Kim S
March 19, 2026
Jeff did a great job keeping public areas clean and stocked. Chiggers were biting but… it’s nature.
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About River Forest Group Site
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the shores of the St. Johns River in Ocala National Forest. Located just across the river from Deland, the site is popular for groups, family reunions and weddings and can accommodate up to 125 guests.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Spring
Summer
Fall
Fishing
Year-round
Hiking
Year-round
Kayaking
Spring
Summer
Fall
Paddling
Spring
Summer
Fall
Swimming
Summer
Year-round
Fishing
Nearby
Hiking
Nearby
Spring
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Paddling
Nearby
Summer
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Paddling
Nearby
Swimming
Nearby
Fall
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Paddling
Nearby
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
365 Days
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Picnic Table
Restrooms
River Access
Showers
Fire Pit
Site Setup and Access
- Shaded Site
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
- Showers
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
- Fire Pit
On Site Services
- Pavilion
Water Access
- River Access
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Reviews
18 reviews
Summary
River Forest Group Site offers plenty of space for RVs and has clean bathroom facilities. While there were some issues with warm shower water and limited fishing access, the campground's public areas are well-maintained, and visitors enjoyed a fantastic experience, especially over Thanksgiving weekend. Many guests express a desire to return in the future.
Based on guest feedback
4.6
Overall rating
Based on 18 reviews
5 stars
77.8% (14)
4 stars
11.1% (2)
3 stars
0.0% (0)
2 stars
11.1% (2)
1 star
0.0% (0)
Showing 18 reviews
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Kim S
March 19, 2026
Jeff did a great job keeping public areas clean and stocked. Chiggers were biting but… it’s nature.
Helpful
Jeffrey S
December 7, 2025
This campground is wonderful…plenty of room for multiple rvs to be parked and the pavilion is perfect for family functions. The bathrooms were clean but the “hot water” for showers was only luck warm at best. I wish there was a fishing dock or more areas open to the river for fishing. There is more room available for rvs if they hadn’t blocked off more than half of the park…we had a fantastic time over Thanksgiving weekend!! We will be back in the future!!!
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Jeffrey S
December 7, 2025
This campground is wonderful…plenty of room for multiple rvs to be parked and the pavilion is perfect for family functions. The bathrooms were clean but the “hot water” for showers was only luck warm at best. I wish there was a fishing dock or more areas open to the river for fishing. There is more room available for rvs if they hadn’t blocked off more than half of the park…we had a fantastic time over Thanksgiving weekend!! We will be back in the future!!!
Helpful
Mark C
March 23, 2025
A nice site with clean bathroom facilities. The water access is a step down from the field. Overall a great site and location.
Helpful
Mark C
March 23, 2025
A nice site with clean bathroom facilities. The water access is a step down from the field. Overall a great site and location.
Helpful
BARBARA W
January 17, 2024
This group campsite is lovely. We had over 60 senior ladies in their various vehicles for a 3 night meet up. The grounds are spacious and beautiful. The camp hosts, Mitchell & Diane are gracious and very helpful without being intrusive.
This spot is a true gem in the National Forest system.
Helpful
BARBARA W
January 17, 2024
This group campsite is lovely. We had over 60 senior ladies in their various vehicles for a 3 night meet up. The grounds are spacious and beautiful. The camp hosts, Mitchell & Diane are gracious and very helpful without being intrusive.
This spot is a true gem in the National Forest system.
Helpful
Alyssa M
December 17, 2023
We enjoyed the River Forest Group Site for out church event. It was nice to have the entire location to ourselves. We saw a lot of wildlife (bears, alligators, possums, etc) but felt safe and prepared. The showers and screened in pavilion served us well throughout the weekend. It would've been helpful to have a refrigerator on site but we made it work with coolers and ice. The mosquitos were really bad, so we recommend you bring a lot of bug spray.
Helpful
Alyssa M
December 17, 2023
We enjoyed the River Forest Group Site for out church event. It was nice to have the entire location to ourselves. We saw a lot of wildlife (bears, alligators, possums, etc) but felt safe and prepared. The showers and screened in pavilion served us well throughout the weekend. It would've been helpful to have a refrigerator on site but we made it work with coolers and ice. The mosquitos were really bad, so we recommend you bring a lot of bug spray.
Helpful
Location & Directions for River Forest Group Site
45700 River Forest Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720 United States
Elevation: 2 ft
Getting There
From Deland, Florida, drive west on State Route 44 to the first intersection after crossing the St. Johns River. Turn right on County Road 42, and the entrance to the campground is on the right.
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026
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Explore DeLand, FL
Population: 41,611
Nearby city: Deltona, FL
Approx. 12 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 36 ft
DeLand, FL
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Managed by the USDA Forest Service