The best time at a Florida spring is the hour after the day visitors leave. The parking lot empties, the water goes still, and the 72-degree spring runs in near-silence through a corridor of cypress and oak lit by the last 45 minutes of daylight. You can have this if you camp.
A surprising number of Florida springs have on-site or immediately adjacent campgrounds — from primitive tent pads to full-hookup RV sites to furnished cabins and glamping tents. This guide covers every spring in our inventory where you can sleep within walking distance of the water.
The Master Table
| Spring | Type | Sites | Hookups | Rate/Night | Reservation System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee Springs SP | Tent/RV | 80 | Water + Electric | ~$24–$28 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Juniper Springs (USFS) | Tent/RV | 79 | None (dry camping) | ~$27 | recreation.gov |
| Alexander Springs (USFS) | Tent/RV | 67 | None (dry camping) | ~$24 | recreation.gov |
| Rainbow Springs SP | Tent/RV | 60 | Water + Electric + Sewer | ~$24 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Silver Springs SP | Tent/RV | 59 | Water + Electric (50-amp) | ~$24 + $7 utility | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Blue Spring SP | Tent/RV | 51 | Water + Electric | ~$24 + $7 utility | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Salt Springs (USFS) | RV/Tent | 148 | Full hookup (only full-hookup in Ocala NF) | ~$33–$43 | recreation.gov |
| Lithia Springs | Tent/RV | 45 | Electric + Water | ~$18–$23 | Hillsborough County Parks |
| Hart Springs | RV | Full hookup | Water + Electric + Sewer | $35/night | Reserve America / hartsprings.com |
| Ginnie Springs | Tent/RV | ~100+ | Some electric | Varies | ginniespringsoutdoors.com |
| Rock Springs / Kelly Park | Tent/RV | 26 | Electric + Water | $18–$23 | Orange County Parks |
| Wekiwa Springs SP | Tent/RV | 60 | Water + Electric | ~$24 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Lafayette Blue SP | Cabins | 5 stilt cabins | Kitchen-equipped | ~$100–$130 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Ichetucknee area | Tent/RV | Multiple private | Varies | $30–$50 | Ichetucknee Family Canoe / Tiwahe |
| Suwannee River SP | Tent/RV + Cabins | 30 + 5 cabins | Water + Electric | ~$24 sites / ~$100 cabins | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Peacock Springs SP | Tent/RV | 18 | Water + Electric | ~$14–$16 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Silver Springs SP | Cabins | 10 | Full kitchen | ~$110 | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
| Fanning Springs SP | Cabins + RV | 6 cabins + RV | Full kitchen cabins | ~$100 cabins | reserve.floridastateparks.org |
The Standout Campgrounds
Manatee Springs State Park — 80 Sites, 3 Loops, Glamping
The largest campground directly attached to a major swimming spring. Three loops (Magnolia 1, Magnolia 2, Hickory) under a mature magnolia and hardwood canopy. The Hickory Loop offers glamping — furnished tent structures for visitors who want comfort without gear. The spring swim area and the half-mile boardwalk to the Suwannee River are both walkable from every site.
Why camp here: Wake up, walk 5 minutes to a 72-degree first-magnitude spring, swim before the day visitors arrive, walk the boardwalk to the Suwannee for sunrise manatee viewing (winter), and return to a hot shower at the campground bathhouse.
Book ahead: October through March (manatee season + mild weather) fills months in advance.
Rates: ~$24–$28/night standard sites. Glamping rates vary — check reserve.floridastateparks.org.
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park — 5 Stilt Cabins on the Suwannee
The most atmospheric overnight in the Florida spring system. Five elevated cabins sit on stilts along the Suwannee River bank, steps from a first-magnitude spring that flows under a natural limestone bridge. Each cabin is kitchen-equipped and sleeps a family. The Green Sink cave system (12,000+ feet of mapped passages) lies below the spring.
Why camp here: The cabins. Sleeping above the Suwannee in a stilt cabin, walking down to a spring that runs under a natural limestone arch, is an experience that doesn't exist anywhere else in the state park system. The cabins book 6–11 months ahead.
Rates: ~$100–$130/night, 2-night minimum.
Silver Springs State Park — Cabins + 59 RV/Tent Sites
The only major spring where you can camp AND ride a glass-bottom boat. The 59-site Springside Campground has 50-amp service (rare — accommodates large RVs), fire rings, and a bathhouse with laundry. Ten on-site cabins ($110/night, 2-night minimum) offer a step up. The Silver River Museum is within the campground entrance.
Why camp here: The combination of camping + glass-bottom boat tours + kayaking the Silver River + the monkeys makes Silver Springs the best multi-day spring destination for families who want structured activities between swims.
Ginnie Springs Outdoors — The Party Camp
Ginnie is the only major spring where you can camp directly on the riverbank of the Santa Fe River, tube to your tent, and crack a beer when you get there. The campground has 100+ sites (some with electric), and the atmosphere on summer weekends is festival-adjacent.
