The tranquil CCC park, nestled within the forest, is replete with numerous trails for hiking and cycling that begin right from the camping site. The surrounding region also offers additional routes for mountain biking. Although the camping spots are somewhat closely packed, the place maintains its peaceful atmosphere. The main road within the camping area is filled with dirt and riddled with potholes. The waste disposal facility at the site could use some improvements. The absence of a cleanout hose and its incorrect tilt compelled us to use our Anderson levelers for appropriate waste disposal. Despite these minor inconveniences, the place provides a serene retreat with a warm and welcoming staff.

Our accommodation was in the Magnolia Loop for a span of three nights at the start of April 2023. Maneuvering into the campsites can be a bit challenging due to overhanging trees and strategically placed rocks to safeguard the amenities. Despite this, larger vehicles such as hefty 5th wheels and RVs were present, indicating that it's feasible, just requires caution. The bathhouse was satisfactory, although it took a while for the water to heat up. Each site is adorned with trees and separated by vegetation. The highlight for me was the stunning river trail. However, due to the closure of the suspension bridge, the trail doesn't form a circuit, but rather a dead end. The quaint museum on site is also worth a visit. We were delighted to witness fireflies on two of the nights!

I loved this park. If you care to read on, here's why: Our site was fabulous. Very spacious, and we could only just barely make out our neighbors through the jungle that is the forest here. That stuff is important to me, but not as much as learning about nature. And this place is all about that. There's a river that you can hike around. That's right, "around", because at one point it goes underground. Fun stuff. They also have tons of trees and other fauna marked with pedestals on the ground so you can begin to experience everything from live oak to magnolias to the different types of palms in the state. There's a little nature center with an elderly ranger who is more than willing to entertain your kids, and you, with his knowledge of the various types of turtles. They warn against swimming--though a designated area in the river does allow it--due to alligators, but we didn't see any. It's far enough from civilization that it doesn't feel like many Florida parks (where airplanes fly over every 3 minutes or you can hear the bustle of highway traffic from your campsite), but at the same time there's easy access to restaurants and decent grocery stores maybe 15 minutes away. The rangers, I might add, are particularly informative and helpful. Always a bonus in my book.

This is our second time here and undoubtedly won't be our last. There are two camping loops. The Dogwood loop is hilly, curvy and much tighter for manuevering but has more privacy because of all the vegetation. The Magnolia loop is level and the sites are generally bigger. We have stayed in both and would probably stick with Magnolia, but either is fine. There are nice trails for hiking and canoe rental was only $5. It's an easy hike to River Sink where the river disappears underground. On our first stay the Sink looked like a large, quiet pond. On our second stay, when high water closed the swimming area and canoeing, the Sink had quite a vortex going. We also drove 3 miles down the highway and hiked the 1 mile in to see River Rise where the river emerges from underground. There are lots of trails, including equestrian trails, at River Rise. However for short hikes, the trails around the campground and River Sink satisfy us. There is a suspension bridge built by the CCC and history going back to Indians and early 19th century settlers. Our cell reception was Verizon LTE with 2 bars. Phone calls were fine. The hotspot for Internet was a little slow but perfectly adequate.

We only stayed here one night, in route to Blue Spring State Park, but I wish I would have stayed longer! It was a beautiful park with tons of trails! There were a lot of water activities too, but I didn't have time for them. The suspension bridge is beautiful and leads to some amazing trees if you head to the right after crossing it. The camp site itself was also very nice. It's a long walk to the hiking, but a nice one. There were no problems fitting into the spaces. They were spacious and it was quite there. I woke up at 6am to go take pictures and ran into a couple deer on the trail. It was so beautiful and I would encourage you to stay at least a couple days!

There are two camping loops, Dogwood and Magnolia. The Magnolia loop is closer to the on-site CCC Museum (interesting!), group camp, dump station, and hiking/biking trailheads, but the Dogwood loop sites seem to have a bit more foliage, hence privacy. The Dogwood sites are anything but level, with tree roots, uneven ground, and some inconveniently located little trees, but with a bit of maneuvering, it’s doable. And the setting definitely makes up for it. The restrooms are modern and sparkly-clean, the best I’ve seen in over a year of being on the road. Shower stalls are roomy with convenient benches and hooks and they keep them spotless. (We learned that the host who cleans them was once punished by his drill sergeant, who made him put his cot in the latrine, so he learned how to clean bathrooms!) Most of the trails (and there are many) are multi-use: hiking and biking, and some equestrian. Some mosquitoes and lots of no-see-ums to plague you, but not unbearable. The town of High Springs is fairly close for restaurants, shops, etc. We had good cell service, but use a booster. Dog's perspective: Trails, trails, trails! But watch out for ticks.

This campground has a lot to offer. It is flat and has a clean shower room, but the shower room does not have AC. When it is in the 90's, that is an issue. The dumpster needed dumping but it does have recycling. Plus and minus.

O’Leno State Park is one of Florida’s gems. Located on the Santa Fe River in the north-central part of Florida’s wang, there is so much to do in the park that it’s a beautiful vacation destination on its own. Hike, bike, kayak, swim – there’s a little something for everyone. The campground is quite a drive into the park. Once you get off the paved portion, it can be a little bumpy. Some of their sites are not very level and will be a doozy to try and accomplish. With that said, the park is awesome and we will be back for sure.

O'Leno State Park in HIgh Springs Florida was developed by the CCC in the 1930's. It has miles of horse back riding, hiking, and biking trails. The Santa Fe river runs by the campsite, then disappears underground, reappearing a mile later. The campsites are nicely wooded and feel secluded. more info available on youtube video: https://youtu.be/Z8zWy1ALg-4 cell phone data download/upload (Mbps) tested with Speedtest ATT 1.92/0.08 Verizon 4.13/0.53 T-Mobile 8.65/0.06 With Weboost cell phone booster ATT 0.96/3.38 Verizon 3.00/4.56 T-Mobile 7.18/5.14

We spent about a week here in our 36' Class A. Yes, the Dogwood loop can be narrow, but slow and easy is the way to go. Hiked something every day, checked out the small CCC museum or just hung around. We took a day trip over to Cedar Key for lunch, fellow campers took multi mile bike trips. Bath house was clean. Some sites have more space or vegetation than others, so be sure to take a look at the site photos before making reservations. I'm sure we will be back!

We had a couple of days open up on our trip through FL so we found this little gem and stayed 2 nights. It was only a short drive off of the interstate which made it very convenient. Check-in was easy (we arrived around 5:30 and they were still open) but they advise to call ahead if you're going to be late. There's 2 campground loops here, Dogwood and Magnolia...and they're drastically different. . If I could give the Dogwood loop a 1 or 2 star I would, while I would give the Magnolia loop a 4 star. The Dogwood loop felt grungy and unpleasant, especially comparatively. It felt very disconnected from the rest of the park. Sites were smaller and felt stacked more on top of each other. Magnolia loop on the other hand had a very nice feel to it. It was pleasant to go for a walk or a bike ride down to the river from here. While most of the sites were just ok, sites 4, 14, 27 and 31 seemed the best and largest. The sites are gravel and have really nice 2-rail fences outlining your space. The fences honestly really gave the sites a homey feel, something that was absent in the Dogwood loop (which didn't have fences). The Magnolia loop is tight if you have anything big...if you have a big 5th wheel you'll have to be REALLY careful and backing into your site might be a challenge. All sites are very wooded and offer some privacy from your neighbor. Restrooms were clean and nice, as was the playground. The walk to the recreation area was very pleasant down a compacted sand/dirt road. The recreation area had a good playground, a small nature center (open at 10 am), trails and the bridge. The bridge was beautiful! The last morning we were there we went for a trail run around the yellow loop. It was AMAZING! Whether you run, hike or walk it, just make sure you do it. It's about 2 miles round trip from the campground. We went here, Disney, Key Largo and St. Augustine on this trip and one of my top two favorite things we did the whole time was paddle the Itchetucknee River!!! It's about 15 minutes from the campground and was insanely beautiful, fun and relaxing. Highly recommended! I'd stay here again in a heartbeat, especially if I wanted to spend a few days exploring all of the springs in the area.

