Blackwater Ranch – River Camping

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.

Annie R.

1 review

Recommends

· February 2026

Fire, Friends, Sunset and Full Moon

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.

M K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· 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.

Christopher T.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Roomy campsites spread far apart

Tent ·

Riverfront Primitive Camp Site #1

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!

Roy W.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Adventure to "the dingus" GA

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!

Gary C.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Tent · With kids ·

Large Group Riverfront Camping

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.

Will S.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

9-kid, outnumbered parent Adventure

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.

Ashley A.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

This will be a regular spot for us!

Tent · With kids ·

Small Group Pavilion Tent Camping

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.

Christopher T.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Riverfront Elect/Water Tent Camp

Tent · Group trip ·

We recently went camping and had a wonderful stay at this beautiful campsite. The property is one of the best we’ve ever camped at, and it was so much fun to explore. One of the highlights was the huge covered pavilion with power and water. It was a great bonus to be able to set our tents up underneath it, with plenty of space for cooking, eating and hanging out as well. The site also has bathroom access, which was very convenient. There are so many fantastic amenities here, especially for families, including a variety of toys, bikes, a kids’ play area, a trampoline, a hammock, and a variety of games. There were plenty of tables and chairs, and the fire rings located throughout the property were perfect for campfires. The campsite is surrounded by a river, making the setting especially peaceful and enjoyable. The host, MK, was excellent with communication and very accommodating. We had a great experience and plan to return next year. We would definitely recommend this campsite to others.

Christina W.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Tent ·

Riverfront Primitive Camp Site #1

Beautiful, serene setting. It was perfect. I felt very safe staying alone at this location.

Martha B.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Blackwater ranch primitive site #1

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.

Bo T.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· 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.

Mike S.

4 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Cool Spot!

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!

Steve G.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

19 ft travel trailer ·

Riverfront Primitive Camp Site #1

Great spot on the river. Campsites are well spread out and all have great river access.

Gordon M.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2025

Unplug and unwind

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!

Ariel D.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2025

Perfect Camping Experience

Tent · With kids ·

The tent camping with electric hookup was exactly what we expected and the area was spacious. Property was well maintained and we enjoyed our stay thoroughly. We will definitely be coming back to visit! Highly recommend renting the entire property with friends which we plan on doing next year!

Samuel C.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2025

This camp gets all the stars

Tent · With pets ·

The campsite was clean and spacious. Even though other campers were present, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The water features were unique and felt safe to swim and play around. We had a fun time stargazing. We even got lucky and witnessed several hours of meteor showers.

Kerry A.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2025

Tent · With pets ·

Parking/Launching/Fishing Pass

One of the BEST sites I’ve found through Hipcamp!!!! There was no shortage of things to do on the property itself, but as other reviews have mentioned, there are plenty of nature activities all within short driving distance. Host was great, facilities had everything I needed and in working order. I will definitely be back.

Eliza K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· November 2025

Weekend Camping Trip

Tent ·

Stayed 2 nights. Camping with tents. At the time of this review, there was a drought, so the river was extremely low. Property was very well kept, clean, and a great central location if you don’t want to be too far away from everything. Hopefully next time the rain has raised the river so we could do the full runs, up and down stream. The water was nice and cool, great for the warmer days we had in November. We will definitely be returning. Great site.

Joe H.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2025

Weekend Escape

Tent ·

Very private, very remote, lovely waterfront property

Crystal V.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2025

Blackwater Campground

23 ft travel trailer · With kids ·

Great location for a weekend camp. We were in a 23' TT and used the 30 amp service and water with no problems. CG is clean and stocked with toys to keep the grandkids busy. St Mary's was VERY low water. No paddling this weekend. Will definitely be back. Great job M ! Happy Campers

Edward H.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2025

Tent ·

This is a great place for children and rv camping. Lots of toys, cars, and trucks for the kids to play with. The St. Mary's river borders the property and is accessible for wading, swimming, and fishing. The property itself is very nice with some secluded spots if you want to do some primitive tent camping. There are port-o-let style toilets with a sink and access to potable water.

Eric M. W.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

Awesome

Tent ·

This place was awesome, Host was super nice and very helpful.

Russell W.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

Great place!

Tent ·

Large Group Riverfront Camping

This spot is a jewel! Right off the road but tucked away. Lovely river access with sweet white sugar sand beaches. Great for kids with fun stuff to keep them occupied. A really cool cypress glade with knees galore if you are willing to explore. Our night was shared with a large group of folks gathering for fun, and we still felt we had privacy. We would go back in a heartbeat and recommend that you check it out!

Kristen D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Best spots near Jacksonville!

Tent · Group trip ·

We had an amazing weekend at Blackwater Ranch! It’s one of the best spots near Jacksonville, peaceful, beautiful, and perfect for spending quality time with family. Highly recommend for anyone looking to relax and enjoy the outdoors

Carlos D.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent ·

I loved the land nice trails where you can’t get lost, all the basic camping infrastructure is already there, and the beautiful river is a world of its own.

Jaydon W.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

GEM on water N of Macclenney

30 ft fifth wheel · With pets ·

Exceptional property! Steps to St Marys River, secluded, 1-50A hook and water, nice outhouse with lighting, sink, trails galore. Beautiful huge gazebo with games for our next family gathering. Perfect for group tents. Chairs and fire pits around property and picnic tables. We have a 30' Alliance 5th wheel and in and out was easy. Matt is very easy to work with and we were glad he was there working. No wild animals to mess with your stuff except the resident cat and a rabbit or two. Did I mention..kayaks right by river for very small add, frisbee golf and the river, which you can walk across to the Florida side. You won't get much cell coverage but we did pickup local news and movie channels. Talk about getting away from it all! Hidden Gem! This one will be sought after once word gets out! Just perfect!

Jill M.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Family Friendly

30 ft fifth wheel · With kids ·

This is truly a great place to bring the family. The Host has taken the time to make this family-friendly. Our kids made great memories! Being that close to the river was awesome.

Richard B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Great spot right on the river!!!

30 ft travel trailer · With pets ·