Why camp here: Access. The springs are literally in the campground. You can snorkel Devil's Eye at sunrise, tube the Santa Fe by 10 a.m., and dry off at your campsite by noon. The water quality is among the best in the world.
Honest caveat: The Saturday-night summer scene is loud, late, and alcohol-fueled. Families with young children should target weekday visits or the October–April off-season.
Hart Springs — The 3-Bedroom House
Hart Springs in Gilchrist County has a full-hookup RV campground, but its most distinctive lodging is the Hart Springs Springhouse (Hart House) — a fully furnished 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house sleeping 8, located steps from the spring and a short walk to the Suwannee River. No Wi-Fi, no cable — designed for full nature immersion. $200/night, 2-night minimum. Book through Reserve America or hartsprings.com.
Salt Springs — The Only Full-Hookup in the Ocala NF
If you're pulling a large RV through the Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs Recreation Area is the only campground in the forest with full hookups (water, electric, sewer) across 148 sites. The spring itself is mineral-rich and 74 degrees (slightly warmer than standard). The campground concessionaire transitioned to Naventure in January 2026 — rates may be in flux.
The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail — Free Screened Huts
The ultimate budget spring-camping hack. The Suwannee River Water Management District maintains a network of screened riverside camping platforms with grills and bathhouses along the 207-mile Suwannee River corridor. They are free with a permit (call 386-362-1001). Paddle from spring to spring — Lafayette Blue to Troy to Branford to Fanning — sleeping in screened huts along the river at no cost.
Camping Reservation Tips
Florida State Parks (reserve.floridastateparks.org):
- Reservations open 11 months in advance.
- Peak spring-camping season: October through April (mild weather, manatee season, less humidity, fewer mosquitoes).
- Weekend reservations for the top parks (Manatee, Rainbow, Blue Spring, Ichetucknee area) fill months out.
- Florida seniors 65+ and qualified disability cardholders: 50% discount on base campsite fees (excludes cabins).
- Cancellation: full refund minus $6.70 reservation fee if cancelled 2+ days before arrival.
USFS (Ocala NF) (recreation.gov):
- Juniper Springs and Alexander Springs campgrounds book through recreation.gov.
- Salt Springs books through the Naventure concessionaire (as of January 2026).
- USFS campgrounds do not accept Florida State Parks Annual Passes. America the Beautiful federal lands pass covers the day-use fee but not the camping fee.
County parks (Lithia, Kelly Park):
- Reservation systems vary by county. Lithia books through Hillsborough County Parks. Kelly Park books through Orange County Parks.
- Nightly rates are lower than state parks ($18–$23 vs. $24–$28).
Private springs (Ginnie, Hart):
- Ginnie books through its own website. No third-party reservation system.
- Hart books through Reserve America.
The Overnight Planner
| What You Want | Where to Camp | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Swim at sunrise, no crowds | Manatee Springs | 80 sites, walk to the spring, open year-round |
| Sleep above the Suwannee in a cabin | Lafayette Blue | 5 stilt cabins, natural limestone bridge |
| Glass-bottom boats + camping | Silver Springs | 59 RV/tent sites + 10 cabins, boat tours from $17 |
| Riverbank party atmosphere | Ginnie Springs | Camp on the Santa Fe, tube to your tent, alcohol OK |
| Full RV hookup in a national forest | Salt Springs | 148 full-hookup sites, the only one in Ocala NF |
| Budget multi-day paddle trip | Suwannee Wilderness Trail | Free screened huts with a permit |
| A 3-bedroom house at a spring | Hart Springs | Hart House, $200/night, sleeps 8, no Wi-Fi by design |
| Closest camping to Orlando | Kelly Park / Rock Springs | 26 sites, 35 min from I-Drive |
| Tampa's closest spring camping | Lithia Springs | 45 sites, 30 min from downtown Tampa |
What to Know Before You Camp
- Mosquitoes are real. May through October in North Florida's river corridors, mosquitoes are aggressive at dusk. DEET-based repellent, permethrin-treated clothing, and a screened tent are not optional.
- Alligators are residents. Every river-corridor spring campground has alligators. Store food properly, keep dogs leashed, and do not walk the river's edge after dark.
- Campfires are allowed at most sites (fire rings provided), but open fires may be prohibited during dry periods. Check with rangers on arrival.
- Quiet hours are typically 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at state parks. Ginnie has no quiet hours.
- Cell service is spotty to absent at most spring campgrounds. Download offline entertainment, bring books, and embrace the quiet.
- Firewood: Many parks sell bundles at the ranger station ($5–$7). Do not bring firewood from more than 50 miles away (invasive insect prevention).
Last verified: June 3, 2026. Nightly rates, reservation systems, and campground availability change. Always verify current pricing and availability at the reservation system listed for each campground before booking.