Silver River State Park
The Silver River / camping entrance of Silver Springs State Park — at 1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala. Home to the campground, cabins, Pioneer Cracker Village, Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center, and 15 miles of trails.
Silver River State Park is the camping/Silver River entrance of Silver Springs State Park, at 1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470 — on SR 35 (Baseline Road) south of SR 40. Locals still call this entrance "Silver River State Park," its name before the 2013 merger. The entrance offers 59 RV/tent campsites with water/electric hookups, vacation cabins (sleep 6), primitive group camping, the Pioneer Cracker Village, the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center, and 15 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails (Sandhill 1.7 mi, Sinkhole 2.2 mi, Old Field 0.8 mi). Entry fee is $8/vehicle (2-8 occupants) or $5 single occupant — covers same-day access to the main Silver Springs entrance too. Camping reservations 800-326-3521 or reserve.floridastateparks.org.
Two Entrances, One Park
The Florida Park Service merged the former Silver River State Park with Silver Springs in 2013, creating a single unified property officially called Silver Springs State Park. Locals continued — and still continue — to refer to the two entrances by their historical names. The distinction matters because each entrance has a different fee structure and different facilities:
Main entrance — “Silver Springs”
5656 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Silver Springs, FL 34488 (on SR 40)
$2 per person (kids 5 and under free)
Head springs, Glass Bottom Boats, watercraft rentals, food/retail, historic gardens.
Silver River entrance — “Silver River State Park” (this page)
1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470 (on SR 35 / Baseline Road)
$8/vehicle (2-8 occupants), $5 single occupant
Campground, cabins, Pioneer Cracker Village, Silver River Museum, hiking and mountain bike trails, kayak launch.
A trail-and-bridge system within the park connects the two areas, and one paid admission covers same-day access to both entrances — keep your receipt.
Camping & Cabins
59 RV/Tent Sites
Two campground loops with 59 spacious sites accommodating RVs up to 50 feet. Each site has water and electric hookups, a fire ring, a barbecue grill, and a picnic table. Tent campers welcome. Reserve at 800-326-3521 or reserve.floridastateparks.org.
Vacation Cabins (Sleep 6)
Two-bedroom cabins with a full kitchen (stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher), one bathroom, central heat/AC, a gas fireplace (Oct 1 – Apr 30), and a large screened porch. Cabins sit on a separate loop opposite the campground.
Primitive Group Camping
Shaded oak grove reserved for organized groups, with preference to youth organizations. Picnic tables and fire rings on site; non-potable water (no showers). Contact (352) 236-7148 for group camping reservations.
Kayak Launch
A kayak launch at the Silver River entrance gives paddlers direct access to the Silver River for the 5.5-mile downstream-and-back paddle to the head springs.
15 Miles of Hiking & Mountain Bike Trails
The Silver River entrance is the trailhead for most of Silver Springs State Park’s hiking and mountain biking — 15 miles of forest trails radiating from near the museum and campground. Three named loops are blazed and signed:
Sandhill Trail
Yellow blazes · 1.7-mile loop
Longleaf pine uplands.
Sinkhole Trail
Red blazes · 2.2-mile loop
Through the park’s sinkhole karst landscape.
Old Field Loop
Green blazes · 0.8-mile loop
Short loop suitable for casual walks.
Trails are open to walkers and mountain bikers. They connect through the surrounding forest and the Pioneer Cracker Village exhibit.
Pioneer Cracker Village & Silver River Museum
The Pioneer Cracker Village is a museum and environmental education center set in a collection of historic Florida “Cracker” buildings that were relocated to the park to tell the story of 19th-century Florida pioneer life. The buildings, paired with interpretive signage, form one of the largest open-air history exhibits in Central Florida.
The adjacent Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center covers the natural history of the Silver River corridor, including the spring system’s geology, the Timucuan and Seminole peoples, and the park’s wildlife. The two exhibits are walkable from the campground.
Visitor Information
Fees & Hours
- • Entry: $8/vehicle (2-8 occupants), $5 single occupant
- • One paid admission covers both entrances same-day
- • Park hours: 8 AM to sundown daily
- • Camping: reserve at 800-326-3521 or reserve.floridastateparks.org
- • Primitive group camping: (352) 236-7148
Location
- • 1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470
- • On State Road 35 (Baseline Road), south of SR 40
- • Connects to the main Silver Springs entrance via internal trail/bridge system
- • To reach main entrance by car: north on SR 35 to SR 40, then east
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silver River State Park the same as Silver Springs State Park?+
Where is the Silver River entrance located?+
What is the entry fee at the 58th Avenue / Silver River entrance?+
What camping options are available?+
What are the cabins like?+
What hiking and biking trails are at the Silver River entrance?+
What is the Pioneer Cracker Village?+
How do I get from the Silver River entrance to the head springs and Glass Bottom Boats?+
Related Pages
Silver Springs (Main Entrance)
5656 E Silver Springs Blvd — head springs, Glass Bottom Boats, $2/person.
Glass Bottom Boats
Historic glass-bottom boat tours from the main Silver Springs entrance.
Silver River Museum
More on the museum and Environmental Education Center.
Silver Springs Camping Guide
Detailed camping guide for the 59-site campground and cabins.
Explore More Ocala Springs
Marion County is the spring capital of Florida — keep planning with these guides to first-magnitude springs, river adventures, and waterfront experiences nearby.