About Juniper Springs Rec Area
Number of accommodations: 76
Campground Amenities
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Showers
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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
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
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
Michelle S
VerifiedFebruary 6, 2023 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: TROP
Great place to stay. Very clean friendly staff. I have Verizon and the service was not great. Will definitely stay again.
Stephen A
VerifiedFebruary 5, 2023 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: TROP
Good campsite well equiped
Kenneth H
VerifiedFebruary 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 056, Loop: SAND
The staff were helpful.
Especially recommendations by the rangers at the gate entrance into the park.
They were always very friendly and helpful.
What I did not like: The address given on the website points to Alice's Place, a bar 7 miles down the road from the actual entrance into the park.
Both my GPS devices could not find the location.
Found it through Google Maps.
Cindy S
VerifiedFebruary 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: TROP
This is a lovely park with just the right amount of amenities. It is very clean and well maintained with spacious sites. The ticks have been problematic the last couple of years and I was surprised to have such an issue near the end of January. I cut my trip short because I didn't want a camper infested with ticks. That was a disappointment because the weather was nearly perfect.
Paul J
VerifiedJanuary 31, 2023 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: SAND
the water in the shower was cold most of the time!!!
Staff was always nice and helpful.
Elvin H
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2023 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: TROP
Excellent sites. Clean restrooms. Quiet.
Patricia L
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2023 • Stayed at: 033, Loop: TROP
The campsite was very clean. The bear boxes are a plus. we're planning another trip soon.
Robert F
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: TROP
Gorgeous campground with very clean facilities. If the lots had electricity and water hook ups it would be our number one stay. Actually, even without the amenities it is our number one stay so far!
Judy B
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2023 • Stayed at: 073, Loop: FERN
We came here the last time five years ago; booked the same tent only site. It was great to be back, swim in the springs and take our kayaks out on the Juniper Run. We couldn’t rent kayaks as they are still setting it back up, and we had to pay 10 dollars each kayak to put it in the water. In comparison: Alexander Springs doesn’t charge for that. We saw two big gators out there, an otter, a black bear and a deer. The latter two took off as soon as they saw us. We didn’t take photos as we like to leave wildlife alone as much as we can, just enjoy seeing it. Another camper was so kind to give us a ride so we could park our car at the take out site. We offered him the use of our kayaks but he said he was just paying it forward as others had given him rides before. Make sure to bring a whistle and life jackets for each kayak as they are mandatory for the river run. And no disposable containers allowed.
We found the whole campground a bit more rundown and hopefully the caretakers will get it all back in shape. The little shop is closed. With the cold weather we could hear the traffic from the road more than we cared for. Once it warmed up the air contained more humidity and the noise didn’t carry as far.
Ron T
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: TROP
The staff are professional and friendly. The Campsites and bath houses are clean and comfortable. It is sad that the boardwalk trails are still closed since they have always been a major draw for me. Kayaking is now difficult to impossible with only one vehicle. Perhaps you can employ a private company to provide reverse hauls for paddlers. Another idea is to have a community sign-up board for paddlers that can share rides to / from the takeout.
The generator noise was much more that previously experienced even with only three RVs running them all day. The noise was really irritating and and over powering.
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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