Indian Lake State Forest Campground

Open — Open year-round with reservations available up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America. Day-of arrival reservations are also accepted.

About

Indian Lake State Forest Campground is set within 4,466 acres of gently rolling sandhills and karst topography in Marion County, Florida. The campground offers 13 sites including 5 primitive tent-only sites (sites 1-5) without hookups, 6 RV or tent sites (sites 6-11) with electric and water hookups, and one group tent site accommodating up to 20 people. Located just north of the deep sinkhole lake that gives the forest its name, the campground provides access to hiking and equestrian trails, as well as opportunities for picnicking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, and photography. The facility includes a central 4-unit toilet and shower bathhouse accessible to registered campers via code-locked doors. A vault toilet near the day use parking area serves day visitors. The forest features diverse natural communities including depression marshes, xeric hammocks, and mesic flatwoods, with ongoing reforestation efforts in previously farmed areas. Indian Lake drains into the Floridian aquifer through its sinkhole basin. The campground is adjacent to Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area and only 4.5 miles north of the historic Silver Springs State Park, offering easy access to additional recreational opportunities in the region.

Directions

From Ocala (I-75): Take exit 352 (State Road 40). Drive east on SR 40 for 8.4 miles to County Road 35. Turn north on CR 35 and drive 4.5 miles. Look for the Indian Lake State Forest Recreation Area sign on the right after the Bear-N-Oak Trailhead. Turn in and follow the road for just over a quarter mile down to the campsites near the lake.

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