If you’re an Oakmont resident, you already know it offers all the convenience, beauty, resident amenities and location you could want from the top master-planned community in Gainesville.
But what everyone might not know is that Oakmont’s hometown also offers some of the state’s best camping resources.
Florida’s year-round temperate climate makes camping a fun activity any time, especially during cooler months, and nearby national and state parks make it easy. Once you’re ready to star-gaze somewhere other than your Oakmont backyard, peruse the suggestions below. Note that all four have entrance and camping fees.
Key takeaways
- Oakmont in Gainesville is close to some of Florida’s best state parks, offering great camping options for all experience levels
- Nearby Paynes Prairie State Preserve features tent, RV, trailer, and equestrian camping, plus guided campfires during cooler months
- O’Leno State Park offers RV and primitive camping along the Santa Fe River, with historic features like a 1930s suspension bridge
- River Rise Preserve State Park is an equestrian-friendly, primitive-only camping spot where the Santa Fe River resurfaces after going underground
- Silver Springs State Park is known for glass-bottom boat tours and offers full camping amenities, plus cabins for non-campers—all within an hour of Oakmont
Paynes Prairie State Preserve
A spectacular place to explore and one of the state’s most historic natural sites. Paynes Prairie became Florida’s first state preserve in 1971 and is a National Natural Landmark.
Find tent, RV and trailer sites at the campground near Lake Wauburg. Numerous amenities are available, as is access to the Preserve’s trail system and ranger-led campfire fun at a nearby amphitheater from November through February. There’s also primitive camping for equestrians on the Chacala Trail.
Paynes Prairie is approximately a half-hour south of Oakmont via Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 441 South.
Located at 100 Savannah Boulevard in Micanopy.
O’Leno State Park
Another historical outdoor gem. O’Leno State Park’s infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s (don’t miss the suspension bridge across the Santa Fe River).
O’Leno offers facilities for trailers and RVs, plus on-site amenities, all within view of the river. Primitive tent camping also is available. It’s renowned for its variety of forest-ed trails, terrain and the river, which disappears underground here through a limestone aquifer before resurfacing in the next state park on our list.
O’Leno State Park is approximately 40 minutes north of Oakmont via I-75 and U.S. Highway 441 North.
Located at 410 Southeast O’Leno Park Road in High Springs.
River Rise Preserve State Park
Aptly named, this is where the Santa Fe River re-appears after diving underground at O’Leno State Park three miles north.
It’s also located within north central Florida’s wooded natural landscape and is an equestrian favorite, offering primitive camping-only, vehicle and trailer parking, a sizable barn and some amenities (but no water or electric hook-ups).
River Rise is approximately a half-hour north of Oakmont via I-75 and U.S. Highway 441 North.
Located at 373 U.S. Highway 27 in High Springs.
Silver Springs State Park
One of Florida’s longtime, iconic attractions that’s now a state park.
It’s famous for glass-bottom boats that cruise sparkling waterways, but also provides numerous outdoor activities. There’s spacious trailer and RV camping with amenities, plus a primitive camping option for group outings. Non-campers can enjoy cabin rentals.
Silver Springs is approximately an hour south of Oakmont via I-75, just east of Ocala.
Located at 5656 East Silver Springs Boulevard in Silver Springs.
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