Certainly worthy of a five star rating if not for a couple of problems within the campground itself. My early morning shower was disturbed by a drain that refused to do its job. My stall became a soapy bathtub and forced me to move to another one in order to dry off and get dressed. But the bathrooms for the most part were clean and serviceable. Except for the typical state park washers and dryers that were disconnected and removed in both the Dogwood Campground and the Magnolia. The one time we needed this amenity and out of luck. But the state park itself is amazing. Over thirty miles of trails covering vistas of sink holes, lakes, the Santa Fe River, an amazing suspension bridge, and wooded campsites off well-maintained and natural sand roads. The dump station is situated between the two campgrounds within the park. Each site provides electric and water, fire ring (yuck - hate smelly campfires), and a picnic table. Most sites in Dogwood allow for rigs up to twenty-five feet which pretty much discourages the behemoth RV monstrosities we avoid if possible. Mostly serious tenters here who like to fish, hike, kayak, and ride their bikes. Magnolia seemed to attract more families and the nice playground cut into the center was probably the main attraction. Camping fees were half-price due to my senior discount.

Rather than reiterate the astute comments of other reviewers of this campground, let me supplement some excellent points that were made. First, we stayed in the Dogwood loop with a 27-foot airstream and there were many sites we could have stayed in comfortably. There is a small museum on this property to the Civilian Conservation Corps, which may have been one of the most outragously successful federal programs in history. Hiking to see the Santa Fe River disappearing underground with a few water outcroppings is a marvelous experience. The most popular trail to see it Is called River Run Trail, but confirm with the front desk when you check-in. You will be able to walk across a marvelous suspension bridge by going to the trail or just visiting the site of the former town known as Keno, then Leno, then Old Leno, then O’leno. I know: great story! One reviewer lamented the existence of fire pits; I’m sure that’s a personal thing. We loved the fact that firewood was sold at the office on arrival for five dollars a bag and had fun making two fires out of the one bag. The restrooms were spacious and well-maintained. The camp host, Max, has been doing his job well there for years and really loves the place. There is nearby shopping. The rate for this and all my reviews of state facilities in Florida reflect both a Florida Resident and senior discount, a truly great deal if you qualify.

Any state campground that has a three mile loop trail that is maintained (bridges) in the forest is a good state park. Very beautiful park with a small CCC museum (campground was built by CCC, and has a statue). Please do not fail to go for a long walk on the trail, and bring your binoculars to see all the bird life. Also has a small nature center for folks to visit on weekends. All sites are wooded with good separation. This site has no sewer hookup, but given that we drove in spontaneous on a weekday we are glad to get a spot. Small details are just really nice at this park, as they keep everything well maintained. Bathroom is great for a nice long hot shower.

The roads and campsites are a bit narrow since this was built long ago before big rigs, but we didn’t have any trouble navigating with our 30’ travel trailer. The campsites are relatively level and have beautiful trees and scenery. There’s a good bit of distance between you and your neighbor which is always nice. The campsites have electricity and water and there is a dump station on-site. We only stayed a few days in January 2019 to visit some friends in the Gainesville area, but would love to come back to explore the area more. Easy access to the park and to Gainesville. We had good internet service for AT&T and Verizon. From the park, you can see the Santa Fe River flow below the ground to the Santa Fe sink. Overall, it was a very nice state park and we will definitely stay again.

Great trails and beautiful amenities. Previous reviews cover it well.

We camp here often due to proximity to I75. The trails are beautiful and the river as well.

The sites are in two loops, Dogwood and Magnolia. Sites will be assigned by length of RV. The path loop to the sites is a little tight, but was manageable with our 35 ft Class A. But the sites are spacious and equipped with water/electric, picnic tables and fire pit. Dump station on the way out. Lots of well kept trails. We didn't have a problem with mosquitos, but have been warned about ticks. Pet friendly, on-leash.

The forest is beautiful with a mix of hardwoods and palms. Cypress in the river and sinks. Dogwood loop looks sucky. Magnolia is nice. Bathroom old but clean. Hot water yes. Very forested sites. With all the trails this park could be a cycling haven. The rangers are flat out worthless. I guess the park manager is just biding his time for retirement. Verizon cell worked for streaming Pandora and YTTV. Plenty of firewood on the ground.

Stayed in Magnolia loop. Sites are close but a lot of foliage creates privacy. Bathroom and showers are old but very clean. Deer aplenty and the hike along the Santa Fe River was excellent. Interesting history of the park, suspension bridge and old buildings. Time capsule was a surprise. Price was $18/night; 50% off for seniors.

