The best dog-friendly glamping in Crescent Lake

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Named, unsurprisingly, for its mildly crescent-like shape, this large northern Florida lake is a great place for swimming and fishing, as well as hiking over four miles of walking trails. Primitive group camping and a covered picnic pavilion are available in the adjacent Haw Creek Preserve State Park, while plenty of reservable Hipcamps can also be found on the western side of the lake. Tent and RV sites with hookups are available at Faver-Dykes State Park, about a 40-minute drive from the eastern part of the lake, a portion of which is protected by the Crescent Lake Conservation Area.

97% (834)

Top-rated campgrounds

Grasshopper Lodge

2. Grasshopper Lodge

1 site · Lodging · Astor, FL
Secluded, cozy, and romantic hand-crafted rustic cabin rental in the Ocala National Forest near Orlando Florida. An amazing retreat on Big Grasshopper Lake in the Ocala National Forest. Sit on the dock and watch amazing sunsets, then enjoy a cozy evening in front of the wood-burning fireplace. Go hiking, canoeing, fishing, birdwatching in the Ocala National Forest, and then prepare a gourmet dinner in the gorgeous, fully-equipped cedar kitchen. Crafted from all-local wood, the cabin features cypress floors, knotty sand-pine walls and ceilings, cedar doors and trim. Spacious great room and open kitchen facing Big Grasshopper Lake. Bedroom features Sealy Posturepedic King Size bed with rustic cedar headboard. Totally secluded - built on an old in-holding that was privately owned when the Ocala National Forest was created, this property is part of a 40 acre parcel that remained private when the ONF was created around it. Our cabin sits on a corner of the parcel, surrounded on two sides by the ONF. It is the ONLY house on an extensive chain of lakes that offer incredible recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities. Totally rustic, yet with all the amenities - fully equipped kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, disposal, washer and dryer, TV and home theater in living room and bedroom, ceiling fans, screened porch. Only 50 miles from Orlando, and 40 miles from Daytona Beach. Use it as your base to explore all that Central Florida has to offer, or come and recharge your batteries in the serene wilderness.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$225
 / night
Meditation with Shana

3. Forest Retreat Sanctuary

83%
(6)
15 sites · Lodging · Gainesville, FL
Love meditation, yoga, music, and the deep woods? The Gainesville Retreat Center is located on 108 acres of gorgeous conservation land in the forests near Gainesville, Florida. Nestled in a cornucopia of habitats including hardwood and pine forests, palm scrub, and wetlands, we are also only ten minutes from the University of Florida. This land once belonged to the Timucuan Indians as a hub for canoe making. We are only one mile from boat and lake access as well as the Hawthorne bike trail that takes you through Payne's Prairie. Choose from tent/RV camping, cabins, or a room in the retreat center. Vegetarian kitchen access. Teacher-led and personal retreats available--request info on meditation, yoga, kirtan, more. Learn more about this land:***NOTE: DUE TO COVID 19, WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT RESERVATIONS FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MONTH, FOR CAMPERS WHO ARE OBSERVING QUARANTINE AND/OR SOCIAL DISTANCING.***The Gainesville Retreat Center is a sanctuary for yogis, meditators, and nature lovers. The retreat center is situated on 120 acres of conservation property near Newnan's Lake, with miles of hiking trails. Many lodging options, from staying in the center itself to cabins to tent and RV camping. Meditation instruction, yoga, guided nature hikes, and more available upon request.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$60
 / night

Named, unsurprisingly, for its mildly crescent-like shape, this large northern Florida lake is a great place for swimming and fishing, as well as hiking over four miles of walking trails. Primitive group camping and a covered picnic pavilion are available in the adjacent Haw Creek Preserve State Park, while plenty of reservable Hipcamps can also be found on the western side of the lake. Tent and RV sites with hookups are available at Faver-Dykes State Park, about a 40-minute drive from the eastern part of the lake, a portion of which is protected by the Crescent Lake Conservation Area.

