Video still: Jolly’s Journeys on YouTube
Goose Pasture Campground
Free, first-come primitive riverside camping at the end of a dirt road in the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area, with a 10-day stay limit, portable toilets and no hookups, water or dump.
Aucilla Wildlife Management Area · end of Goose Pasture Road, about an hour west of Perry
Season
Feb–mid-Sept
Closed in general gun season
Elevation
Near sea level
River hammock in the Aucilla WMA
Hookups
None
No hookups, water or dump
Big rigs
Mid-size rigs
Dirt roads; longest reported 36 ft
Updated October 19, 2026 · Details checked against the District’s website
Free camping in the Aucilla WMA
The Goose Pasture experience
Free, primitive camping at the end of a dirt road on the river in the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area, run by the Suwannee River Water Management District. Sites are first come, first served with a self-issued permit at the kiosk, a 10-day limit, portable toilets and nothing else: no hookups, no water and no dump. Camping is closed from mid-September to the end of January for hunting season.
Portable toiletsThe only facilities, per the District
Picnic tables & fire ringsAt many sites, per campers
Picnic pavilionAt Group Site B
River put-inEasy launch for boats and paddlers
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but campers on Campendium rate it well: they love the quiet, the spacious riverside sites and the respectful neighbors. The trade-offs are the remote dirt-road access, puddles after rain, gnats in spring and only two toilets.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report36 ft Mar 2023
Cell signal reportedAT&T 4G/5GVerizon 4G
Last reported nightly rateFree
As reported by Campendium users. There’s no posted length limit, but the access roads are dirt; scout them before bringing a big rig.
At the end of Goose Pasture Road
Getting there
From Perry, drive about 22 miles west on US-98, turn right on Powell Hammock Road for about 4 miles, then left on Goose Pasture Road and follow it west about 3¾ miles to the road’s end. The last stretch is unpaved and can be washboarded or flooded.
From Perry: US-98 west about 22 miles, right on Powell Hammock Road for 4 miles, then left on Goose Pasture Road to the endFrom Tallahassee: US-98 east past Newport and the Aucilla River, then left on Powell Hammock Road
US-98 · POWELL HAMMOCK RD
Set your GPS
Goose Pasture Rd, Aucilla WMA, FL
To downtown PerryAbout 1 hr
To Econfina River State Park*About 46 min
To Rocky’s dump stationAbout 50 min
From Tallahassee Intl AirportAbout 1 hr 20 min
Self-register at the kiosk. There are no reservations for individual sites: take a free special use authorization at the kiosk. Groups of 6 or more must reserve with the District.
Closed in hunting season. No camping during the Aucilla WMA general gun season, mid-September through the end of January. Spring brings gnats; summer brings heat and thunderstorms.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around the Big Bend & St. Marks
Around the Big Bend & St. Marks
Econfina River State Park is about 45 minutes away, and the St. Marks Lighthouse and Wakulla Springs are a bit over an hour west.
Photo thanks to Michael Rivera (CC BY-SA 3.0)
St. Marks Lighthouse
One of Florida’s oldest lighthouses, at the end of Lighthouse Road in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, with great birding on the drive in.
Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Wakulla Springs
One of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, with river boat tours and a historic 1930s lodge.
Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Econfina River State Park
A quiet state park where the Econfina River meets the Gulf, with a boat ramp, paddling and miles of trails for hiking, biking and horses.
Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Forest Capital Museum State Park
Florida’s forestry story in a cypress museum, with a 19th-century Cracker homestead out back. The Florida Forest Festival is held here each October.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
Three more places to stay, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Michael Rivera (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Newport Campground
A small county campground on the St. Marks River with a boat ramp, close to the lighthouse and Wakulla Springs.
Video still thanks to Ruff Road RV Life
Rocky’s Campground
A simple full-hookup stop on US-98 west of Perry, with pull-thrus and a convenience store with fuel.
