Salt Springs Recreation Campground Ocala Nat'l Forest, Salt Springs, FL
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LOCATION:
13851 Hwy 19N Salt Springs, FL 32134 PHONE: Park: 352-685-2048 Reserve: 877-444-6777 RATES: $50 (will honor America the Beautiful Pass). Reservations can be made for a particular site. CHECK IN/OUT: Check in at 2 pm/Check out at 1 pm. ACCESS: 6 am - 8 pm. Key entry for campers MAPS: At Entry Gate SITES: 101 RV sites and many are first come first serve. 48 Primitive sites PULL THRUS: No WATERFRONT: No PICNIC SHELTERS: No SITE SURFACE: Paved HOOK-UPS: Water & 30/50 Amp WIFI: Only at Entry Station CABLE: No SEWER: Yes BATH: Yes LAUNDRY: No DUMP STATION: Yes SHADE TREES: Yes POOL: No (swim in the springs) BOAT RAMP: Yes FEATURES: Hiking trails, Salt Springs, boating, and fishing RANKING: 8 even though no wifi or cable PET FRIENDLY: Yes NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Lake George Ocala Silver Springs |
This campground was previously privately owned and the Forest Service purchased it in the early 1970's. This is the only campground in the Ocala Nat's Forest to have full hook-ups for RVers. The park is operated by American Land and Leisure and volunteer camp hosts. Many of the sites are first come first serve and others are reserved. All sites have a maximum stay of 14 days since 2020. For those wanting the full forest experience there are plenty of primitive tent sites.
Salt Springs Run is within walking distance and the swim area which empties into Lake George is beautiful. This is a favorite year round swimming area with its 72 degree temperature. There are manatees enjoying the warm springs during the winter months as well. We camped here in January 2015 in our fifth wheel on site number 100. It's now December 2015 and we have returned to Salt Springs in our motorhome. We are on site 45 and it's great to see folks from our last visit. This is a friendly campground and we feel very much at home. We returned to Salt Springs in March 2017 in our motorhome and then in November 2017 to see friends and show off our new Winnebago Travato van. We return here every year for at least a week in the winter to relax and enjoy the area. Even though we are in the middle of the forest there is a small shopping center across the road. A few local restaurants, post office, grocery store and even a Dollar General. It's great to buy a few groceries without driving 30 miles. There are several hikes in the area and we've been warned that this is bear and alligator country. Follow good safety rules and make noise as you walk in the forest so the bear is not startled. The 1 1/2 mile Bear Swamp Trail is within Salt Springs Recreation and has several entry points. The trail is both sandy and compact soil with tree roots. The boardwalk is nice over the swampy areas. Be on the look out for bears and a resident alligator. The entry to Salt Springs Observation Trail is on Hwy 19 just outside of the Recreation Park. There is an entry from the highway for vehicles and a parking area. It is a 2 mile hike in and out with a gorgeous view of the Salt Springs Run that flows 5 miles to Lake George. Look out for eagles, osprey, White Tail Deer and an alligator living at the end of the trail. DIRECTIONS:
From I-75 to Ocala: Drive east on SR 40 for about 12 miles Turn north on CR 314 for 18 miles Turn north on SR 19 for about 1/2 mile Park entrance is on the left. or From I-95 east of Ormond Beach: Take SR 40 west over the St. Johns River through Astor Continue to the traffic light at SR 19. Drive north to Salt Springs. Continue past the CR 314 junction for about 1/2 mile Park entrance is on the left.                 |
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