Introduction
Florida is a popular spot for camping during the winter months, when residents and out-of-state outdoor lovers flock to the mild temperatures of this southern state.
And there is a reason for that.
Camping in Florida during the summer can be, well, brutal.
Heat index can go well over the 100F mark.
For that reason, to be able to camp in Florida during the summer you need a water component to cool off. This could be a beach, a pool, or the springs.
In this article, I will focus on the Florida springs with camping facilities to help you plan your next summer adventure.
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Top 12 Best Florida Springs with Camping
County Parks
A few counties in Central and North Florida house some of the most beautiful and family-friendly Springs around! Here are the best three.
Kelly Park / Rock Springs
Located in Orange County, Rock Springs this is so far the most beautiful springs we have personally camped at. The springs come out of a cave and over large boulders. The water continues until you arrive at the day-use park, which features a nice grassy and sandy beach area for families to enjoy the day outside.
The campground itself features 26 tent and RV sites. They all have water and electricity, but no sewer. The sites are packed dirt, with a decent amount of shade, and plenty of vegetation in between most sites. This provides each site with some privacy.
Please note that, other than service animals, pets are not allowed in the campground or in the park.
You can reserve a site here up to 45 days in advance by visiting the Orange County Camping Page here.
Hart Springs
Hart Springs is located in Gilchrist County. These springs are a bit more developed, but it is done in a way that does not feel like a public pool. In fact, you can still encounter multiple species of fish and turtles in the water.
Hart Springs is also the most family-friendly springs we have been to at this point. The Springs were developed in a way that they have multiple depth levels, and there are multiple entrances and even platforms to jump from.
There are two campgrounds: The primitive campground is only for tents, and it is located near the springs under a hammock of live oaks. These provide ample shade. Despite being primitive, these sites still offer a picnic table and water access.
The RV campground has 71 available sites with full hookups, but you need to be careful on which sites you choose. Some offer a good degree of privacy. Others are out in the open with no privacy or shade.
Take a look at our full campground review, including a summary about the best and worst sites here.
You can make reservations by visiting Reserve America here.
Lithia Springs Park
Lithia Springs is part of the Hillsborough county system. This spring is quite different from the rest, in that the springs are sandy, wide, and shallow.
Because they are shallow, these springs do not feel as cold as the other springs, which my kids appreciated. While kids loved these waters and all the sandy areas surrounding it, keep in mind that these are not the prettiest springs you will find.
The campground itself is nice, with 45 available sites all offering electric access and water. Most sites are suitable for RVs. Our biggest complaint with this park is that you cannot make reservations. It is a first-come, first-served basis. This is certainly not ideal because of the risk that, after you pack up everything, you may not find any available spots.
I suggest planning a visit during the weekdays, and call the night before and the morning of your departure to ensure that there are sites available.
Click here for Lithia Springs Park phone number and other reservation information.
National Forests
As far as national forests in Florida go, Ocala National Forest has the highest concentration of springs with camping.
Alexander Springs Recreation Area
Part of the Ocala National Forest, this first-magnitude spring is fantastic for families and adventure seekers. This is because there are shallow spots as well as deeper portions for snorkeling and diving.
The campground itself was 67 sites spread over 4 loops. The sites are well maintained, shady, and with level pads for campers and RVs up to 35 ft. However, there are no hookups, so make sure you are comfortable with primitive camping. There are restroom facilities with toilets and showers.
Some sites are first-come, first-served, but most can be reserved by going to recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance.
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Nestled deep into the woods, Juniper Springs offer a great balance of development and pristine areas.
The campground is within walking distance from the springs. There are 79 well-shaded sites, all primitive without water or electricity. They can still accommodate RVs and campers up to 35ft. There is a bathhouse with showers and toilets, and a dump station.
Here is the link to the recreation.gov site to reserve Juniper Springs camping sites up to 6 months in advance.
Salt Springs Recreation Area
Salt Springs is a lot more developed than all the other springs in the Ocala National Forest system. It has broad steps to go in, and the swim area is large with shallow portions. This makes this swimming great for families.
The campground itself has 106 full hookup sites for RVs or tents, and 54 primitive sites for tents only. The campground is not quite within walking distance, making it necessary to either drive or bring bikes on your trip.
Click here to access the recreation.gov reservation site
State Parks
There are a ton of springs within State Parks with camping facilities. We have been to many of those. In here I summarize the best three.
Blue Spring State Park
Blue Springs is a first-magnitude spring, and one of the better-known ones in the state due to its proximity to Orlando. Swimming in Blue Springs is closed during the colder months when manatees come to the area.
There is no direct access to the head springs from land. You actually need to swim upstream to get to it. This is not a bad thing. It keeps the crowds right at the head springs low!
Within walking distance from the springs, you will find a 51 campground for tents and RVs up to 40ft long. The sites, located in a pine scrub, all feature water and electricity. There is no sewer hookup, but there is a dump station.
