About Clearwater Lake Rec Area
Number of accommodations: 38
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
38 Sites Available
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Site Details
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38 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (433)
What Guests Are Saying
Clearwater Lake Rec Area offers a beautiful and clean campground with spacious and well-maintained sites, friendly hosts, and excellent restroom facilities with hot showers. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, access to the Florida Trail, and fun activities such as kayaking and nature walks. However, some guests noted a tick problem and expressed concern about pricing and booking policies, suggesting that improvements could enhance the overall experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Clearwater Lake Rec Area offers a beautiful and clean campground with spacious and well-maintained sites, friendly hosts, and excellent restroom facilities with hot showers. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, access to the Florida Trail, and fun activities such as kayaking and nature walks. However, some guests noted a tick problem and expressed concern about pricing and booking policies, suggesting that improvements could enhance the overall experience.
Review Summary
jerrell g
VerifiedMarch 5, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 12, Loop: A
This campground was nice during the week but got wild on the weekend. My wife and I were "under siege" from the party atmosphere next to us. The music started about noon and continued until quiet hour. What's really upsetting about this is that the two of us were paying the same price as the 8 or so having the party. Charging by the person instead of renting a lot would rectify much of this problem I suspect and would be much fairer since their 3 tents and two vehicles were putting a lot more wear and tear on the campsite, not to mention the bathhouse. Don't really understand why we have to subsidize someone else's party, but that just seems to be how it is in a socialist country.
STACY M
VerifiedMarch 4, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 20, Loop: A
My family stays here twice a year at least and we absolutely love it. Actually I secretly donβt want anyone to know about this place because itβs one of the few places you can book with lesser notice. The bathrooms here are always clean and hot showers. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The sites are nice, shaded, and private with trees! We love to walk the park multiple times a day with our dogs and see the gorgeous view of the lake! We will be back again and again ! Thank you for having such a beautiful campground!
Karl B
VerifiedMarch 1, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 5, Loop: A
Terry, Jerry and the crew were excellent and very accommodating. They made every effort to help us have a good experience. The recreation.gov site was not helpful and wouldnβt allow us to change campsites online, or with either support help during 2 phone calls. Terry was able to make it happen. She saved my vacation!
Rick D
VerifiedMarch 1, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 13, Loop: A
One of the most beautiful settings of all the eastern N.A. Parks. Waking each day to the call of Sandhill Cranes with morning mists rising from the lake is simply magical. The campground is superbly maintained and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and so helpful. Extensive trails enrich the immediate experience and close proximity to kayaking opportunities including nearby Juniper Springs and Alexander Springs make Clearwater a fabulous base for diverse adventures and discoveries.
Eunice H
VerifiedMarch 1, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 41, Loop: B
The facilities are clean and well maintained. The path around Clearwater Lake is a nice walk. Having the the trailhead for the Florida Trail right by the campground is great.
Amanda C
VerifiedFebruary 26, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 7, Loop: A
Love to stay at Clearwater Lake when Iβm Ocala National Forest. Campground has huge sites that tend to be pretty private. Bathrooms are super clean and the hosts are fantastic. During our last stay the host let us keep our camper inside the gate after our checkout time so that we could take one last hike on the FL trail. Super grateful for that bc we had our generator in the truck so we felt safer leaving things where they could be watched. This place is a gem.
Debora M
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 41, Loop: B
Beautiful place but those showers need to be fixed. They won't stop leaking so when you take a shower only a trickle of water.
Lenny C
VerifiedFebruary 23, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 8, Loop: A
I have camped here many times. We had a large group coming the next morning to park their cars as we hiked the Florida Trail northbound. The staff were extremely helpful as our group quickly exceeded the available spaces available for backpacker parking. The campground was clean and well taken care of as usual.
David R
VerifiedFebruary 23, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 29, Loop: B
Itβs a great place to getaway from the hustle and bustle.
Kenneth C
VerifiedFebruary 19, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 29, Loop: B
Step back in time and enjoy β Old Florida!β
Great Hosts, Clean Bathrooms and sites, nice Campfire rings, beach, paths, roads and Trails are all very nice! The Bathroom shower plumbing needs some attention though. 1 shower head in the Mens as well as the ladies shower need attention! 5stars
Location Clearwater Lake Rec Area
Address:
24511 Cr 42
Paisley, FL, 32767
United States
From the intersection of Florida Highways 19 and 42, go east on Highway 42 toward Paisley. Drive approximately 6 miles and turn left at the entrance to Clearwater Lake Recreation Area.
Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is accessible via Florida Highway 42, and is located approximately 6 miles east of the intersection with Florida Highway 19.
Latitude & Longitude: 28.9794 / -81.555
Elevation: 16 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
11AM
General
- Campground gate is locked during Daylight Savings (Mar - Oct) and (Nov - Mar). Campers who check-in after the gatehouse is closed must visit the Gatehouse the next morning to complete their check-in to their site. Failure to do so will lead to a 'no show' charge to your reservation and potential forfeiture of site.
- Campsites are limited to 2 tents, 2 vehicles (campers included), and 5 persons.
- Extra vehicles will be charged a per-vehicle, per-night fee
- Bears and raccoons frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers. Failure to comply with this regulation can result in immediate ejection from campground without refund.
- Alligators inhabit the area; use caution around water.
- Private vessel launches in the Juniper Wilderness Run are subject to a fee.
- Dogs/pets are allowed in campground only and must be leashed and supervised at all times. No dogs/pets allowed in day-use area, bathrooms, in lake or on the trail around the lake.
- Click here for more information about Ocala National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
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Last updated: June 3, 2026