Ocala National Forest

[caysea7254]

We are now Fulltimers!! Started our adventure Feb. 6th, and so far feel so stress free. We would like to know what day and time of day is best to try and get a firt come first served site in either Salt springs or Juniper springs campground. Thanks Tara

[Big_Katuna]

We’ve been many times and never seen primates. I’ve seen them on the spring run.
Find the boats tied up to the Don’t feed the monkeys sign throwing slices of bread out and there will be Monkees.

Noisey kids on bikes and skateboards are another story.

[Dutch_12078]

We've not seen any monkeys in the Silver Springs campground area either. The few we saw near the springs stayed well away from us. I don't know if there was any monkey poop on the children's slides though, my wife said I couldn't go on them... 😉

[lap527]

Speakeasy, I have NEVER seen any of the monkeys in the campground. I have seen them several miles down the river. They are around the main springs I guess because that is where they feed them. We just keep our distance from them anyway. I sure wouldn't cancel my rezzys due to the monkeys.

[SpeakEasy]

I've been reading about the monkeys in Silver Springs State Park.

Out-of-control population growth....

Carriers of Herpes B.....

Bites and scratches....

Monkey poop everywhere, including on children's playground slides....


Are these things just hyped overreactions from journalists, or is there genuinely a problem with the monkeys?

We're considering taking Silver Springs off our list of desirable campgrounds. We've never been there, so I don't know if this is necessary or not.

-Speak

[caysea7254]

Thanks and no confusion! Lol

[lap527]

From the north, get off at 326 and head east until you get to NE 58th Ave, traffic light, and take a right which is called Baseline. Stay on that and Silver Springs SP is about 4 miles on the left. I don't blame anyone for trying to miss the traffic around Ocala, it has become a pain for sure!
jolooote, if you get off 75 in Belleview, 484, head east then you can come up Baseline Road which there is 35, Silver Springs SP will be on your right after about 10 miles. Hope this helps and hope I haven't really confused you! LOL

[caysea7254]

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies. We are coming from the north
Hopefully we will get a spot. 🙂
.

[jolooote]

Orig. Poster didn't say from what direction they would come into the Ocala area. We always come up I-75 from the south. We don't like having to drive thru the center of Ocala on Rt 40. Is there an easier way to get to Silver River(Springs) St. Pk.?

[Dutch_12078]

If you're trying to look up info on Silver River State Park, it was renamed Silver Springs State Park in 2013.

[2012Coleman]

lap527 wrote:
jolooote, agree that Silver River is a great park with one exception that not all the sites are pull through, the majority are. The second loop has some back in sites on the back side. The sites are huge and level. My DH is an Ocala native and has been around here for 74 years and has really seen changes with Silver River. We use to take our boat and ride up the river to the springs, look at the monkeys, the fish and wave at the tourist. LOL! We live about 15 minutes from there now. They now have some sites that have FHU but not all. It is another park that is hard to get into, I guess because Walmart is so close...lol! Glad you enjoy our neck of the woods.

X2 on Silver River. We love this park - and yes, very hard to get into.

[lap527]

jolooote, agree that Silver River is a great park with one exception that not all the sites are pull through, the majority are. The second loop has some back in sites on the back side. The sites are huge and level. My DH is an Ocala native and has been around here for 74 years and has really seen changes with Silver River. We use to take our boat and ride up the river to the springs, look at the monkeys, the fish and wave at the tourist. LOL! We live about 15 minutes from there now. They now have some sites that have FHU but not all. It is another park that is hard to get into, I guess because Walmart is so close...lol! Glad you enjoy our neck of the woods.

[jolooote]

Silver River St.Pk. on the East side of Ocala and west edge of there is wonderful. I think All sites are pull thru and big nough 4 the largest rigs. They have the nicest bathouses I've seen, complete with private showers and Infra-Red heat lamps for drying as well as it is a disinfectant. The, nearby, Silver Springs is now a part of the State park and the famous Glass Bottom boat rides are great.

[caysea7254]

ok thanks everyone for the info! we will just wing it! 🙂

[Big_Katuna]

Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs and Clearwater Lake are in the Ocala National Forest. No hookups. Water available. Salt Springs is Fed too. Full hookups.

There are many small private campgrounds around Ocala with FHUs and have availability.