The best camping in Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, FL

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Discover the untouched beauty of Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park.  

The best camping in Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, FL

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.

2. Fairytale Forrest

100%
(15)
15mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 5 sites · Tents
***There is ONLY 1 SITE on the property, with 4 options.*** YOUR GROUP will be the ONLY one onsite. Welcome to my enchanting 1-acre Fairytale Forest nestled within a tranquil rural subdivision on the north side of Crystal River. As evening descends, a mesmerizing trail of lights illuminates the property, transforming it into a magical oasis. NOTE: Parking is approximately 300 ft from the site. No, you cannot sleep in your vehicle. Discover your secluded camping spot, accompanied by a cozy bench for private relaxation. Your spot is equipped with convenient access to power and water for your comfort. At your site you will have access to an outdoor shower (no hot water), a sink with a table, a screened dining area featuring a table and six chairs and a coffee station, and a barbecue grill. Moreover, the property boasts an array of additional amenities for guests to indulge in. Take advantage of four distinct seating areas, a hammock for lazy afternoons, a swing for whimsical moments, and a lounge seat/bed perfect for sunbathing, unwinding, or stargazing under the night sky. Immerse yourself in the charm and serenity of our Fairytale Forest retreat.
Pets
Campfires
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night

5. Big Oak Farm 🌳🐴🐕

97%
(17)
19mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 7 sites · Tents, RVs
Welcome to Big Oak Farm & Stables – a peaceful 39-acre farm located beside the beautiful Goethe State Forest in Bronson, Florida. This is a place to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the sights and sounds of real farm life. We offer 30- and 50-amp RV hookups, water, septic dump, and a private, fenced-in campsite perfect for relaxing with your pets. The site includes shaded areas, a disc golf basket, hammocks, and a large green space where your dogs can run safely. Campers must remain in the designated fenced-in area unless escorted by the host, for the safety of our animals and yours. We’re a working farm with free-roaming livestock guardian dogs, horses, emus, sheep, and more – and we love sharing their world with respectful visitors. Nearby attractions include: • Devil’s Den (10 mins) • Blue Springs (15 mins) • Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens (20 mins) • Rainbow River (25 mins) • World Equestrian Center (40 mins) • Black Prong Equestrian Village (5 mins for trail riding) • Crystal River & Cedar Key (under 1 hour) Come enjoy farm sunsets, starry nights, and a truly unique countryside experience. Whether you’re in a tent, camper, or RV – you’ll leave here refreshed, inspired, and maybe with a few furry friends.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$25
 / night

7. Sea Cow Campground <3

97%
(19)
20mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 3 sites · Lodging
My home and others are visible from the site but you are also surrounded by trees and have privacy. It’s about 100ft from the rd so you will hear traffic from time to time. In Citrus Springs' central area, this 1-bedroom campsite provides a peaceful retreat for your upcoming trip. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the surrounding area, with Rainbow Springs State Park just a 19-minute drive away, where you can explore lush forests and crystal-clear springs. For a day on the water, the Crystal River Watersports Marina is only an 11-minute drive, providing ample opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and other water activities. If you're in the mood for a round of golf, the Plantation Inn and Golf Resort is just a 14-minute drive from your cozy campground. Back at your home-away-from-home, you'll find all the essentials, including a bathroom, towels, basic soaps, air conditioning, heating, and fresh linens, ensuring your comfort throughout your stay. Escape the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the tranquility of Citrus Springs at our charming 1-bedroom campground.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$40
 / night

