Big Scrub Campground
National Forests in Florida — lakeside
Location: UMATILLA, FL, FL
Price: From $20 per night
Price range: $20–$30 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (65 reviews)
Season: May through October
Perennially popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Big Scrub Campground sits in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. A trailhead within the facility offers riders campsite-to-trail access. 14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds For reservations or refund request please call (877) 444-6777This location has limited staffing.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Showers
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-scrub-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Big Scrub Campground offers direct campsite-to-trail access to the 47-mile Ocala Adventure Trail, making it ideal for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. At $20/night in Ocala National Forest with fire rings and picnic tables, it's an affordable base for exploring central Florida's natural terrain.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in the area. Also expect Florida Scrub-Jay, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane, rough greensnakes, and barking tree frogs.
Insider tips for Big Scrub Campground: Book early — it's a perennially popular federal campground and fills up quickly Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; there are no hookups available Remember the 14-day stay limit in any 30-day period applies across ALL Ocala National Forest campgrounds, not just this one
Skip Big Scrub Campground if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer) — none are available at this campground. You want year-round camping — seasonal operations May-October only. You're not prepared for off-road vehicle activity — the campground is oriented toward trail riders.
Best time to visit Big Scrub Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Doe Lake Group Site (Silver Springs, FL), Big Bass Campground (Fl) (Umatilla, FL), Buck Lake Group Campground (Umatilla, FL), Lake Dorr Campground (Altoona, FL).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big Scrub Campground
Cell signal at Big Scrub Campground (UMATILLA, FL): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Perennially popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Big Scrub Campground sits in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. A trailhead within the facility offers riders campsite-to-trail access. 14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds For reservations or refund request please call (877) 444-6777This location has limited staffing.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
it's a perennially popular federal campground and fills up quickly
Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; there are no hookups available
Remember the 14-day stay limit in any 30-day period applies across ALL Ocala National Forest campgrounds, not just this one
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From I-75 east, travel on State Route 40 to Forest Road 588. Turn south on 588 and go approximately 8 miles. The campground is on the west side of the road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — National Forests in Florida fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at National Forests in Florida before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Big Scrub Campground cost per night?+
What season is Big Scrub Campground open?+
Does Big Scrub Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Big Scrub Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Big Scrub Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Big Scrub Campground?+
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●Data sources on this page
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