How much does camping cost at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Camping fees at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground range from $5/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground is open Open daily 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Yes, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Fire policies at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground: Each campsite includes a fire ring/grill. The official page lists fire rings as standard site amenities; current fire restrictions and policies are not detailed on the park page.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground have?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground has 73 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

Popular activities at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

4.48

308 reviews

6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights FL 32656

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

73 campsites

Season

Open daily 8 a.m. un...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

$5/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

73 campsites

Season

Open daily 8 a.m. un...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

$5.00 - $5.00 / night

Campsite Fees

$5 per vehicle (day‑use/entrance fee). Individual campsite fees not listed on the park page; see reservation system for campsite rates.

No paid fee categories listed.

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Florida State Parks

Provider

352-316-4286

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

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Campground Map

6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights FL 32656

No map location available

Nearby supplies

Keystone Heights (local restaurants, grocery, hardware and other basic services)

Weather at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

Best Time to Camp at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

Fall through early spring brings the best conditions: daytime highs in the 60s to low 80s, cool nights in the 40s–60s, low humidity, and fewer mosquitoes. February visitors report pleasant, quiet days and an empty swimming area. November campers find cold mornings but comfortable afternoons. June is too hot for tent camping. Exposed sites bake, and bugs intensify. RVs with AC handle summer heat fine, but tent campers will want extra water and bug spray if they visit May through September.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open daily 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year

About Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park spreads 73 campsites across three loops. Sandhill, Turkey Oak, and Lakeview. On rolling sandhills in north-central Florida. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and potable water; most offer 20/30-amp electric hookups and dump station access. The Turkey Oak loop closes for renovation November 1, 2025. Fees run $5 per night.

Gold Head has three campground loops (Sandhill, Turkey Oak and Lakeview) with a total of 73 campsites that accommodate tents, trailers and motorized campers. The park also offers primitive campsites (including group primitive sites) and historic lakefront cabins.

Historical Significance

One of Florida's earliest state parks, the 600-acre site was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Several CCC-built cabins remain as popular lodging, offering rustic character with heat, AC, kitchens, and bathrooms. Other historic structures dot the park.

Weather and SeasonsFall through early spring brings the best conditions: daytime highs in the 60s to low 80s, cool nights in the 40s–60s, low humidity, and fewer mosquitoes. February visitors report pleasant, quiet days and an empty swimming area. November campers find cold mornings but comfortable afternoons. June is too hot for tent camping. Exposed sites bake, and bugs intensify. RVs with AC handle summer heat fine, but tent campers will want extra water and bug spray if they visit May through September.

Natural Features and SceneryLongleaf pines and turkey oaks cover the sandy ridges, giving way to a steep ravine carved by Gold Head Branch. Seepage springs feed marshes and a chain of sinkhole lakes, including Little Lake Johnson. The ravine trail drops into a shaded gully with boardwalks and stairs, ferns lining the cooler bottom. Patches of scrub and native grasses fill out the sandhill habitat. Night skies are dark enough for good stargazing away from the few lights. Deer, rabbits, and wild turkeys appear regularly in the evenings. Reviewers mention owl sightings and varied bird activity. Some campsites and cabins offer lake views; picnic areas near the water look out over open fields.

Geological RegionRolling sandhills on the north central ridge of Florida (longleaf pine / turkey oak sandhill habitat)

Scenic ViewsViews include wooded longleaf pine ridges, scenic overlooks into the shaded ravine with boardwalks and stairways, and lakeside vistas with a small sand swim beach in warm months.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsFlorida State Parks reservation system (Make a Reservation link on the park page)

Total Campsites73 campsites

Best CampsitesTurkey Oak site 22 offers good shade under oaks; sites 27–36 catch morning sun and work well in cooler months. Site 39 is huge, with clean bathrooms nearby. Sandhill site 6 gives lots of space and distance from neighbors but sits exposed. Hot in summer. Lake loop tent site 68 is a returning camper favorite for size and setting. The historic CCC cabins near the lake are frequently praised.

Need help booking Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground?

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Florida State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Each campsite includes a picnic table, fire ring/grill and potable water. All campgrounds have a bathhouse with hot showers (Lakeview bathhouse is fully accessible); a centralized dump station is available. Electrical service (20- and 30-amp; select sites also have 50-amp) is provided at most sites, and a coin-operated washer/dryer is onsite. Well-behaved pets are allowed in the campgrounds but not inside bathhouses.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

The park and campground support a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking on nature trails and a 5.44-mile stretch of the Florida National Scenic Trail, paddling/canoeing and lake swimming, fishing, bicycling on paved park roads, and wildlife viewing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSeasonal low lake water levels can limit swimming and shoreline access. Some RV/tent pads, particularly in the Lakeview loop, can be uneven and may require leveling. Typical Florida insects (mosquitoes, ticks) are possible in warm months. No specific on-page safety advisories are listed.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.5

308 reviews

Recommended

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the park's historic CCC cabins, quiet natural setting, spacious wooded campsites, well-kept trails (notably the ravine), clean bathhouses with hot showers, and good night-sky viewing. Reviews also note strong staff service overall and convenient on-site amenities like laundry and a dump station.

Review Summaries

Based on 308 reviews

What Campers Love

Historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cabins are frequently cited as a highlight, offering rustic character with modern comforts. Campers appreciate large, wooded campsites, accessible bathhouse...

Based on 308 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Fall and winter tent campers who want a shaded, spacious site and good trails: the ravine boardwalk and the 5.44-mile Florida National Scenic Trail segment are the real draws, and dark enough skies make evenings worth staying put.

Skip if

Summer tent camping here is genuinely rough, exposed sites bake, mosquitoes multiply, and lake levels can drop low enough to make swimming disappointing. RVs with AC handle it; tents don't.

Campgrounds

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground

About Stony Gorge Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Stony+Gorge+Dam">Stony Gorge Dam</a>, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Orland+Project">Orland Project</a>, completed in 1928, is on Stony Creek about 18 miles downstream from East Park Dam and 5 miles west of Fruto in western Glenn county. The dam is a concrete slab and buttress structure with a height of 139 feet and a crest length of 868 feet. A warm-water fishery with an 18-mile shoreline. Excellent boating and shoreline accessibility. One boat ramp useable most of the summer, depending on water level. Free camping except for group camping area. Available bass species include largemouth and smallmouth bass of Texan strain that grow faster and mature earlier (10 to 12 pounds). A thriving bluegill and crappie population (2 to 3 pounds). Catfishing good year-round (up to 20 pounds). <A HREF="http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/res_STG.html"> Reservoir levels.</a>

Directions

Located 21 miles west of Willows off Maxwell Stony Gorge Rd. Nearest highway, I-5.