Chassahowitzka River Campground

Probably one of the most wonderful places you could ever experience. Should be on everyone’s bucket list of things to do. Make sure you’re with someone that has some degree of experience with the rivers it is old primitive Florida and comes with all of the floral and fauna as such. Black Bears Panthers otters alligators water moccasins You will see them all. Best of all don’t forget the manatees they are beautiful, but always remember don’t touch. Do not feed them do not stand your two-​year-​old on their back and take pictures and yes the fines are very expensive if you get caught doing it so observe and enjoy. And yes there are river dolphins there not a myth. Make sure to pack a lunch and plenty of water to drink. Oh yeah don’t forget mask fins and snorkel your go to need them at the springs. Safety first.

Great place to put in your kayak or rent one. The Chaz is beautiful, serene, calming and one of the nicest areas to enjoy

This is only for tent camping: the reservation process is easy call and tell them your dates. Done. The place is easy to find., the office is the nicest area. And yes the plastic canoe with seats are the best, however our weekend was rained out so we didn’t rent the canoe it would have been $ 30. If you are staying there you have to walk from your campsite, they won’t let you park at the boat ramp for free it’s $ 5. The sites have only water no where to plug anything so I was able to charge my phone from my USB in my car. The clubhouse has a multi outlet, I made coffee there in my own coffee pot the next morning. It smells in there but does have cable. The only night we stayed there the garbage truck came at 3am. We heard our neighbors crying baby all night. The other lesbian neighbors fighting. Car alarms going off and drunks giggling until 1am. And talking loudly. There is no privacy really, you can hear everything, people fighting even beer cans opening. I’m thinking if I had my own kayak or canoe I’d dump it in there and only pay $ 5 for parking other than that I’d go elsewhere maybe I’m too spoiled, because after staying at Ft. De Soto I don’t really want to stay elsewhere I’ve been to EG Simmons park also that is better than Chassahowitza but you need some sort of water thing, like a canoe to have fun I think.

Do not tent here. We are experienced campers and you can camp for a better price and in a better environment just about anywhere else. The portable toilet provided in the tent side of the camp ground was WAAAYYYY past needing attention and there was feces on the floor. You do get a code to access the restrooms located in the RV section of the park (you’d better have a lamp if you need to get there in the night). These fortunately were clean and spacious, but minimal in amenities.
We paid $ 50 for the site, and another $ 17.50 for one bundle of wood and a 5 lb bag of ice. Store closes early too so get there before dark or they won’t be able to gouge you as much. The woman minding the store was indifferent and ignorant. Tent sites all vary vastly in size and amenities (fire rings, tables) there are many tree roots to set up around and trip over. Sites are close together so when there are more campers you will not have much quiet. In this case there was one other small group at least ten sites away and even though no alcohol is allowed they were drunk, and too loud past «quiet» hours with dogs they let bark most of the night. There is no surveillance or monitoring so the rules are pointless. Three piglets were running around the grounds scrounging in the duff for food which is fun and hilarious, but rather strange. Stranger still, around 3am a pick-​up truck came through the tenting grounds and stopped at three different trash receptacles where a man got out and to dump glass and other items into each (perhaps a RV camper from the other side of the grounds had an excess of garbage).
Chassahowitzka River Campground is resting on their location — which as noted in other reviews– is indeed spectacular. Truly natural FL wonders. We paddled out near dusk and the peaceful waterway revealed all kinds of birds that don’t launch away if you are respectful and the clear water is filled with fish. Put your boat in — but don’t spend money staying — they do not deserve your business until they actually start to care.

I have been leery of writing a review on this place, simply because I dread the day this place becomes overly popular. Since the Chaz isn’t part of a Florida State Park, you can have one of the best canoeing/​kayaking experiences with manatees here! You should never approach a manatee, just a disclaimer here, but the campground operators do not shut down access to the river if manatees are in the area. I saw a mama and her calf here one winter, with a male swimming slow circles around them. Hands down one of the most special things I have ever seen. I almost always see small gators (7 ft or smaller) and occasionally a river otter. This river leads to the ocean, and I have heard myths about river dolphins, but I imagine you have to be quite a ways out there to see those.
A few years ago, this place rented out really nice canoes, but new owners have taken over. The standard canoe is a metal demon that will heat up quickly, and at least now they give you cushions to sit on. Pay the up charge for the nicer canoe with the seat back, especially if you don’t paddle often. Those canoes are easier to handle and more comfortable, with cup holders for your canoe beer.
There are springs to explore, and a rope swing near the main boat launch. The rope swing has been cut down at The Crack (ask campground for a map – this is a special little spring you’ll want to check out!) but there are still nice spots to picnic out there.
My only gripe is that you will sometimes run in to an asshat with an airboat at the caves. This little cove near the boat launch is shallow and a bit small to handle airboats, but there is almost always some redneck with a Natty who thinks they can not only take their boat back there, but also not blow away any of the kayaks or canoes back there. Don’t be one of those airboat people here.

Camped for 3 nights in the Indian River Campground for Spring Break and had an awesome time! The first day we drove a short distance down the 19 to swim with manatees (see review of Captain Jean’s Snorkel With Manatees) and the second day we spent out on the river at the campgrounds, kayaking and paddle boarding! They offer rentals of kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and probably some other stuff that I’m forgetting. Well stocked camp store. Lots of space for sitting near the river for lunch or to relax and fish. The staff are great — friendly and informative. Met some awesome fellow campers. The campsites are somewhat close together but definitely ample space for comfort. The bath house is very nice — tiles floors, hot water in the showers, and super clean. We charged our electronics in the clubhouse which is clean and has a nice television and lots of board games, as well as tables and a fridge/​freezer. The river is beautiful and has natural limestone holes (Seven Sisters) which you can swim through underwater… As well as a fun rope swing! Lots of critters running around for that outdoor experience! Overall a great time. Would stay again for sure!

i ran USF’s Canoe and Kayak club back in the late 90s/​early 2000’s and this was my go-​to river for my club. After not having been here in probably over 12 years, i decided to make it a point to return. The place is under new ownership (at least from back then) and is even better than i remember it. Perfect staff, excellent facilities and maintained grounds. While the price has gone up since i had last been (of course it would have), it was still well worth camping and renting a canoe for the day. I couldn’t have been happier to return to my old stomping grounds for catharsis. Cheers!

For those looking to experience natural Florida’s wildlife and beauty, forget Disney world; grab a kayak and explore its natural rivers!
I drove down from Buffalo, NY in February to escape from the Polar Vortex with 6 kayaks and a group of enthusiasts and the Chazz river (what it’s referred to locally) was one of the many we hit during our kayaking adventure through Central Florida. The campground was nice, but we mostly used the park as a launching pad for our kayaks. There was no fee to use the campground.
The river itself was wonderful to kayak through. We encountered a few gators, but they’re docile and scared of you… so you shouldn’t fear them, but you definitely shouldn’t feed them!
Definitely don’t miss this gem if you’re going through Florida. Rent a kayak and explore this river!

This review is for the tent portion of the campground. Nice sites, wooded and private. Be sure and preview or request a site with a table since not all the sites have tables and a few of the smaller sites are not good.
Hot showers and a nice rec room with electric outlets and tv are available if you walk over to the RV side which is about ¹⁄₈ mile apart from the tent side. No alcohol is allowed. But the bar at the Riverside is only a short walk away and had AWSOME burgers and $ 1.drafts.
You can rent a kayak or a canoe. The river is beautiful and full of wildlife. We used the kayaks all day for a $ 25 dollar fee and the kayaks were of better quality than many of the other rental places.

Great place to rent a kayak and paddle for hours on Florida’s Nature Coast. The Chassahowitzka is not going to provide you with the up close and personal interaction with manatees that the springs in Kings Bay will, but if you’re looking for some solitude, and want to immerse yourself in the surroundings, this is the place to be. Lots of inlets and small waterways filled with birds. You’ll likely spot a gator or two along the way too.