River Forest Group Site
National Forests in Florida — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: DELAND, FL, FL
Price: From $200 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (9 reviews)
Season: May through October
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the shores of the St. Johns River in Ocala National Forest. Located just across the river from Deland, the site is popular for groups, family reunions and weddings and can accommodate up to 125 guests.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/river-forest-group-site to be notified when sites open up.
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the St. Johns River shores in Ocala National Forest, popular for groups, family reunions, and weddings with capacity for up to 125 guests. Google reviewers praise it as a great spot for van life meetups and group gatherings with a wonderful camp host.
Wildlife alert: Eastern Black Bear, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake, Gopher Tortoise present in area
Insider tips for River Forest Group Site: This is a group site only—no individual campsites available Can accommodate approximately 100 vehicles in a field or fewer for tent camping 14-day stay limit in any 30-day period across all Ocala National Forest campgrounds Book early as a federal campground with high demand
Skip River Forest Group Site if: Seeking individual campsites—only group camping available. Needing RV hookups—no hookups available at this site. Planning to visit outside May-October—seasonal closure.
Best time to visit River Forest Group Site: May-October — Seasonal operations limited to May through October.
Nearby campgrounds: Clearwater Lake Rec Area (PAISLEY, FL), Alexander Springs Recreation Area (ALTOONA, FL), Lake Dorr Cabin (Altoona, FL), Lake Dorr Campground (Altoona, FL).
Cell Phone Coverage at River Forest Group Site
Cell signal at River Forest Group Site (DELAND, FL): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the shores of the St. Johns River in Ocala National Forest. Located just across the river from Deland, the site is popular for groups, family reunions and weddings and can accommodate up to 125 guests.
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 entryThis is a group site only
no individual campsites available
Can accommodate approximately 100 vehicles in a field or fewer for tent camping
14-day stay limit in any 30-day period across all Ocala National Forest campgrounds
Book early as a federal campground with high demand
Seasonal operations limited to May through October
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Deland, Florida, drive west on State Route 44 to the first intersection after crossing the St. Johns River. Turn right on County Road 42, and the entrance to the campground is on the right.
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 River Forest Group Site cost per night?+
What season is River Forest Group Site open?+
Does River Forest Group Site have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at River Forest Group Site?+
How do I make reservations at River Forest Group Site?+
What is the cell service like at River Forest Group Site?+
What season is River Forest Group Site open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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