Can you reserve a site at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit?

Yes, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit have?

12 sites in total, of which 11 can be booked.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit, Georgia — 11 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

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.

You must call the Permit Reservation Line at 912-496-3331 Tuesday to Thursday, from 7:00 am to 10:00 am EST to reserve a campsite.

Visit the refuge’s Camping page before planning your camping trip.

Enter the dates of your trip below to explore possible routes. While this tool is a helpful reference, conditions such as trail closures or impassable routes may affect access to certain overnight sites.

Visit the Library page of our website to view the Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Guide.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (912) 496-7836 for general information.

Charges & Cancellations

The $10.00 reservation fee is non-refundable. Reservations cancelled more than 14 days prior to the entry date will be refunded camping/amenity fees minus a $15.00 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled within 13 days of the entry date will not be refunded. If the refuge must close for any reason, all guests with affected reservations will be notified immediately and will be issued full refunds, including the $10.00 reservation fee.

The facts

11 bookable sites
12 sites in total, including non-bookable
Up to 20 people per site
Loops: Big Water, Bluff Lake, Buzzard Roost, Canal Run, Cedar Hammock, Coffee Bay, Cravens Hammock, Floyds Island, Maul Hammock, Minnies Lake, Mixons Hammock, Round Top

Site types

11 Standard Nonelectric
1 Management

Book on Recreation.gov

12 campsites at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
Big Water	Big Water	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Bluff Lake	Bluff Lake	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Buzzard Roost	Buzzard Roost	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Canal Run	Canal Run	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Cedar Hammock	Cedar Hammock	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Coffee Bay	Coffee Bay	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Cravens Hammock	Cravens Hammock	Management	—	—	—	20
Floyds Island	Floyds Island	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Maul Hammock	Maul Hammock	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Minnies Lake	Minnies Lake	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Mixons Hammock	Mixons Hammock	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20
Round Top	Round Top	Standard Nonelectric	—	—	—	20

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.
• Follow this road about 4 miles to the end. When you reach a large parking area, you will see the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center on your left and Okefenokee Adventures is located next to the boat basin.

Directions from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
• Depart from the airport terminal on the airport road, turning into Dixie Clipper Rd. Take Dixie Clipper Road to I-95 Northbound.
• Follow the directions from Interstate 95-exit 3 (below) to get to Okefenokee

Directions from Interstate 95-exit 3 (Kingsland, GA)
• Take GA 40 West approx. 22 miles through Kingsland to Folkston.
• Where GA 40 dead ends at a “T” intersection, turn right onto Third Street then take the next immediate left onto Main Street (courthouse is on your right at turn).
• Follow directions from Folkston, GA listed above.

Directions from Jacksonville, FL area
• Take US 1 North through the towns of Callahan and Hilliard. After you cross the St. Marys River into Georgia, go about 4 miles until you enter the town of Folkston.
• Turn left at the 2nd stop light onto Main Street (look for brown Okefenokee sign)
• Follow directions from Folkston, GA listed above.

Directions from Atlanta, GA area
• Take Interstate 75 South out of Atlanta
• In Tifton, take US 82 East towards Waycross. Stay on US 82 East all the way into Waycross
• Turn Right onto US 1 South in Waycross heading towards Folkston. You’ll pass the Okefenokee Swamp Park along US 1 South. Continue driving on US 1 to Folkston.
• Once you enter Folkston, turn right at 2nd light onto Main Street.
• Follow directions from Folkston, GA listed above.

Directions from Brunswick, GA area
• Take I-95 South towards Kingsland.
• Take Exit 3 off I-95 and turn West (Right) on GA 40
• Follow directions from Interstate 95-Exit 3 listed above
• Follow directions from Folkston, GA listed above.

Directions from Interstate 10 and St. George
• Take exit 48 from I-10 onto FL 121 North.
• Drive north on Fl 121 approx. 20 miles until you reach St George, GA. The road designation will switch to GA 121/23 when you cross over the St. Marys River into Georgia.
• Proceed north approx. 14 miles until you see “Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge” sign, turn left and follow this road about 4 miles to the Visitor Center.

30.80409, -82.30714 · 30°48'14.7"N 82°18'25.7"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 94°F in Jul, down to 65°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	65	69	76	81	88	92	94	93	89	81	73	67
Low °F	42	45	50	57	63	70	73	73	70	59	50	44
Precip in	3.9	3.6	4.0	3.3	3.1	7.0	6.1	6.5	5.4	3.5	2.1	3.2

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

A non-refundable $10.00 reservation fee will apply. Trips are limited to one or two nights during Peak Season. Maximum of 20 people per camping permit.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Ways in

Showing 12 of 12.

BL — Platform
BW — Platform
CB — Land with Platform
CD — Platform
CH — Land with Platform
CR — Land with Platform
Fi — Land with Platform
MH — Platform
ML — Platform
MN — Platform
MX — Land with Platform
RT — Platform

Common questions about Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Can you reserve a site at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit?: Yes, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit have?: 12 sites in total, of which 11 can be booked.

Camping near Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit

Ocean Pond Campground 39.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Group Landing 41.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits 45.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
East Tower Hunt Camp 29.2 mi · Campground
Cobb Hunt Camp 39 mi · Campground
Ocean Pond Campground 39.2 mi · Campground
Mainland Visitor Center 45.3 mi · Facility
Mainland Museum 45.4 mi · Facility
Sea Camp Ranger Station 49.7 mi · Facility
Jekyll Island Club Resort 55.3 mi · Facility
Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center at Fort Caroline 56.1 mi · Facility
Kingsley Plantation Visitor Contact Station 57.5 mi · Facility

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-06.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Overnight Camping Permit