Buck Lake Group Campground
Buck Lake is a group camping facility in the heart of Ocala National Forest in Florida. Great for family reunions and social gatherings, the campground can host a group of up to 50 guests along the shores of Buck Lake. Activities include fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and simply relaxing and enjoying the breeze.
More like this: reservable in Florida · big rigs in Florida · pets allowed in Florida · group sites in Florida
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Full | 50 / 20 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
This campground provides primitive camping for groups. Amenities include a vault toilet, a hand pump for drinking water, six picnic tables and a group campfire ring. Group get exclusive use of the facility during the reservation.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | National Forests in Florida |
| Booking | Reservations should be made through recreation.gov or by calling by phone at 1-877-444-6777. A two-night minimum stay is required to reserve this facility. |
| Fees | For more information on fees and how to reserve your site, please visit the concessionaire Naventure. |
| Rules | Available for group reservations only. 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. A maximum stay limit of 14 consecutive days is allowed in a 30-day period. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-75 in Ocala, Florida, travel east on State Route 40. Turn onto State Route 19 south, then turn right onto Forest Road 595-2 and travel for approximately 4 miles. Buck Lake Group Camp will be on the left.
| Nearest town | Umatilla, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29.0981° N, 81.6506° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 4.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Pkay it Again ↗ | 20.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 22.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Buck Lake Camp Tour | Ocala National Forest
Worth a stop
Buck Lake is near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs Recreation Area, where visitors can swim, dive and snorkel in a warm, spring-fed lake and canoe on a 7-mile run.
- 5.9 miLake Dorr Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miFnst - Buck Lake Spur ↗1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.2 miSouth Loop ↗7.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 4.4 miWandering Wiregrass ↗16.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.4 miWandering Wiregrass Entrance0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.6 miAlexander Springs Spur0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miPaisley Woods Mtn Bike ↗22 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Billies Bay Wilderness begins about 2.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.4 miBillies Bay Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 3,064 acres
- 5.7 miJuniper Prairie Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 14,293 acres
- 8.7 miAlexander Springs Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 7,327 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Carr Family CabinBuilding · Umatilla · 7.7 mi
- South Methodist Episcopal Church at UmatillaBuilding · Umatilla · 11.8 mi
- Barberville Central High SchoolBuilding · Barberville · 15 mi
Natural features
Located in north central Florida, the Ocala National Forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest. The forest is also rich in water resources with more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs, several of which are near Buck Lake.
Recreation
The sandy swimming beach provides a great place to relax and picnic. Campers have access to Buck Lake to enjoy fishing for panfish, bass and crappie, as well as boating. Hikers can access a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida Trail via a scenic trail that loops around the lake for 1.7 miles.
Guidebooks for Florida
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Buck Lake Group Campground?
Sites at Buck Lake Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations should be made through recreation.gov or by calling by phone at 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Buck Lake Group Campground?
For more information on fees and how to reserve your site, please visit the concessionaire Naventure.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Buck Lake Group Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Buck Lake Group Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Buck Lake Group Campground have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Buck Lake Group Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Buck Lake Group Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Buck Lake Group Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Buck Lake Group Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Buck Lake Group Campground?
The sandy swimming beach provides a great place to relax and picnic. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Buck Lake Group Campground?
Umatilla, Florida. Buck Lake is near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs Recreation Area, where visitors can swim, dive and snorkel in a warm, spring-fed lake and canoe on a 7-mile run.
Source: Getting there
What if Buck Lake Group Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Alexander Springs Recreation Area (4.5 mi), Lake Dorr Campground (5.9 mi), and Juniper Springs Recreation Area (6.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby