95% (154) • 10 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near St Marys
Blackwater Ranch - River Camping
1. Blackwater Ranch - River Camping
100%
(65)
43mi from St Marys · 8 sites · Tents, RVs
🌿 Welcome to Blackwater, Y’all!
Just 40 minutes outside Jacksonville, Blackwater is a secluded 10+ acre private riverfront property located at Georgia’s southernmost tip, right on the FL-GA line.
Surrounded by protected preserve and tucked along a quiet river bend, Blackwater delivers “Old Florida” vibes, unspoiled nature, a peaceful country feel, and privacy you won’t find at a public campground.
Across the river views, you’ll find 150+ acres of untouched Florida preserve, giving you a peaceful, remote feel while still being close to town for essentials.
We are situated on the St. Marys River, a rain-fed river flowing from the Okefenokee Swamp. Natural tannins from peat give the water its famous black appearance in deeper areas and golden “sweet tea” in the shallows.
✔️ Clean, refreshing water - safe for swimming (no gators!)
✔️ Naturally antibacterial
✔️ No pollutants or runoff
✔️ No smell, mud, or rocky bottom
✔️ Soft white sugar-sand riverbed
The property sits on Trail Ridge, an ancient coastal dune formation over 10,000 years old. This unique elevation creates a rare natural sugar-sand riverbank and swimming area perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.
🌱 A Rare Southern Ecosystem
Blackwater sits at the intersection of riverfront, ancient shoreline, upland hardwood forest, and cypress wetlands, all on one property. Pines, live oaks, saw palmettos, wax myrtle, and wild huckleberry fill the landscape, creating a diverse Southern ecosystem rarely found in a single place.
🏕️ Camping for Families and Groups
Well-spaced sites across open wooded areas allow guests to spread out without the packed-in feel of state parks. Ideal for tent camping, vanlife, families, and small or large group gatherings looking to connect with nature and each other.
A large 70ft covered riverfront pavilion with power, water, hammocks, and a firepit overlooks the river.
🔎 Quick Camp Details
🏕️ Spacious sites on a 10+ acre private property
🚗 Easy vehicle access
🔥 Firepits and grills throughout
🌌 Dark, quiet nights - incredible stargazing
🐕 Dog-friendly - FREE
📶 Cell service is spotty (great to unplug)
🚣 Things To Do
Swim • Fish • Kayak • Canoe • Paddleboard • Explore
📍 Minutes from St. Marys Shoals Equine Park
📍 Close to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
$30
/ night
Camp Z Folkston
2. Camp Z Folkston
100%
(9)
31mi from St Marys · 4 sites · Tents, RVs
We are a small private campground at our home on 10 acres. Offering stays for travelers and visitors. No frills just a beautiful place to stay and rest. Self-contained (no public restrooms or showers here) RVs/Vans/Travel Trailers of all kinds. Up to 35'. Must be self contained rigs.. In your request let me know what kind of RV/size that you have. We usually respond right away unless its in the middle of the night.
We have one 30 amp/water site, one site with water only. Other sites for boondocking (dry camping only)
Not far from the Okefenokee national refuge, the Okefenokee swamp park, and the Folkston train funnel. 35+ miles to the east coast. Lots to see and do here. St. Mary's, GA is directly east. Fernandina & Amelia Beaches, FL and Jekyll island/St. Simons, GA..
Pets
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from
$18
/ night
95% (154) • 10 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near St Marys
Blackwater Ranch - River Camping
1. Blackwater Ranch - River Camping
100%
(65)
43mi from St Marys · 8 sites · Tents, RVs
🌿 Welcome to Blackwater, Y’all!
Just 40 minutes outside Jacksonville, Blackwater is a secluded 10+ acre private riverfront property located at Georgia’s southernmost tip, right on the FL-GA line.
Surrounded by protected preserve and tucked along a quiet river bend, Blackwater delivers “Old Florida” vibes, unspoiled nature, a peaceful country feel, and privacy you won’t find at a public campground.
Across the river views, you’ll find 150+ acres of untouched Florida preserve, giving you a peaceful, remote feel while still being close to town for essentials.
We are situated on the St. Marys River, a rain-fed river flowing from the Okefenokee Swamp. Natural tannins from peat give the water its famous black appearance in deeper areas and golden “sweet tea” in the shallows.
✔️ Clean, refreshing water - safe for swimming (no gators!)
✔️ Naturally antibacterial
✔️ No pollutants or runoff
✔️ No smell, mud, or rocky bottom
✔️ Soft white sugar-sand riverbed
The property sits on Trail Ridge, an ancient coastal dune formation over 10,000 years old. This unique elevation creates a rare natural sugar-sand riverbank and swimming area perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.
🌱 A Rare Southern Ecosystem
Blackwater sits at the intersection of riverfront, ancient shoreline, upland hardwood forest, and cypress wetlands, all on one property. Pines, live oaks, saw palmettos, wax myrtle, and wild huckleberry fill the landscape, creating a diverse Southern ecosystem rarely found in a single place.
🏕️ Camping for Families and Groups
Well-spaced sites across open wooded areas allow guests to spread out without the packed-in feel of state parks. Ideal for tent camping, vanlife, families, and small or large group gatherings looking to connect with nature and each other.
A large 70ft covered riverfront pavilion with power, water, hammocks, and a firepit overlooks the river.
🔎 Quick Camp Details
🏕️ Spacious sites on a 10+ acre private property
🚗 Easy vehicle access
🔥 Firepits and grills throughout
🌌 Dark, quiet nights - incredible stargazing
🐕 Dog-friendly - FREE
📶 Cell service is spotty (great to unplug)
🚣 Things To Do
Swim • Fish • Kayak • Canoe • Paddleboard • Explore
📍 Minutes from St. Marys Shoals Equine Park
📍 Close to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
$30
/ night
Camp Z Folkston
2. Camp Z Folkston
100%
(9)
31mi from St Marys · 4 sites · Tents, RVs
We are a small private campground at our home on 10 acres. Offering stays for travelers and visitors. No frills just a beautiful place to stay and rest. Self-contained (no public restrooms or showers here) RVs/Vans/Travel Trailers of all kinds. Up to 35'. Must be self contained rigs.. In your request let me know what kind of RV/size that you have. We usually respond right away unless its in the middle of the night.
We have one 30 amp/water site, one site with water only. Other sites for boondocking (dry camping only)
Not far from the Okefenokee national refuge, the Okefenokee swamp park, and the Folkston train funnel. 35+ miles to the east coast. Lots to see and do here. St. Mary's, GA is directly east. Fernandina & Amelia Beaches, FL and Jekyll island/St. Simons, GA..
Pets
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from
$18
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
d
danielle
1 day ago
Tent
With pets
I came looking to let my dogs off leash and this place was better than i could have hoped for. The river was beautiful and cool and my pups ran and splashed and smiled the whole time we were there. I'm excited to add this to my list of places to stay. Will definitely be back. Thank you for sharing your land with us.
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P
Paul
5 days ago
Tent
A buddy and I truck camped on campsite 1 here in early March. There were no skeeters and the night time temperatures were excellent. I like that the camp spaces have generous room. The bathrooms were a nice surprise and well kept. Everything was first class. We will come here again when the river rises.
See moreS
Sharla
1 week ago
Tent
With pets
It’s hard to put into words how my camping experience was at Blackwater Ranch Campground… serene, relaxing. Three days wasn’t enough, so I extended it two more days and I had the campground to myself the whole time, just me and my doggie and he didn’t have to be on a leash. The host was awesome! He welcomed me and gave me a complementary bundle of wood to get me started. I came to rejuvenate myself and I’m so incredibly sad to leave! But I’m sure anyone would be sad leaving here to go back to Minnesota 😭. It was such a blessing. I recommend it to everyone! The perfect little getaway! White sand beaches along the river. Nice little walking paths in the woods. I’ll definitely be coming back!
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C
Christopher
2 weeks ago
Tent
With kids
This was our third trip out here. We usually book one of the larger sites, but this one was perfect for a weekend with my son.
Site #2 is simple, quiet, and private. Easy drive up access. Plenty of room for a tent and a solid fire setup. The river access is the highlight. Calm water. Clean shoreline. Great spot for morning coffee and winding down at night.
If you are bringing a larger group, book one of the bigger sites on the property. For two people, this one is dialed in.
Host communication was clear and consistent as always.
We will be back.
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K
Katia
2 weeks ago
Tent
With pets
Man let me tell you ! The view and all of the things they have for u to add to your trip or to play with was the best part , the rentals are spaced out so your not stacked ontop of each other , the noise isn’t loud at all you can hear the cars driving at night and the neighbors shooting in the morning lol I liked it .. but all the small town store and nice people in those towns make up for it ! Our fav breakfast spot was hobos ! Pretty dang good ! 10/10 host and rental sight we have three dogs and they made it very easy for us to have privacy and room for our animals without a negative experience, we have a reactive pup so a private space was very much needed ! I recommend the water and electric hook up sight for us that was the perfect view and easy for us to hose down our tent to keep out pups cool Will be back again ! 10/10 experience fishing was okay need to come back when river is higher but the host had great advice to fish !
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J
Jason
3 weeks ago
21 ft travel trailer
If someone asked me what an idyllic spot to park my camper looked like, I would say someplace quiet, where I can see all the stars in the sky, nothing but nature out my front door, and maybe the occasional train horn in the distance to remind me that civilization still exists. That's Ron and Sue's property, Camp Z. I spent the week, but I could've stayed a month. If you're heading north or south through Georgia, make sure you make your way to Folkston to find Camp Z. You'll be rewarded with peach, quiet and tranquility. Idyllic!
See moreA
Annie
February 2026
22 ft travel trailer
With pets
This space is awesome!! Great for families or big groups - we can't wait to return with some friends and take advantage of all of the fun stuff - trampoline, kayaks, play area for kids... we had the whole place to ourselves and our dogs loved running and playing in the river.
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M
February 2026
Tent
Group trip
Our small men’s Christian group camped at Blackwater during the freeze of 2026, and it was an amazing experience despite the cold. The large pavilion was a game changer, cutting most of the high winds and giving us a great place to gather.
The sunsets were incredible, and the full moon at night paired with the firepit, adult beverages, and campfire stories made it a trip we won’t forget. We’ve camped at hundreds of campgrounds, and Blackwater is easily one of the best in Florida. Clean bathrooms, a great host, and well-maintained grounds made it easy to unwind and unplug from everyday life. We’ll definitely be back each year.
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C
Christopher
January 2026
Tent
With kids
Our favorite campsite and host! Perfect for families and we brought our dog this time and he loved it. Multiple sites that are far from each other so even when it was full, we were fully secluded. Hammocks, bathrooms, amazing fire pits and the outdoors... what more can you ask for.
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W
Will
January 2026
Tent
With kids
This is a really well maintained property right along a river that is very accessible and a lot of fun for people and kids. I recommend it for anybody with children who want a getaway somewhat close to Jacksonville or Lake City.
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R
Roy
January 2026
Tent
I highly recommend this campground. All sites are spread apart from one another and have amenities like chairs, fire rings, hammocks. I stayed at site #2 which didn't have power or a picnic table but I feel had one of the best locations/views. I would stay again!
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G
Gary
January 2026
Tent
I circled the weird part of Georgia that dips into Florida on a map and asked my local born friends "what goes on in the dingus?" After the laughter subsided we found Blackwater Ranch and decided to give it a try. What a lovely, family friendly place. Clean bathrooms, running water, electricity, and a very unique location! Camping here in January lets you benefit from the lack of bugs while still enjoying this very clean and well maintained campground. The host's instructions were clear and easy to follow and the list of nearby amenities and entertainment was very cool to look through. I was surprised to have 5 bars of 5G on Google Fi here which is handy unless you're hiding from work during a forecasted ice storm back home. If you're bringing a large group of people and are pressed for space you can leave the chairs home. The pavilion comes fully stocked with every kind of camp chair you can imagine. Tent sites are nice and large and I couldn't find a single rock the whole weekend. No worries about setting up a tent on rough or uneven ground. Hammock campers may want to look into sites other than site 1 with maybe only 3 viable trees to hang from. All in all it was a fun weekend at a very nice campground. We'll be coming back!
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A
Ashley
January 2026
28 ft travel trailer
With kids
Plenty of room for outdoor fun and privacy. Loved our combo waterfront tent site and would pick that particular one again. The property is great, with so many different spaces to enjoy and the bathrooms were so clean the entire time we were there. The kid-friendly entertainment was an unexpected plus too. We hope to have the opportunity to enjoy again in the near future.
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C
Christopher
January 2026
Tent
With kids
Amazing site. One of the best campsites I have stayed at. I spent the trip with my son and we had an incredible time. The site is spacious, flat, and well laid out, which makes it great for families and groups. The fire pit and seating area made evenings easy and relaxing, and the grill and picnic tables were well positioned and practical. There is plenty to do without leaving camp, but town is close for food and supplies. Walmart is right off the highway, and there are solid local spots nearby, including a fun vinyl record shop in town. We enjoyed it so much that we already booked the site again and are bringing our whole family back in a few weeks.
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M
Martha
January 2026
Tent
Beautiful, serene setting. It was perfect. I felt very safe staying alone at this location.
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B
Bo
January 2026
13 ft pop-up camper
This was our 1st camp trip with our TaG teardrop camper. The Hosts directions brought me straight to the property with lock combination instructions. The camp area is right on the Florida and Georgia line and our site had a nice bluff overlooking the St Mary's which is currently a little low water level due to recent dry spell but the area surrounding the camp site is beautiful and also has plenty of amenities for taking up time for the younger crowd such as Frisbee golf holes, footballs and other sport equipment as well as clean bathrooms and an available big pavilion for rent. Love the beauty of this campsite with my only negative being the sound of cars passing nearby being in your ears until pretty late in the evening but not too annoying however. I'd also recommend the host to put little numbers on the campsites for easy identification. Remembering what your site looks like on the website helps you figure out which area is your site.
I had Verizon and no service.......which was wonderful.
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M
Mike
January 2026
19 ft campervan
With pets
Really liked the layout and Space. The Dogs able to free run and play is great.
Will definitely plan another stop and more than a quick over night an hit the rd early.
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Gordon
January 2026
19 ft travel trailer
Great spot on the river. Campsites are well spread out and all have great river access.
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S
Steve
January 2026
Tent
Friendly host, great camp spot with a white-sand river and beautiful woods. The grounds were full of amenities like fire rings, hammocks, and chairs. There were even extras such as a trampoline and various yard games. The gated site made the whole place feel safe and secluded. We were only one of two groups there during our stay. By far, these were some of the best outhouses I’ve encountered—complete with working lights and a hand-washing sink between the two stalls. Definitely a place worth staying!
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A
Ariel
December 2025
Tent
We had an amazing stay at Blackwater Ranch! From the very beginning, the owner was wonderful to work with and communicated clearly and promptly, which made everything so easy and stress-free.
The property itself was beautiful, peaceful, and exactly what we were hoping for. Everything was clean and well maintained, and the bathrooms were spotless, which is always a big plus for our family.
We truly enjoyed our time here and couldn’t have asked for a better place to relax and unwind. We will definitely be recommending Blackwater Ranch to friends and family and look forward to staying again in the future!
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Marys is just a ferry ride away.