible for most skill levels. "Great quiet spot just outside the city. Good showers, water, and electricity. Has only 6 rv sites, miles of trails to explore," notes Chris S. about Cary State Forest Campground.
Boat access recreation: Barrington County Park provides direct water access for fishing and boating opportunities. "Wonderful place to enjoy nature. Boat landing. Camper or tent," states Melissa about Barrington County Park.
Wildlife observation: The forest environment supports various species though sightings can be limited. According to Christina at Cary State Forest, "In our week there we only saw a handful of birds and a squashed dead pygmy rattlesnake. There was something just a bit sad about it. Do have some hiking trails and short boardwalks."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: The camping area layout provides substantial room between sites. "This campground was an absolute gem. Sites are spread out and HUGE!! Several trails and plenty of room for kids to play on site," reports David S. about Cary State Forest Campground.
Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower buildings receive regular maintenance. "The rest rooms were nice and clean. Showers hot. Very quiet except for some traffic on road near park," notes Gwoo T. from Cary State Forest.
Convenient location: Proximity to travel routes makes this an efficient stopover point. Robert L. explains, "This was a perfect stopping point on our way to the southwest coast of Florida as it was directly on our travel path and very reasonable in pricing."
What you should know
Weather and insect conditions: Hot, humid conditions support substantial insect populations. "TAKE BUG REPELLENT... MOSQUITOES ARE BAD. Electric and water hookups with a sanitary dump station," warns Robert L. from Cary State Forest.
Limited amenities: Services and facilities remain basic across horse campgrounds near Cumberland Island National Seashore. J V. from Cary State Forest Campground points out, "Note the roads are hard-pack and it is a Florida pine forest so it gets a bit muddy (and mosquito-y) on rainy days. Dump station is not fully paved so it too, gets muddy."
Seasonal closures: Some facilities implement periodic maintenance shutdowns. "Great spot, however maintenance is starting 2/12/24. Not sure how long this will last, but park will be closed for some time," reports Hayden W. about Barrington County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection matters: Choose sites further from roadways for reduced noise exposure. "We stayed more towards the front. The place is big enough to maneuver a big rig around the areas," shares Gwoo T. from Cary State Forest.
Plan for extended stays: The peaceful setting rewards longer visits. "We like this park a lot because we like large sites, peace and tranquility. We only got to stay there 2 nights," mentions Annell N. from Barrington County Park.
Expect limited wildlife: Children hoping for frequent animal sightings may be disappointed. Christina from Cary State Forest notes, "Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. Spent 7 nights. This is one of the oddest places we have stayed. On arrival we were thrilled. Less than 10 sites all tucked in the woods, seemed like paradise. Sites are huge and private. But the woods seemed....dead."
Tips from RVers
Electrical reliability varies: Power issues occasionally affect certain sites. "When we arrived and hooked up the 30amp breaker kept flipping. We had just left crooked river and hadn't had any issues," reports Hayley S. from Cary State Forest Campground.
Road conditions affect access: Unpaved access roads require cautious driving, particularly after rain. Katie A. advises about Barrington Park, "The long sandy road coming in is often washboard and occasionally has big dips or ruts. So drive very mindfully."
Hookup placement consideration: Site utilities may be positioned inconveniently for some RV configurations. "The only thing preventing me from giving five stars is we got the only site that had electric and water on passenger side so we had to run electric under our rig," notes David S. from Cary State Forest.