8. Happy Campers Rescue Ranch

95%
(330)
20mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Welcome! 🌿 We're thrilled to have you join us for an unforgettable experience surrounded by nature and animals. 🐾 At our ranch, we're dedicated to providing a sanctuary for rescued animals and offering our guests a unique opportunity to connect with nature and support our mission of animal welfare and conservation – it's a haven where you can relax, unwind, and make memories that will last a lifetime. 🌟 During your stay, you'll have the chance to meet our furry friends, including rescued farm animals and adorable companions who call Happy Campers Rescue Ranch home. Whether you're feeding the goats, cuddling with the kittens, or exploring the beautiful surroundings, there's something for everyone to enjoy. 🐷🐱🌳 But that's not all – we also offer a range of exciting extras to enhance your experience. Rent a Kayak or Paddle Boat to explore the area and crystal-clear waters of Rainbow Springs, or choose our cooler with built-in air conditioning ❄️ to stay comfortable during hot summer days inside your tent. As a guest, you'll not only have the opportunity to relax and unwind, but you'll also be supporting our mission of animal rescue and rehabilitation. A portion of your stay goes directly towards caring for our rescued animals and maintaining our sanctuary, allowing us to continue our important work. 🤲 We can't wait to welcome you to out ranch and share our love for animals and nature with you. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or a unique retreat, we're here to make your stay unforgettable. 🌈 ***We kindly request bookings for a maximum duration of up to 7 days. This allows us to maintain the integrity of our sanctuary and ensures that our animals receive consistent care and attention while also offering our guests the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing and rejuvenating getaway. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Thank you for choosing our ranch – we look forward to hosting you soon! 🎉
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$30
 / night

10. Wildflower Ranch

100%
(15)
22mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 6 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Reconnect with nature at this unforgettable escape on 20 acres of serene rural land. Take a walk to the chicken coop and hear all of the chickens' opinions. Lay a blanket out in the meditation corner and enjoy the peace and quiet. Walk through the fruit trees and past the blackberries and take any ripe fruit of your liking. Explore the ranch to locate gopher tortoise burrows (but don't get too close) and wave at all the fox squirrels. Find the northeast corner of the ranch and play volleyball with your friends (let us know if you need a ball). Stroll through the round-pen-turned-garden and check out the Datil pepper plants which we use to make our datil sauce and datil vinegar (both are for sale to guests). Finally, enjoy the starry night sky. Thanks to our rural setting we have some of the darkest skies in Florida. There is an observatory only one mile away! Wildflower Ranch is close to dozens of crystal clear natural springs and rivers, bike trails, hiking trails, state parks, and more. We are ideally located in North Central Florida, so many of your Florida outdoor bucket list adventures are within reach. The ranch is a close neighbor of Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring, the Blue Grotto, Black Prong horse riding and biking trails, Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens and more. Wildflower Ranch offers two private primitive campsites (accommodating tents or vehicles), one private RV site, and one private cabin. Our cabin has a private bathroom, while our campsites have 24/7 access to climate-controlled full bathrooms with hot water showers, flushing toilets, and sinks.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$35
 / night

11. Grazing Oaks Ranch RV and Horse Stables

99%
(34)
22mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Camp in our oak Hammock at Grazing Oaks Ranch . Enjoy our farm animals and abundance of wildlife. Beautiful sunset views over the pond. We have 3 sites but only rent one at a time. All 3 are full hookup sites. We have horses, a few cows, chickens, ducks and our bunny fluffy. Bring your horses. We are 3 miles from Devils den and 4 miles from the blue grotto. 25 minutes to WEC and 15 minutes to HITS. Enjoy all the springs around our area or just enjoy the property. Learn more about this land: Camp in our oak Hammock at Grazing Oaks Ranch. Enjoy our farm animals and abundance of wildlife. Beautiful sunset views over the pond. We have 3 sites but only rent one at a time. All 3 are full hookup sites. We have horses, a couple cows, chickens, ducks and our bunny fluffy. We are 3 miles from Devils den and 4 miles from the blue grotto. Enjoy all the springs around pur area or just enjoy the property. Price includes 6 stalls warm with feed and tac room as well as 4 paddocks and riding area. Please ask about our extended stay possibilities.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$25
 / night

