The best safari tent rentals near Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville sits on the edge of the Florida panhandle, about 45 minutes north of Ocala. Starke is about 30 minutes to the northeast, while state capital Tallahassee is two hours northwest. Traveling with kids? You'll want to schedule a stop at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, just 10 miles south of Gainesville. In addition to being pleasingly alliterative, this park features breathtaking wildlife. You'll see free-roaming herds of wild bison and horses here. Climb the park's 50-foot observation tower to get a bird's-eye view. This park also features water access via Lake Wauberg. RV parks are especially popular in the Florida area. Travelers Campground, located about 30 minutes northwest of Gainesville proper, makes a good spot to post up. You'll get free Wi-Fi access and full hookups here. Tent camping is also allowed. Note that this park is close to the University of Florida and can get pretty busy on Gators game days! Heat and humidity can make Gainesville summers stickily uncomfortable. High temperatures stay right around 90 degrees from May through September. The rest of the year is quite pleasant, though, with highs ranging from the high 60s to low 80s.

90% (232)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Camp Seminole Springs

93%

(311)

27mi from Gainesville · 103 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Fort Mc Coy, FL

We have it all here at Seminole Springs. We are open for tent camping.First come, First serve. We also have 3 units inside the lodge for the people who need just a step up from glamping, but not quite the whole hotel experience. These are beautiful comfortable rooms with half baths in the rooms. The showers are located in the lodge bathhouse. WE have the Jungle themed room, the Equestrian themed room and the Honeymoon Suite. Each unit comes equipped with its own hot tub. (To book any of these units, just send us a message and we will reserve it for you. The prices for these units are different than that campsite and glamping site prices.) The Grist Mill is also available for rent too! This is a very romantic, yet rustic getaway equipped with a half bath as well. Very secluded and private overlooking the spring on one side and the water fall on the other. Sit outside on the deck and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and at night the sound of the waterfall will lull you to sleep. The shower is located in the Lodge bathhouse. (To book this unit you must send a message to us and we will reserve it for you. The price is different than the campsites but we will go over that with you) WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUR EVENT: TAKING BOOKINGS FOR WEDDINGS, CAR SHOWS, MUSIC EVENTS, ETC. LET US KNOW! NOTE: TURN AT CAMP SEMINOLE SPRINGS SIGN ON HIGHWAY 21. Your GPS may tell you to turn at the wrong St. Make sure that you are turning at 244th...Your GPS may tell you to turn at 243rd Street (where the Orange Market it) which is a dead end street. Just go a little bit further until you see the sign for Camp Seminole Spring. Bring bug spray and sun screen. If you need something, don't worry! There is a Dollar General, a gas station and a small cafe within walking distance. We have 38 acres of camping sites nature trails for hiking and mountain biking. Guests can park right on their site, or they have the option of parking and hiking into the woods to set up their site a bit more remote and off the beaten path. This is rustic camping. We have a bathhouse located at the campsites with showers. The bathhouse at the Great Lodge hereas we do have garbage cans, we prefer that anything you bring into the property, you bring out with you. We allow campfires. Don't be surprised if you see a monkey or two in the trees... The fishing is amazing in these parts, so if you are an angler, come and visit. We have .75 miles of frontage on the Orange Creek. The creek flows into Lake Ocklawaha which just so happens to be one of the best bass fishing lakes in the USA. In fact, ten-pound bass are not uncommon from the Lake Ocklawaha River in the winter. Recently (2020), a 17.2-pound bass was caught there. The combined Ocklawaha and St. Johns drainage basin is possibly the most significant river-estuary waterway of Florida. This water system is of legendary reputation among anglers of largemouth bass who seek 10 pound plus trophy fish. Conveniently located between Ocala and Gainesville in the heart of Orange Springs, Florida, Camp Seminole Spring is perfectly located for the traveler who wants to really connect with nature. It appears to be ‘off the beaten path’, yet it is close enough to civilization so that even the most seasoned camper can make a quick run to store should he or she need something not found in nature. Camp Seminole Spring is mid-way (approx.. 22 miles) between Ocala and Gainesville, Florida, which are two thriving cities in this area of Florida. Ocala, the ‘horse capital of the world’ showcases a brand new multi-billion-dollar equestrian center which draws people from all over the world. This scenic property has an artesian spring which pushes out 1.6 million gallons of water per day rated among the top three percent of water in the world with an 8.4 natural pH. This water fills the pond and then continues on to flow into Orange Creek. Camp Seminole Springs was established in the 1940’s as a honeymoon resort and campground. The founders built a heart-shaped ‘pond-spring’ which is filled with the crystal-clear water pushed out from the spring where guests can lounge by the beach or gaze down into the bottom through the glass-like water or take a refreshing swim. At the top of the hill overlooking the heart-shaped spring, one will find the rustic Great Lodge where guests can come and mingle with each other, enjoy a relaxing conversation and a drink on the veranda or just sit and watch the activity in and around the spring.

