Last updated on October 10th, 2020 at 04:05 pm
Ocala National Forest has more than a dozen developed campgrounds that make a great base for exploring the forest’s 628 square miles of wilderness and 600 natural lakes, ponds and springs.
Venture out to explore hundreds of miles of forest roads and trails on horseback, mountain bikes, kayak or canoe, your car or off-road vehicle and boots that are made for walkin’.
Camping with Bears. Bears roam freely in Ocala National Forest, and they are most active in fall. Secure food and food waste in bear-proof containers or suspend 10 feet above the ground. Read more
Note: Campgrounds closed as of 10/10/2020 are marked. Closures can occur at any time for various reasons, including fire hazards, bear intrusion, flooding, storms, etc. Other factors, such as military missions and hunting, may result in closures of some areas of the forest. Check before you go by calling 352-625-2520. You may also want to check their Facebook page for updates.
Hunting Season: The 2020-21 General Gun Season (deer season) runs from Nov. 7 until Jan. 24. Hunting in the forest is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Camping in Recreation Areas
Most popular campgrounds
Ocala National Forest has 14 developed campgrounds with designated sites, picnic tables, lantern posts, grills, and fire rings. Only one, Salt Springs, has full hook-ups for electric, water, and sewer.
For information about dispersed camping in the forest’s backcountry, read Great Escape: Dispersed camping in Ocala National Forest

Things to do: Canoe and kayak (rentals available), swimming, hiking, off-road bicycle. Sites: 67, tents, or RV up to 35 feet. No hookups. Camping Fee: $24 per night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, fire rings and grills at each site. Drinking water, dump station in campground. Rest rooms w/showers. Firewood is available. A concession sells snacks, groceries, ice, charcoal, firewood, beach items, and personal items. Pets: OK. Reservations: First-come, first-serve sites may be available. To reserve a site: call 877-444-6777 or book online up to 12 months in advance.
Read more: Alexander Springs: Easy scenic paddling; lots of wildlife
Directions to Alexander Springs: From SR 40 at Astor, take Butler Street to CR 445A, and turn left on CR 445. The recreation area is 5.8 miles south on the right.
Things to do: Canoe and kayak (rentals available), fishing, swimming beach, hiking, off-road bicycle trail. Sites: 42. Tent or RV. No hookups. Camping Fee: $22.50 per night. Usage: Medium-Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. Potable water, dump station available. Restrooms with showers. Firewood is available. The small town of Paisley is a mile away, with camping supplies, a post office, and a library with Internet access. Pets: OK. Reservations: Some first-come, first-serve sites may be available. To reserve a site, call 1-877-444-6777 or book online up to 6 months in advance.
Directions to Clearwater Lake: From the junction of SR 42 and SR 19 in Altoona, north of Mount Dora, drive 6.4 miles east on SR 42 towards Paisley. The entrance to the Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is on your left.




Things to do: Canoe and kayak (rentals available), swimming, hiking, off-road bicycle trails. $6 launch fee if you bring your own kayak. Sites: 79 sites, including 19 tent-only. RVs up to 35 feet. No hookups. Camping Fee: $22 per night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic table, fire ring, grill and lantern post at each site. Share water spigots. Dump station. Rest rooms with hot showers. The concession sells snacks, groceries, charcoal, firewood, ice and novelties. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Call 1-877-444-6777 or book online up to 6 months in advance.
Read more: Fab kayaking on pristine Juniper Spring Run
Directions to Juniper Springs: On State Road 40 between Mill Dam and SR 19, nine miles west of Astor and the St. Johns River.

Things to do: Boating, canoe and kayak (rentals available), swimming, snorkel, fishing, hiking, off-road bicycle trails. Sites: 106 tent or RV, 54 tent only. Full hookups. Camping Fee: $34/night with full hookups; $21 for seniors and Access passholders; $23/night for tents, no hookups. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic table, fire ring, grill and lantern post at each site. Full hookups. Dump station. Rest rooms with hot showers. Firewood available. Near a gas station, grocery store, several restaurants, bait and tackle shops, post office, laundromat and national forest visitor center. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Call 1-877-444-6777 or book online up to 6 months in advance.
Directions to Salt Springs: State Road 19, north of State Road 40, which crosses the state from Ormond Beach to Ocala.
Remote Campgrounds
Rustic and wild

Things to do: Hiking, wildlife, equestrian. Four miles from the Ocklawaha River via CR 42. Sites: 18 sites, no hookups. RVs welcome. There are two new paved accessible campsites close to the restrooms. Camping Fee: $15/night. Usage: Light to medium. Facilities: Grills and fire pits. Dump station. Potable water available. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: None. First come, first served. Self-checkin.
Directions to Big Bass Campground: 8.7 miles east of Weirsdale along CR 42; turn off CR 42 onto Forest Road 13. Watch for the sign on the left after you pass “Buck & Doe’s” store.

