Best Campgrounds near Gainesville, FL
Looking for the best campgrounds near Gainesville, FL? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Gainesville. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Camping Sites Near Gainesville, Florida (214)
1. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
33 ReviewsMicanopy, FL11 milesWebsite+1 (352) 466-3397$18 / night
"Good walking trails right from campground. For distance bike riders, Gainesville bike club has good group rides (just sign up for a membership to join rides)."
"Great location with plenty of dark skies. The spots are well spaced in the woods, with plenty of room. The location is great for visiting the prairie and easy access to Gainesville."
2. Ginnie Springs Outdoors
54 ReviewsFort White, FL25 milesWebsite+1 (386) 454-7188$20 - $25 / night
"This is clearly one of the best natural springs in all of Florida complete with 250 wooded acres of pure Florida wilderness."
"Favorite springs in Florida and one of my favorite places to camp and spend a few days in Florida or the country in general. Awesomely maintained, plenty of sites."
3. Dogwood Campground — O'Leno State Park
39 ReviewsFort White, FL23 milesWebsite+1 (386) 454-1853$18 / night
"There’s a good bit of distance between you and your neighbor which is always nice. The campsites have electricity and water and there is a dump station on-site. "
"The campsites are spacious, well shaded, and with in easy walking distance to the Bathhouse/Restrooms. The facilities are kept clean and neat."
4. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground & Cabins
31 ReviewsKeystone Heights, FL24 milesWebsite+1 (352) 473-4701$20 - $100 / night
"The Florida State Trail passes through the park and is well marked. The ravines section is my favorite area in the park. In the greener months, it feels like a rain forest."
"The Florida Trail is my favorite part of my visits. The cabin we stayed in was small but nice. The ravines are gorgeous. You can access it with a vehicle, but you must walk down many stairs."
5. Travelers Campground
8 ReviewsAlachua, FL15 milesWebsite+1 (386) 462-2505$69 - $99 / night
"We stopped in here on our way to Stone Mountain, coming from south Florida. It is conveniently located right off of I-75N with some restaurants nearby. Pull through full hook up site with cable."
"Found this location here on Dyrt and I'm so glad we did. We were tired along our drive and needed a place to park and rest."
6. Devil's Den Spring
20 ReviewsWilliston, FL21 milesWebsite+1 (352) 528-3344$20 - $75 / night
"The location is really convenient and close to Gainesville, so if you want to spend some time being active in the water during the day but want to chill and go see a movie in a theatre at night, you can"
"Local weekend entertainment, pool, hot showers, and additional places to explore within walking distance. We will be back."
7. Santa Fe Palms RV Resort
2 ReviewsGainesville, FL2 milesWebsite+1 (352) 441-4566$45 - $95 / night
"Should you find yourself anywhere near the home of The Gators here in landlocked Gainesville, then the location of Santa Fe Palms RV Resort itself will be one of its greatest assets."
"Convenient to Gainesville sites. Could be considered a little high priced but discounts make it ok."
8. Kate’s Fish Camp
3 ReviewsRocky Point, FL6 milesWebsite+1 (352) 372-1026$26 / night
"Heading towards Gainesville recently, I came across Kate’s Fish Camp, very conveniently located in the the middle of nowhere, but altogether, sitting on a very nice bit of a water trail called Prairie"
9. Magnolia Campground — O'Leno State Park
17 ReviewsHigh Springs, FL22 milesWebsite+1 (386) 454-1853$18 / night
"Grounds are well kept as are most Florida parks. Short drive to several other park and springs in the area. Clean bathrooms."
"There is a check in booth at the entrance. They gave us a call to let us know they will be closed when we arrive and we had to pick up our camp pass outside."
10. Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Campground
22 ReviewsHigh Springs, FL24 milesWebsite+1 (386) 454-1369"This spring is one of the newer State parks in Florida. The bathrooms need updating. The sites are small. The electrical boxes are limited to amp hookup. The spring is AMAZING!!!"
"While quite a few of the natural springs you’ll find here in Florida contain a Disneyworld-like level of crowds and subsequent infrastructure, here at Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, you’ll discover"
Recent Camping Photos near Gainesville, FL
334 Photos of 214 Gainesville Campgrounds
Laura M.
Kate’s Fish Camp
Ashley F.
MONKEY STOP - CLOSED
Lindsey H.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
Stuart K.
High Springs RV Resort and campground
Ashley W.
Sun Retreats Ocala Orange Lake and Golf Resort
CJ H.
Free.To.Be- Van Site
Theresa K.
Devil's Den Spring
citra R.
Citra Royal Palm RV Park
Taira N.
Magnolia Campground — O'Leno State Park
Stuart K.
Cooper Lake RV Community
Jennifer T.
Dogwood Campground — O'Leno State Park
Savannah C.
Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Gainesville, FL
1024 Reviews of 214 Gainesville Campgrounds
- AAnthony J.
ScoutTravelers Campground
Get location great amenities
I love being at this park, it’s such a family atmosphere, playing with the animals is a therapeutic part of the park. And I love how the pool is heated during the colder temperatures! Overall great park to stop and visit. A true hidden gem
- JJanet P.Scout
Ichetucknee Family Canoe and Cabins
Beautiful
This campground has lots of shade, a group site and electric sites.
- SShannon M.Scout
Jennings State Forest Hammock Campground
Primitive camping
With 16 campsite each being semi private you will love the sounds of t h e wind in the trees and hawks flying over. Each has tent pad, In ground grill and picnic table.
