We took our last summer camping trip in mid-June and went to Salt Springs. I don’t enjoy packing and unpacking in the summer heat, so we take a break during the hottest time of year. Our next trip will be in September.
The Ocala National Forest area, in northern Florida, has many springs. Some areas also have campgrounds near the springs. Salt Springs, in Fort McCoy, Florida, is one of the few places we’ve stayed that has full hookups. Empty the black (sewer) and gray water as you use it, right at the site. I love this. This is our third camping trip to this campground. We did our very first overnight RV stay here.
This is not a state park campground, and because of this it costs more.
Our Campsite
Our campsite was near the top of the roadway loop. Our site was at the end of the road, with many oak trees shading the spot. We had a good amount of privacy. Shade and privacy are always a plus.
This site also had a couple of negatives. For some reason we had loads of houseflies. No amount of bug spray or bug candles would keep them away. Also, we were near the main road, just through the trees and could hear the traffic. It wasn’t horrible, but every now and then a loud truck would remind me we were not in the wilderness.
This was our third stay at Salt Springs. I’ve seen this area of the park and it always seemed a bit empty of trailers. In the photo above left, I am looking toward the tree line and the road is right there. I think the off-site traffic might be the reason why most campers choose sites lower in the loop.
One other thing, this campground has paved pads for trailers. When we backed into our spot the campfire pit was quite close. Our trailer is not huge. At 28 feet our trailer is not overly long. I’d have liked more space around the campfire. In all likelihood the burn pit was placed there because of the overhead trees.
The Springs
I did not get any photos of the spring area this time (see pictures on my other blog post). I rode my beach cruiser to the area and left my things on the wall while I swam. I didn’t want to have to worry about my phone. The spring water was way down, which made it pretty shallow. This made it difficult to easily snorkel over the actual spring.
Our stay was for Monday and Tuesday night. The springs area was not super crowded, and on Wednesday morning, before we packed up, I was alone at the Spring for a little while! It opens to the public at 8:00am.
Florida spring water is a steady 72 degrees. It is chilly, but refreshing. Get in fast, and you will acclimate quickly, and it feels so darn good. This time, there was only one way to get into the water and the steps were very slippery. Personally, I think the warning should have been much clearer to see. A slip of paper was attached next to the steps warning of the slipperiness. I never saw it, and many others didn’t. In the short time I was there, I saw many adults and kids slip and fall, or nearly fall.
Navigation is easy in the campground. The inner roads are one way. Some sites are close and others have nice privacy. There are many old trees to provide shade. The Spring area is a bit of a walk, or short bike ride from the RV area.
Tent camping is done in a separate area and is closer to the springs. This campground also has some hiking trails and a small boat ramp.
More to read…
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