Things to do: Off-road vehicle trails. Sites: 47 sites for tents or RVs. No hookups. Camping Fee: $20/night. Usage: Medium to Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, restrooms. Potable water available. No dump station. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: A handful of sites are first-come, first-served. Online at Recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777, up to six months in advance.
Things to do: Fishing, kayaking. Sites: 3 tent sites. Camping Fee: Free. Usage: Light to medium. Facilities: Boat ramp. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: First come, first served.
Directions to Bluff Landing: From Alexander Springs Recreation Area, drive north on County Road 445 towards Astor. Turn right onto Forest Road 18, an unimproved road, after you cross over Alexander Creek. Follow the road for nearly 2 miles to a turnoff on the right as FR 18 makes a sharp right off the main road. Continue another 2 miles or so down to the landing. FR 18 marks the western boundary of the Alexander Springs Wilderness.

Things to do: Fishing. Sites: 31 sites for tent or RV. Camping Fee: $20/night, no hookups. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic table, fire ring, bathhouse with flush toilets and warm showers. Drinking water available. Dump station available. Boat ramp. A small grocery store is nearby on SR 314 in Scrambletown. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: Call 1-877-444-6777 or book online up to 6 months in advance.
Directions to Fore Lake: Drive 5.1 miles north on SR 314 from Nuby’s Corner (junction of SR 40 and SR 314). Turn left at the Fore Lake sign and continue 0.7 miles to the recreation area.

Things to do: Fishing, hiking the Florida Scenic Trail, birding. Sites: 21 Camping Fee: $15/ night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Hand pump for drinking water. Vault toilets. Nearby Salt Springs has groceries, restaurants, gas station, and outfitter. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: None. First come, first served.
Directions to Hopkins Prairie: The turnoff for Hopkins Prairie is 9.2 miles north along SR 19 from the intersection with SR 40. Turn left and follow the signs, turning left, right, and left along unmarked, unimproved roads to reach the camping area.

Things to do: OHV trails from the West campground. Fishing and kayaking in the East campground. Sites: East, 29 primitive sites for tents and trailers; West, unmarked primitive sites. Camping Fee: East, $15/night. West, $5/night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Boat ramp. Shaded picnic grounds and drinking water available in west. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: None. First come, first served.
Directions to Lake Delancey: From Salt Springs, drive north along SR 19 for 5.7 miles to the “Lake Delancy” sign on the left side of the highway. Follow Forest Road 66 to the appropriate campground.

Things to do: Fishing, picnicking and hiking. Sites: 34 sites for tent or RV. No hookups. Camping Fee: $20 per night for camping.; $5 boat launch fee. The cabin is $420 per weekend or $800 per week. Usage: Medium-Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, fire ring and a grill. Drinking water and a bathhouse. Boat ramp. No dump station. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: No reservations. First come, first served.
Directions to Lake Dorr: Drive north along SR 19 from Altoona and watch for the sign on the right, across from the Pittman Visitor Center.

Things to do: Fishing. Sites: 13 tent or RV. No hookups. Camping Fee: $10/night for a single site; $15 for a double site. $5 fee for the boat ramp. Facilities: Picnic tables, fire ring, lantern post, boat ramp, fishing pier, vault toilets, no water. Groceries, hardware and gas six miles away. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Call 1-877-444-6777 or book onlin
Directions to Lake Eaton: South on CR 314-A from CR 314 for 2.5 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 44, an unimproved and deeply rutted road, and make a sharp left at the “Lake Eaton Campground” sign. At the corner of NE 171 Ave Rd and NE 61st Street Rd, continue straight through the recreation area gates. The campground gates are on the right.

Things to do: Horseback riding. Camping Fee: $10/night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, drinking water and toilets. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Call 1-877-444-6777 or book onlin
Read more: 6 things to do in Ocala National Park
Florida State Park Campgrounds
in Ocala National Forest
Two Florida State Parks with developed campgrounds are on the edges of Ocala National Park — Silver Springs on the west side, near Ocala, and the Rodman Campground on the north side.

Things to do: Bicycling, fishing, birding, boating, hiking, mountain biking, wildlife. Sites: 64 sites, including 38 with electric and water hookups; 26 primitive tent sites. Camping Fee: $22 with hookups; $12, tent only. Facilities: Picnic tables, fire ring, and lantern posts. A dump station, picnic pavilions, and boat ramps are in the campground. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Book online up to 11 months in advance.

Things to do: Bicycling, mountain biking, glass-bottom boat tours, boating, geo-seeking, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking (rentals available), birds, and wildlife. Sites: 59 RV or tent sites with 50-amp electric and water hookups. Sites 20 & 53 are fully accessible with paved pads and sidewalks leading to both of the campground bathhouses. Camping Fee: $24/night for campsites; Cabins: $110. Non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee (per booking). Facilities: All sites have a fire ring, barbecue grill, and picnic table. Firewood is available for purchase. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: Book online up to 11 months in advance.
Read More: Silver Springs State Park: Famous spring plus cabins, hiking, history
Read More: Kayaking Silver Springs: Exquisite trail for kayaks is highlight of Silver River
Directions to Silver Springs State Park: From the city of Ocala, take State Road 40 east 7 miles to the park entrance.
as of 10-9-20 most of the forest service campgrounds are closed ( lake Eaton, shanty pond, fore lake and big scrub. Hopkins parrie is open possible. call the forest service before heading out.
Thanks for the heads up, Dan! Shanty Pond is scheduled to open on Oct. 15, so I’ll check back and fix if that doesn’t happen. The others you mention should be open but are not. I corrected this guide until I get clarification from the forest service.
A terrific resource for accuracy in planning.