Florida
Vacation Information
Visit Florida
- Apopka Lake.
Launch Ramps (Small Fee May Apply). Just northwest of Orlando.
- Lake Clarke.
Fishing, Boating, Watersports. Lake Clarke is a lake that surrounds a community.
It can be accessed from boat ramps in john prince park and Oglethorp rd. To
get to it you have to go through a series of canals and bridges. Lots of water
sports and fishing in this area. You will see many professional wakeborders,
barefooters, and slalom skiers in this area and the surrounding canals. Small
but noted for watersports this classic Florida inland Lake is Located in West
Palm Beach.
- Crescent
Lake. Fishing. South of Palatka off U.S. 17.
- Inglis Lock-Lake
Rousseau. Located on the western end of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
It maintains a navigational channel in the Withlacoochee River just east of
Inglis. Restrooms, Launch Ramps (Small fee May Apply), Fuel, Picnic Day Use.
Fishing, Swimming. Just north
of Port Richey (about 30-minutes) off U.S. 19. Navigable from the Gulf to
near Leesburg.
- Istokpoga
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Near U.S. 27 and Florida State Route 70.
- Indian River.
Brackish water area, Launch Ramps (small fee may apply), Restrooms, Drinking
Water, Fishing. Two great places to launch including Oak Hill just south of
Daytona (new boat ramps to accommodate four launches at once, includes nice
park and plenty of parking), and Titusville (great place to put in for shuttle
launches or other rocket activities at Cape Kennedy, smaller park area though).
Both are OK for up to about 26 foot vessels. The Oak Hill access is off Florida
State Route 5 and Hallifax Dr. The Titusville access is located off U.S. 1
and Garden Street.
- Lake George.
Swimming, Water Skiing, Fishing, Launch Ramps, Marinas, Fuel, Restaurants.
Well developed area, just north of Florida State Route 40 east of Ocala.
- Lake Harney.
Swimming, Fishing, Water Skiing, Becoming Primarily a residential lake
but has parks. Boat Ramps (Small Fee May Apply). Fishing, Skiing, Marinas.
Near Florida State Route 50 and I 95.
- Lake Hatchineha.
6500 acres, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites, General Boating, Ramps, Marina,
Fuel. Bass fishing has made this body of water upstream from Lake Kissimmee
very famous. Some fisherman claim to stop about anywhere and get lucky!
You can launch your boat into Lake Hatchineha at Port Hatchineha--easy access
from Haines City and Winter Haven areas. Launch, bait, gas, and refreshments
are available on site. Launch ramps are also available at Camp Mack. Located
on the Kissimmee River just upstream from Kissimmee Lake.
- Lake
Jackson, 4400 Acres, Fishing, Water Sports, Swimming, Campsites, Picnic
Grounds, Fishing, Ramps, Restaurant (with docking). Great Fishing year
round. There are two bait stores on the lake and docking is available at the
Oyster Shack adjacent to a park. Located just of Interstate 8 in Tallahassee.
- Lake Kissimmee.
Fishing, Water Skiing, Camping, Chaining to nearby Lakes. Lake Kissimmee is
in the heart of Central Florida and runs into the Kissimmee River. Other
nearby lakes that are chain able include Lake Hatchineha through Camp Mack
to the north, then onto Cypress using the Hatchineha Canal, then onto Lake
Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee. The entire area is known for trophy bass fishing.
Swimmers watch for the Gators!. The Chain is Accessible from Kissimmee from
US 17 at Lake Tohopekalgia and from State Route 60 at Lake Kissimmee.
- Marion Lake.
Launch Ramps (Small Fee May Apply), Fishing, Water Skiing, Swimming, Just
South of Orlando.
- Lake Monroe.
Fishing, Boat Ramps (Small Fee May Apply). Fishing, Marinas.
Great for trying to spot a gator or two. The city of Sanford has a hotel and
Marina located right on the lake. Off I-4 north of Orlando.
- Mullet Lake.
On the St. Johns River between Lake Monroe and Lake Jessup. Great fresh
water inland lake boating. If the water level is low the ramps will be difficult
for larger vessels. Located off Florida State Route 46 at Geneva. Look carefully
for the ramps. Accommodates two, parking may be limited.
- Lake Poinsett.
Boating, Fishing, Launch Ramp (Small Fee May Apply). This 6 mile wide
lake is located off Florida State Route 9 and 520 near Rockledge.
- Lake Ocklawaha.
Campsites Without Electricity, Fishing, Water Skiing, Swimming, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Pump Station, Picnic Day Use, Launch Ramp. Just northeast of Ocala.
- St. Johns
River. Launch Ramps Marinas and Fuel are available along various points.
Water Skiing, Swimming, Fishing, Navigable from Jacksonville and the Atlantic
into Lake George. (See Below).
- Tohopekaliga
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Launch Ramps (Small Fee May Apply). Just South
of Orlando. Chain-able to Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee.
St.
Johns River.
The St.
Johns River Runs from Jacksonville south to just southwest of Melbourne. It helps
to manage ground and surface water supplies in all or part of 19 counties in northeast
and east-central Florida. It also features a huge variety of wildlife and plenty
of history where you can follow 200-year-old paddle strokes of naturalist explorer
William Bartram. St. Johns and its confluent streams remain surprisingly unaffected
by time or tourism, shrouded still in thick cypress woods, entwined with moss
and vines, alive with gators, limpkins, ospreys, bears and bobcats (portions not
recommended for water skiing). There are numerous lakes and access points all
up and down the river. Large craft can Navigate from Jacksonville through to about
Lake Beresford while smaller can reach to Lake Monroe, Mullett or Jessup (depending
on water levels). Kayaks or canoes can do nearly all of it. Lakes easily accessible
from Jacksonville south include Little Lake George and Lake George
near Pierson and Highway 17, Lake Dextor near Astor on Florida State Route
40 (Kimball Island is a must see state park !), Lake Beresford near Florida
State Route 44 and West Deland, Lake Monroe off I-4 north of Orlando (may
have trouble navigating from Lake Beresford southward in large vessels but nearly
all the lakes have accessible ramps), Mullet Lake off state route 46, Lake
Jessup near state route 46 and other lakes farther south include Lake Harvey
/ Gopher Slough, Clark, Caiine Poinsett, Winder, Washington, Sawgrass and Helen
Blazes.
St. John's Marina North and South
Lake
Okeechobee and Okeechobee Waterway.
Lake Okeechobee
is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the U.S.. Excellent fishing and sight seeing
year round. There are 10 recreational are located along this 52 mile waterway.
You can Navigate from Ft. Meyers in the Caloosachatchee River to Lake Okeechobee
out to Stuart into the Atlantic Ocean. Bass fishing is popular here.
Jolly Roger Marina
- St. Lucie
Lock. Boat in Campsites With and Without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Pump Station, Picnic Day Use, Launch Ramp (Small
Fee May Apply).
- Port Mayaca
Lock. Launch Ramp (Small Fee May Apply), Picnic Day Use.
- Moore Haven
Lock. Campsites With and Without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking
Water, Sanitary Pump Station, Launch Ramp (Small Fee May Apply), Marina, Fuel,
Visitor Information Center.
- Ortona Lock.
Campsites With and Without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water,
Sanitary Pump Station, Picnic Day Use, Launch Ramp (Small Fee May Apply).
- WP. Franklin
Lock. Boat in Campsites With and Without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Pump Station, Picnic Day Use, Launch Ramp (Small
Fee May Apply).
API Marine on Lake Okeechobee.
Information based
on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots in Florida for boating (of all types),
or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating
America