Camping Guide to Ocala National Forest

Last updated on January 8th, 2026 at 01:08 pm

With a dozen campgrounds and two state parks, not to mention the availability of dispersed camping for backpackers, Ocala National Forest opens up a wild world of adventure distinct from Florida’s tourist centers.

This is the way Florida used to be.

Swim in the cool, clear waters of the forest’s many springs, paddle uniquely scenic spring runs, lakes and rivers, and explore the forest from hundreds of miles of forest roads and wilderness trails.

Our camping guide takes you to places you never knew.

Ocala National Forest Recreation Areas

Activity hubs with developed campgrounds

Developed campgrounds in Ocala National Forest’s recreation areas have the most amenities, although only one has full hookups for RVs. These gated campgrounds with on-site campground hosts, also offer the best security.

Alexander Springs Recreation Area

Alexander Springs is the busiest recreation area and most popular swimming hole with a large, sandy-bottom pool for swimming, snorkeling and even scuba divers explore the spring boil.

Canoe and kayaking (rentals available) is permitted along the spring run, and visitors enjoy hiking and off-road bicycle trails. The trailhead for the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail, a 22-mile loop through the forest begins here.

The campground has 67 sites for tents and RVs up to 35 feet, but there are no hookups. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and grill. All campsites had decent shade. Potable water spigots are shared, and there are two bath houses with hot showers, and a single dump station is positioned near the campground exit. The campground is well-maintained, although it was showing its age on our last visit.

You can walk to the day-use recreation area and springs from the campground.

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.  

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Clearwater Lake Recreation Area

When we arrived at Clearwater Lake Recreation Area, we felt like we were in a lonely little corner of Ocala National Forest, and that’s not a bad thing. We found it peaceful in its isolation, near the tiny hamlet of Paisley on the forest’s southern border.

A big attraction, aside from shady and spacious campsites, is the nearby Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail, a 22-mile single-loop trail through pristine forest to the Alexander Springs Recreation Area.

While classified as a recreation area, the “beach” is not much, nor is the shallow lake anything to get excited about. Levels depend on forest runoff.

There is a 1.2-mile hiking trail that circumnavigates the lake, and there’s a connection to Florida Trail, which 72 miles through the forest.

The recreation area is gated and has 42 sites for tents or recreational vehicles, but no hookups. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Potable water and a dump station are available, as are restrooms with showers and firewood.

Campsites are spacious and shaded in an oak hammock with many facing the lake where they can catch a breeze. Loop A is closer to the beach and has more lakefront sites (I especially liked 10, 13 and 15), while Loop B sites 24-42 enjoy relief is a picturesque hammock of live oak.

This campground often has vacancies for walk-ins, but have a backup plan in peak winter season.

Directions to Clearwater Lake: From the junction of SR 42 and SR 19 in Altoona, drive 6.4 miles east on SR 42 towards Paisley. The entrance to the Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is on your left.

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Juniper Springs Recreation Area

Juniper Springs is exceptional with dense tropical foliage, and it’s the most well-known destination in Ocala National Forest.

Visitors kayak or canoe the spring run, swim at the spring head, off-road bicycle trails and hiking. There are canoe and kayaks available to rent, but you can bring your own boat for a $10 launch fee.

Unfortunately, the concession no longer operates a shuttle to the popular take-out on U.S. 19, so you’ll either have to paddle down and back to the launch or arrange your own shuttle for this spectacular 7.3-mile spring run.

Campground reservations are competitive for its 79 campsites, 19 of which are set aside for tents only. There are no hookups, but each site has a picnic table, fire ring, grill and lantern post. Campers share water spigots, rest rooms with showers, and there’s a dump station in the campground.

Reservations are recommended in peak season after January, but you should be fine in fall.

The concession at the spring head sells a few basics, and there’s a convenience store with camping supplies nearby.

Read more: Fab kayaking on pristine Juniper Spring Run

Directions to Juniper Springs: From I-75, take Highway 40 east through Ocala and Silver Springs for approximately 36 miles to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area. From I-95, take the Ocala/Silver Springs Exit (Highway 40) west for approximately 37 miles to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area. 

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Salt Springs Recreation Area

Salt Springs Recreation Area has the largest, most developed campground in Ocala National Forest — and it is the only campground in the forest with full hookups for recreational vehicles.

The large swimming area at the spring head is fed by an underground river that pumps 52 million gallons of 74-degree water loaded with minerals into a broad spring run that flows to Lake George and the St. Johns River.

Paddle your kayak out and back into the slow-moving current, or launch a small motorboat from the marina concession for a day-long fishing expedition.

Salt Spring gets its name from its mineral content — potassium, magnesium, and sodium salts — giving the water a slight salinity.

The Salt Springs Campground has 106 sites with full hookups for RV’s and another 54 sites without hookups for tents. In addition to water, sewer and electric hookups on RV sites, all sites have a picnic table, fire ring, grill and lantern post.

These RV sites with full hookups are usually booked solid after the New Year, so I highly recommend booking the permitted 6 months in advance.

The recreation area is near a gas station, grocery store, restaurant, bait and tackle shop, post office and laundromat in the adjacent community of Salt Springs.

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We recommend this Atlas for exploring Ocala National Forest….

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Remote forest campgrounds

Rustic and wild

These remote campgrounds in Ocala National Forest are gateways to adventure but have few amenities. Just the basics: a place to pitch a tent or park an RV, maybe with a picnic table and fire ring.

Many are accessible only from unpaved forest roads and often out of range for cellular service, thus security is a consideration.