Make reservations up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America here.
Manatee Springs State Park
Manatee Springs, located in Chiefland, is one of the best springs to visit with kids. The swimming hole is large, and there are shallow areas that allow the little ones to splash around without being in the direct first-magnitude current.
The campground itself offers 80 campsites spread around 3 loops. The sites range from being tent-only, to paved sites with full hookups for large RVs. Sites have moderate to full shade, and they all have a decent amount of privacy.
The biggest concern in this park is the ticks. There are many deer in this park, and sadly, ticks are a major issues here. Make sure you come prepared, and perhaps choose sites that are either gravel or paved to stay out of the taller vegetation.
Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America.
Rainbow Springs State Park
Rainbow River is one of the most well-known rivers in the state. People from all over the state flock to these crystal clear waters for tubing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and of course, swimming.
The headspring itself, however, is not that impressive. It is a roped off area with an entry platform. There is no place to stand as the water is rather deep. Instead, it is better to tube or kayak downstream from the headspring to find shallow spots on the side to actually enjoy and relax.
The campground is not close to the headspring. To access the headspring from the campground you have to drive to the day-use park, or you can kayak ~1mile upstream. That is no easy feat to do against the current of a first-magnitude spring! But it is doable. There is a swimming hole within the campground that is reserved for camping guests, which keeps it from getting crowded by day visitors.
The campground features 54 sites for tents and RVs, and they are all equipped with water access, electricity, and sewer (except for the tent-only sites). There are multiple bathroom facilities, dishwashing stations, and laundry machines.
Check out this full Rainbow Springs State Park campground review here!
You will need to make your reservations up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America here.
Private Parks
We do not have first-hand experience with private parks because we always gravitate toward State Parks, County Parks, and National Forests. However, the parks below are some of the favorites for people looking for a higher-end experience, or when the public parks are booked!
Ginnie Springs
Arguably the most popular private springs, Ginnie Springs is conveniently located near the Santa Fe river. It offers a refreshing swimming hole among the cypress trees, and a series of underwater caves for underwater thrill seekers. This combination makes Ginnie Springs a haven for freshwater divers as well as for those just looking for a peaceful place to paddle and relax.
To camp here, the park offers multiple tent sites, RV camping with water and electricity, and even a cottage for those that prefer the glamping lifestyle. It is important to know that Ginnie Springs has a strict no-pet policy, including emotional support animals. Only service animals for people with disabilities are allowed.
Head to Ginnie Springs to make your reservations.
Devil’s Den
Devil’s Den springs are inside a cave structure, making it quite a unique geological formation. You can explore this marvel either snorkeling or diving. Unfortunately, swimming is not allowed, and children must be 6 years old or older to snorkel in Devil’s Den. For more summer family activities near Devil’s Den, you can visit Rainbow Springs or Ichetucknee Springs, both of which are near Devil’s Den.
Camping here can be done by tent, cabins, or RVs. Tent sites are first-come, first-served, some have water and electricity, and there is a bathhouse and porta-potties. Pets are not allowed in the tent sites, and you must check-in before 5 pm to get in.
RVs sites have water, sewer, and electricity. Leashed pets are allowed at the RV park. Devil’s Den recommends reserving your site ahead of time, which can be done through their website here.
Otter Springs
Otter Springs is a second-magnitude spring that flows into the Suwanee River. The clear waters and its surroundings provide ample opportunity to not only enjoy swimming, but also bird watching, fishing, and hiking.
There is also an indoor heated pool, making this a perfect option for wintertime visitors.
You can stay at Otter Springs either in a tent, RV, or one of their air-conditioned and fully equipped cabins. RV and tent sites have full water, electric, and sewer hookups, and can be reserved up to one year in advance by calling the park.
Visit their website for more reservation information.
Other Florida Springs with Camping Facilities
While the springs I talked about above are, in our opinion, the best ones, there are plenty more to choose from! Here is a list of other Florida springs with camping:
- Fanning Springs State Park: They have primitive camping and cabins.
- Wekiwa Springs State Park: They have tent and RV camping, although the springs get quite busy.
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park: Tent and RV sites, but no sewer hookups and no dump station on site.
- Silver Springs State Park: No swimming here, which is why I did not include it above. Still, we had a lovely time at Silver Springs State
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! The 12 best Florida springs with camping. Some will be better for families, others are better suited for thrill-seekers and cave divers.
Yes, there are plenty more springs and parks you can go camping, but I wanted to focus on the best ones based on our experience and research. I hope this article helped narrow down your options for your next adventure!
Have you been to any of the parks mentioned here? If so, what was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
I love this piece! thanks for the share! If you get a moment, check out river ranch as we just camped there and they have a whole new platform style camping that is no fuss no muss! super easy, just BYOC (Bring Your Own Cooler!) lol. I am going to check out Devils’ Den next month with the kids!