Few nights in while kayaking the Santa Fe River. Entry quick and easy with Park well off noisy highways. Site 16 Magnolia Loop (packed white sand) was dead level and clean upon arrival -- spacious, private, and heavily wooded complete with fire ring, rail boundary, and picnic table. Firewood $6.00 on site. Hot shower and clean facilities. Electricity (30A) and water reliable. Dump site on way out. Quiet and darkness at night are almost scary. Much to see and do hiking, biking, and kayaking. Suspension bridge over River takes you on a beautiful trail around the Sink. Number of historic buildings celebrating Park's genesis as a CCC project. Be cautious of ticks, spiders, and mosquitoes. Got a spider bite on hand while biking trails, Others have complained about ticks. Be well supplied as it's 5 miles to the nearest anything. This is Florida at its best!

Yes a beautiful and very wooded State Park but woefully under planned and utilized for public benefit. Yes excellent for tent camping and tiny RV/trailer uses. Sites on the Magnolia loop are not consistent in size nor quality. Sites are often difficult to access due to very narrow dirt/limestone access road with large trees making very tight turning movements when attempting to back into sites with bordered with posts and fencing. Bathhouse on Magnolia loop not well heated for winter seasons and in need of repair and maintenance. Fixtures are old and need replacement. O’Leano needs $$$ funding and redesign for modern RV and trailer camping. Yes the flora and fauna is excellent. Good AT&T LTE services at 2 bars. Very quiet and serene. Park staff friendly and courteous.

The sites are a bit close together so privacy or isolation isn't really an option. However the campgrounds are clean and the bathroom/showers are excellent. Depending on the site you get, backing in a larger rig may be a tad tricky. There was a bit of wildlife to see,, typical to this area. Turtles and deer and such. The nature trails were really nice as well. This wasn't a bad place to stay, quite nice in fact...but I wouldn't call it amazing.

Camped on site 49 relatively close to the restroom and showers which were actually very nice. I have Verizon and was able to get 2 bars but internet connectivity was kind of sketchy at times. All of the camp sites are heavily wooded. I couldn’t get my Directv. Bummer. The pads are all packed sand/dirt and mine was relatively level. I gave it 3 stars because I do like my Directv and internet and of course had issues. But if you do like secluded, quiet camping you will like this park.

Sites are pretty wooded, but nice. The Dogwood campground loop road is narrow and more suited to smaller RVs, but there are some motor homes stuffed in. Be sure to follow the road to the end and visit the river where you’ll find a cool suspension bridge leading to the river trail. Well worth it. The showers and bathroom is very clean and nnot nearly as “backwoods” as you might expect walking up to it. There is some noise in the evening from the main road.

We enjoyed our stay at O'Leno State Park. Facilities are clean, but old. The trails around the river are very good. Sites are fairly separated, but not overly spacious. Sand/dirt which would be vastly increased by installing gravel. The river is interesting to view as it goes underground at one point and surfaces at another park. Watch YouTube for the divers in the tunnel. High Springs has restaurants and shopping. A Winn Dixie is a couple of miles from the park.

This campground would work best for those looking to spend a few days in the woods during good weather. We stayed in the Magnolia loop for a week that was mostly cool and rainy. After heavy rains our site turned into a lake. Roads are narrow and tree lined so not the easiest for larger rigs to get into some of the sites. Dump station is a long ways away down bumpy roads. The best part of staying here was that there were very nice hiking trails right in the park. Saw a large gator lounging by a lake. About 15 minutes to the grocery store. No big cities close by.

Overall: Older facility, no privacy, no apparent investment. Best part of the campground is the park and the hikes. (I didn't go for fishing, but there is a suggestion that is also good). Site: Mine was uneven and had flooded in a recent rain. Required rig leveling. Site wasn't raked, and was covered in leaves and mud. many of the sites had little or no privacy and were almost as tightly packed as commercial campgrounds. Electrical pedestal worked but could use maintenance. Good water. Bathhouse: Showed its age in every regard. Amenities: Great hiking trails and natural attractions. Great history. Decent playground.

We were delighted with this campground. Our site, as are many, was spacious and had vegetation surrounding it that gave us privacy. The sites are packed sand and mostly level. The bathrooms were kept very clean by the very nice campground hosts. We enjoyed hiking to the river sink and further down the road, the river rise. There's a nice Winn Dixie grocery store in High Springs. We bought wood from a vendor on the road to High Springs at a great price.