Is Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek 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.

Are there showers at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground?

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground have?

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground has 4 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground?

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground offers: Restrooms. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground?

Popular activities at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground include Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

3.56

39 reviews

Peace & Quiet

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

4 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Book on ReserveAmerica

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

4 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Book on ReserveAmerica

Get Directions

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations must be made online (ReserveAmerica) to receive the gate code required to access the forest road. No fee amounts provided in available...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Campground Map

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

29.7235, -81.2612

Nearby places

Crescent Beach: reported by a reviewer as roughly 10 minutes from the forest entrance and ~25 minutes from campsites

St. Augustine: nearest incorporated city (unspecified driving distance).

Driving directionsEnter Double Gate Road (search for “Double Gate Road, St Augustine, FL”) off US-1/Route 1 and follow posted camping signs to the forest entrance. Gate to the forest access road is combination-locked; reservations are required to obtain the gate code. Note: Google Maps may route to Dupont Rd; reviewers advise using Double Gate Rd.

Remote access via a long, unpaved, washboarded dirt road; reviewers recommend a truck or high-clearance vehicle. Road is dusty and can be difficult for low-clearance cars.

Weather at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

Best Time to Camp at Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

Best

Winter(Dec-Feb)

4.0 / 5

Mild Florida winters make for pleasant camping and good solitude/stargazing opportunities.

Planning Tips

About Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground

Escape to one of Florida's best-kept secrets: a tiny four-site primitive campground tucked deep within Matanzas State Forest. This gated, reservation-only retreat offers true backcountry solitude with basic amenities (porta-potty available, no hookups) reached via a scenic forest road that keeps the crowds at bay.

Small, primitive campground with four sites; accommodates tent camping and reviewers have observed RVs at sites.

Natural Features and SceneryImmerse yourself in the peaceful embrace of old Florida woodlands, where towering trees create a natural canopy overhead and the sounds of civilization fade to birdsong and rustling leaves. This secluded forest hideaway delivers the kind of quiet, scenic solitude that nature lovers dream about, with the added bonus of Crescent Beach and the Atlantic Ocean just a short drive away—offering the rare opportunity to enjoy both coastal and forest adventures in one trip.

Scenic ViewsWooded forest views; secluded campsite clearings within the forest.

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Amenities available

Very primitive site amenities: a porta-potty (vault toilet), picnic table(s), grill, fire ring, and a trash area. Reviews note a gate code is required (reservations made online) and limited/irregular maintenance of the outhouse; no showers, no electric, and no hookup services. At least one review reports non-potable water being available, while others report no water, so potable water is not provided.

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Remote, deep-forest camping with opportunities to observe local wildlife and forest scenery; reviewers note proximity (driving distance) to Crescent Beach. Activities are informal/undeveloped on-site.

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsReported hazards include abundant ticks, mosquitoes/no-see-ums, and venomous snakes (reviewers report eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and cottonmouths). Other issues noted: limited or no on-site management, occasional trash or human/animal waste left by visitors, and potential for noisy neighboring campers.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

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

3.6

39 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Matanzas State Forest Cedar Creek Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Mixed reviews: visitors praise the seclusion, natural setting, and proximity to the coast, but many cite very limited amenities, rough access roads, insects/ticks, occasional unsafe or noisy activity, and minimal on-site management. Only four sites are available and the campground is described as primitive.

Review Summaries

Based on 39 reviews

What Campers Love

Secluded, quiet forest setting; close (by car) to Crescent Beach; scenic/backcountry feel; some reviewers found sites clean and peaceful.

Based on 39 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Make reservations online to receive the gate code; bring all water and supplies, insect/tick protection, and plan for primitive camping. A higher-clearance vehicle is recommended for the rough forest...

Based on 39 reviews

Camper Quotes

"It's absolutely primitive w/no water either so obviously that needs to be taken into consideration."; "This is the perfect park to stay at if you are looking to get away from everything."

Based on 39 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Campers who haul in all their own water, sleep in bug nets, and want genuine backcountry quiet near the coast will get it here. Site 4 is the one to grab. Fall and winter are the right seasons.

Skip if

Comfort campers will struggle fast: no water, no showers, no hookups, a rough washboarded road that rewards high-clearance vehicles, and reviewers who mention ticks, cottonmouths, and the occasional crowd that treats the place like a party spot with no one watching.

Nearby Campgrounds

Less Visited

3.6

(39)

Matanzas State Forest Group Camp

6840 US Highway 1 South, St. Augustine, Florida, 32086, United States

Matanzas State Forest Group Camp sits deep in a 4,699-acre forest south of St. Augustine, offering four primitive group sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and grills. This is true backcountry camping: no electricity, no running water, no trash service. The $9/night fee covers access to a remote landscape of palms, hardwoods, and salt marshes within the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Privacy varies by site, and you'll need to haul in all your water and pack out all your trash.