This is a historic CCC park! Lots of great trails and campgrounds. Close to many other springs and within minutes to some places of interest outside the park! read more

I normally do beach camping but when your friends ask you to camp in the woods you gotta do what you gotta do. It was so fun, though I miss my sunset/sunrise beach fun. O'leno state park is a big park 1.5 hours from Jacksonville's northside, so it's pretty close. The campsites are well maintained, big and pretty level for tents and RV camping. Plus they have water and electricity. One of my must haves when camping is a nice bathroom and good showers. Luckily every state park I've camped has had big, clean bathrooms with disability access showers and O'leno is no different. Winner winner chicken dinner. It's cool waking up in the morning to all the birds, several barn owls were heard too. The trails are varied, walk along the river or through the limestone scattered trails, it's all awesome! Oh and it's close to Ichetucknee so you can easily go do the springs too. O'leno's river is rusty looking because of the tanin but it's still good for swimming. If you like camping in the woods, seeing fireflies, millions of stars and a good hike among friendly campers this place is definitely worth visiting. The only downside is the ticks...had to throw that in for full disclosure. read more

O'Leno State Park - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

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We love this park! Such history and beauty. The campsites are long, wide and not on top of each other. Staff and rangers are friendly and welcoming. Lots of trails along the Santa Fe River. So neat to see the River Sink where the river ends and goes underground through caverns to reemerge three miles away at the River Rise!! read more

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Beautiful park! Definitely worth stopping in if you were in the area. This park is nice hiking trails in a good play area for kids. The bridge is closed down but it's still really pretty and a nice change from being in the city. read more

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I went with a group of 8 and we reserved 2 camp sites. The sites were clean and had nice grills available. There was a picnic table, electrical box and running water on both sites. There's were also shower, bathroom and sink facilities onsite. The Mens, Womens and family bathrooms were well maintained and clean. Nothing fancy but they served their purpose. Even though there a good number of sites with fa I went with a group of 8 and we reserved 2 camp sites. The sites were clean and had nice grills available. There was a picnic table, electrical box and running water on both sites. There's were also shower, bathroom and sink facilities onsite. The Mens, Womens and family bathrooms were well maintained and clean. Nothing fancy but they served their purpose. Even though there a good number of sites with families, it felt very intimate and everyone not only kept to themselves but wet respectful of quiet hours (11pm-7am). They do allow pets and most families had them but the camp site and park had plenty of disposal centers around. Our biggest issues were with banana spiders and caterpillars!!! Be aware that the webs can pop up again as soon as you take them done . Overall loved it there. Camp rangers were helpful and patrolled. Recommend for both small and large groups! read more

Park is beautiful and clean..the rope bridge was out of order. The only thing that I would like to see are more small resting beaches on the hiking trails read more

The park needs rain badly. A lot of dust since the roads are not paved and neither are the campsites. Bathrooms were very clean which was a plus. read more

Great place to camp if you're going to nearby ichetucknee springs or other springs around the area. Beautiful quiet place with showers and clean bathrooms! read more

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A great place to take a day trip to walk along the suspension bridge across the river or take a hike for a few miles on various trails. A super fun place to have a little picnic asking the wilderness with plenty of tables and lots of shade. read more

O'Leno State Park - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

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Beautiful park and trails. Bring bug repellant or your Thermacell no matter the time of year!

One of my favorite state parks in the United States. There's a large, picturesque bridge to cross and gives a great view of the forest and river. Lots of cool little mushrooms to see too. It's near the Florida springs as well so you can visit when waiting if the springs are at max capacity read more

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Great hiking trails, beautiful views! Just a short drive from Gainesville. Only wish the swim area had been open. read more

O'Leno State Park - Suspension bridge - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

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If you have a larger RV I do not recommend this park. The roads are narrow and rustic. The campsite was bumpy with lots of tree roots and uneven ground. Perhaps all that growth is good when it's hot in the summer, but it felt oppressive and buggy. The 50 amp power was good but not worth the risk of damaging the outside of our motorhome. read more

We were driving back from Orlando, FL to the Alabama coast and decided to stretch our legs. There isn't a whole lot to see and do in this area of Florida other than parks and nature. We choose O'Lena to see the suspension bridge. My family (two adults and two young boys) stopped to get out of the car here. There was a playground and picnic areas in a well maintained common area. There was a bathroom facility. There are several trails to explore. We hiked the trail to see the suspension bridge. The trails are clean and well marked. You can go a little or far depending on your desire. We enjoyed seeing the tree stumps from where the water was receeding, checking our some sandy areas, crossing bridges, and generally having fun exploring. This was a great little stop not too far from the interstate. It was a way better stop than a rest area. We will be back for more exploring. read more

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This was a very nice park. The trails were clean and easy to access. Plenty of space to walk your dog with extra space for you to share the trails. The River Trail was our favorite! read more

Wonderful morning at the state park, parking is about $5 score!!! Not too busy plenty of parking and space, lots of things to do swimming, biking, fishing, hiking and picnics. Things like museum and gift shops closed but it a park so nature should be enough. Got in over 10,000 steps had a relaxing day in nature with birds, bugs, animals, and family. read more

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This park has a really interesting history: it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps just after the Great Depression. The trails are nice and you can hike or mountain bike on them. Most of the historical structures are still standing, including the beautiful mess hall (which is now a reception hall, used for weddings and such), the canteen, a smokehouse, and more. Some of the buildings have been re-purposed into a small museum and a nature center. We camped at this park for two nights so that we could swim and tube at Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is about 20 minutes away. It was only $29 per night, a real bargain. It was very quiet and VERY dark, so we were able to see a lot of stars. Restrooms were really clean and the campground host was very nice too. We got this reservation just a few days prior to arriving. We saw a lot of wildlife, mostly birds, but also fish, deer, turtles, and many types of insects. We did not see or get any ticks even after hiking for several hours through the woods. There is a swimming hole here however it was closed when we visited. There were no signs indicating why it was closed, I think it may have been due to the drought and how shallow the water was. The suspension bridge is really cool. Although I don't think this is the most exciting state park in Florida we would definitely visit again! We both enjoyed its historical aspect, the lack of crowds, hiking along the river as the scenery is beautiful, and its proximity to other springs. read more

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Back in February, this was one of the first stops for our kayaking adventure through 5+ different rivers in Florida. I have no words. It was stunning, gorgeous and breathtaking. Florida at it's best. O'Leno State Park is along the Sante Fe River. You can rent kayaks (we had our own), but you may need to visit the Santa Fe River Outfitter in order to have them drive your car / kayaks to the paddle point. They are super friendly over there. The Santa Fe River is by itself wondrous as it's one of the world's only disappearing rivers. You can paddle right down to where the river disappears underground...and it reappears 3 miles down the road. Super cool! If you're 'lucky,' you'll even run into Ed...the famous nudist who lives along the Lily Springs (and has an actual hut there)! We paddled through his hut, but unfortunately he was not on site. It's too bad. Would have been fun to go skinny dipping with my #YelpEliteTowel and this legendary character ;). Overall, this is a great State Park along one of the world's most wondrous rivers. You'll see a lot of wild life if you decide to kayak through it, but the river is mostly devoid of gators. We didn't see any on our 6+ mile paddle. read more

Very clean park, plenty of trails to ride or walk. The camping are was great, however the roads are narrow in some areas making it difficult to back in the RV. The campsites are nice and private with plenty of room. read more

First time camping here. Beautiful park! VERY clean bathrooms with nice private showers. Beautiful river even though it was very high, and many trails were flooded out. Winn Dixie supermarket not to far away. But don't look for a sports or camping supply store near by. Closest was 24 mile away. Cons: site 053 is on a definite slope. Not good for large tents. We had a very difficult time setting up tent. Other sites were very flat. On the pro side close to bathrooms for late or early needs! Would definitely go back and stay longer! read more

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O'Leno State Park was created out of an area that once was a lumbering town called "Leno" and prior to that, this town was known as "Keno" after a card game popular in the mid to late 1800s. Though the town was apparently busy and successful, the railroad passed it on by thus ending it for all practical purposes. In the 1930s, there was a Conservation Corps camp here which developed the park into much of what it is today, making it one of Florida's earliest State Parks. O'Leno offers hiking and camping mainly with both primitive camp sites and cabins available. Unlike some State Parks in the region, it does not feature a spring but there is a small swimming area roped off in the Santa Fe River which flows through the park. Canoeing and kayaking are also possible. It seems like it would be a good camping experience for Scouts or youth groups or anyone wishing to go camping, though it doesn't offer the acreage of, say, the Goethe State Forest and while many people rave about the birds and wildlife they've been fortunate enough to see here, I wouldn't count on that, either. Folks, what I am trying to say is, this is a pretty, splendid, State Park offering a lot but if you want a really tranquil camping experience and the best chance of spotting rarer wildlife like bobcats, I'd head somewhere like Goethe instead because in the peak season and on busy weekends, O'Leno can see a fair amount of traffic. That said, I've been there on days when later in the day I didn't come across another human soul. On afternoons like that, the park is serene and very inviting. Also note that in rainy weather some trails can flood: you may not know how bad things are until to investigate in person. All in all, a very lovely park offering a diversity of stuff to do, but given all it offers, bear in mind it can attract crowds for better or worse. read more

O'Leno State Park - By the riverside around sunset. - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

This is a fantastic state park. From the suspension bridge to the hiking trails there is always something to see. I've been here many times and I almost always see something cool. One of the great things about this park is not very many people come here and I usually have the trails to my self. Sometimes I will see one other person maybe two. A few of the trails are really neat. On one you can hike along the river and see where ithe river disappears underground. And on another you can see where the river reemerges. Some of the trails are great for trial running. A change of scenery from the mundane roads. For Yelpers with children they have a nice playground and interpretive buildings with displays. This is a nice, well kept state park. Looks like undeveloped Florida. read more

Some of the sites are on top of each other and many have very limited privacy. Some division between sites would have been nice since our neighbors had 3 tents and 3 pop ups between 6 adults and 7 kids. Luckily we were able to move sites since there was a last minute cancellation. The park itself has a lot to offer. It's fairly large and has a variety of trails. They also had a few larger pavilions that looked out at the river. It rained a majority of the time we were there and although very wet the sites didn't flood like I have seen at other campgrounds. read more

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Enjoyed a 3 day/2 night stay in February and was very impressed. The campground is very well kept and the shower and restroom facilities were in excellent condition. Fire ring, electricity and water are properly maintained. The park offers plenty outdoor activities. Kayaking and hiking provide an wonderful experience along the beautiful dark water Santa Fe River. I spent time hiking the River Trail to get a closer look at the disappearing river. Plenty long leaf pines and saw palmetto along the trail that ends at the suspension bridge built by the C.C.C. Pleasant and helpful staff. read more

O'Leno State Park - River Trail - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

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Great walking in nature with our dogs. Interesting how the river goes underground. $5 per car to get in so very reasonably priced!!!

Stayed here over Easter weekend. The campground is beautiful, clean and quiet. The bathrooms are nice. They really need to list the sites that are risky being able to fit a trailer in. Looks like half are a super tight squeeze, including ours. Unfortunately the tick problem is outrageous. Between 3 people we found 10 ticks on us in one day and are getting ready to check the dogs. This is without even hiking or leaving the camping area! Probably won't be going back any time soon...or ever. read more

O'Leno State Park - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

Bike, hike, or bird watch your way around this beautiful Florida state park. There's a beautiful river, camping available, restrooms, helpful and friendly staff, parties available, etc et cetera. I can't think of a much better way to spend a five dollar day. That's right, five bucks gets you and seven other people in one car into this beautiful park. read more

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Love this park. We run here frequently and even got our engagement pictures done here as it holds a special spot in our heart. Great trails. Lots of nature. Lots of wildlife. Love the history. Donna at the front gate is adorable and we always enjoy chatting with her. read more

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ALWAYS a pleasure going there. Love walking the trails. Great occasional activities. They honor vets with no cost admittance.

