RV Boondocking in Florida's Ocala National Forest

[@Richnoonan1]

You two are a true inspiration, I have been watching you for a long time and I doubt you have any idea how much joy you bring to your viewers. Your shooting, editing, storytelling have always been first class, but I love the pace of your stories. You never hurry your stories. As a long time television journalist myself, I have always loved to say out loud when I watch a story "tell me something I don't know!" You always tell me things I don't know. This story is a classic example of that. I respect you both so much and if anyone wants to see what "living your best life" looks like, they should watch your stories. Thank you both!

[@RVLifestyle]

Wow, Rich, that is so kind of you to take the time and encourage us. We absolutely love what we are doing and your note means so much to us. We hope to meet you on the road someday.

[@Richnoonan1]

I hope so too...I am using this strategy: Every time we travel I say to my wife "it is so sad that we have to leave our beloved cats at home if we had that RV we could take them with us." It pains her to leave them even though we have a wonderful neighbor who takes great care of them. I have been laying the foundation (guilt trip) for a while now..and I am making progress. When I win the battle I will see you two on the road! Your videos are surely helping me, she loves your videos as well. I always say..."look at happy their dog looks, our cats must be so sad when we leave,"..brutal on my part I know, but the pay off will be worth it!

[@aventurasmickeyyaris]

Woooow thank you we are new RV full time we going to look forward to go visiting this place thank you again so much for this video 😊

[@danielsummersill8642]

We enjoy Camping at Lake Delancy west & East . We like riding atv's and you can ride them right out of the west side. The East side is for quite campers. No Electric or water , you have to bring your own. There is vault bathrooms . there is fishing about 2 miles away at rodman Dam. You can also visit salt Springs about 6 miles away where you can find fuel and food . Plus you may visit the 88 store about 4 miles away

[@RunawaywithShortie]

There are a lot of areas like this in Florida, especially north central Florida. The State parks are wooded and absolutely gorgeous.

[@ric5210]

When I was about 10 in 1972, my great uncle and aunt took me and my brother on a camping trip to Juniper Springs. It was a great adventure for us. Great memories of Juniper Springs!

[@Tritarging]

We just took the motorcycles through Ocala National Forest on Thursday (23 APR 2020) and, yes, the areas are still closed. It really is a beautiful park and worth the visit. Thanks for posting the video.

[@Tritarging]

The closer to Altoona we were the more RV sites I saw occupied. The forest itself appeared to be locked out. Every gate was closed and trail was police tapped off from what I could see from the main road.

[@celestialrvliving]

Ocala was our favorite spot for our group from 1974-1984 after UofF reunion Boondocking camp out. We also went to Paines Prairie near Gainesville and nearer Silver Springs after that with kids. Yes there are many beautiful forests and spots on Florida for quiet camping. Ocala looks the same as it did 45-50 years ago

[@BillSprague]

Whoa! I my put Florida back on my list! Thank you! Let's see? Twenty guides at 7 days each..... We can spend almost 6 months traveling with Mike and Jennifer. Cool! 😎

[@whyzecoin1248]

The two of you are first class. You remind me of nature and adventure shows I watched growing up.

[@boudica5883]

So many beautiful springs in Ocala National Forrest. I live in Jacksonville FL and visit them as much as possible. Salt Spring, Alexander Spring and Glenn Spring are just a few of the natural beauties. Safe travels.

[@larryoutdoor]

Very nice. 🍻😃😄🌄🌅🗻

[@uncledave54]

Hi Mike, I am so glad to see you on youtube. I followed your columns for years when you were at the Detroit Free Press. I'll be following your videos now. Stay safe.....

[@yvonnedavis2271]

How beautiful! Thank you for taking us along!

[@insightandintuition276]

Traveling alone I thought I really wanted to alone in the quiet of nature however watching this I’d be scared alone

[@colorwithkim]

What would you be scared of ? You are a lot more likely to run into problems in the city than you are out in the woods camping. Have you ever heard of a mass shooting in the woods ?

[@janetforbes6398]

Love the seven-day guides. Keep them coming!

[@annethomas8979]

In November 2021 this location is temporarily closed due to staff shortage. Looks like a great place I’d like to try. I just spoke to a ranger who was hopeful that it might open later after hunting season is over at end of January.

[@richdome1]

Thanks heading south in Jan.

[@brewall13194]

Love your videos! Thanks for making them and taking the time to write the guides. I've started making my own travel guides and MAN do they take time and energy. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@stevenarndt8072]

Nice video and great info. My wife Melinda and I are coming to Florida in the middle of February for the Runaway Trailer Homecoming in Summerfield and we may have to check out the Ocala National Forest.

[@ZeroCool2013]

Thank you very much because I was a little worried I wouldn't find anything out there when I arrive. I reckon bear spray for protection would be good to have with.

[@lesliegranowski2683]

You too are really awesome great video glad you guys are safe and hope you continue to be Been watching your videos for a long time and look forward to each and every one

[@paceflchick]

Very nice. You're cool ! Nice mellow life. Stay safe.

[@knit1purl1]

Beautiful area. Thanks again for taking us along.

[@mygypsyadventure3610]

Just saw you both on Traveling Robert’s channel. Love your channel!

[@tammysullivan7626]

Loved it thanks. I just got you boondocking book. We’re hoping to head to the Oregon coast in aug and plan to boondock along the way.

[@RVLifestyle]

We hope to be rtraveling that same coast in late Austist! Hope to see you!

[@p.j.schwarz4766]

You guys really inspire me! 2 Thumbs Up! (Maine)

[@esteli69]

Great video I am your new subscriber 😀

[@Hary1470]

Very nice. I like it.

[@candycornett5061]

My Grandma's property butted up against Ocala national forest. My cousin lives in her house now

[@johnnylightning1491]

I assume there's a 14 day limit. If that's the case, do you have to leave the park or can you just move to a different campground? It does look really nice. If you take highway 40 east almost to Barberville there's a really good little seafood restaurant on the north side of the road by the name of the Essex. Not exactly sure what the name of the town is that it's in but I think it's the last one before Barberville. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@nitay8248]

Love it!❤️

[@adriannyasia]

Now this is awesome!

[@billbuschgen520]

I just about gave up on Fla. until I saw this...Great. Did they have a two week limit?

[@debbietaylor8091]

Hi love watching you guys I was looking at your 7-Day guides that you have available. I am in the process of either buying a 30 foot Class A or a Class C. Will your travel guides work with this big of a motorhome? As far as the roads where you've traveled to, or any restrictions on campgrounds. I feel I can do the research but that would be the purpose of buying your travel guides.

[@RVLifestyle]

Sure, the books are for ALL RVers.

[@Rvhikingyet]

Good info, thanks for sharing.

[@charlestait5303]

Looks great but after Quartzsite it seems pricey at 300$ month!

[@allanwarmflash4020]

great info

[@RVLifestyle]

It was a surprising nice place for boondocking!

[@allanwarmflash4020]

we are starting our full time travels in july all my best stay safe

[@campingalan]

Did you get a chance to visit with Matt over at Matt's RV Reviews at General RV in Ocala while you were there? Your two channels could have a great collaboration. Thank you very much for sharing your experience on your trip to the national forest!

[@RVLifestyle]

Yes, we did see and visit with Matt

[@ReWyldOutdoors]

The only problem with this is that dispersed camping is prohibited during hunting season. Make sure to check before you just show up. Also the campgrounds are full of hunters during this time also.

[@GreatGrannyFreeBird]

eaton lake is beautiful but it looked like it had a pretty strong current flowing through it?

[@RVLifestyle]

No current. It was a fairly windy day when we shot that. I think that's what you are seeing. It was a very peaceful, tranquil lake. I understand there's some nice sized bass in it!

[@scarvymccargo]

Oh, ya, don't forget the crocs!

[@shiptime8108]

Keep in mind during hunting season dispersed camping is not allowed in Ocala. Unfortunately hunting season is pretty much the entire cool weather camping season.

[@joycejohnson1396]

I am interested in your exploring ideas how do I get these?

[@jerrypelletier2328]

I like to boondock in old Kmart parking lots......

[@safehiking]

great video

[@935frank]

I knew about the Ocala National Forest our Daughter in law parents have a farm next door to it we was down there two years ago bad cellphone and bad GPS

[@shelbybusque9864]

Hi friends. I am having trouble understanding how you did this. I call ocala and they said boondocking (camping in or next to your vehicle) is prohibited in the forest. I was planning to go car camp this weekend and now I'm afraid I'll drive there and have to turn back around. All regular campgrounds are booked.

[@williamthawley9251]

congrats on exceeding 100,000 subscribers. and next year Mike, make sure you get the flu shot. remember more people died from the flu last year then c19.

[@gregpohl3689]

What time of year did you go? You indicated it was before any restrictions, and that the release date was in April, but what month was it? Curious as it may help us plan for the future. Thank you.

[@RVLifestyle]

As it says at the state of the video, late February

[@gregpohl3689]

@@RVLifestyle Sorry, I must have missed it. Thank you.

[@meinthewild]

I have a question for which I have been unable to find an answer. Since y’all travel in a rig and mentioned the bears, I thought you might know the answer. I’m a former tent camping/ hiking person. I always used an earthsack or a bear proof container and hung it in a tree or used the Bear-Muda triangle to prevent bears getting into my sleeping area at night. How come trailer folks seem to keep food inside their rigs at night? Is that safe in both black bear and grizzly country? I will be traveling in a temporarily converted horse trailer; a kind of rolling tent. Any information would be appreciated. I did purchase a 25 gallon steel drum with a locking ring lid for my food, toiletries and waste for when I’m in grizzly country (Northern Idaho & Montana).

[@katEm202]

What about alligators? Have you seen any while camping? Black bears in population of about 1,000 in the Ocala Natioinal Forest. I just looked that up!

[@RVLifestyle]

saw no gators... there

[@CanadaFree.6014]

We stayed at a group camp site on the edge of Ocala National Forest this winter. We also drove through it. It seems beautiful. However, met a couple locals camping who warned us about Ocala and that we should stay away from it, saying that there were drug runners in there and not safe. So how do you know what areas are safe and what are not?

[@RVLifestyle]

We saw no evidence of that anywhere in our visits there

[@tubetime39]

Ask the other locals, is what I would do.

[@britanyodonegan4271]

Are any of the state parks/National forest open now??

[@tubetime39]

I am not sure. You may want to ask someone else.

[@a2badger1]

Did you have bear spray when out hiking?

[@MamaBaer54]

I am assuming since it was 63° it was winter in Florida when you shot this so I was surprised to see the National Forest so empty. Is it because most snowbirds like to stay in the resort campgrounds? Boondocking is definitely my preference. Can't wait to check it out.

[@Bob-pu7ps]

Boondocking in carrabelle florida if look

[@ABCBlog2021]

What could be the price of an 2020 wonder RTB in Indian currency?

[@kimberlygribbin7832]

Class C friendly????

[@tubetime39]

It depends, what kind of class c are you asking about ????

[@patchezragdollsalmostglamp1572]

Are we did just go farther out into the woods if you're not around nobody then you can't be catching Cobia