Florida Campgrounds, Three Different Types
Florida campgrounds are incredible, especially in the spring before it gets too hot. Our trip began with in Jacksonville at Hanna Park Campground, which is a city park. Second was Salt Springs Recreation Area, which is a federal park and Hillsborough River State Park was last on our journey . Campers have rated all three of these Florida campgrounds highly and we found all to be uniquely beautiful. Each also offered very different ways for us to experience the surrounding area.
Hanna Park Campground
Hanna Park was one of the most beautiful Florida campgrounds we have visited. For all that the park offers, its nightly fee of $30 for full hookups was a bargain!
Enormous Live Oak trees enshrouded in Spanish Moss were everywhere. It is described on the website as a “coastal hammock” that is increasingly rare on the Atlantic coast. I felt we were in a tropical paradise while there.
We camped in site # 17 and loved it. The sites are fairly large and offer a degree of privacy.
The park is in Jacksonville, with all its attractions available to campers. This trip originated for us because of a desire to attend a concert at the Florida Theater and Hanna Park was a perfect home base. We were camping with friends who also attended the concert. It was a great evening! My only complaint is that the music was unnecessarily loud.
The campground includes a very large private beach right on the Atlantic. It was a reasonable walk from our campsite. We only walked on the beach, because it was too cool for us to get in the water. It was not the least bit crowded.
Hanna Park had amenities that we did not have an opportunity to use. Bikes are available for rent and there are 15 miles of bicycle trails. There is also a freshwater lake.
Since we were camping with friends, we cooked in for most meals and played games (Mexican Train, Hand and Foot, Uno). We had a fabulous time.
The Negative
This Florida campground is amazing! It would be perfect except for the lack of cleanliness in the bathhouse. They were not the worst we have ever seen, but they certainly were a sharp contrast to the quality of everything else in the park. In fact, I used the shower in our T@B 400 while at Hanna because of this. As former T@G owners, we did not have that option nor did we have a toilet. It would have been a bigger issue with our previous camper.
Salt Springs Recreation Area
Salt Springs is in the heart of the Ocala Forest. The campground and facilities were immaculate and offered full hookups. Because we have a small grey water tank, this was very nice. With our Senior Pass, the nightly rate was only $23. 18, another bargain in Florida campgrounds. It was easier to keep our camper floor clean at Salt Springs because the site had asphalt. The campground also offers WiFi, though we were told it was sporadic. We happened to be near an access point and it wasn’t bad.
Our site had shade for part of the day, but when it did not, it was quite hot. We moved our rug and chairs around a lot to avoid direct sunlight.
The Springs were the main attraction and we really enjoyed them. We got into the water on two of our three days there. It gets its name from the potassium, magnesium and sodium salts in the water, which is a constant 74 degrees. The Springs provide a very clear, shallow pool that ranges from approximately 2 to 5 feet deep.
We also hiked the 1.5 mile Bear Swamp Trail, which was a treat for me because my husband’s knee replacement now allows him to be more active. It was an easy, shaded path with beautiful vegetation.
Our friends were with us at this campground too and we enjoyed cooking in and more games. We had lunch and one breakfast at a nearby restaurant, but the meals at the campground were much better.
The Negative
If there is a negative at this campground, for me, it would be that there is nothing of interest outside the campground. For some, this may be a big plus. We loved the Springs and time spent with our friends, but by ourselves we would miss nearby things to do after a couple of days.
Hillsborough River State Park
The third of our Florida Campgrounds was actually a repeat. We stayed at Hillsborough River in the fall of 2017. This is a link to our earlier post. Our son and his girlfriend are in Tampa, so we stay at this park when camping and visiting them. We had Site # 84, but it was quite sunny when we arrived, so we requested a change to 101. The site was quite large and shady. Sadly, no sewer though. It was a bargain as well at a nightly rate of $29.50.
The park has several hiking trails. We walked the Rapids Nature Trail, which runs alongside the river. It was an easy, shaded walk with magnificent views of the river. I so loved the “Prayer of the Woods” at the beginning of the trail in the photo below!
When we were at the campground before, the pool was closed. This time, it was open and we loved it! It was huge and a perfect temperature and not a bit crowded, though that will probably change once school is out for the summer.
The Negative
Hillsborough River State Park is wonderful, but we had terrible experiences with bugs. First, it was lovebug season and they were all over our SUV. We were told they like white vehicles and they certainly liked ours. The only way to get the massive numbers of dead ones off our vehicle was using dryer sheets. If you allow them to remain on your car, they are corrosive and can destroy your paint.
Secondly, I had a bad experience with chiggers. They bit my ankles and I had major bumps and itching. I think I also transferred some to my arms and legs for additional bites. I had no idea chiggers could be such a big deal! Hypochondriac that I am, I imagined much more serious possibilities for my bites until my son talked me down.
Ybor City
We also visited Ybor City, a fascinating neighborhood in Tampa that was founded on the cigar industry . On another trip, we had dinner at the wonderful Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and wanted to eat there again.
I am so glad we also decided to check out the Ybor City Museum State Park. The neighborhood has a most interesting history. We toured the museum with Mitzi, a lovely docent from Venezuela who has lived in the U.S. for forty years. She provided a tour of a replica of the homes during the 1800s. She made the 1800s and early 1900s in Ybor City come alive for us. All this for just $4 each. I won’t spoil it for those who might want to visit, but encourage everyone to check it out. It was great!
Family Time
Of course, our favorite time in Tampa was visiting family. Our son and his girlfriend prepared a delicious steak and lobster dinner for us. The interesting thing about the lobsters is that they caught them. They are both experienced divers and our son has just become a certified Divemaster. We are very proud of their accomplishments.
Favorite Restaurants on Trip
Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City on the way to Tampa was awesome. Surprisingly, their Gator Bites with horseradish sauce was great. The best thing there, however, was the goat cheesecake with gingersnap crust. We also liked The Great Catch in Zephyrhills. Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad and the White Chocolate Bread Pudding were also wonderful.
In Conclusion
This, our first camping trip of 2019, was everything we could have wanted. We were blessed by wonderful weather and soul-soothing closeness with nature. Our time with friends and family was priceless. This trip was retirement at its very best. Florida campgrounds rock!
