U.S. Forest Service · National Forests in Florida · Florida

Big Bass Campground

Spend your next short- or long-term camping trip at Big Bass. With the occasional black bear sighting, this the perfect location to escape the hustle of the city and get back to nature. We offer both tent and RV camping on the south edge of the Ocala National Forest, not far from the Ocklawaha River. Big Bass is a seasonal campground in the southern part of the Ocala National Forest, not far from Doe Lake Recreation Area.

Temporarily closedReservable · Recreation.gov19 sitesPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Florida · pets allowed in Florida

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A photo of facility Big Bass Campground (FL) with Picnic Table, Fire Pit, Shade, Full HookupA photo of facility Big Bass Campground (FL) with Picnic Table, Fire Pit, Shade, Lantern PoleA photo of facility Big Bass Campground with two ADA campsites.A photo of facility Big Bass Campground’s view over the water with walking trails connected to the campground.
Photos courtesy of Meghan Hitt · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups19
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusTemporarily closed
SeasonOctober to April
ForestNational Forests in Florida
BookingThis means traditional cash fee-tube payment process will not be available.
Fees$15 per night and a $5 fee for non-campers to dump waste water.
RulesAll Ocala National Forest campgrounds allow pets, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and are not permitted in designated swimming and picnicking areas. There is a maximum stay limit of 14 consecutive days in a 30-day period.

National Forests in Florida recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Big Bass Campground50°60°70°80°90°January: 2.81 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.49 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.49 inches of precipitationApril: 2.64 inches of precipitationMay: 3.37 inches of precipitationJune: 7.51 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.50 inches of precipitationAugust: 7.46 inches of precipitationSeptember: 6.32 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.94 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.24 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.26 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 56.5°F averageFebruary: 59.6°F averageMarch: 64.1°F averageApril: 69.6°F averageMay: 75.5°F averageJune: 79.6°F averageJuly: 81.1°F averageAugust: 81.1°F averageSeptember: 78.9°F averageOctober: 72.5°F averageNovember: 64.2°F averageDecember: 59.1°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Lisbon, 8 miles from the campground at 68 feet, station USC00085076 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 50 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates28.9852° N, 81.7842° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearPkay it Again ↗11.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗11.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗13.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Big Bass Campground | Ocala National Forest

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 4.3 mi
    Lam Horse Trail ↗
    14.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.9 mi
    Big Scrub Link
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Billies Bay Wilderness begins about 12.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Florida

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Florida
    Johnny Molloy, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Florida
    Rick Sapp, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Florida Lighthouse Trail
    Thomas W. Taylor and Chris Belcher, 2020
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Big Bass Campground?

Sites at Big Bass Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. This means traditional cash fee-tube payment process will not be available. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Big Bass Campground?

$15 per night and a $5 fee for non-campers to dump waste water.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Big Bass Campground?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Big Bass Campground open right now?

Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season October to April.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Big Bass Campground have?

19 sites, including 19 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Big Bass Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Big Bass Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Big Bass Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. All Ocala National Forest campgrounds allow pets, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and are not permitted in designated swimming and picnicking areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

What if Big Bass Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Doe Lake Group Site (4.5 mi), Big Scrub Campground (4.7 mi), and Lake Dorr Campground (8.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby