Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234597
When River Forest Group Site reopens
River Forest Group Site's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
3
Openings · last 90 days
3
Only 3 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 83 open for online reservation · 100 reserved.
Where the open windows are
54.6% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 83 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online54.6%
Open site-nights83 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)100 / 183
Weekday openings60
Weekend openings23
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 60 fall on weekdays and 23 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October holds the most room. 20 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 01 | 83 |
This site currently has 83 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Oct 30
The next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Oct 30. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
83 open site-nights across 1 site at River Forest Group Site, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 17 2-night, 12 3-night, 2 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 01.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Not recorded | None | 83 | 12 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 11 +71 more |
About River Forest Group Site
Overview
River Forest is a shaded group camping facility on the shores of the St. Johns River in Ocala National Forest. Located just across the river from Deland, the site is popular for groups, family reunions and weddings and can accommodate up to 125 guests.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds
Recreation
This site is a great setting for groups to relax, picnic and enjoy the shade on a warm day. A large field offers ample space for activities such as softball, volleyball and horseshoe tossing.
Visitors wanting to venture out of the picnic area can go for a long walk through floodplain forests and pine flatwoods on the St. Francis Trail, or head to the river to canoe, kayak or fish for bass.
Facilities
All new facilities are the highlight of the River Forest Group Site. Facilities include a screened pavilion for food preparation and cooking with your own cook stoves. A new bathhouse has also been built on site.
The camping area is flat for tents with some shade provided by trees. While RVs are welcome, there are no hookups and all vehicles must remain in the designated parking area. Grills and picnic tables are provided.
Natural Features
The Ocala National Forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest.
The campground is shaded with large live oaks with a flat, grassy patch of land that leads to the St. Johns River.
Nearby Attractions
The Ocala National Forest is notable for its extensive off-road trail system catering to off-road vehicle enthusiasts, as well as being a traditional destination for deer hunters from around Central Florida. Numerous lakes, rivers and natural springs surround the area and offer many water activities.
1 monitored siteNo hookups1 shadedMax party 125
Getting there
From Deland, Florida, drive west on State Route 44 to the first intersection after crossing the St. Johns River. Turn right on County Road 42, and the entrance to the campground is on the right.
45700 River Forest Blvd, Deland, FL 32720352-625-2520
CampingFishingHiking
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234597 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234597 · River Forest Group Site · Deland FL7 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at River Forest Group Site?
Reservations for River Forest Group Site are made through Recreation.gov. 83 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (45.4%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 3 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at River Forest Group Site?
Campsite Sniper detected 3 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at River Forest Group Site?
12 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 21 at site 01. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at River Forest Group Site?
October 2026, with 20 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at River Forest Group Site?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 30. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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