Clearwater Lake Rec Area

Waterfront
Canoes
Trailhead
Trail information
Picnic area

Featured amenities

Showers Showers

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

38 total sites

RV Sites

37 sites

Tent Sites

1 site

About Clearwater Lake Rec Area

Clearwater Lake Recreation Area offers a quiet getaway along the southeastern edge of the Ocala National Forest, just outside the community of Paisley, Florida. With a shaded campground, day use picnic area, beach and a nature trail that winds through the pine woods and scrub around Clearwater Lake, this facility has plenty of activities to keep campers occupied. The Ocala National Forest, in north central Florida, spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest.

Number of accommodations: 38

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Showers Showers
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Showers
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

38 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 10, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 11, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 12, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 13, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
14, Loop: A Tent
5 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 15, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 16, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 17, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 18, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 19, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 2, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 20, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 21, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 22, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 24, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 25, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 26, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 27, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 28, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 29, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 3, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 32, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 34, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 35, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 36, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 37, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 38, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 39, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 4, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 40, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 41, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 42, Loop: B RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 5, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 6, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 7, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 8, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 9, Loop: A RV
No Hookups
Price not available

Reviews (445)

What Guests Are Saying

Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is highly praised for its spacious, well-maintained campsites and friendly, supportive staff, making it a favorite for many campers. The natural setting and lake provide enjoyable swimming and outdoor activities, although there are concerns regarding ticks and the recent algae bloom in the water. Overall, visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and cleanliness of the facilities, with many expressing their intention to return.

Review Summary

4.5
445 reviews
5
71.5%
318
4
17.5%
78
3
4.9%
22
2
4.3%
19
1
1.8%
8

David N

Verified

January 24, 2024 Stayed at: 1, Loop: A

3

Positive; Great camp hosts , friendly
Hard working and dedicated
Plenty of walking trails
Negative; 4:30 pm gate closing
8-9 am bathroom cleaning

Tricia B

Verified

January 22, 2024 Stayed at: 9, Loop: A

5

Great place. Hosts are awesome. They check in and make sure you are good but aren’t annoying. We loved the trails that were within walking distance and the bathrooms and facilities were very clean.

Dallas S

Verified

January 22, 2024 Stayed at: 24, Loop: B

5

Very pleasant camping. Hosts Jerry and Terry were both friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained.

Pamela B

Verified

January 21, 2024 Stayed at: 13, Loop: A

5

I hate to say how great this place is to avoid more people discovering it but it is one of the best places we have camped which is why it is our go to place to camp.

Andre L

Verified

January 18, 2024 Stayed at: 26, Loop: B

4

Very quiet place in the nature! Ideal for relaxing and enjoying nature. Easily accessible.

Joseph G

Verified

January 10, 2024 Stayed at: 14, Loop: A

5

camped at site 14, expecting proximity to the bathrooms, but they're actually further to the southeast than shown on the campground map - past site 1 towards the entrance road. also, road noise is audible throughout the campsite, but that's hardly the campground's fault. host was chill, bathrooms were solidly clean, lake was pretty! a chill and cozy campsite, would gladly camp again

Marvin P

Verified

January 6, 2024 Stayed at: 29, Loop: B

5

Wonderful stay! The campground amenities were very clean and the grounds were very well maintained. We enjoyed very much the hiking opportunities and the lovely lake. The hosts are the best I’ve seen so far in Florida campgrounds. Thank you for a quiet and peaceful Christmas and New Year!

Tom J

Verified

December 31, 2023 Stayed at: 12, Loop: A

5

Well maintained facilities, ample amenities, clean restrooms, etc.. Take a walk around the lake to enjoy the Live Oaks, Palm trees and wildlife. Look for some awesome sunsets too

John T

Verified

December 28, 2023 Stayed at: 13, Loop: A

5

We were on Site 13 in the first loop, which had a nice view of the lake. The sites are generally well separated, but the pads are somewhat narrow for maneuvering and many of the sites will need leveling for RVs. The staff and hosts were friendly and attentive. We camped on the weekdays right before Christmas, so there were not that many campers. The bathhouses were well maintained, so no issues there other than the shower heads needing replacement. There is a nice trail around the lake and a trailhead for the Florida Trail a short hike away along the entrance driveway.

Paul R

Verified

December 25, 2023 Stayed at: 16, Loop: A

5

Camped at Clearwater Lake. Just have to say that the camp hosts do an excellent job at keeping the facilities clean. The camp experience was top notch.

Location Clearwater Lake Rec Area

Address:
24511 Cr 42
Paisley, FL, 32767
United States

Highway access

Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is accessible via Florida Highway 42, and is located approximately 6 miles east of the intersection with Florida Highway 19.

Elevation: 16 feet

Distance to downtown

1.5 mi drive to downtown Paisley (about 3 min)

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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Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 8, 2026

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