River Forest Group Site
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the shores of the St. Johns River in Ocala National Forest. Located just across the river from Deland, the site is popular for groups, family reunions and weddings and can accommodate up to 125 guests. 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 ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pull-through | Paved | Full | 125 / 25 |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
All new facilities are the highlight of the River Forest Group Site. Facilities include a screened pavilion for food preparation and cooking with your own cook stoves. A new bathhouse has also been built on site. The camping area is flat for tents with some shade provided by trees. While RVs are welcome, there are no hookups and all vehicles must remain in the designated parking area. Grills and picnic tables are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Deland, Florida, drive west on State Route 44 to the first intersection after crossing the St. Johns River. Turn right on County Road 42, and the entrance to the campground is on the right.
| Nearest town | Deland, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29.0129° N, 81.3908° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Southern RV Inc ↗ | 7.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 10.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bass Pro Shops ↗ | 22.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSt. Francis Trail ↗6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miRattlesnake Well Loop0.5 mi trail · hiking
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miSt. Francis Trailhead ↗National Forests in Florida
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
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge begins about 1.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.7 miLake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 21,168 acres
- 4.6 miAlexander Springs Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 7,327 acres
- 6.9 miLake Woodruff Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,066 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
- Kilkoff HouseBuilding · Deland · 4.1 mi
- John B. Stetson HouseBuilding · DeLand · 4.1 mi
- DeLand Memorial Hospital, OldBuilding · DeLand · 4.9 mi
Natural features
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 campground is shaded with large live oaks with a flat, grassy patch of land that leads to the St. Johns River.
Recreation
This site is a great setting for groups to relax, picnic and enjoy the shade on a warm day. A large field offers ample space for activities such as softball, volleyball and horseshoe tossing. Visitors wanting to venture out of the picnic area can go for a long walk through floodplain forests and pine flatwoods on the St. Francis Trail, or head to the river to canoe, kayak or fish for bass.
Nearby
The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to off-road vehicle enthusiasts, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters from around Central Florida. Numerous lakes, rivers and natural springs surround the area and offer many water activities.
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 River Forest Group Site?
Sites at River Forest Group Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at River Forest Group Site?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does River Forest Group Site have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to River Forest Group Site?
River Forest Group Site is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at River Forest Group Site?
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 River Forest Group Site?
This site is a great setting for groups to relax, picnic and enjoy the shade on a warm day. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to River Forest Group Site?
Deland, Florida. The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to off-road vehicle enthusiasts, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters from around Central Florida.
Source: Getting there
What if River Forest Group Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Clearwater Lake Recreation Area (10.2 mi), Alexander Springs Recreation Area (12.3 mi), and Lake Dorr Campground (15.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby