About Juniper Springs Rec Area
Number of accommodations: 76
Campground Amenities
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Showers -
Dump Station
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Sites & Availability
76 Sites Available
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Site Details
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76 Sites Available
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Reviews (555)
What Guests Are Saying
Juniper Springs Rec Area offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience with friendly, helpful staff and well-maintained facilities. Many visitors enjoyed the scenic beauty, clean bathrooms, and the enjoyable kayaking experience on Juniper Run. However, some guests noted issues with noise from neighboring campers, a prevalence of ticks, and the need for maintenance on trails and facilities.
What Guests Are Saying
Juniper Springs Rec Area offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience with friendly, helpful staff and well-maintained facilities. Many visitors enjoyed the scenic beauty, clean bathrooms, and the enjoyable kayaking experience on Juniper Run. However, some guests noted issues with noise from neighboring campers, a prevalence of ticks, and the need for maintenance on trails and facilities.
Review Summary
Samuel H
VerifiedMarch 14, 2024 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: TROP
Great park. Helpful staff and well run park. Not a 5 because of the disrepair to the trails and park facilities itself. Been that way for a while too it seems. It's a shame especially in OUR national parks.
Peggy C
VerifiedMarch 14, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: TROP
A very well-managed park. The only reason I did not give it a 5 is the lack of WiFi anywhere in the park. Don't need it at the campsite, but at the main stope or visitor's center, it would be helpful for those "have to connect" moments.
Daniel A
VerifiedMarch 12, 2024 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: TROP
Great place for camping. Clean bathrooms and dishwasher! Some of the trails are closed for maintenance during the time of this review. If you are thinking of doing Kayaking/Canoeing, keep in mind that it is a narrow stream and you must do the 7 mile stretch (4-5 hrs).
Mary S
VerifiedMarch 11, 2024 • Stayed at: 058, Loop: SAND
Campsite was emaculat and great locker to prevent critters, however the bathrooms need some help.
Mary G
VerifiedMarch 8, 2024 • Stayed at: 034, Loop: TROP
Juniper Springs is a lovely setting but some of the trails have been closed for years and years and now on our most recent visit even more trails need attention. Makes me want to avoid this area when planning our next outing.
Michelle K
VerifiedMarch 8, 2024 • Stayed at: 063, Loop: FERN
Group campsite behind us was allowed to party and blast loud music until 10 pm then right away in the morning all day. Loud, kids, rude and no security available.
Michael G
VerifiedMarch 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: TROP
Neat campground. Fun kayak run. Staff a little stiff. Appreciate the warm shower.
Rockey P
VerifiedMarch 6, 2024 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: SAND
Friendly staff and clean bathhouses
John W
VerifiedMarch 5, 2024 • Stayed at: 064, Loop: FERN
Stayed 1 night, it was decent
Ian S
VerifiedMarch 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: TROP
This place is operated by a vendor who’s not done a very good job of training its employees. Will not list full descriptions of “disappointments” but will say that staff is generally unfriendly and often-times antagonistic. Since this is a dry camping facility it would very much benefit from having generator-free loops. The smog and noise from big diesel Class A rigs was often overwhelming.
On the plus side, there are many very nice sites available… unfortunately we got a pretty crappy one. The staff could not allow us to move to any of the other nicer sites, we would have to contact Recreation.gov to change our reservations (always a real joy). The staff had no means of doing this and didn’t seem to have any visibility into the current status of their campsites.
This would be a much nicer place if it had a better-trained staff and some flexibility to choose any of the open sites. A generator-free area would be a HUGE plus.
Location Juniper Springs Rec Area
Address:
26701 East Hwy 40
Silver Springs, FL, 34488
United States
From I-75, take Highway 40 east through Ocala and Silver Springs for approximately 36 miles to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area.
From I-95, take the Ocala/Silver Springs Exit (Highway 40) west for approximately 37 miles to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area.
From the intersection of Highway 40 and Highway 19, the campground is 4.5 miles west on Highway 40. The entrance is on the north side of Highway 40.
Latitude & Longitude: 29.1822 / -81.7125
Elevation: 13 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Campers can check in at 2:00 pm and must check out by 11am. We do not accomodate early check-ins or late check-outs. If you arrive early, you will be required to pay the per person admission fee to access the site. If you remain after checkout, you will be assessed a late fee for occupying the site or will be required to pay the per person fee to access the swimming and picnic area. |
| General |
Campground gate is closed and locked from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m (March - Oct) and 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. (Oct - March). Campers who check-in after the gatehouse is closed must visit the Gatehouse the next morning to complete their check-in to their site. Failure to do so will lead to a 'no show' charge to your reservation and potential forfeiture of site. |
| General |
Camp sites must be occupied first night of reservation |
| General |
Each campsite can hold a MAXIMUM of 2 tents and 5 campers. Maximum 2 vehicles per site (campers included); extra vehicles must park in overflow/overnight parking area and will be charged $9 per vehicle, per night |
| General |
NO REFUNDS DUE TO WEATHER |
| General |
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators are not allowed to run during quiet hours. |
| General |
No off-road vehicles allowed within the campground |
| General |
Bears and raccoons frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers. Failure to comply with this regulation can result in immediate ejection from campground without refund. |
| General |
Dogs/pets are allowed in campground only and must be leashed and supervised at all times. No dogs/pets allowed in day-use area, bathrooms, boardwalk and canoe run. |
| General |
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the day-use area.We ask that guests be courteous of one another and limit floats in the swimming area to under 60 inches across. Please be aware the boardwalk remains closed due to age and hurricane damage. |
| General |
Children weighing less than 40 lbs are not allowed in rental canoes. No disposable items allowed on the canoe run (i.e., food wrappers, styrofoam coolers, cans, bottles, etc.) Only re-usable containers are allowed. |
| General |
Private canoe and kayak launches are at a fee and limited to 30 total vessels per day. Vessels must be launch BEFORE 1:00 p.m. daily. JUNIPER RUN IS NOT FOR BEGGINERS. IT IS A WILDERNESS AREA AND MECHANICAL TOOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED, SO THE RUN REMAINS WILD. |
| General |
Click here for more information about Ocala National Forest |
| General |
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more. |
| General |
As per Forestry Department regulations, fines will result from the following infractions:
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