U.S. Forest Service · National Forests in Florida · Silver Springs, FL

Lake Shore Group Camp

Lake Shore Group Campground sits on the north shore of Fore Lake in Ocala National Forest. It is a favorite for scout, church and civic groups, as well as large families and reunions. 14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds

More like this: reservable in Florida · group sites in Florida

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
LAKE SHORE GROUP CAMPLAKE SHORE GROUP CAMPLAKE SHORE GROUP CAMPLAKE SHORE GROUP CAMP
Photos via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadePeople / vehicles
001GravelFull50 / 20

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents

Lake Shore Group Camp is for tent camping, however RVs are allowed in the small parking area. The site can accommodate up to 50 guests and there are campsites in the shade and in the sun, all within sight of the lake. The centerpiece of the facility is the large accessible picnic shelter, perfect for group gatherings. A group grill, picnic tables and a restroom with showers and flush toilets are available. The lake is situated in the historic community of Scrambletown, which has a store.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestNational Forests in Florida
BookingReservations may be made by phone at 1-877-444-6777 or online at Recreation.gov.
Fees$100 per night, two night minimum. Maximum 50 people.
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. For group reservations only.

National Forests in Florida recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lake Shore Group Camp50°60°70°80°90°January: 3.38 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.94 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.68 inches of precipitationApril: 2.22 inches of precipitationMay: 3.53 inches of precipitationJune: 7.41 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.94 inches of precipitationAugust: 7.07 inches of precipitationSeptember: 6.49 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.21 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.09 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.68 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 58.1°F averageFebruary: 61.0°F averageMarch: 65.3°F averageApril: 70.7°F averageMay: 76.4°F averageJune: 80.7°F averageJuly: 82.1°F averageAugust: 82.0°F averageSeptember: 79.9°F averageOctober: 73.5°F averageNovember: 65.4°F averageDecember: 60.3°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Ocala, 12 miles from the campground at 75 feet, station USC00086414 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 52 inches a year.

Getting there

From I-75, west of Ocala, take exit 352 onto State Route 40 east. Continue for 10 miles to County Road 314. Turn left on 314 and go 6 miles. Turn left onto 147th Avenue Road and look for the Lake Shore sign and entrance on left.

Nearest townSilver Springs, Florida
Coordinates29.2742° N, 81.9158° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗12.4 mi
Outdoor gearGander Outdoors ↗17.5 mi
RV sales & serviceGeneral RV Center ↗22.3 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to both ATV enthusiasts and Jeeps, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters. These opportunities are available within a short drive.

  • 3.7 mi
    Lake Eaton Loop Trail
    2.1 mi trail · hiking
  • 3.7 mi
    Lake Eaton Sinkhole Tr
    2.2 mi trail · hiking

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 →

Juniper Prairie Wilderness begins about 11.7 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.

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. Lined by marshes, the 12-acre Fore Lake is home to many species of birds. The surrounding landscape is forested with saw palmetto and oak trees.

Recreation

Fore Lake is an excellent spot for birding. Visitors can also picnic and fish along the shore. Campers who wish to venture out into the water can launch their electric-motor boats, canoes and kayaks from the facility's boat ramp. Swimming is allowed, but campers should be aware that there are alligators in this lake.

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 Lake Shore Group Camp?

Sites at Lake Shore Group Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations may be made by phone at 1-877-444-6777 or online at Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Lake Shore Group Camp?

$100 per night, two night minimum. Maximum 50 people.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Lake Shore Group Camp?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Lake Shore Group Camp open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Lake Shore Group Camp have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Lake Shore Group Camp?

Lake Shore Group Camp is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Lake Shore Group Camp?

A group grill, picnic tables and a restroom with showers and flush toilets are available.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Lake Shore Group Camp?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Lake Shore Group Camp?

Fore Lake is an excellent spot for birding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Lake Shore Group Camp?

Silver Springs, Florida. The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to both ATV enthusiasts and Jeeps, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters.

Source: Getting there

What if Lake Shore Group Camp is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Fore Lake Campground (0.3 mi), Lake Eaton Campground (3.3 mi), and Mill Dam Group Camp (8.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby