KOA Starke/Gainesville Holiday Campground Review for Senior Travelers: A Detailed Look
As senior travelers, finding the perfect home base for our adventures is key to an enjoyable trip. We look for comfort, convenience, and value, often with an eye towards accessibility and a peaceful environment. My wife and I traveled full-time in an RV for years until we sold it. We now travel using hotels/motels, tent sites, or cabins. In this detailed review, we’ll explore the KOA Starke/Gainesville Holiday Campground, sharing personal experiences and observations to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your next exploration getaway.
KOA Starke/Gainesville Holiday Campground: An Overview
This KOA aims to provide a convenient stopover or base camp for exploring the North Central Florida area. Its location offers both advantages and disadvantages, which we’ll delve into.
Personal Observations & Ratings:
- Pricing: RV site runs between $70-$80 per night, tent sites run $40-$55 per night, and a basic cabin with no bathroom is $70 per night. I was unable to obtain pricing on a deluxe cabin, which does have a bathroom. You will need to check their site and enter your dates of interest. I will post a link to their site at the bottom of this post for your convenience.
- Location: While convenient to a shopping center, the campground’s proximity to a busy road and an active train track significantly impacts the overall experience, especially for tent campers.
- Amenities:
- Bathrooms: My personal experience found the bathrooms to be old but clean. While not modern, their cleanliness is a significant plus.
- Grounds: The campground grounds are well-kept, indicating a good level of maintenance and a pleasant aesthetic.
- Internet Availability:
- Verizon Signal: Verizon signal is good, which is excellent news for staying connected, working remotely, or streaming content.
- Campground WIFI: The campground WIFI is ok. This suggests it’s functional for basic browsing and email, but may not be reliable for heavy streaming or video calls.
- Handicap Friendly: The campground is mostly flat, and the main facilities (office, restrooms, laundry) are all accessible by wheelchair or walker. However, the older bathrooms may not meet ADA modern standards entirely. Still, I found it manageable and safe, although I must note I have no mobility issues.
- Cleanliness: As noted, the bathrooms are clean and the grounds are well-kept, which speaks positively to the overall cleanliness of the campground.
- Employee Attitudes: Although I have seen reviews stating employee attitude problems, I found just the opposite. Everyone I interacted with was friendly and helpful.
Site Specifics and Layout
- Tent Sites: There are only 5 tent sites, and they are all next to each other in a row. This limited number and proximity to each other might not appeal to those seeking a more secluded tent camping experience. There was only a 2-rail fence separating the tent sites.
- Cabins: The campground offers 2 deluxe and 2 basic cabins, providing alternative lodging options for those without an RV or who prefer more comfort than a tent.
- RV Sites: This park has both 50 amp & 30 amp back-in and pull-through sites. Some are full hook-up, and for the ones that are not, there is a dump station. They seemed level and easy to get in and out of.
- Proximity to Shopping Center: One side of the campground borders a large shopping center that can be loud. This noise can be a significant disturbance, particularly for tent campers. Mainly, the garbage truck empties the shopping center dumpsters in the early AM.
- Convenient Walkway: A double-edged sword. While the shopping center could get loud, it was also a major convenience as there was a walkway from the campground to the shopping center, which has Dicks Wings & Grill, a Pizza Hut, and a Chinese restaurant. This access to nearby eateries is a huge plus for campers.
- Road Noise: The campground sits on a busy road, so if you are in a tent, road noise can be loud. This further reinforces the challenges for tent campers.
The Absolute Worst Thing: The Train Whistle
Based on personal experience, the absolute worst thing about this campground is the obnoxiously loud freight train whistle that comes through frequently during the overnight hours, making it impossible to sleep if you are in a tent, even with a white noise machine. This is a critical point for any potential camper, especially those in tents, and cannot be overstated.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Well-kept grounds
- Clean bathrooms
- 2 Separate Laundry Rooms
- Good Verizon signal
- K-9 Dog Park
- Convenient walkway to shopping center with dining options
- Cabin options available
- Level RV Sites
- Clubhouse
- Small game room with a few cardio machines
- Close to cool parks & preserves
Cons:
- Extremely loud and frequent overnight train whistle (major deterrent for tent campers)
- Limited and closely spaced tent sites
- Loud road noise, especially for tent campers
- Noise from adjacent shopping center
- Campground WiFi is only “ok”
Nearby Area Attractions
While the campground itself has its challenges, the surrounding North Central Florida area offers a variety of attractions perfect for seniors looking to explore.
- State Parks & Preserves:
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Micanopy/Gainesville): A vast savanna offering hiking, wildlife viewing (including wild horses and bison), and a 50-foot observation tower.
- Devils Millhopper Geological State Park: This park features a large sinkhole you can walk down steps into and a nature walk around the sinkhole. See my complete article on this park using the following link. Devil’s Millhopper Article.
- Sweetwater Wetlands Preserve: Sweetwater Wetlands Preserve is a unique man-made wetland in Gainesville, Florida, designed to improve water quality while serving as a thriving habitat for diverse wildlife. It offers visitors over 3.5 miles of trails and boardwalks for excellent birdwatching, alligator spotting, and connecting with nature.
- San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park (Gainesville): Known for its extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding through mature hammocks.
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park (Fort White): Famous for its crystal-clear spring-fed river, perfect for tubing, swimming, and snorkeling (a bit of a drive, but worth it!). Check out my article on this park by using the following link: Ichetucknee Springs Article.
- O’Leno State Park (High Springs): Florida’s first state park, featuring sinkholes, a natural bridge, and the Santa Fe River disappearing underground.
- Eateries: Beyond the convenient shopping center options, Gainesville offers a diverse culinary scene with options ranging from casual diners to upscale restaurants. Starke also has local eateries to explore.
- Other Fun Things to Do:
- Gainesville: Home to the University of Florida, Gainesville boasts cultural attractions like the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Harn Museum of Art, and a vibrant downtown area with shops and theaters.
- Historic Downtown Starke: Explore the local history and charming small-town atmosphere.
- Antiquing: Many small towns in the region offer opportunities for antique hunting.
- Fishing and Boating: Numerous lakes and rivers in the area provide opportunities for fishing and boating.
Final Thoughts
The KOA Starke/Gainesville Holiday Campground presents a mixed bag for senior travelers. Its well-maintained grounds, clean facilities, and proximity to convenient dining options are certainly appealing. However, the pervasive and disruptive noise from the frequent overnight freight train whistle, coupled with road and shopping center noise, makes tent camping here virtually impossible for a restful night’s sleep. For those in an RV or cabin, especially with a loud fan and earplugs, the noise might be more tolerable, and the campground could serve as a decent base for exploring the surrounding attractions. Ultimately, if a peaceful night’s sleep is your top priority, especially as a tent camper, you might want to consider alternative lodging options in the area. However, if convenience and access to amenities outweigh the noise concerns for your RV or cabin stay, this KOA could still be a viable choice.
KOA Starke/Gainesville Holiday Website
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