On October 5th we checked into the Kelly Park campground in Apopka. We had never camped here before, but our friends had. Unfortunately, we had a very rainy 2-night stay, but it didn’t keep us from enjoying the water.
This area is known for the Emerald Cut, which is a waterway with beautiful clear water. Paddle-boarders and kayakers can travel up the stream and then back down through Florida nature. King’s Landing is where you launch with options to rent equipment and even pay for guided tours. We didn’t do any of that, but we did paddle the Cut.
The Campground and Campsite
We stayed in campsite #1. The earliest a site can be booked is 45 days from the date of the stay. When we were trying to book our site, hoping to be near our friends, the campground was almost full. We had to take whatever was left.
This is a small campground with only 26 sites. At least one is a Host site. Two of the sites are set up as “double” where it seems like two campers could be together. I’m not sure how that works.
The sites have water and electric hookups.
When we pulled into the campground loop, site #1 was right at the entrance. It was very shady, as were all the sites. Our nearest neighbor was in site #2 you can see in the photo above. We had plenty of private area to ourselves. Our friends were in site #8.
I was wondering why no one had booked site #1, because it’s pretty nice. Maybe because of the standing water when it rains. I looked at other campsites and didn’t see any with standing water at all. Our site had a large puddle just off the side of the camper – right where you walk. We got a drizzly type rain, and nothing really heavy, but I wonder how flooded this site might get with a lot more rain coming down.
Tips and Tricks
Back in so that the RV / camper is right next to the cement slab. This would put the puddle more to the back. It might help.
Also, store things on top of the slab when it rains. Our kayak, paddle board, bikes and tube were covered in sand. This is a suggestion for any of the sites when camping in rain.
The Dump Station
Kelly Park has the worst dump station we’ve used. The campground is a big loop with campsites inside and outside the loop. This is a typical setup. But the dump station is usually set off someplace by itself. This dump station was simply a place to pull over along the loop. (See my photo above.)
We have a 28 foot camper and when we pulled up to dump, I don’t think anyone could have driven past us from behind. If so, it would be a tight squeeze. This basically blocks the campground road!
There is a parking area for a pavilion, just past the dump station, and if this was full, it would be a tight squeeze to pull the RV in and out to dump. My son pointed out that the dump station did not have a sprayer to clean out the tubes either. So the dump station gets only one star – simply for being there.
The Water – Tubing
Our only nice day (half day) was the day we arrived. (You cannot get early check in.) After setting up the campsite, we took a bike ride down to the Spring. We brought our tubes and put in at the Spring-head. From there we floated down to the swimming area and beyond. It was wonderful and relaxing.
The Water – Emerald Cut
It rained all during our first night, and into the next day – Sunday. We had planned to get our paddling early to beat the weekend crowds, but figured the rain would keep people away.
We launched our SUPs and kayak from Camp Joy. Our friends had done it this way, and showed us where to go. It meant lugging our gear quite a way to the edge of the water. From the launch area, we paddled a short way and bumped into the Emerald Cut.
The water was not “emerald” because of the rain. It was brown, but clear.
I paddled up and down the Cut in my inflatable kayak. My friends stood on their paddle boards. This river is flowing, and the current can be quite strong in places. There are sharp turns, overhead branches, roots and stumps. Unless we pulled over, I never really stopped paddling. It wasn’t possible, without getting turned or drifting into the bank / trees.
Even with the rain, we ran into a lot of other people paddling. Sometimes literally ran into them. This was not a relaxing paddle. Once we got to the top and turned around to head back down, the paddling was almost worse. With a lot of beautiful nature to see along the way, I got almost no photos because it was impossible to do so while paddling.
I can’t imagine trying to paddle here on a hot, sunny, weekend where the Cut would be packed with people! Sorry, but I think that would be a nightmare.
Things to Know
Kelly Park campground has some rules. No alcohol is right at the top of the list. Although they say it is not allowed anywhere, no one is going to come into the camper and check. But don’t take it to the Springs and swimming area, because they most likely WILL check.
No pets. Honestly, I liked the fact that there were no dogs here. Everyone who camps has a dog these days. We have never camped near a nuisance dog, but they do bark sometimes. It was nice to not have that. This campground was very quiet, but it was nearly empty by Sunday. Between the rain and an impending hurricane, I think campers cleared out.
The swimming and tubing area is a short bike ride, or long walk, down cement walkways. The area is huge, with many points of entry. If not for the rain, I would have been back down there enjoying the water.
The only wildlife I saw was turkeys. The area has many trails, which my son checked out on his e-bike.
Heading Home to Prepare for a Hurricane
We checked in on a Saturday and headed home on Monday. Because Hurricane Milton was bearing down on the Gulf coast, and heading across the state, gas stations had lines.
We live an hour from Kelly Park, and got home without hitting traffic, but our friends live in Jacksonville and sat in traffic for an extra hour of their travel time. People were evacuating the state.
Hurricane Milton came across the state and went right over us. We hadn’t finished unpacking the camper when we had to get our hurricane shutters up. Then we had yard cleanup for a few days.
Overall Thoughts About Camping at Kelly Park
In closing I would say that we enjoyed our camping experience at Kelly Park. It was the cheapest place we have ever stayed. The campsites were very nice with lots of shade. Swimming looked awesome, in crystal clear water. The Spring was only a manageable bike ride away. We live close enough to enjoy this park again, and I’m sure we will.
Have you ever been camping here? Have you paddled the Emerald Cut?
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