2. Manatee Springs Glamping

90%

(10)

39mi from Gainesville · 2 sites · Lodging · Chiefland, FL

Our glampsites offer all the excitement and adventure of camping, without sacrificing the little luxuries of home. Our sites are nestled in the Hickory Loop of the Family Campground, and are just a short walk from the main spring. Manatee Springs State Park People have enjoyed the cool waters of Manatee Springs for more than 10,000 years. The first-magnitude spring releases an astounding 100 million gallons of water every day. Swimming, hiking, and kayaking are enjoyable year-round. Your Glamp site is situated a very short walk from the Manatee headspring, in the Hickory Loop Campground. Only Glamp sites and tents are permitted in the Hickory Loop. Sister park to Manatee Springs, Fanning Springs is a 10 minute drive away, and offers the perfect 72-degree water to cool down on hot Florida days and an abundance of underwater wildlife to view. Swimming, grilling, volleyball, and a playground create the perfect setting for a family day outdoors.

Gainesville sits on the edge of the Florida panhandle, about 45 minutes north of Ocala. Starke is about 30 minutes to the northeast, while state capital Tallahassee is two hours northwest. Traveling with kids? You'll want to schedule a stop at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, just 10 miles south of Gainesville. In addition to being pleasingly alliterative, this park features breathtaking wildlife. You'll see free-roaming herds of wild bison and horses here. Climb the park's 50-foot observation tower to get a bird's-eye view. This park also features water access via Lake Wauberg. RV parks are especially popular in the Florida area. Travelers Campground, located about 30 minutes northwest of Gainesville proper, makes a good spot to post up. You'll get free Wi-Fi access and full hookups here. Tent camping is also allowed. Note that this park is close to the University of Florida and can get pretty busy on Gators game days! Heat and humidity can make Gainesville summers stickily uncomfortable. High temperatures stay right around 90 degrees from May through September. The rest of the year is quite pleasant, though, with highs ranging from the high 60s to low 80s.

90% (232)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Camp Seminole Springs

93%

(311)

27mi from Gainesville · 103 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Fort Mc Coy, FL

