Campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Kathryn, FL

Water defines most itineraries. At Blue Spring State Park, 72-degree spring water feeds the St. Johns River, drawing hundreds of West Indian manatees in winter, while warmer months open the run to swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, tubing, and paddling, with canoe and kayak rentals available on-site. Guided river cruises operated by the park concession offer another way to explore the spring run and the St. Johns. Anglers head to Highland Park Fish Camp and St Johns Marina Resort for largemouth bass and crappie on the river system. Hikers can walk the Pine Island Trail and visit the historic Thursby House inside Blue Spring State Park. The Ocala National Forest sits directly north of Lake Kathryn. It spans roughly 383,000 acres, ranks as the southernmost national forest in the continental United States, and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub, with swimming springs, paddling runs, and off-road trails.

Peak season runs from late fall through early spring. As in other parts of central Florida, expect cooler winters and hot, humid, rainy summers. From mid-November through March, Blue Spring becomes a manatee refuge, drawing wintering West Indian manatees to the spring's consistent 72-degree water, and campground demand climbs accordingly. Swimming and diving switch on in warmer months. To provide a safe warm-water refuge for manatees, the spring and spring run are closed to all water-related activities, including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating, from approximately mid-November through March. Once manatee season ends, the run typically reopens to in-water recreation in April and stays open through October. Summer brings heat, thunderstorms, and Atlantic hurricane risk, but also the fewest crowds at the springs. Warm-weather weekends can push day-use capacity at Blue Spring to its limit, and the park sometimes closes to new day visitors once parking fills. Overnight campers are admitted regardless of day-use closures.

Sites vary in size and hookups. At Blue Spring, campsites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, are all back-in, include ADA-accessible sites, cap at eight people per site, and provide water and electricity. Each site has a picnic table and a grill, and a dump station is available in the park. Six cabins are also on the reservation grid. Highland Park Fish Camp provides electric, water, and sewer hookups, plus showers, restrooms, and Wi-Fi, with cabin rentals and tent areas also on-site. In the surrounding Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs Recreation Area is the only forest campground with full hookups for RVs. Expect wildlife. Alligators, wading birds, and manatees are routine sightings along the St. Johns River, and black bears range through the Ocala National Forest. Groceries and supplies are available in nearby Orange City and DeLand.