Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Federal campground in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Location: Folkston, GA, GA

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (330 reviews)

Season: May through October

Slip your canoe or kayak into the blackwater and paddle into a world of moss-draped cypress trees, echoing night sounds, and a rare solitude that exists only deep within the wilderness of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. An Overnight Camping Permit allows overnight camping in the Okefenokee Wilderness on elevated platforms and islands. Online reservations are not available.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge-overnight-camping-permit to be notified when sites open up.

Paddle into a rare wilderness experience with moss-draped cypress trees and elevated platform camping on islands within Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Google reviewers (4.7/5 stars) praise the magical setting, diverse wildlife viewing, and knowledgeable guides.

Wildlife alert: Eastern Black Bear, American Black Bear, American Alligator, and Florida × Northern Cotthumb present in area

Insider tips for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit: Call the Permit Reservation Line at 912-496-3331 Tuesday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 10:00 am EST — online reservations are not available Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites Do not depend on GPS directions to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area entrance

Skip Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit if: You need electrical, water, or sewer hookups — none are available. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You cannot reach the campground by phone during reservation windows.

Best time to visit Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Ocean Pond Campground (Lake City, FL), Group Landing (Sanderson, FL), Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits (St. Marys, GA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Cell signal at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit (Folkston, GA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.

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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›GA›Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit — photo 1
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit — photo 2
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit — photo 3
See all photos
Federal campground in Okefenokee National Wildlife RefugeLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Share:
Folkston, GA, GA★ 4.8 (330 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Slip your canoe or kayak into the blackwater and paddle into a world of moss-draped cypress trees, echoing night sounds, and a rare solitude that exists only deep within the wilderness of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. An Overnight Camping Permit allows overnight camping in the Okefenokee Wilderness on elevated platforms and islands. Online reservations are not available.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need electrical, water, or sewer hookups — none are available✕ You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only✕ You cannot reach the campground by phone during reservation windows

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Call the Permit Reservation Line at 912-496-3331 Tuesday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 10:00 am EST

online reservations are not available

Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites

Do not depend on GPS directions to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area entrance

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 100%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Eastern Black Bear, American Black Bear, American Alligator, and Florida × Northern Cotthumb present in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
Getting there →

Directions to the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (Do not depend of GPS directions to bring you to this location) Directions from Folkston, Georgia to Main Entrance of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge • Turn onto Main Street heading west. Go through two stoplights and across the railroad tracks. • Take a left at 3rd light onto Okefenokee Trail (Parkway), also called GA 121/23 South. • Drive for approx. 7 miles, then turn right at the large beige “Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge” sign. • Fo

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit cost per night?+
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit open?+
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit?+
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit?+
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is rated weak. Best carrier: AT&T. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit open, and what are check-in times?+
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Stephen C. Foster State ParkOkefenokee National Wildlife RefugeOkefenokee Adventures
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4.8 (330)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit cost per night?+
What season is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit open?+
Does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Ocean Pond Campground

Lake City, FL

From $12/night

Group Landing

Sanderson, FL

From $100/night

Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits

St. Marys, GA

From $9/night

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$20 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability