We were facing the problem of finding a camp spot for the three-day MLK weekend. Just about all campgrounds that accept reservations were booked full, so we headed for Shell Mound, arriving on the Wednesday before the holiday weekend. Since the park is first-come, first-served, we had no problem finding a site. We had the choice of any site in the park, and decided on site 7, which gave us a nice view through the palm trees out to the marsh.

Date of visit: Jan 2010

Eight years ago was our previous visit to Shell Mound, to celebrate New Years 2002 with good friends Linda and Dwayne. As it turns out, our pickup camper was on the same site that we chose in 2010, while Linda and Dwayne's 5th-wheel was on site 8.

Here are sites 1-7, which offer some small shade trees. Most sites in the park share utility posts, so some of the hookups are on the wrong side of the RV.

A nice little playground is located behind sites 20-24. Besides the jungle gym and slide, there is also a set of swings.

Sites 9-12 are also nice, sunny sites. We would have taken site 12, except for the fact that it is closest to the boat launch area. Airboats are unusually loud; most have big-block V-8 engines with minimal muffling.

Sites 13-19 are out in an open grassy area. They have electric hookups only, no water.

The bathhouse is small and spartan, but is very clean and offers free hot showers. The dump station is beside the bathhouse; you have to remove the "No Parking" sign and back your rig in to access it.

Not real easy launching an airboat when the tide is out.

Beside the boat launch is a large fish-cleaning counter with sinks.

Across the road from the campground is a trail which wends through some open grassland and wooded areas.

Along the way you might see some wildlife.

The name of the park, Shell Mound, comes from the mounds of shells piled up by the Indians who lived here some 7,000 years ago. Shells left from the food they gleaned from the ocean here for over 3,000 years gradually built up a mound twenty-eight feet above sea level.

At the far end of the trail is a large fishing and wildlife observation deck.

Near the obervation deck is another boat launch. When the tide is out, you have to back the trailer quite a ways out in the shallow water.

Amenities

Dump station, showers

Verizon Broadband Access (EVDO) service

28 sites

Rates: $15 - W/E(30A), $10 - E(30A), $5 - No Hookup

Coord: 29.20972 N, 83.06257 W

Activities/Nearby Attractions

Fishing/boating/kayaking

Lower Suwannee NWR

Town of Cedar Key