Magnolia Campground
Manatee Springs State Park
Write a Review 11650 NW 115 St. Chiefland, FL 32626 352-493-6072 850-245-2157 Reservations: 800-326-3521 Official WebsiteGPS: 29.4863, -82.976
Overview of Magnolia Campground
Magnolia Campground (sites 1-60) is a mix of RV/tent sites and tent-only sites. Please be sure to plan accordingly when selecting a site.
Most reviewers indicate that Loop 1 (sites 1-41) is better suited for larger RVs than Loop 2 (sites 42-60) due to a narrow road and tight turns.
Last Price Paid: $31
Reported by julia on 12/10/2023
Longest RV Reported: 36 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by LivingOurDreamNow on 12/23/2020
Number of Sites 60
Pad Type dirt
Reservations yes
Elevation 0 ft / 0 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 40 ft
Tent Camping Yes
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Reviews of Magnolia Campground 40 people have reviewed this location.
“Peaceful and Beautiful”
Reviewed 9/6/2018
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 21 |
RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
Beautiful, peaceful campground with sparkling clean, new facilities on our loop. We chose Magnolia Loop 1 because we wanted peace and quiet away from the spring, and that's what we got - probably also helped that it was a weekday during late summer. Sites are widely spaced with plenty of vegetation between them. Deer wandered through ... more
Beautiful, peaceful campground with sparkling clean, new facilities on our loop. We chose Magnolia Loop 1 because we wanted peace and quiet away from the spring, and that's what we got - probably also helped that it was a weekday during late summer. Sites are widely spaced with plenty of vegetation between them. Deer wandered through our campsite at dawn and dusk. Our site backed up to an oak hammock. Easy walk to the spring and river. Concession stand was open and workers were cleaning the ramps and steps down to the spring. The roads in the campsite loops are in dire need of grading. Be prepared for a very bumpy ride to your site once you leave the main road. Short fences/barriers lining the roads made backing in more challenging than usual. We will definitely return to this park - "real Florida" at its best.
Aurora would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Ok for overnite”
Reviewed 6/14/2018
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 27?? |
Overnite stay. Deer very comfortable around people. Sire right up hill from pond which was a mosquito breeding ground. Other sites further away may fare better. We didn’t even unhook so can’t tell you much. Narrow road around loop was pretty tight for our 30 ft Airstream.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet, Clean, Nice sites”
Reviewed 3/20/2018
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 51 |
RV Length: | 16' |
We really enjoyed this campground. The sites had been cleaned and sand raked before our arrival. I like being able to check availability online! The sites had a fire pit and picnic table. It looked like all the sites had trees and vegitaion. I like to feel like I'm in nature. Deer walked through the campground at dusk. No service but t... more
We really enjoyed this campground. The sites had been cleaned and sand raked before our arrival. I like being able to check availability online! The sites had a fire pit and picnic table. It looked like all the sites had trees and vegitaion. I like to feel like I'm in nature. Deer walked through the campground at dusk. No service but the snack bar has wifi.
EatYourPaisley would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 2/5/2018
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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we stay here 3 of 4 times a year. Clean camp sites, lots of deer. we also kayak down the river from 3 miles up at the boat ramp. good bbq from the vender. springs are nice to swim in and cool off, then walk the walk down to the river.
cobia would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Full sewer - but very high connection ”
Reviewed 12/31/2017
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | Magnolia 11 |
RV Length: | 25' (Travel Trailer) |
Stayed here 12/12/2017 to 12/26/2017. So it is a great state campground with care taken for all amenities. But beware that many camp sites have a sewer connection that is about two inches above ground, plus the site might drop you down even further as soil erodes. So challenge to use the sewer hookup on site. Else there are wild s... more
Stayed here 12/12/2017 to 12/26/2017. So it is a great state campground with care taken for all amenities. But beware that many camp sites have a sewer connection that is about two inches above ground, plus the site might drop you down even further as soil erodes. So challenge to use the sewer hookup on site.
Else there are wild small Florida deer that browse on your campsite. About eight. Seem they have been fed by park campers. Saw four manatee off the river boardwalk at the end, but many might miss them if the sunlight reflection is bad.
Internet is WiFi slow at the burger stand. Works 24/7 but once three people are using, its only good for email. Cell tower is non existent on Verizon or ATT. Got text for Verizon and that’s it. Drive to town five miles to better connections.
The nature coast bicycle trail is about five miles away in town. It is an awesome paved bicycle trail separate from the roads. So very safe. And it’s long. We road bicycles about 14 miles round trip and had maybe five street crossings.
Overall a great park.
Goshawk-N1KTJ would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“This park has a lot. Its gorgeous and well maintained in our loop. ”
Reviewed 11/30/2017
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 37 |
Really pretty park and well maintained. We feel we got the best spot, #37 which is a pull thru on concrete.It is very rustic but this loop is the newest and there are even some nice sidewalks that lead up to the showerhouse. There is an outfitter at the springs where you can rent kayaks or canoes. Also there's a beautiful swimming are... more
Really pretty park and well maintained. We feel we got the best spot, #37 which is a pull thru on concrete.It is very rustic but this loop is the newest and there are even some nice sidewalks that lead up to the showerhouse. There is an outfitter at the springs where you can rent kayaks or canoes. Also there's a beautiful swimming area in the springs that we will try out today. They sell BBQ at the outfitters also. Everyone's been super nice that we've run into. We'll definitely come back. Only issue is bad wifi, if that matter to you. That's the only reason we'd give it a 4 star.