We have it all here at Seminole Springs. We are open for tent camping.First come, First serve. We also have 3 units inside the lodge for the people who need just a step up from glamping, but not quite the whole hotel experience. These are beautiful comfortable rooms with half baths in the rooms. The showers are located in the lodge bathhouse. WE have the Jungle themed room, the Equestrian themed room and the Honeymoon Suite. Each unit comes equipped with its own hot tub. (To book any of these units, just send us a message and we will reserve it for you. The prices for these units are different than that campsite and glamping site prices.) The Grist Mill is also available for rent too! This is a very romantic, yet rustic getaway equipped with a half bath as well. Very secluded and private overlooking the spring on one side and the water fall on the other. Sit outside on the deck and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and at night the sound of the waterfall will lull you to sleep. The shower is located in the Lodge bathhouse. (To book this unit you must send a message to us and we will reserve it for you. The price is different than the campsites but we will go over that with you) WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUR EVENT: TAKING BOOKINGS FOR WEDDINGS, CAR SHOWS, MUSIC EVENTS, ETC. LET US KNOW! NOTE: TURN AT CAMP SEMINOLE SPRINGS SIGN ON HIGHWAY 21. Your GPS may tell you to turn at the wrong St. Make sure that you are turning at 244th...Your GPS may tell you to turn at 243rd Street (where the Orange Market it) which is a dead end street. Just go a little bit further until you see the sign for Camp Seminole Spring. Bring bug spray and sun screen. If you need something, don't worry! There is a Dollar General, a gas station and a small cafe within walking distance. We have 38 acres of camping sites nature trails for hiking and mountain biking. Guests can park right on their site, or they have the option of parking and hiking into the woods to set up their site a bit more remote and off the beaten path. This is rustic camping. We have a bathhouse located at the campsites with showers. The bathhouse at the Great Lodge hereas we do have garbage cans, we prefer that anything you bring into the property, you bring out with you. We allow campfires. Don't be surprised if you see a monkey or two in the trees... The fishing is amazing in these parts, so if you are an angler, come and visit. We have .75 miles of frontage on the Orange Creek. The creek flows into Lake Ocklawaha which just so happens to be one of the best bass fishing lakes in the USA. In fact, ten-pound bass are not uncommon from the Lake Ocklawaha River in the winter. Recently (2020), a 17.2-pound bass was caught there. The combined Ocklawaha and St. Johns drainage basin is possibly the most significant river-estuary waterway of Florida. This water system is of legendary reputation among anglers of largemouth bass who seek 10 pound plus trophy fish. Conveniently located between Ocala and Gainesville in the heart of Orange Springs, Florida, Camp Seminole Spring is perfectly located for the traveler who wants to really connect with nature. It appears to be ‘off the beaten path’, yet it is close enough to civilization so that even the most seasoned camper can make a quick run to store should he or she need something not found in nature. Camp Seminole Spring is mid-way (approx.. 22 miles) between Ocala and Gainesville, Florida, which are two thriving cities in this area of Florida. Ocala, the ‘horse capital of the world’ showcases a brand new multi-billion-dollar equestrian center which draws people from all over the world. This scenic property has an artesian spring which pushes out 1.6 million gallons of water per day rated among the top three percent of water in the world with an 8.4 natural pH. This water fills the pond and then continues on to flow into Orange Creek. Camp Seminole Springs was established in the 1940’s as a honeymoon resort and campground. The founders built a heart-shaped ‘pond-spring’ which is filled with the crystal-clear water pushed out from the spring where guests can lounge by the beach or gaze down into the bottom through the glass-like water or take a refreshing swim. At the top of the hill overlooking the heart-shaped spring, one will find the rustic Great Lodge where guests can come and mingle with each other, enjoy a relaxing conversation and a drink on the veranda or just sit and watch the activity in and around the spring.

2. Manatee Springs Glamping

90%

(10)

39mi from Gainesville · 2 sites · Lodging · Chiefland, FL

Our glampsites offer all the excitement and adventure of camping, without sacrificing the little luxuries of home. Our sites are nestled in the Hickory Loop of the Family Campground, and are just a short walk from the main spring. Manatee Springs State Park People have enjoyed the cool waters of Manatee Springs for more than 10,000 years. The first-magnitude spring releases an astounding 100 million gallons of water every day. Swimming, hiking, and kayaking are enjoyable year-round. Your Glamp site is situated a very short walk from the Manatee headspring, in the Hickory Loop Campground. Only Glamp sites and tents are permitted in the Hickory Loop. Sister park to Manatee Springs, Fanning Springs is a 10 minute drive away, and offers the perfect 72-degree water to cool down on hot Florida days and an abundance of underwater wildlife to view. Swimming, grilling, volleyball, and a playground create the perfect setting for a family day outdoors.

Stories from the community

G

Gloria

3 weeks ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

Such an awesome spot! We love the glamping tents and proximity to the springs.

L

Leanne

August 2025

With pets

2 nights at Camp Seminole Springs

We absolutely loved this wonderful piece of Old Florida. So peaceful, beautiful and interesting. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring tracks with the dogs and looking for animals. We saw many deer tracks but no deer, perhaps next time. The tent was extremely spacious and our view from the deck over the spring was wonderful. Cold showers at this time of year we're most welcome.

F

Francisca

June 2025

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

The water fall behind the house, the walk through the river and most of all the tent

L

Lindsey

May 2025

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

Nice quick getaway spot! Booked at the last minute and we had a great time. The tents were spacious and have private bathrooms with flushing toilet and shower for each spot. 4 outlets inside and a small lamp. The deck overlooking the spring was so nice in the evenings just to sit and unwind. We went for a walk down the trail but we couldn't find the sand boil which was disappointing. The trail is a little rough but it's marked by orange flags. I'm pretty sure we were in the right area just couldn't find it. Anyway swimming in the spring was lovely and refreshing on a hot day. My goal was just to get away and absorb some peace and quiet which I definitely did. Dollar general located really close but Perry had firewood for sale on site. Overall great experience!

