A Practical Guide for Planning the Perfect Family Camping Trip to Ocala National Forest
Thinking about a camping trip to Ocala National Forest? Remember that magical feeling of anticipation when you went to school the morning before your family was planning on going camping for the weekend? As a little kid, camping with family was one of the best things in the entire world! You were going off into the great unknown to enjoy some quality time with the ones you loved. Everything was planned out, and as a little kid, that felt natural!
Growing up and having a family of your own can make you yearn to share those same feelings and experiences with your little ones. But something you realize as a parent is that there’s a lot more planning that went into those magical camping trips you experienced as a kid than you thought! One of the best places to plan out a magical family camping adventure in Central Florida is the Ocala National Forest. It’s home to plenty of great camping spots and things to do that are sure to delight your family! Planning out the perfect adventure can be tough to do alone! But don’t worry, in this guide we’ll discuss things like:
- Campsite availability and booking tips
- What to pack
- Fun activities to do nearby
That way, you’ll feel confident in your plan to create some lifetime memories with your family on your camping trip to Ocala National Forest. Let’s get started!
Campsites
The first thing you need to do before planning anything else is to get your campsite figured out. There’s nothing quite worse than packing the entire car up with kids and gear without knowing what to expect when you get to the campground!
Ocala National Forest has tons of camping to accommodate a wide range of family camping styles. If you’re less of a roughing it sort of family and you prefer the comfort of a permanent structure like a cabin, there are two cabins available for rent. One is on the south side of Lake Dorr and the other is located near Sweetwater Spring. Both cabins can be booked year-round through recreation.gov and offer comforts like running water and electricity to keep everyone in your group happy while at camp!
If the cabins are booked up or are just not what you’re looking for, no problem! There are 14 different campgrounds within Ocala National Forest that can accommodate just about any style of camping you can think of. From the smallest tent to the largest RV, there is sure to be something that will fit your needs. The best tip here is to make sure to book your campsite in advance as Ocala National Forest is heavily used almost all year long due to its beauty and access to fun recreational activities.
What to Pack for Your Camping Trip to Ocala National Forest
One of the best parts about the Ocala National Forest is the year-round access that you have to it. While there are some common items that you’ll want to bring with you between all seasons (like your tent and sleeping bag!) there are some special considerations of things you ought to bring along with you and your family to ensure everyone is comfortable and enjoys the trip, depending on the season you go.
Spring and Summer Gear
Camping in Ocala National Forest during the spring and summer can be a great experience since you’ll experience warm temperatures the entire time you’re camping. The tricky part is that there will also be a fair amount of rain to deal with! That rain tends to make things fairly swampy, which is a recipe for there to be tons of bugs around too. With proper planning, you’ll be sure to keep everyone comfortable and happy though! Be sure that everyone has:
- Light moisture wicking clothing
- Extra socks
- Large shady hats
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Water bottle
By bringing these items for everyone in your family during the spring and summer seasons, you’ll be ensuring that they stay comfortable throughout your trip.
Winter Gear
A lot of people prefer to visit Ocala National Forest in the winter. Why? Well, for starters the temperatures are much cooler, and the bugs simply are not around in the same number as they are during the summer! With that in mind, it’s important to bring the proper things to keep your family comfortable during the winter, as it offers challenges of its own! Temperatures can vary from the high 60s during the day to the high 40s at night. That temperature change can really make folks uncomfortable if you don’t have the right stuff! Be sure that everyone has the following items if you take a family camping trip to the Ocala National Foriest in the winter:
- Waterproof jacket
- Medium weight jacket
- Medium weight moisture wicking clothing
- Extra blankets
- Extra socks
Things to do Near Camp
There are so many awesome things to do when visiting Ocala National Forest that the hardest part of planning is figuring out how to fit them all into your trip! There’s something for just about everyone to do, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find something that everyone will enjoy doing. Ocala National Forest is home to:
- Mountain biking
- Road biking
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Off-roading on ATVs
- Motor Boating
- Canoeing
- Scuba Diving
- Swimming
- Waterskiing
It’s pretty incredible how much you can do while visiting Ocala National Forest! Be sure to check out the US Forest Service website for Ocala for the details of where to find each activity so that you can book a campsite as close by as possible to where you can do your desired activities!
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve reached the end of our guide, you should feel inspired and confident to plan out the ultimate camping adventure for your family in Ocala National Forest! The memories that you’ll make while out in nature are sure to be ones that your kids will hang onto for the rest of their lives.
Where will you go? What activities will you do? We can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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