annecarol

This is great for an easy overnight. All the sites are pull through and look to be large and level. A good number of trees but not much privacy between sites. However our site was large enough we didn't feel we were right on top of our neighbor. We didn't even unhitch. Friendly staff. Laundry room available. Rates vary according to amenities requested. There is a pool (we were off season) and a pet run. Very easy off and on I95. The sites at the front end may have some interstate noise but we were toward the back and had none. This will be a regular overnight stop for us coming and going from our home in Florida.

Note that the rate listed is the Florida Senior rate. We enjoyed our stay in this quiet spot. We were in the Lakeview loop. After driving around, we agreed it was preferable to the Sandhill loop. Because of upcoming hip surgery, we were in a handicap site with a concrete pad, however all the sites appeared to be fairly level. Some had lots of shade (ours and 55 for sure) and some had none. The bathhouse was spotless and, though not air conditioned, had an overhead fan that kept it from being sultry. We didn't do any of the hiking trails due to my husband's hip issue, but I did some geocaching with our friends. All of us came back with numerous chigger bites, so if you wander off the paths, take chigger precautions. We were disappointed to discover that most of the lakes in the park are reduced to small ponds. We were told that this is because some major cities are tapping into the aquifer that feeds these lakes. There is still swimming in Little Lake Johnson, which was reported to be very refreshing, but again we didn't try it out. We did see lots of deer, some wild turkeys and rabbits. Since the lake at the campground wasn't suitable for kayaking, we found a public boat launch on Sante Fe Lake in Melrose just 15 miles south of the park. We also had a great Independence Day with a parade and fireworks in Keystone Heights just 7 miles south. The Verizon service at our site was limited to text and email, though the six minute drive to the ranger station allowed us to make phone calls. Our friends had better coverage with AT&T, enabling them to work online.

The previous reviews sum it up pretty well. I would suggest, if possible, to circle the campground and choose your site - as we were able to do - because so many are not level and full of ruts and roots. However it is a beautiful park. We enjoyed the walking trail around the lake. If they could smooth out the road and the campsites this would be a five star. We were there in the middle of the week. There were lots of empty sites and all was quiet. Note that the office for check in closes at 5:00.

We love COE parks and this is our favorite so far. There are 2 main loops and we will stay in this same loop if possible when we return, though there are some great sites in the other loop as well. Most sites have terrific water views and lots of privacy. We were there the same weekend as the Clemson spring football game so we had to switch sites to get all 3 nights. The campground was full but peaceful. Both our sites had easy access to a bathhouse - one newer than the other, but both clean. We walked both loops, though the hills made it somewhat challenging for us flatland Florida folks. Note that the rate we paid is the senior pass half price rate.

We give this campground 5 stars because the pluses are huge - in our book totally outweighing the minuses. The first plus was our site - right on the bank of a marshy waterway, with a view that didn't stop. Another was the birds that are everywhere. Moor hens, herons large and small, egrets, ibis, and all sorts of small birds along with 2 sandhill cranes that hang out at the campground. There are also baby alligators and turtles. The kayaking looked to be excellent with kayaks and canoes available at a very reasonable rate. There is also a lovely concrete walking/bicycling path that heads out for a mile through the marsh. We were able to walk it several times. For pet owners, there is a dog park. Now for the rest of the story. The campsites are pretty close together with little vegetation or privacy. There are numerous snowbirds there for the winter, but everyone was very friendly and with the terrific "backyard" we didn't mind the closeness. Also the bathhouse is old, but clean. Sites 6-26 are on the marsh. Sites 35-48 back up to marsh and trees, but beyond that is a golf course. There is a warning about stray golf balls - not good sites for an Airstream! Reservations are accepted, but unfortunately not for specific sites. So it may take a little luck, but the reward is a campsite with a beautiful, peaceful view. Verizon coverage was strong. A side note - be sure and visit the nearby Navy Seal museum in Fort Pierce! Plan at least a half day.

We were only here for one night as a stopover from driving the Natchez Trace to heading home to Florida. It was quite a bit off the beaten track - lots of winding country roads to get there. Made for an interesting drive but wasn’t the convenient stop we thought it would be. We arrived 10 minutes before the stated closing of the ranger station, but all was closed and locked. No rangers to be seen. Therefore we didn’t get any info on the park, its amenities or possible activities. We walked down to the lake and out on the dock. It’s a very pretty setting, but that dock should have been condemned. There were rotted boards, boards missing, and the whole dock was very wobbly. The bath house was clean, but without ventilation. There appeared to be several rigs that were settled in for longer than a vacation, but everyone we encountered at the campground was friendly. Someone warned us not to leave any trace of food outside because the raccoons were very active. All was quiet overnight. We were up and out in the morning before we saw any rangers. No major complaints, but not someplace we would return.

This is our second time here and undoubtedly won't be our last. There are two camping loops. The Dogwood loop is hilly, curvy and much tighter for manuevering but has more privacy because of all the vegetation. The Magnolia loop is level and the sites are generally bigger. We have stayed in both and would probably stick with Magnolia, but either is fine. There are nice trails for hiking and canoe rental was only $5. It's an easy hike to River Sink where the river disappears underground. On our first stay the Sink looked like a large, quiet pond. On our second stay, when high water closed the swimming area and canoeing, the Sink had quite a vortex going. We also drove 3 miles down the highway and hiked the 1 mile in to see River Rise where the river emerges from underground. There are lots of trails, including equestrian trails, at River Rise. However for short hikes, the trails around the campground and River Sink satisfy us. There is a suspension bridge built by the CCC and history going back to Indians and early 19th century settlers.

Our cell reception was Verizon LTE with 2 bars. Phone calls were fine. The hotspot for Internet was a little slow but perfectly adequate.

This campground is very convenient for an overnight stop off I 24. It’s part of the Land Between the Lakes. We were fortunate to book a site right on the water. We were entertained by tugs pushing barges on the far side of the lake. The camp hosts were extremely friendly and helpful. They even called us the night before our arrival to say that they wouldn’t be there when we arrived. They gave us specific directions to the campground and told us to proceed to our site. They would catch us later to complete the check in process. T-Mobile cell service was minimal and spotty. All else was what you come to expect from the Corps campgrounds. Excellent! Rate reflects Senior Access pass discount.

This was our second time camping here. As noted previously there is a lot to do in the Ocala National Forest and this campground is a great base. A stop at the Ranger Station at the south end of Route 19 or the west end of Route 40 will provide good information about what is available in the national forest. The other Salt Springs reviews describe the campground so I'll detail what we did this time. We went to Silver Glen Springs just 10 minutes south and rented a canoe to paddle that run, hiked the 1/2 mile to the "boiling sands", and cooled off in the spring there. In conversation with locals we learned that summer weekends and holidays at Silver Glen should be avoided because they are extremely crowded. Signs indicate that the parking lot closes when full. However we were there on a Wednesday with no problems. Just a note to UPDATE: there is now a small but complete grocery store just 2 minutes south of the campground. The prices seemed quite reasonable for the few items we bought. We also recommend the Square Meal restaurant across the highway for terrific omelettes and BELTs (bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato sandwich). Campground rate reflects senior pass.

The previous reviews pretty well describe this campground. It was nearly full on the weekend, but not rowdy. Very family oriented. Then during the week it was nice and quiet. Most of the campsites are directly on the water with lovey views. The bathroom could use updating and the shower arrangement was a little strange, but all was clean. Cell signal for Verizon was weak but manageable. The price we paid reflects the senior discount. We really enjoyed this park.