Amazing park for camping and hiking. Just the lady at entrance can be most rude person I ever met! Made my entrance negative but nature took away her mean attitude. read more

This park is beautiful! Has a great little playground for the kids a swimming area, amazing trails that are fun to hike. They have campsites too, but I didn't get to go see them. However, I will be trying out there campsites soon! read more

If you want to get back to nature this is a great place for that. Birds and wild animals are visible here. Fishing, tent camping, RV's, or just a place to spend time getting back to nature. A very relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff and campers. It's also a reasonable drive to the local springs: itchtucknee springs, Poe springs, blue springs, gennie springs, heart springs, manatee springs, and a few others. If you prefer local dining and shopping a reasonable drive will take you there. Oleno is great north Florida camping. read more

O'Leno is a wonderful park. There are ample hiking trails, biking trails and campgrounds. There are picnic tables that you can rent for birthday parties or famiy reunions. They have tent camping and cabins - perfect for family getaways, or weddings! The trail and the suspension bridge are wonderful, and worth the hike! There are cool hidden spots all along the trail, like old stone seating - like theatre style seating. They also have a dining hall and pavilion that you can rent- both were very nice quality. It would be a lot of fun for a large group! read more

This is the best Florida park I have ever been to for seeing wildlife. While I was there I saw many birds, white tailed deer and a cool site of about fifty turtles sunning themselves on logs in one area. This area was once a lumber mill town in the middle 1800's until the railroad passed the area by. Located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, the park features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps, and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, it disappears underground and reemerges over three miles away in the River Rise State Preserve. One of Florida's first state parks, O'Leno was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The suspension bridge built by the CCC still spans the river. You can picnic at one of the pavilions or fish in the river for their dinner. Canoes and bicycles are available for rent. While hiking the nature trails, visitors can look for wildlife and enjoy the beauty of native plants. The shady, full-facility campground is the perfect place for a relaxing overnight stay. read more

O'Leno State Park - Parks Near Me - High Springs, Florida

Great state park. There are two campground within the park,...the first one is near the entrance and a pretty good distance from the river and park ammenities. BUT that campground is a little more secluded and the spots are better seperated. The Santa Fe River goes under ground at River sink and comes back above ground 3 miles south in River Rise. Good facilities and playground for kids...can swim in the river in Summer from the floating dock at the suspension bridge. OverAll good park, and i think a little more to do than Paynes Prairie in Micanopy,..few miles away! read more

I got married at O'leno on March 10. The park is beautiful but there it no communication between the rangers. In the paperwork we were told that we could pay for our guests to come at a discounted rate. I also then spoke with the ranger who checked us in and told him I wanted to prepay for $150 guests and he said to wait until check out. I left early the next day for my honeymoon so my sister checked us out and at that time we were told that all our guests paid $5 per car to come. They said the person at the front desk didn't realize they were with us(though everyone I've spoke with told them they were there for the wedding). read more

Great location. Secluded. Clean. Bathrooms are awesome and very clean as well. It's just an awesome place to camp. Making plans now to go again. read more

This state park came highly recommended during our FIRST week of camping in a brand new fifth wheel. First, the ranger was very curt with my husband and told him she assigned us a space rather than let us look around and find one we were comfortable with backing into. I told her prior to, that we were rookies and had only been in pull thru sites this far. The roads in the campground are very narrow with many trees and one had now left a permanent reminder on our camper. Very narrow roads. Not good for tall 5th wheels. She could have advised me of that when I called. Bathrooms were not clean. NOT modern at all. Never saw any one working there like we did in the other state parks. No laundry facilities. Only recycling for cans, not plastic, glass, etc..... No grass at campsite, just mud. Lots of mud. On the upside, some beautiful deer joined us for coffee!! And the trail walk along the Santa Fe river was beautiful. The exhibit about the CCC was very informative. We won't be going back. I guess our idea of a great campground doesn't match with other folks! Silver Springs State Park campground is Awesome though!!! read more

Had an amazing time Hiking and camping at O'Leno. Looking forward to exploring the park some more.

Nice park. Come here annually for the Suwanee Banjo Camp.