The best camping near Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area adventure.

Discover the scenic Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area.

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Community favorites near Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area

Top-rated campgrounds near Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area

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Smokey Acres

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Brooksville, FL

Welcome to Smokey Acres! This property has been in my family for decades. My Husband and I were married under the oaks and have had our share of campfires out there. Down a hidden gravel drive with wetlands on either side you will find a completely fenced in field surrounded by pine, oak, and swamp maple trees. There are two ponds located on the property both stocked with bass, bluegill, and sunfish. The front pond is home to many natural Florida wildlife and is a great location to bird watch. Located a few miles from Brooksville and the Suncoast Parkway, this quiet and peaceful setting is just 5 minutes from the parking area and trailhead for the Suncoast Trail and 10 miles from the famous Weeki Wachee Springs, where you can spend the day at the local park or float down the river with the manatees. Withlacoochee State Park and other natural preserves with trail access and kayaking are only a short distance away, and Dames Cave, Homosassa Springs, and Chasawiska Springs are all within a ~20-minute drive as well. Spending a day at the beach is easy with plenty of options along the Nature Coast. We’re also less than an hour from Tampa and Clearwater and two hours from Orlando. A perfect weekend get-away for anyone looking to “unplug,” Smokey Acres is also a great stop for those passing through the area. We are a close distance to many racing, livestock, boating and fishing events. We have no problem accommodating whatever you’re towing! Whether you'd like a leisurely day on the river or an adventure in the Gulf, there are plenty of boating options nearby. Be sure to make it back to the property in time to enjoy amazing sunsets that bring peace and tranquility to your experience. Our neighbors, JG Ranch, offers U- Pick Fruit and Vegetables or a great selection of local harvest at their roadside stand. This 10-acre property has been in my family for decades. My Husband and I were married under the oaks and have had our share of campfires together out there. I've recently moved back home with my own family and as much as we enjoy the land for ourselves we'd love to share it. Any profit from hosting campers will help us maintain our sustainable farm that we're hoping to expand onto Smokey Acres. Just in! Our dirt road has been repaved. So no worries about a bumpy drive in!

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Lucky U Ranch

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents60 acres · Bushnell, FL

Authentic old Florida homestead. Beautiful Spanish moss veiled Grandfather Oak trees, rolling subtle grassy hills and Cypress filled wetlands with an abundant of bird life every day. We raise Nigerian Dairy goats and always have time for goat visits and petting. Our horses are boarded at night and roam freely during the day along with our donkeys. Hiking our land and marked trails, gives you the feeling of serenity and back to nature, clearing your mind so you can remember what nature is all about. Just minutes away are amazing places and parks like the Withlacoochee State park, Hog Island and the Withlacoochee river, where kayaking is a must. Peace and quiet and privacy as you tent [October through June], stay in one of our RV's or bring your own. Be part of our AGRITOURISM VENUE and take part in the RANCH EXPERIENCE, a guided visit to meet and pet our livestock, from baby goats to miniature horses! Get to pet one of our over 60 goats and check out our twin turkeys and many chickens.... Pigs are just begging to be scratched as well!!! ENJOY!

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Happy Campers Rescue Ranch

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Dunnellon, FL

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! 🎉

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Pure Paradise Lebanon station

25 sites · RVs, Tents23 acres · Inglis, FL

Learn more about this land:Beautiful area with waterfalls observation Tower 23 beautiful acres to roam plenty of fishing and water sports in the area as well as other activities , tent and self-contained camping starting at $25 per night full hookup $50 per night

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Higher Ground "The Barn"

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Lecanto, FL

Come get back to nature with camping at your comfort level and YES, we have A/C AND MINI HEATERS and a mini-fridge in all of our cabins. PLEASE note that there IS A PET FEE and AND WOOD FEE and it must be added when you complete booking (as Extras). Kayaks available for rent too! Whether you'd like a tent site (tents available) or a rustic cabin with lofts, we have what you're looking for. Get out of the city and get into nature. Just over an hour drive from Tampa or Orlando and you'll be laying in a hammock or making s'mores by the campfire. BUT REMEMBER, you are IN THE WOODS.. Bugs live in the woods and eliminating them all is never possible. Bring spray :) We spray weekly but there are all kinds of bugs around because you're camping! We even have Kayaks available for rent to head to Crystal River or Lake Henderson!