97% (834)

Top-rated campgrounds

Grasshopper Lodge

2. Grasshopper Lodge

1 site · Lodging · Astor, FL
Secluded, cozy, and romantic hand-crafted rustic cabin rental in the Ocala National Forest near Orlando Florida. An amazing retreat on Big Grasshopper Lake in the Ocala National Forest. Sit on the dock and watch amazing sunsets, then enjoy a cozy evening in front of the wood-burning fireplace. Go hiking, canoeing, fishing, birdwatching in the Ocala National Forest, and then prepare a gourmet dinner in the gorgeous, fully-equipped cedar kitchen. Crafted from all-local wood, the cabin features cypress floors, knotty sand-pine walls and ceilings, cedar doors and trim. Spacious great room and open kitchen facing Big Grasshopper Lake. Bedroom features Sealy Posturepedic King Size bed with rustic cedar headboard. Totally secluded - built on an old in-holding that was privately owned when the Ocala National Forest was created, this property is part of a 40 acre parcel that remained private when the ONF was created around it. Our cabin sits on a corner of the parcel, surrounded on two sides by the ONF. It is the ONLY house on an extensive chain of lakes that offer incredible recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities. Totally rustic, yet with all the amenities - fully equipped kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, disposal, washer and dryer, TV and home theater in living room and bedroom, ceiling fans, screened porch. Only 50 miles from Orlando, and 40 miles from Daytona Beach. Use it as your base to explore all that Central Florida has to offer, or come and recharge your batteries in the serene wilderness.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$225
 / night
Meditation with Shana

3. Forest Retreat Sanctuary

83%
(6)
15 sites · Lodging · Gainesville, FL
Love meditation, yoga, music, and the deep woods? The Gainesville Retreat Center is located on 108 acres of gorgeous conservation land in the forests near Gainesville, Florida. Nestled in a cornucopia of habitats including hardwood and pine forests, palm scrub, and wetlands, we are also only ten minutes from the University of Florida. This land once belonged to the Timucuan Indians as a hub for canoe making. We are only one mile from boat and lake access as well as the Hawthorne bike trail that takes you through Payne's Prairie. Choose from tent/RV camping, cabins, or a room in the retreat center. Vegetarian kitchen access. Teacher-led and personal retreats available--request info on meditation, yoga, kirtan, more. Learn more about this land:***NOTE: DUE TO COVID 19, WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT RESERVATIONS FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MONTH, FOR CAMPERS WHO ARE OBSERVING QUARANTINE AND/OR SOCIAL DISTANCING.***The Gainesville Retreat Center is a sanctuary for yogis, meditators, and nature lovers. The retreat center is situated on 120 acres of conservation property near Newnan's Lake, with miles of hiking trails. Many lodging options, from staying in the center itself to cabins to tent and RV camping. Meditation instruction, yoga, guided nature hikes, and more available upon request.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$60
 / night

Public campgrounds in and near Crescent Lake

Other options in and near Crescent Lake

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best dog-friendly glamping in Crescent Lake guide

Where to go

Haw Creek Preserve State Park

Abutting the southern part of Crescent Lake, Haw Creek Preserve State Park surrounds a blackwater creek that attracts paddlers wanting to take in views of the surrounding Florida cypress swamp. It's also a great place for birdwatching, particularly in the winter, when migratory birds flock to the area from the cooler north.

Dunns Creek Wildlife Management Area

Encompassing over 3,000 acres on the eastern part of Duns Creek, this preserved area is full of wildlife, ranging from frogs and lizards to white-tailed deer and bobcats. Birders bring your binoculars for a chance to spot yellow-crowned night herons, barred owls, and red-shouldered hawks. There are also trails for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, and tent camping is permitted.

Ocala National Forest

Encompassing over 400,000 acres, the Ocala National Forest is a prime spot for fishing, swimming, and paddling, with hundreds of lakes to choose from (not to mention four natural springs). It's also a great place for land-based recreation, with miles of trails, many of which are mountain biker- and equestrian-friendly. Camping options range from developed campgrounds to Civilian Conservation Corps cabins.

When to go

Crescent Lake is popular year-round, though you'll find the best temperatures for swimming between late spring and early fall, when the weather is at its warmest. The rainiest months are from June through August, tapering off in September. Come in October for warm-weather camping with a lower risk of tropical storms. If you're coming to fish, your best bet is to come in late spring or early summer during the spawning season.

Popular Crescent Lake glamping styles

Top parks in and near Crescent Lake