USDA Forest Service · Florida
Salt Springs Recreation Area
USDA Forest Service · Florida, United States
- Sites
- 160
- Hookups
- 94 electric, 106 with water, 52 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 62 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T good · Verizon good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SS CAMPING SEGMENT-A (NFSR 19-30.5A) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- National Forests in Florida
- Nearest town
- Ft. McCoy
- Address
- 13851 Hwy 19N, Ft. McCoy, FL, 32134
- Phone
- 352-685-2048
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming Site
158 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida.
The national forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest.
Recreation
The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby.
For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horseshoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
Facilities
Salt Springs is the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs. The facility offers spacious campsites for RVs and trailers, as well as a designated tent-only area, which is a short walk from the parking area. Sites are nicely shaded and well away from the busy day-use area.
The recreation area and campground are located in the community of Salt Springs, which has a gas station, grocery store, several restaurants, bait and tackle shops, a post office, laundromat and visitor center.
Natural Features
The semi-tropical region gives the campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.
Nearby Attractions
Salt Springs is very close to Lake George, a great fishing destination.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65° | 45° | 29° | 81° | 1 of 11 |
| February | 74° | 57° | 43° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| March | 77° | 58° | 39° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| April | 80° | 62° | 49° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 87° | 70° | 62° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 89° | 74° | 68° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 77° | 73° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 90° | 77° | 73° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 86° | 75° | 67° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 81° | 68° | 50° | 90° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 75° | 59° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 71° | 56° | 39° | 81° | 0 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Shanty Pond Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Lake Delancy West Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 120 sites
- Hopkins Prairie Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 22 sites
- Lake George Conservation Area – Jumping Gully Group Campsite · City, County & Regional Parks · 10 mi · 1 sites
- Lake George Conservation Area – Barrs Hammock Group Campsite · City, County & Regional Parks · 10 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Florida · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.