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Serene Forested Blueberry Farm

12 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Ft. Mc Coy, FL

Located on 5 acres in the Ocala National Forest, Hookie's Hideaway is the perfect place to stay for easy access to all of nature's bounty and activities. This property is easily accessible, serene and peaceful. Campsites are in a beautiful grove of pine and sycamore trees. We are surrounded by forested camping areas and close enough to drive into town to pick up groceries or get a meal. We have a "you pick them" blueberry farm when in season. We are pet friendly! If you have a pet please add the pet Extra at checkout so you will be charged a $20 pet fee ($10 for the trailers). We are close to hiking, horse trails, lakes and springs. Bocce Ball and Croquet is available to play here anytime! We are only a short distance away from amazing horse riding trails and Florida's most popular natural springs. We live on the property and are available during normal business hours. We are free to ask questions and give suggestions for surrounding activities and dining options. We will interact as little or as much as you need. Birds singing in the morning and crickets at night ensure a restful getaway here. Our property is the perfect place to escape the noise and high paced city life.

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Manatee Delight RV Camp Site

1 site · RV7 acres · Homosassa, FL

Sandwiched between the Homosassa River and the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, this property has unique features, including karst windows with bubbling fresh water, natural springs, and large, mature trees. Learn more about this land: Tucked along a narrow road, this unique site offers users direct access to the crystal clear waters of the south-east fork of the Homosassa River. Use our kayaks or bring your own to explore one of Florida’s Outstanding Waterways where you may meet a manatee, observe otters, find fish, or watch wildlife of all kinds. The site has direct access to Pepper Creek Trail, a 0.75-mile paved trail that is part of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. While you’re there, swing into the state park to view the sparkling waters of the Homosassa head spring and meet all of the native wildlife ambassadors, including Florida panthers, black bears, endangered whooping cranes, and many other amazing animals. Interested in charter fishing, scalloping, or an ecotour? Your hosts are both professional, experienced charter captains. Avoid the crowds at the dock and step right onto the boat here! Ask for availability prior to your stay. The site is private and away from the hosts home, approximately 75-yards from the river, with electricity and water provided. There is no sewer hookup; restrooms and shower facilities are not available. If you plan on tent camping, please bring your own method to contain and dispose of solid toilet wastes. ***HURRICANE DAMAGE*** The small green building at the site sustained damage from Hurricane Idalia. We are working to repair the roof. It does not affect the campsite, however, it is unsightly and for that we apologize.

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Cabin Glamping

3 sites · Lodging2 acres · Crystal River, FL

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! The cabin is located on private property with owners and security on site, yet plenty of privacy. On site is our own Bistro Barn fully furnished with a refrigerator, gas grill, charcoal grill, silverware and all the pots and pans you may be looking for. It's a great little hang out area with bluetooth speaker setup. During the day, paddle your way to the beautiful Three Sisters Springs for a swim. You may see some manatee on your way there. 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, a Mexican restaurant, and Beef O'Brady's. 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!

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Wilderness VP87

1 site · RV1 acre · Silver Springs, FL

VP87 is a 1/10 acre pull through site with ~70 feet of concrete and room to park two vehicles. Pet friendly for dogs and cats (total of 2 pets only please). Water, sewer, and 30/50amp power on site. An 8X12 shed complete with full size modern WASHER and DRYER, residential size refrigerator, a utility sink and even a real porcelain toilet! The shed only has cold water... Just down the street from Ocala and Silver Springs State Park, in the Village Park portion of Wilderness RV Resort. Wilderness is a lovely community of RV lot owners and tenants with palm trees, manicured lots, and many amenities: a bath house, a gym and sauna/steam room, swimming pool and hot tub, big dog park, and a hiking trail... all nestled right on the shore of the beautiful and famous Ocklawaha River. Oh, and there is even a little candy shop and restaurant on premises that serves breakfast and lunch. Quick and easy shopping for typical requirements just down the road in Ocala or Silver Springs. Silver Springs State Park is less than 5 miles and offers glass bottom boat tours of the famous springs. If you have your own kayak/canoe you can paddle from there to Ray Wayside Park and return to your car at the state park with the shuttle service. Or you can pass Ray Wayside and paddle another .5 mile directly to Wilderness RV Resort (you'll just need a way back to retrieve your car) ... approximately 6 miles of beautiful clear water and Florida jungle with manatee, gators, birds, otters, and even monkeys! The entire trip is with the current! About 33 miles away is Rainbow Springs State Park... another famous and beautiful spring that offers walking trails, waterfalls, beautiful gardens, swimming and snorkeling, and paddling too. Last but not least, surrounding VP87 there are many other smaller springs each with their own unique attractions. Like bicycling? The Cross Florida Greenway (Santos Trail System) is about 15 miles from Wilderness and offers 32 miles of paved path for road cyclist and easily over 50 miles of world class mountain bike trails for anyone from beginner to expert skill level. E-Bikes are welcome. For the aspiring mountain bike experts and actual experts out there... the world-famous Vortex Trail is in this system. Bring your "A" game and lots of water. I recommend a fast cross-country bike for these trails. A down country or light trail bike is fine too. Ocala is the Horse Capital of the World! Florida Horse Park is in the Greenway 20 miles away and is great for polo matches and horse shows. Event schedules are online. The World Equestrian Center is in Ocala, 15 miles - also great for horse shows and has a couple nice restaurants. Grandview Clydesdales are about 30 miles away and they offer 1.5 to 2-hour educational tours of their famous Clydesdales Horses. I personally have not done this yet, but it looks awesome. Want a bit more hands on experience with a horse? Cactus Jack's Trail Rides is located at the Landbridge trail head about 21 miles from Wilderness. They rent E-Bikes too and conveniently they're located right at one of the trailheads along the forementioned paved bike path on the Florida Greenway. Try Zip Lining? Canyon's Zip Line and Adventure Park offers a number of canopy top Zip Line tours as well as horseback riding, kayaking, and gem mining tours. They are located 14 miles from Wilderness. The Appleton Museum of Art is 6.5 miles away. A nice place to go and beat the heat and enjoy a bit of culture. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is 32 miles. Looks fun and they appear to be dog on leash friendly. We love the puppies! Ocala is sweet!