13. Enchanted Oak Paradise

98%
(21)
23mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 1 site · RV
We have been campers for 10 years and know how hard it can be to find a site nowadays. That is why we decided to share our slice of paradise with you. We hope that you too can enjoy the peaceful serenity we find when we come to this enchanted oak paradise. Learn more about this land: Spend a night, the weekend, or stay even longer under our spectacular centuries old live oak canopy in a quiet countryside neighborhood. The weatherman might say it’s 95° out but under these trees you’d never know. 3 acres of cleared flat live oak forest will invite you to kick back, relax, and let your cares drift away. Plenty of room to drive in, around, then pick your favorite vantage point. Florida has so much to offer so why not camp where your “what to do” options are endless. Our property is located in Morriston, just&nbsp;off 41 in a quiet residential neighborhood with wide, well paved and maintained roads. Acreage is not fully fenced so drive up into the yard as you see fit while respecting these priceless old oaks. At this time we have potable water via a well system on site at 3 locations throughout the property&nbsp;but no electric or sewer is available yet. If you are planning to run a generator it must be turned off during quiet hours (11pm-7am) unless it is quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors. Dump stations can be found at the multiple truck stops off i75.
Water hookup
Pets
from 
$25
 / night

14. Manatee Springs Glamping

90%
(10)
25mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 2 sites · Lodging
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.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$100
 / night

15. Cabin Glamping

95%
(112)
25mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 3 sites · Lodging
Check in between 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., unless prior arrangements with owners have been made. Known as the Nature Coast and one of Florida's greatest hidden secrets, this property is private, yet just minutes from civilization and manatees! Your cabin has a full bed for two and a comfy pull out couch that will accommodate two more. The cabin is located on private property with owners and security on site, yet plenty of privacy. During the day, paddle your way to the beautiful Three Sisters Springs for a swim. You may see some manatee, turtles, and dolphins along your way! Hunter Springs is a great little park with a beach area for swimming and kayak rentals too. There are also several Diving with the manatee tours available. This is all only a short drive from camp. You can enjoy swimming, fishing, scalloping, snorkeling, kayaking, pontooning just five minutes away, or just relaxing back at the camp. Heritage Village is in town filled with many hometown eateries and shoppes. It's a great way to spend the afternoon and explore Crystal River. We have a variety of great one-of-a-kind eateries with many special events and festivals throughout the year. Conveniently located at the end of the street is a Publix, DG, Mexican restaurant, Brother's Pizza and Beef O'Brady's. Firewood is available on site. We also have brochures on all kinds of other great places you'll want to experience while staying in beautiful Crystal River! Oh, and don't forget to stop by Grandma's gift shop before you leave. We look forward to your stay!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$79
 / night

16. Los Pollitos Family Farm

100%
(28)
25mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 2 sites · RVs
Learn more about this land: Welcome to the Los Pollitos Family Farm in the heart of the nature coast!&nbsp; Come experience farm life while you camp! Ride a 50 year old tortoise (if you are a toddler 😉), snuggle some sheep and bunnies or feed some chickens! Say hello to the pigs ! We treat our guests like family! This will be a trip your family will always remember 🥰. This is the RV Listing on our property (see other listing for tent and group camping). We are less than 3 miles from the Nature Coast State trail , just 4 miles away from Manatee Springs and 5 miles from Fanning Springs, where you can bike , swim, snorkel, kayak, scuba dive and hike ! Chiefland Golf and Country Club is only 2 miles away where you can golf and have lunch ! We are 20 mins away from several other springs. Got your fill of the springs? Missing the beach ? Cedar key is only 30 miles away !&nbsp; It is a quaint town on the gulf offering swimming, dining, shopping, kayak and golf cart rentals. Make sure to check out Shell Mound while you are there ! (Cedar key and shell mound currently under construction due to recent hurricanes). There is so much to do and explore! RV camping is located on the 2 acres surrounding our home on a limerock pad with 30 amp service and water hookup. See Tent camping @ Los Pollitos for TENT camping. Amenities such as fire pit and a table are available.&nbsp;Your first bundle of wood is on us! Check out the Extras tab during your booking. Sign up for a farm tour ! Chicken eggs available for your breakfast! Local shops and dining are less than 10 minutes away for anything else you might need . Looking forward to hosting you and your family!&nbsp;Check us out on facebook and instagram @lospollitosfamilyfarm
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from 
$30
 / night

18. Paradise Park and River Retreat

100%
(142)
28mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 2 sites · RVs
My father bought the property next door to the RV site over 30 yrs ago. After his passing, my husband and I acquired the property. We initially were going to be snowbirds and make this our winter vacation home. After much thought and many winters in PA, we decided to sell our home in PA and make the move south. It was a difficult decision to leave our family, friends and what was comfortable to us. About 3 years after our move, our neighbor asked if we were interested in his property. My husband Jeff and I discussed it and thought it would be a great idea to have a little more land. To make a long story short, that land somehow became Paradise Park River Retreat. My husband and I love this area and wanted to share it with other people who love being outdoors. We hope you'll come and visit Old Pine Landing and see the beauty and uniqueness that our little piece of paradise has to offer.
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night

20. Homosassa Springs RV Site

99%
(209)
29mi from Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park · 3 sites · RVs
Homosassa is an old Florida fishing town that is a hidden gem along the gulf coast, this site is nestled quietly at the head of the river on our shared residential property. This location is close to the head springs and Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where you can discover the wild side of Florida with endangered Florida panther, red wolf, manatee and whooping crane, plus black bear, bobcat and, of course, alligator. The site is located 150 ft from the dock on our private residential property at the head of the springs, the dock is not visible from the site you do have to walk down to the dock area. This is a residential area and is very quiet. You can see the layout of the property in the photos from an aerial view as well as other photos of the setup. This listing is for the SITE ONLY. Setup your own RV under the shade then enjoy our shared dock with direct access into the Homosassa springs for a refreshing dip or paddle. We provide full hookups (water, sewer, 50amp electric) for your RV as well as WIFI service and access to the docks for your boat or swimming. We have kayaks and paddleboards INCLUDED with our site or bring your own to paddle the springs and take a chance at seeing a manatee up close and personal or catching some fish. We love to share our space with like minded outdoorsy people who respect nature and like to relax in the outdoors. This is not a party place, loud music or late nights aren't acceptable.
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$75
 / night

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The best camping in Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, FL guide

Overview

About

With its sweeping vistas and extensive waterways, camping near Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park offers easy access to the many beaches dotting the Gulf Coast. Accessible only by boat, this hidden gem is a haven for anglers and wildlife watchers alike.

Bordering the Gulf Coast between Cedar Key and Yankeetown, the park is home to vast salt marshes and tidal creeks that create a rich habitat for a variety of saltwater fish, crabs, and shellfish. As you explore the park, you'll be captivated by the horizon-to-horizon expanses of salt marsh, which are beautifully broken up by dense tree islands of red cedar, cabbage palm, and live oak.

One of the highlights of camping near Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning scenery while engaging in outdoor activities. Whether you're boating, fishing, or simply observing the abundant wildlife, the islands, tidal creeks, and salt marshes provide a picturesque backdrop for your adventures. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles and manatees, as they often frequent the seagrass beds and other estuarine and marine communities within the preserve.

For those seeking a true escape into nature, camping near Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park is an ideal choice. The remote location ensures a peaceful and serene atmosphere, allowing you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you're an experienced camper or new to the outdoor scene, this hidden paradise offers endless opportunities for exploration and relaxation.

When to go

The best time to visit Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park is during the cooler months from October to April, when the weather is mild and the wildlife is abundant. Summer brings heat, humidity, and the chance of thunderstorms, making it less ideal for outdoor activities.

Know before you go

  • Access to the park is exclusively by boat, ensuring a tranquil and undisturbed experience.
  • There are no entrance fees required, inviting you to explore without worry.
  • Bring all necessary supplies, including water, as there are no facilities within the preserve.
  • Pets are welcome but must be leashed and attended to at all times.
  • For fishing enthusiasts, a license may be required, which can be obtained through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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