Hopkins Prairie Campground
Campground · 20 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Ocala National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 20
- Bookable sites
- up to 5
- People per site
- 39 ft
- Elevation
Overview
There are only 21 sites at Hopkins Prairie. All are well-shaded in an oak hammock on a peninsula surrounded by the prairie, where cool breezes blow in when there is a little water in the prairie.
Recreation
- Depending on water levels in the prairie, you may be able to launch your canoe or jon boat to drift across the deeper spots in this vast ecosystem. Boat ramp available - $3 per vessel launch fee
- Hopkins Prairie is a designated camping area with minimal facilities, open seasonally.
- The vast expanse of Hopkins Prairie has ponds and shallows. Depending on water levels, it may be possible to fish from the bank or launch a canoe or jon boat to access the deeper areas.
- With a year-round trailhead providing access to the Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie is a popular destination for day hikers to wander off in either direction along the trail, or complete a section down to the Pat's Island Trailhead or Juniper Springs.
- Hopkins Prairie is an excellent destination for birding, since the interface between open prairie and scrub forest is usually busy with songbirds, while wading birds pick through the ponds. Even when the campground is closed, you can meander from the Hopkins Prairie Trailhead along the Florida Trail to enjoy birding. It's also a perfect spot where you can peer out from the shade of an oak scrub forest beneath gnarled limbs to an expanse of grasslands shimmering in the sun.
Facilities
- Vault Toilets
- 21 Sites
- Water Available via Hand Pump
- Boat ramp
Natural Features
An island of shade amid a broad, winding grassland, the Hopkins Prairie Campground is a seasonal destination for campers looking to get a bit off the beaten path. It sits right along the Florida Trail and offers opportunities for fishing and birding along miles of prairie shoreline.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation.
https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
Refunds are not given for inclement weather for camping, gear rentals, or day-use fees.
The facts
- Season: October – June — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 20 bookable sites
- 22 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Up to 5 people per site
- Loops: Hopkins Prairie, Scan & Pay
Site types
- 20 Standard Nonelectric
- 2 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups.
22 campsites at Hopkins Prairie Campground
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hopkins Prairie | Management | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 02 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 03 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 04 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 05 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 06 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 07 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Parallel | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 08 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 09 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 10 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 11 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Parallel | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 12 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 13 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 14 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Parallel | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 15 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 16 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 17 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 18 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 19 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 20 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| 21 | Hopkins Prairie | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Standard | Scan & Pay | Management | — | — | — | 5 | 🐾 |
Getting there
The turnoff for Hopkins Prairie is 9.2 miles north along SR 19 from the intersection with SR 40. Turn left and follow the signs, turning left, right, and left along unmarked, unimproved roads to reach the camping area.
29.26960, -81.68670 · 29°16'10.6"N 81°41'12.1"W
Typical weather
Typically 91°F in Jul, down to 68°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 68 | 71 | 75 | 81 | 86 | 89 | 91 | 91 | 88 | 82 | 75 | 70 |
| Low °F | 47 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 67 | 72 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 66 | 57 | 51 |
| Precip in | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 14.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
All camping reservations must be made via Rec.gov either online or over the phone.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Hopkins Prairie Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Hopkins Prairie Campground?
- Yes, Hopkins Prairie Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Hopkins Prairie Campground have?
- 22 sites in total, of which 20 can be booked.
- Are pets allowed at Hopkins Prairie Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Hopkins Prairie Campground.
- Does Hopkins Prairie Campground have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Hopkins Prairie Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at Hopkins Prairie Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Hopkins Prairie Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Hopkins Prairie Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
Restrictions:
- Campground parking is for campers only . There is a trailhead parking area along the access road to the campground.
- All Ocala National Forest campgrounds allow pets, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and are not permitted in designated swimming and picnicking areas.
- A maximum stay limit of 14 consecutive days is allowed in a 30-day period.
Camping near Hopkins Prairie Campground
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area Vehicle Reservations 3 mi · Timed entry · we watch it
- Juniper Springs Rec Area 6.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Salt Springs Recreation Area 6.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mill Dam Group Camp 10.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Eaton Campground 10.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Buck Lake Group Campground 12.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Delancy West Campground 12.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Shore Group Camp 13.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fore Lake Campground 14 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area 14.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Eaton Day Use 10.8 mi · Activity pass
- Welaka National Fish Hatchery 11.7 mi · Facility
Contact
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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