ALEXANDER SPRINGS RECREATION AREA
Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs. With forested scenery and abundant water, the recreation area offers camping, swimming, canoeing, scuba diving for certified divers, hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. The Ocala National Forest, located in north central Florida, spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest.
If you are planning to visit the weekend of Memorial Day through Labor Day on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, you will be required to obtain a Vehicle Access Reservation.
Alexander Springs is among 27 first-magnitude springs in Florida, and is by far one of the easiest for visitors to enjoy. The water is a constant 72 degrees and extraordinarily clear with a sandy bottom.
The area is subtropical, surrounded by a floodplain forest of maples, sweet gum and cabbage palms. Alligators, turtles, deer, raccoons, black bear and numerous birds make their home in the national forest.Visitors can explore the surrounding Alexander Springs Wilderness Area. A paddle down the spring run is the best option to explore the mosaic of hardwood swamp, hardwood forest and scrub habitats and spot the animals that live there.
The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to both ATV enthusiasts and Jeeps, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters from around Central Florida. These opportunities are available within a short drive of Alexander Springs.Visitors can swim, snorkel and dive year-round in the crystalline waters of the spring. The spring is the only place in the Ocala National Forest where scuba diving is permitted, and a broad and naturally gently sloped spring pool becomes a natural water park where visitors can picnic, swim and play.
If you are planning to visit the weekend of Memorial Day through Labor Day on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, you will be required to obtain a Vehicle Access Reservation. Fishing and canoeing are p opular outside the swimming area. Anglers can bring a rod and reel and head down to one of the platforms along the Timucuan Trail to drop a line in Alexander Run. Visitors can rent canoes or bring their own and paddle down Alexander Run into the Alexander Springs Wilderness. Day hikers will appreciate a short interpretive trail on a boardwalk over the spring and through the palm trees. They can also access two segments of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs through the entire national forest.
For facility specific information, please call 352 669-3522.The camping area contains four loops of campsites within an easy walk of the swimming and picnicking area. The sites are shaded with level parking pads for RVs and plenty of space for tents. No hookups are available. Restrooms have flush toilets and showers. Camping necessities and firewood are available at a small general store.
Big Bass Campground 
Spend your next short- or long-term camping trip at Big Bass. With the occasional black bear sighting, this the perfect location to escape the hustle of the city and get back to nature. We offer both tent and RV camping on the south edge of the Ocala National Forest, not far from the Ocklawaha River.
Big Bass is a seasonal campground in the southern
....moreBig Scrub Campground Perennially popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Big Scrub Campground sits in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. A trailhead within the facility offers riders campsite-to-trail access.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds
Big Scrub can accommodate tents, campers and RVs. The campground is
....more Camel Lake Campground Camel Lake Recreation Area provides a quiet place to relax and take in the beauty of the longleaf pine forest.
Camping, swimming, hiking, and boating opportunities are all available, focused on the crystal-clear waters of Camel Lake.Nearby, several boat landings provide access to the numerous creeks that feed into the Apalachicola River.
The
....more Clearwater Lake Recreation Clearwater Lake Recreation Area offers a quiet getaway along the southeastern edge of the Ocala National Forest, just outside the community of Paisley, Florida. With a shaded campground, day use picnic area, beach and a nature trail that winds through the pine woods and scrub around Clearwater Lake, this facility has plenty of activities to keep campers
....more Fore Lake Campground In the stillness of the morning fog, a red-shouldered hawk calls out with an echo across Fore Lake. Bounded by marshes, this lake in a scrub ecosystem is an excellent spot for birding from the shores of Fore Lake Recreation Area, where visitors can picnic and swim, or make a night of it in one of the 31 campsites tucked away between the saw palmetto and oak
....more Juniper Springs Recreation Area Juniper Springs Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Ocala National Forest. The location offers deeply shaded sites within walking distance of some of Florida's most beautiful natural springs. The surrounding recreation area has plenty of activities to entertain visitors, including swimming, picnicking, canoeing, snorkeling, hiking,
....more Lake Delancy West OHV Campground Lake Delancy West is an OHV recreation area along Lake Delancy that houses OHV corrals, access to numerous marked OHV trails along the Ocala North OHV Trail System and camping along the lake. The recreation area also serves as a trailhead and designated campground along the hiking-only Florida Trail. Sites 14 - 120 are dispersed camping anywhere in the
....more Lake Dorr Campground A massive patch of blue in a sea of green - that's Lake Dorr, one of the prettiest big lakes in the Ocala National Forest. Experience outdoor recreation at either the Lake Dorr Recreation Area - campground or day use - or by renting the cabin for your family or group. Along the northwest shore of the lake, the recreation area is set under the deep shade of
....more Lake Eaton Campground A large, shallow lake cradled by the Big Scrub, Lake Eaton offers many distinctive faces. As a seasonal access area, the Lake Eaton Campground has only 14 sites. At the end of the road, the Lake Eaton Boat Launch and Pier offers opportunities for boating and fishing.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds.
Salt Springs Recreation Area Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and
....more Wright Lake Campground Wright Lake is located approximately 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in an area known as the Forgotten Coast. Wright Lake and nearby Hickory Landing provide easy access to the Apalachicola River, known for its sport fishing, boating and paddling. You will never run out of things to do
The Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway is part of a nationwide program
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