M

Misty

April 2025

With kids

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

We were so excited to get to this camp! It was amazing! Tent was so fun! The kids loved it! The spring was cool, there was grass at the bottom and the kids were screaming because it was touching them it was so funny! The mud bath spot was amazing! It was our favorite!

Christopher

April 2025

With pets

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

Great stay on Perry’s land. The Spring Glamping tent was perfect. They have power and water and even your own private full bathroom attached. The Seminole Spring and Orange creek with trails that connect are centrally located and are easy hikes. This place is incredibly amazing! Highly recommended! This is our third trip. Thanks Perry!

Christopher

April 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

Incredible nature and the perfect Spring Glamping Tent at Camp Seminole Springs! Perry is an excellent host and his land is a great place to unwind and leave the world behind. Beautiful Spring and hiking trails down to and along the scenic Orange Creek. All very centrally located and easy to hike. This is our second time staying here. Definitely will be back! Thanks Perry!

C

Clint

April 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

Cannot say enough about this place! Our stay was amazing! Very dog friendly which is a must for us. The glamping tent has everything, even a fan and small heater. The cot’s were a lifesaver because our blow up mattress ended up having a hole in it. The property is beautiful, filled with Angel Oaks. A Dollar General is less than 3 minutes away for last minute needs. Perry is nice and accommodating. The property is well kept and beautiful. The springs were clear and inviting. We had no issues with ticks or bugs. Already planning another trip back! 10/10 recommendation!

K

Katie

March 2025

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

WILL BE BACK! What a hidden gem. Beautiful trails, cute lil spring, beautiful oak trees. I’ve been thinking about visiting this place for a long time and I’m very glad I did! Definitely recommend PS If you see about four bazillion vintage military vehicles, you’re headed in the right direction 🤣

V

Veronica

March 2025

With pets

4 nights at Camp Seminole Springs

This place is beautiful, tents are great, very pet friendly, the spring is amazing……. I want to go back every weekend ☺️

J

Jordan

March 2025

With pets

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

We needed a place to regroup from tent camping and stayed in their glamping tent. Such a peaceful property. Super dog friendly and Perry the host was kind and responsive. The firewood was dry plentiful and long burning too!

C

Corvair

March 2025

With pets

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

My stay in the glamping tent was absolutely wonderful, with a breathtaking view of the fresh spring just steps away. The peaceful atmosphere made it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, allowing for complete relaxation. I loved that it was pet-friendly, so my furry companion could enjoy the serene surroundings with the family. From the cozy setup to the soothing sounds of nature, it was an unforgettable experience—I can’t wait to return!

K

Kenneth

March 2025

Group trip

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

It was pretty nice but the trail was overgrown and hard to navigate

G

Grace

March 2025

Group trip

2 nights at Camp Seminole Springs

Perry’s land is absolutely breathtaking. The Glamping tents are the perfect balance of nature and modern luxury. Everything is just a brisk walk away without being crowded. Already planning my next trip back even though the shower water was ice cold

Paula

March 2025

With kids

1 night at Camp Seminole Springs

Beautiful place. The only down side was the shower was ice cold. Otherwise, everything was absolutely wonderful. It was beautiful and just what we needed..

emily

March 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

My husband, 10 year old daughter, and myself stayed in the powered tents overlooking the pond while in town visiting the national forest and silver springs. It was a great experience! Beautiful land, lots of stargazing to be had. Will definitely book again if we return the area.

J

Jenifer

March 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

El lugar es muy lindo, cómodo cada carpa cuenta con su baño, mesa para comer, electricidad, y fogata . Puedes caminar, meterte a nadar . Una buena experiencia con mi familia . El dueño es muy amable y siempre está atento para lo que necesiten los visitantes .

T

Tiffany

March 2025

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

This is a beautiful piece of property! The tents are solid and it's extra nice having a bathroom attached. Once the noisy neighbors left it was dead quiet. The host was super responsive, I would definitely go back. Thanks Perry!

J

Juana

February 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

Had an amazing time with my family, took my one year old. Was completely comfortable and baby friendly. Person we met was super nice and even helped us start the fire. Definitely recommend and would come back.

R

Ruby

February 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Camp Seminole Springs

We loved staying here, very private and perfect for kids to run and have fun. Also loved that each te t had a private bathroom