Lake Delancy Campground

Lake Delancy is a U.S. Forest Service recreation area situated within the northwestern corner of the Ocala National Forest, one of the southernmost national forests in the continental United States. Located along State Road 19 between Salt Springs and Palatka, the recreation area contains TWO separate campgrounds — Lake Delancy West (the OHV-focused campground with 30 sites along the lake's western shore) and Lake Delancy East — surrounded by pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub. The area is managed by the Lake George Ranger District.

The Ocala National Forest covers about 383,000 acres of central Florida, according to Recreation.gov, and its campgrounds provide some of the most affordable outdoor recreation in the state. At $10 per night, Lake Delancy West is among the most economical developed campsites in the forest. It is also distinctly primitive: there is NO drinking water, NO electricity, and NO showers on-site. What you get instead are vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables (bring a bear-proof container or keep food in your vehicle, which the Forest Service requires) — and direct access to a remarkable trail and OHV network.

Fishing at Lake Delancy draws visitors year-round. The lake supports freshwater species common to central Florida, and bank fishing from the campground area allows anglers to fish without needing a boat. The quiet, uncrowded nature of the lake compared to more heavily developed fishing destinations is a significant part of its appeal. Families introducing children to fishing find the setting especially welcoming, as the relaxed pace and natural surroundings create a patient, enjoyable experience for younger anglers.

The campground is best suited for tent campers and self-contained smaller trailers that do not require hookups. Because there are no hookups of any kind, larger RVs that depend on shore power or sewer service should plan to stay elsewhere; this is a primitive forest campground in the true sense of the word. The trade-off for fewer modern amenities is direct access to the national forest environment, with its mature trees, wildlife, and the kind of quiet that only comes from camping in a large, undeveloped landscape.

Hiking and OHV riding are the headline activities at Lake Delancy. Lake Delancy West is one of the major trailheads for the Ocala North OHV Trail System, an established network of ATV trails in the northwest corner of the forest. A section of the Florida National Scenic Trail also passes through the area; the Forest Service lists Lake Delancy West as a designated campground 0.3 mile from the main trail, with segments running north to Rodman Reservoir and south to Salt Springs. Day hikes from the campground offer opportunities to explore sand pine scrub, hardwood hammocks, and the edges of prairie and swamp. Wildlife sightings are common, with the forest supporting populations of white-tailed deer, black bears (the Forest Service requires food to be stored in a bear-proof container or vehicle), gopher tortoises, and a wide variety of bird species.

The campground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service under the Lake George Ranger District of the Ocala National Forest. Lake Delancy West reservations are available through Recreation.gov. Cooler months from October through March are most popular for camping in the Ocala National Forest, though Lake Delancy West lists no seasonal closure; Lake Delancy East is open October through April and was listed as temporarily closed in October 2026.

For visitors planning a broader outdoor itinerary in the Ocala area, the region offers exceptional fishing spots and kayaking destinations beyond the national forest. Lake Delancy Campground provides an excellent starting point for exploring what makes central Florida one of the state's best regions for nature-based recreation.