Linda S.ScoutStarke-Gainesville NE KOA
Starke KOA
This was our favorite campground to spend the winter months until new owner and managers took over in 2023. Jon has anger issues and no respectful communication skills. If he doesn’t like you, he trumps up an excuse to evict you. We have seen this many times. It’s like walking on egg shells all winter. Jon and Vickie are not consistent on their new rules, which change all the time. And, they don’t follow through with new improvements. They advertise a heated pool. However, it was inoperable one whole winter season with them saying,“it will be fixed in a few days”. The following winter season it worked but was not warm when it was getting nice to swim. The workers have no respect for campers and their personal property when they are mowing or blowing leaves. Snowbirds can no longer secure a reservation on their preferred site for the following season upon departure. Now we are put on a waiting list until November with the hopes we’ll get a phone call saying our preferred site is available. November is too late in the season to try to secure a site at another campground in the event a space isn’t available. How is this a respectable way to treat loyal, recurring snowbirds?!?! This new policy has caused them to lose multiple recurring guests. Sadly, a former beautifully maintained and friendly campground in a nice town is going downhill fast. Too bad there isn’t an option for negative star ratings.
Rob V.
GuideGoethe Trailhead Ranch Campground
Beautiful view with peace and quiet
The stay here was amazing. We called the phone to reserve a spot and was told to pick a spot that was available. We picked a spot overlooking the back horse field and what an amazing view! The morning sunrise is beautiful and the evening the sky disappears into the earth. One thing to remember is you can pay by mailing a check or paying cash on site. Also a very quiet community here so you can rest with windows open with no problem.
- JJohn R.
LegendSilver Springs State Park Campground
Large and beautiful.
Wonderful large private sites. Showers, laundry, store, restaurants and glass bottom boats and canoe , kayak rentals. Equestrian section also.
- SShawn
TravelerSportsman's Cove Resort
Beautiful place to stay
Great place to stay. Layed back atmosphere. Small campground right on a lake. The lake is natural and undisturbed.
- MMayre J.Guide
West Tower Hunt Camp
Free and open forest
Not too many flat spots to park. Go here at the crossroads: 30.323696,-82.523008. Mid march cool night, only a few bugs. Maybe one passing atv at night. Just chillin with the stars and the sound of bugs. Only gave 3 rather than 4 stars because I get one bar slighlty of verizon service if I step out of my car or open sunroof :)
- hhilary G.Guide
Cobb Hunt Camp
Open and close to I-10
Crime scene tape Has been removed since last visit so that's a plus. Lots of wide open area where if you have a trailer you can park. Not much privacy. Has the feel of a regular campground but its free. Small pond in the middle of the campground seems to have a few swirls. Can't drive thru the campground expect in a lifted truck due to water hole but main road access is available to the other side.
Guide to Gainesville
Camping near Gainesville, FL, offers a mix of beautiful nature, fun activities, and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
What to do
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Swimming and Wildlife Watching: At Alexander Springs Recreation Area, you can enjoy the beautiful springs and spot turtles, otters, and fish while swimming. One visitor mentioned, "The spring is walking distance from the campground - we saw turtles, otters, and many fish while swimming in the spring."
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Kayaking and Canoeing: Ginnie Springs Outdoors is perfect for those who love water sports. A reviewer said, "This is clearly one of the best natural springs in all of Florida complete with 250 wooded acres of pure Florida wilderness."
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Hiking and Biking: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park offers great trails for hiking and biking. One camper noted, "Great trails and walking. BRING BUG SPRAY."
What campers like
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Silver Springs State Park Campground remarked, "The bathhouses are very clean and if cold out nice hot heaters."
- Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds, like O'Leno State Park, offer roomy sites. A camper shared, "The sites were nice, forested, and reasonably spaced out."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. At Salt Springs Recreation Area, one reviewer said, "The staff and guests were all so friendly and helpful."
What you should know
- Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A camper at Manatee Springs State Park Campground noted, "No cell coverage period. You'll get 1 bar to tease you and think you can do something."
- Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during busy weekends. A visitor at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park mentioned, "This campground is fun but is very busy and has a lot of golf cart traffic until about 10:30 at night."
- Weather Considerations: Be prepared for rain and bugs. A camper at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground advised, "The bugs lit us up all hours, so make sure you bring different bug sprays."
Tips for camping with families
- Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds that offer activities for kids. Ginnie Springs Outdoors is great for group camping and swimming, as one reviewer said, "A perfect spot to camp and swim with your friends!!!"
- Plan for Wildlife Encounters: Kids will love seeing wildlife. At Manatee Springs State Park Campground, a camper shared, "Some of the wildlife seemed especially comfortable in the campsites."
- Pack Games and Activities: Bring along games for downtime. A visitor at Salt Springs Recreation Area suggested, "There’s only one walking trail, but that gave us a chance to just relax."
Tips from RVers
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Rainbow Springs State Park Campground noted, "Sites are a little small. More tent campers than RV."
- Look for Full Hookups: If you need amenities, check for campgrounds with full hookups. At Silver Springs State Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Big rig friendly, several pull-thru spots, easy paved entry."
- Plan for Dump Stations: Ensure you know where the dump stations are located. A camper at O'Leno State Park said, "Dump Station: Yes."
Camping near Gainesville, FL, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Gainesville, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Gainesville, FL offers a wide range of camping options, with 214 campgrounds and RV parks near Gainesville, FL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Gainesville, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gainesville, FL is Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gainesville, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Gainesville, FL.
What parks are near Gainesville, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Gainesville, FL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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