Livingston Creek Campground Lake Wales Ridge State Forest

Closed — Closed through December 31, 2025. Open year-round for reservations starting January 1, 2026. Water is currently unavailable due to a well pump malfunction. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.

About

Livingston Creek Campground is situated on the Arbuckle tract of Lake Wales Ridge State Forest in Polk County, approximately 44 miles southeast of Lakeland. This hunt camp features 7 reservable campsites designed for both RV and tent camping, with each site including a picnic table and fire ring. The campground is located within the Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area, offering excellent access to hunting and scouting during season. Lake Wales Ridge State Forest derives its name from the ancient ridge that runs north and south through the Florida Peninsula. This unique geological feature supports a scrub ecosystem with one of the highest concentrations of rare and endangered plants in the continental United States. The forest offers diverse recreational opportunities including 25 miles of the Arbuckle Hiking Trail, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and photography. Hikers can explore trails that cross varied terrain from forest wetlands to ancient dry scrub communities. The campground accommodates Class B or Class C RVs with a maximum length of 32 feet. Pads measure 12 feet wide by 60 feet long, and no Class A RVs are permitted. Two portable restrooms and a garbage dumpster serve the campground. A day-use pavilion is also available by reservation. Bears and raccoons frequent the area, so proper food storage is essential.

Directions

From US 27: Turn left onto County Road 630A, at stop sign turn left onto County Road 630 East. Proceed east through Frostproof, past McDonald's, over railroad tracks, then right onto Lake Reedy Blvd. Follow for about one mile past the blinking yellow light, turn left onto Lake Arbuckle Rd. Turn right onto Rucks Dairy Rd. After about a mile, cross the bridge over Livingston Creek. At the road split, keep right continuing on Rucks Dairy Rd. Livingston Creek Campground is on the right.

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