gdishman would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Another great example of the real Florida”
Reviewed 2/12/2017
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | 59 |
RV Length: | 33' |
This park is fairly close to Cedar Key and just outside the historic city of Chiefland. It has the largest spring flow of any spring on the Suwannee river. The river is very wide here, and we saw 3 manatees that were primarily at the junction of the spring and the river, although they did move up towards the spring head on the cold mo... more
This park is fairly close to Cedar Key and just outside the historic city of Chiefland. It has the largest spring flow of any spring on the Suwannee river. The river is very wide here, and we saw 3 manatees that were primarily at the junction of the spring and the river, although they did move up towards the spring head on the cold morning of 1-28. Manatees are always a beautiful and welcome site. In addition to the manatees, we were at the end of the boardwalk and were entertained by an otter for a few minutes. You never know what you will see in the real Florida. Out site was a larg site, but it was quite sandy, which which is not an issue unless you have pets that may track It into the rv. We took the boat tour, and it was a cool, crisp morning and saw a few birds and many turtles, plus 1 smaller gator. The captain was knowledgeable and informative. It was just my wife and I at the time, and he answered all our questions. There was no cell service, but they had wifi at the concession stand. If nothing else appeals to you, go there to have some barbecue, which was everything all the other reviews have stated, and more. The cole slaw and beans were delicious also. On the downside, I had my small dog in my arms as we walked the boardwalk one evening, and we were scolded by a park volunteer. Funny that she didn't scold another volunteer who had 2 dogs on leashes on the boardwalk the next day. Special treatment for special people. The volunteer was from a northern state who comes to my state to live in the winter and make other people's lives miserable. She must be the same person that others have written negatively about. She was definitely not "the real Florida". This park is just a special piece of quiet beauty nestled along the historic Suwannee river. Come on over and rest a spell lik a true Floridian!
normandgrace would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Big Sites and lots of Black Vultures”
Reviewed 12/8/2016
Nightly rate: | $33 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
We stayed here one night in the middle of February, 2015. We had our Fun Finder travel trailer at the time and the site assigned us was quite large. The site was level and our neighbors friendly. We arrived early afternoon and spent the rest of the day hiking around and exploring the springs and boardwalks. I shot a lot of video and to... more
We stayed here one night in the middle of February, 2015. We had our Fun Finder travel trailer at the time and the site assigned us was quite large. The site was level and our neighbors friendly. We arrived early afternoon and spent the rest of the day hiking around and exploring the springs and boardwalks. I shot a lot of video and took a lot of pictures. It was peaceful and quiet and we enjoyed our stay. The grounds weren't particularly maintained but it was winter season. The bathrooms weren't the best but they were as clean as most we run across. The park was home to hundreds of Black Vultures who were roosting in the trees along the boardwalk and in the trees along the river banks. To my surprise, when I got up the next morning I found many of the large birds walking around the campground. If you'd like to see the video ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gN8l4Ki8b4
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“The only really bad place we've been”
Reviewed 4/11/2016
Nightly rate: | $33 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 6 |
RV Length: | 33' (Class A) |
To begin with, we were looking forward to the "gravel" site we had booked since our last campground had sand and between 3 human and 2 pets sweeping up was a full time task. No gravel-dirty sand. Then, no cell reception-OK though still a pain A concession with ridiculous costs for even the cheapest foods/items. And the bathro... more
To begin with, we were looking forward to the "gravel" site we had booked since our last campground had sand and between 3 human and 2 pets sweeping up was a full time task. No gravel-dirty sand.
Then, no cell reception-OK though still a pain
A concession with ridiculous costs for even the cheapest foods/items.
And the bathrooms? Worse then bad. The showers had no doors but curtains that did not even extend the full width of the stall-and the first one was right on the left at the entrance door so each time the door opened the curtain (what there was of it) blew in, the floors were filthy, the fan was covered in gunk, the toilets had paper hanging out of them and this was not only early morning but afternoon as well.
Since we'd seen plenty of manatee at Blue Springs State Park the fact that there were none here was fine but the kayaking was boring even if the water is pretty.
It was also the first and only park in a year of full-timing (and over 30 CG) where we did not meet friendly people but felt uncomfortable even saying hello to all but our next door neighbors.
The only good thing was that it got quiet at night.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“The water's always fine...”
Reviewed 1/27/2015
Nightly rate: | $20 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Emerald and azure go reflective from the spring itself. The first white gentleman to visit these springs spoke of the banks lined in crushed seashells and elaborated eloquent over how pristine the sparkling of similar pieces of shell looked as they shot out from underwater spring and fell slowly down through the water to rest back at t... more
Emerald and azure go reflective from the spring itself. The first white gentleman to visit these springs spoke of the banks lined in crushed seashells and elaborated eloquent over how pristine the sparkling of similar pieces of shell looked as they shot out from underwater spring and fell slowly down through the water to rest back at the bottom of the river.
Such is no longer the case, unfortunately, a concrete wall keeps the spring deep and a playground for manatees, though as of our second visit here in five or six years, we've yet to see one of those elusive sea cows at this park.
Instead, we're forced to watch divers emerge from that same spring, they enter via a cave a few dozen yards away and burst onto the scene like action figures in motion. A long boardwalk takes you out to the Suwanee River, a wide flow of a guzzler that is gorgeous in its own right.
Massive spots surrounded by trees, recycling available, and our campfire did not go unused as our neighbor brought over ribs and pork chops to share with us.
In years past we camped in our little VW Bus, this was in April, and were surrounded by fire flies as they lit the night up like the manatees were sea monsters and nothing but a natural nightlight would do.
A majestic park to say the least, and though small, very much worth the trip.
Nathan @ Wand'rly would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- water
- dry camping
- sewer
- Full Hookups
Recreation
- boat rental
- fishing
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
- swimming beach
- water access
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- firewood
- ADA Accessible
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
Nearby
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