I need help finding a camping location. (central-western,souther Florida)

[eingeist]

Okay, I've never been camping before but I am going to go.

I dont want a paved road obviously. I want to be able to take the land cruiser offroad, into the woods or some other "nice" scenic area and be able to camp there.

I dont even know if you HAVE to camp in "legal" designated camping spots or what...

But Im looking in the Tampa area, maybe the outskirts, I think the Everglades would be cool too but I'm not even sure you can drive in the everglades, maybe someone here knows?

Anyway, I dont want a "tourist destination" camping spot with RVs parked next to me.. Just some open fields in the woods down some pretty decent trails maybe...

Anybody have any ideas?

Oh, I couldnt really find the right forum to put this in other than general chit-chat, but I figured you guys would know better.

Thanks!

 

[mj1015]

I have been camping in Ocala Nat Forest. Not sure about off road driving trails there.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_oca.shtml

Also camped in Everglades but again not sure about off road driving in the park.

http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/frontcamp.htm

North of the Everglades is Big Cypress. I have never camped here.

http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

Apalachicola National Forest

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_apa.shtml#dispersed

Osceola National Forest

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_osc.shtml#off_road


If it is your first time, just enjoy your self and get a feel for sleeping out side your wooden box. I camped a lot in the Pan Handle and had a pretty good time of it.

good luck.

 

[stevezero]

X2 on the Ocala National Forest. Would be about an hour drive for you from Daytona. I was able to get sat images and hybrid maps from Google Maps. Come over on SR40 to Hwy 19. Go south on Hwy 19 for a few miles. You'll see a dirt road (Forest Service 595) to the right that says Farles Lake.....Take that 4-7 miles, and youll be at Farles Lake. Spring fed lake, bathrooms, and the Florida Trail (hiking) right there. You'll also get to see any number and type of Naval Aircraft doing strafing runs, bomb drops, etc. Do yourself a favor and buy a National Forest map. It has most of the forest roads and trails marked. Theres a giant clay pit a few miles away called Big Scrub. There are a bunch of power line trails, most with miles of whoop de doos. There are also alot of unmarked trails(not on the forest service map). Bring a sharpie and map your own roads. Hit the right trail, and youll find some nice cold water springs to relax in. Word of caution, they are very deep, very steep shoreline....and very isolated.

A short drive east are alexander springs and juniper spings. Both are nice places to cool off and escape the heat.

You shouldnt have to air down at all, unless you go in the clay pit (only if its wet), or get caught in some of the reallllly soft sugar sand. Bring a good shovel a hi-lift and a snatch rope.

 

[Travis351]

I have camped and driven the OHV trails in Big Cypress twice. You need to visit the Oasis visitor center on US41 to obtain the necisary permits. They require you to watch a slide show about conservation before issuing you an Off Highway Drivers License. Then they inspect your vehicle mostly for weight and tire width. The cost is $50/year. You need at least 9.5" wide tires to pass. Make sure your mufflers aren't all holy either.

There is 1 campground still open on US41 (Midway) 30 minutes from the trailhead that are very inexpensive ~$16 and more convenient than the primitive sites, especially if you are driving from Tampa and still need your permits. You will have RV's as neighbors though. After you get your permits, the primitive sites (Bear Island) with no neighbors are about 30 minutes up a gravel road (Turner River) and probably an hour into the restricted area that you need the permits for. You will see lots of birds and gators along the way. There are about 10 sites in the primitive area. You may have 1 tent neighbor. There is an outhouse only. Each site has a picnic table.

I haven't been up there for about 2 months. It was very dry when I was there and I had no problems passing any trail, as long as you don't mind some scratches in your clearcoat. They just had a little rain up there, but I bet that it is still dry enough to pass in a street legal vehicle. I see some pretty modified custom rigs out there and assume that the trails get harder as the season gets wetter, but I have yet to see it.

Here are some links. The staff up there is very helpful.

http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/upload/2005_06_ORVnews_web.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/orv-use.htm

 

[lysergic]

I went to a place called river ranch, its like 70 square miles of camping, hunting, ATV riding, and apparently partying. The deal is if you buy like 1/4th of an acre you get access to the entire property (48 thousand acres) as if it were your own. Any way, a friend of mine owns a few acres he wants to get rid of so it might be worth checking out

Polk Lots

Marc would be glad to show you the recreational property for sale.


ive had a really good time the few times ive been out, and plan on going back soon

 

[vtcruiser60]

I spent a week car camping in Ceder Key....amazing birding and old school Florida living. I don't know how much has changed in 10 years...but I enjoyed it.

 

[REZARF]

I used to camp in the Ocala national forrest all the time as a kid, there are a lot of dirt roads... not really trails but fun.

There are some limestone caves that we used to go exploring in. Call up the national forrest service there, I have always found them to know the most and give the best advice. Just tell them what you hope to do and take some notes on what they recommend.

Drew

 

[Brindleboxer]

I Second/Third/or Fourth on the Ocala National Forest -- Also camped there as a kid and through my teenage years.

Look up this guy, his name is Dennis and he is from the Ocala area. OCALA NATIONAL FOREST LOCAL LOOKING FOR A GROUP TO JOIN.

Another place to look is a little North of Tampa on US 41, and yes more rural, it is Land o Lakes. The last time I was down there there was still alot os places open to off-roading (no permit/permission required). The difficulty there is that I have not been in the Tampa area for several years and I cannot remeber exact direction to give you.

Glen

 

[stevezero]

Citrus County has a game reserve that also has some cool caverns to explore. Its been many many years since I was there (early-mid 80s)

In the ONF, there are fun whoop de doo trails right alongside the power line roads. some run for 4 miles or so, and when you get sick of bouncing, hop over to the dirt/limestone road. I had an old forest service map that i drew non-marked trails on, and found lots of neat sinkhole/springs, dry lake beds to camp at.

If youre into hiking, you can do a three night hiking trip from juniper springs, to alexander springs to farles lake. its a triangle shaped trail.

 

[jts560]

I hiked the Florida Trail through the Ocala National Forest in June, there are tons of roads and trails to explore and campout on in the cruiser. Farles prairie was completely dry, and Farles lake campground is soso. Hopkins Prairie still had water, there are several lakes right there that have good fishing, and Hopkins is a much nicer campground. If you make it to ONF stop by the 88 store on FR 88 on the west side of lake Kerr. Very friendly place. It is a country store and bar, they have bud and busch on tap along with bottled beer. Get there early, happy hour is 10am to 12 noon . Did I mention the bartender doesn't wear shoes, and has a 1200 pound beer drinking pig named elvis?

Rant on:
I would avoid Juniper springs, we were coming off the toughest section of the hike, the Juniper prairie wilderness, and they wouldn't let us past the gate for water without paying, fxxxing management companies. It turned out to be only a couple more dollars for a campsite vs. day use passes for each of us so we decided to stay the night and get a shower, hit the springs, and maybe get some real food. We dropped our stuff off at camp and went to the "spring" to cool off and look for grub. They had no hot food, only over priced jiffy store microwave sandwiches and hot pockets. Major disappointment. Went back to the campsite and the park manager was snooping around, he asks us if we paid and where is our slip, our slip is right on the table he says "Oh" and leaves. This is the same guy who we stopped on our way from the gatehouse to our campsite and asked if we could catch a ride on his golf cart, he tells us no can't do it "They caught me". Who the hell is "they"? you are the fricking park manager. The impression I took away from Juniper springs was greed and unfriendliness. The showers were nice though.
Rant off

Closer to Tampa there is also the Green swamp Recreation: Green Swamp

This is definitely the time of year for camping, less bugs and cool nights.