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Paradise Park and River Retreat

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Old Town, FL

My father bought the property next door to the RV sites 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 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.

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Enchanted Oaks Camp & Farm

6 sites · Lodging9 acres · Ocala, FL

Welcome to Enchanted Oaks Farm and Camp site. We are an 8.5 acre farm in Ocala Florida, that offers unique glamping experiences. Activities in the area include: -Rainbow River Canoe and Kayak (40 minute drive)-K.P. Hole County Park (40 minute drive)-Disney (1 hr 10 minute drive)-Ocala National Forest (30-50 minute drive)-Juniper Springs Swimming Area (1 hr drive)-Ocala Drive-in (30 minute drive)-Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring (52 minute drive)-The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park (29 minute drive)-Silver Springs State Park (40 mintue drive)Hi Y’all, I’m Cassie Peech. I own and operate Enchanted Oaks Farm and Cassie Peech and Company (a wedding and events company based out of Orlando, Jax, and Tampa).We are from a tiny Kentucky town (2000 people), and love to show people our southern hospitality. We originally bought the farm to host weddings but we figured we would give hosting a try and we love it!!

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Paradise Lake Rousseau ,Fl

7 sites · Lodging, Tents3 acres · Crystal River, FL

3 acres on beautiful Lake Rousseau. Fishing , camping , kayaking , cabin rentals. 10 miles from ThreeSisters Springs, Hunter Springs and Crystal River. Abundant wildlife. Beatiful sunrirses and sunsets. Very peaceful!

The best camping near Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area guide

Overview

About

Camping near Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area opens up a world of outdoor activities that go beyond the typical camping experience. Originally created in the early 1900s with a hydro-electric dam, Lake Rousseau has evolved into a hub for freshwater fishing, bird-watching, and picnicking. Multi-use platforms along the lakeshore make it easy to engage in these activities, offering a versatile outdoor experience. But the fun doesn't stop at the lake. Just a short drive away, the Inglis Dam Recreation Area provides another layer of outdoor adventure. Situated about 2 miles east of U.S. 19, the Inglis Main Dam serves as an access bridge onto Inglis Island's south side. It's a perfect spot for those who love to explore different terrains and water bodies. For the water enthusiasts, the downstream side of the dam features a large paved parking area with a boat ramp that doubles as a canoe and kayak launch. This ramp is your gateway to the Withlacoochee River segment, which stretches 1.5 miles from below the Main Dam and Spillway to the barge canal channel. Whether you're into boating, canoeing, or kayaking, this area has got you covered. A Lake Rousseau camping trip offers more than just a night under the stars; it's a multi-faceted outdoor adventure waiting to happen. From fishing and bird-watching on the lake to exploring nearby dams and rivers, the options are plentiful. Why limit yourself to one activity when you can have a smorgasbord of outdoor experiences? It's time to pack your gear and head out for an unforgettable adventure.

When to go

The best time to visit Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area is during the cooler months from November to March, when the weather is mild and perfect for outdoor activities. Summer months can be hot and humid, with increased chances of afternoon thunderstorms, making some activities less enjoyable.

Know before you go

Ensure you navigate within marked channels while boating on Lake Rousseau due to submerged stumps.
Remember to bring your fishing license and adhere to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's regulations.
Accessible amenities are available, including a paved multi-use trail and picnic/fishing pavilions.
Pets are welcome but must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times, and owners must pick up after them.
For equestrian trail access, call the Greenway Inglis Lock office in advance for equine trailer parking.