Some are base camps for all-terrain vehicles, hunters or equestrians, but they are open to all who seek a walk on the wild side. A few are real gems.

Hunting Season: Archery season for deer: Sept. 13 – Oct. 12; Crossbow: Sept. 13 – Oct. 17; Muzzleloading gun: Oct. 18-31; Youth deer hunt weekend: Oct. 25-26 (1); General Gun Season, Nov. 1-Jan. 18. For more information, visit Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

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. (2025) Usage: Light to medium. Facilities: Grills and fire pits. Dump station. Potable water available. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Book online up to six months in advance at Reservations.gov

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.

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Things to do: Off-road vehicle trails. Sites: 47 sites for tents or RVs. No hookups. Camping Fee: $20/night no hookups. (2025) Usage: Medium to Heavy. Facilities: Picnic tables, restrooms. Drinking water available. No dump station. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: Online up to 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777, up to six months in advance. A handful of sites are available for walk-ups.

Directions: The campground is on Forest Road 14, which is unpaved with soft, sandy spots.

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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 crossing Alexander Creek. Follow the road 2 miles to a sharp right turnoff onto FR 18. Continue another 2 miles to the landing.

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Things to do: Fishing. Sites: 31 sites for tent or RV. Camping Fee: $36 with electric (sites 16-20); $20 non-electric. (2025) 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: Up to six months in advance online at recreation.gov

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.

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Things to do: Fishing, hiking the Florida Scenic Trail, birding. Sites: 21 Camping Fee: $15/ night. (2025) Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Hand pump for drinking water. Vault toilets. Boat ramp (fee $5) Nearby Salt Springs has groceries, restaurants, gas station, and outfitter. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Book online up to six months in advance at recreation.gov.

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.

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Things to do: OHV trails from the West campground. Hikers have access to the Florida Trail. Sites: Unmarked primitive sites. Camping Fee: $10/night. Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Shaded picnic grounds and drinking water available. Pets: OK in the campground. Reservations: Book Lake Delancey West at Recreation.gov up to six months in advance or call (877) 444-6777.

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 campground.

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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 $190 per night with a minimum 3-night stay. (2025) Usage: Heavy. Facilities: Picnic table, fire ring and a grill. Drinking water spigots (shared) and a bathhouse. Boat ramp. No dump station. Pets: OK in campground. Reservations: Up to six months in advance on recreation.gov

Directions to Lake Dorr: Drive north on SR 19 from Altoona and watch for the sign on the right, across from the Pittman Visitor Center.

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Things to do: Fishing. Sites: 13 tent or RV. No hookups. Camping Fee: $18/night. $5 fee for day-use pass, includes 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.

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 gates. The campground is on the right.

Feeding wildlife is not cute, it’s dangerous. Stay safe.

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State parks at the forest edge

Two Florida State Parks with campgrounds sit on the edge of Ocala National Park. Silver Springs State Park is on the west side, and Rodman State Park is on the north side.

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Dispersed camping — backpacking

For a story about backcountry camping in the Ocala National Forest, read Great Escape: Dispersed camping in Ocala National Forest

Head out on the trail, camp anywhere

You don’t need a reservation to camp in the backcountry of Ocala National Forest, you won?™t see a fire ring or a picnic table, and you may be camping in a spot where no one has ever camped before.

Know your limits before hiking into the wilderness for an overnight adventure. To help you get started, read this story by contributor Kyle Albinus.

Identify a trailhead where you can park, but it’s probably best to park in a secure area, such as a campground with a host or recreation area where you may be charged a parking fee — much better than returning to an isolated trailhead and finding your vehicle gone.

Dispersed camping is prohibited during General Gun Hunting Season, except in designated campgrounds and the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.

Hunting Season: Archery season for deer: Sept. 13 – Oct. 12; Crossbow: Sept. 13 – Oct. 17; Muzzleloading gun: Oct. 18-31; Youth deer hunt weekend: Oct. 25-26 (1); General Gun Season, Nov. 1-Jan. 18. For more information, visit Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

Florida Trail users can rent bear canisters at no cost for overnight trips along the trail, courtesy of the non-profit Florida Trail Association. This program is a direct response to negative encounters between trail users and black bears in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Canisters are available (first come, first served) at the Juniper Springs and Salt Springs recreation areas. A refundable cash or check deposit is required at the time of rental.

Other starting points for dispersed camping are in these designated wilderness areas:

• Alexander Springs Wilderness
• Billie Bay Wilderness
• Davenport Landing
• Davenport Landing Trail
• Juniper Prairie Wilderness
• Little Lake George Wilderness
• St. Francis Trailhead

Before embarking on an overnight hike, backpackers should check in at the Pittman Visitor Center in Altoona for the trail conditions and forest notices. It’s also a good idea to leave your backcountry plan with rangers in case you get lost.

While you’re there, spend $14 and pick up an official forest service map, which shows campgrounds, trailheads and more.

The Florida Trail

The Florida Trail cuts through Ocala National Forest for 72 miles with multiple access points, including (south to north) Clearwater Lake Recreation Area, Alexander Springs, Buck Lake, Farles Lake, Juniper Springs, Hopkins Prairie, Salt Springs Recreation Area, Lake Delancy and Rodman State Park. (See campground listings above).

More articles about Ocala National Forest

• Great escape: Dispersed, primitive camping in Ocala National Forest
• 6 Things to Do in Ocala National Forest
• Juniper Springs in Ocala Forest: Fab kayaking at pristine spring run

Useful guides

These guides are available at many independent book stores around the state. For your convenience, we have included links to Amazon’s book store. If you make a purchase through these links, Florida Rambler may earn a modest commission.

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