Photo thanks to Perry KOA Holiday
Perry KOA Holiday
A tidy KOA Holiday under live oaks on US-19, with long pull-thrus, fenced dog-yard sites and a heated pool.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Goose Pasture fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a free, peaceful riverside spot for self-contained campers who don’t mind dirt roads and no services. Arrive with full water and empty tanks, check the hunting-season closure before you go, and plan on the 10-day limit.
Camping feesFree · Suwannee River Water Management District
Individual campsiteFree
Stay limit10 days
PermitSelf-issued at the kiosk
Groups of 6 or moreReserve with the District
Camping is free and first come, first served, with a special use authorization you fill out at the kiosk. Stays are limited to 10 days. Camping is closed during the Aucilla WMA general gun season, from mid-September through the end of January.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (386) 362-1001.
Typical January afternoon
Tallahassee64°
Chicago32°
Mild winters: 32° warmer than Chicago in January; July highs reach about 92°.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers like it.
Open
Site types
Free camping, stay limit and permits.
Open
Rates & policies
Season, groups, water, dump and rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
Goose Pasture Campground is a free, primitive campground on a 29-acre Suwannee River Water Management District tract in the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area. It suits self-contained campers, paddlers and anglers who want quiet and don’t need services.
Best for
- Budget campers: it’s free.
- Paddlers and anglers: an easy put-in on the river.
- Quiet-seekers: remote sites with respectful neighbors, per reviewers.
- Self-contained rigs with solar or a generator.
Consider this
- No hookups, no water and no dump; only portable toilets.
- Closed mid-September through the end of January for hunting season.
- Dirt roads that puddle after rain; scout before you tow.
- The nearest store is about 50 minutes away.
Winter in Tallahassee
Typical January afternoon
64°
Tallahassee
Tallahassee Intl Airport (NOAA)
32°
Chicago
Chicago O’Hare
32 degrees warmer than Chicago, with nights near 41°. Normal January highs, 1991–2020.
There’s one kind of site here: free, primitive and first come, first served. Group Sites A and B are for parties of 6 or more and must be reserved.
Individual site Free
First come, first served. Fill out a special use authorization at the kiosk.
Group Site A Free
Just past the entrance, before the fence.
Group Site B Free
The second section, with the picnic pavilion.
Hunting season Closed
Camping isn’t allowed during the general gun season.
FeeFreeIndividual sites
PermitSelf-issuedSpecial use authorization at the kiosk
Stay limit10 days
SeasonClosed mid-Sept–JanGeneral gun season
Groups6 or moreMust reserve with the District
HookupsNoneNo electric, water or sewer
WaterNoneArrive with full tanks
DumpNoneNearest: Rocky’s on US-98 (ask)
ToiletsPortableCleaned weekly, per campers
PetsAllowedPer Campendium; keep them leashed
Checked against the Suwannee River Water Management District’s website on October 19, 2026. Rules can change; see the District’s Goose Pasture page or call (386) 362-1001.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is camping open on my dates? Check the FWC hunt calendar for the Aucilla WMA.
- Are the roads passable? After heavy rain, call the District.
- Are we 6 or more? Then reserve a group site.
- Where will I dump and fill? Plan on Perry; see the FAQ.
- Are generators allowed? Ask the District about quiet hours.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Feb–mid-Sept
Want a free night on the river?
Check the hunting-season dates, fill your water tank and empty your holding tanks in Perry, then follow the dirt road to the end.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. We don’t have official photos of the campground: the hero and gallery use video stills from Jolly’s Journeys, VanCampinWoody and Eye Wander on YouTube, plus labeled area photos of the Aucilla WMA by The Bushranger (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0). Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Michael Rivera (St. Marks Lighthouse; CC BY-SA 3.0), Ebyabe (Wakulla Springs; CC BY-SA 3.0), Ebyabe (Econfina River; CC BY-SA 3.0), Ebyabe (Forest Capital Museum; CC BY-SA 2.5); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Newport Campground, Rocky’s Campground and Perry KOA Holiday (see their pages for credits). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Goose Pasture Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the District’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the District and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Goose Pasture Campground at map.mysuwanneeriver.com or (386) 362-1001. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.