This trip is one that I planned a few years back, but wasn’t able to take. At the time I wanted to ride around the state, but I wasn’t interested in paying for camping. This plan takes advantage of the Wildlife Management Areas and Water Management Districts that offer free permitted camping. Unlike the west, there isn’t a lot of open land where you can stow away across the state. If people aren’t already living there, it is probably a farm or maybe a farm that is about to be turned into a subdivision.
| Trip Information | |
|---|---|
| Trip | ~650 Miles |
| Est Seat Time | around 14 hours |
| Days/Nights | 5 Days/4 Nights |
| Ride Difficulty | Easy |
| Off-Road | Minimal |
DAY 1
Starting from Tampa we are heading north to Potts Preserve. This campsite (like most on this list) has very few amenities, but the view is amazing. You can pitch your tent right on the Withlacoochie River and take in the mosquitoes, I mean sights. Sites at the North Hooty Point Campsite are available for reservation online. Aside from hunting season, when it closed, they fill up around a month in advance.
DAY 2
Just 160 miles up the road and we make it into the pan handle. The drive is on non-interstate highways that pass through Florida swamp and forest. Rising on US 98 also takes you through a number of old towns that are always interesting to see.
Our next stop is another camping spot that is right on the water and a beautiful view with a few more amenities. This place even has a bathroom! Goose Pasture Campground is a part of another water management district and sidles up to the Wacissa River.
DAY 3
The third leg of the trip carries us east across the state on US 27. It isn’t quite as picture esque of a drive, but you continue to find quaint towns and even pass through Gainsville on the way to Caravelle Ranch which sits on the northern border of the Ocala National Forest.
The campground itself is not near as cool as the previous two. You run of the mill site. What is interesting is the nearby Rodman Dam and the defunct Cross Florida Barge Canal. Additionally there are tons of fire roads and paths through the Ocala National Forest that are legal to ride. You can’t go everywhere in there, but quite a bit is accessible.
DAY 4
Driving straight south through the forest (going as quickly as possible through Orlando) takes us to the Three Lake Wildlife Management area. Aside from hunting season, this wildlife management area is open for camping year round. Like the first two sites it offers the ability to pitch your tent near the water. The biggest thing that Three Lakes offers is some great Florida hiking and birding. With so much water, the wildlife is ever present (so long as they aren’t hunting it)
DAY 5
It only take a handful of miles to feel like you are back in the middle of civilization – for better or for worse. just over a hundred miles back over to Tampa and a total of around 650 for the whole trip.
This loop isn’t going to stretch your riding muscles, but there is lots to see and you will never be in a hurry to get anywhere. See something interesting? Stop and take a look!
