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.
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
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
RV Utilities and Hookups
Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
Potable Water
Showers
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
🚐1, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐10, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐11, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐12, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐13, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺14, Loop: A
Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Yes shade
🚐15, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐16, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐17, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐18, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐19, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐2, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐20, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐21, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐22, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐24, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐25, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐26, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐27, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐28, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐29, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐3, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐32, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐34, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐35, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐36, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐37, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐38, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐39, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐4, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐40, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐41, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐42, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐5, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐6, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐7, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐8, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐9, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
38
Sites Available
Site
Price
🚐1, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐10, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐11, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐12, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐13, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺14, Loop: A
Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Yes shade
🚐15, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐16, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐17, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐18, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐19, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐2, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐20, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐21, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐22, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐24, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐25, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐26, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐27, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐28, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐29, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐3, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐32, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐34, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐35, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐36, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐37, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐38, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐39, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐4, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐40, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐41, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐42, Loop: B
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐5, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐6, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐7, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐8, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐9, Loop: A
RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
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
449 reviews
Summary
AI generated
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.
My wife and child and I have been traveling all over America for 2 months now and to be honest, we have not seen a better campsite. Very clean and beautiful campsite. The staff is very kind and accommodating. Helped with everything. The water in the lake is crystal clear. Canoes can be rented. The campsite has a lot of animals, squirrels, birds, turtles. We really enjoyed our stay at this campsite. We recommend to everyone. Too bad there is no electricity. it would be 10 out of 10. And so 9 out of 10.
Our experience at Clearwater was AMAZING! The campgrounds are extremely well kept, the staff is wonderful. The staff continuously check in on us and made sure we were good with ice or needed any help w anything, we ran out of propane and one offered a tank to us. The staff is what makes us want to return again. Not to mention, the views and lake are awesome. Beautiful site, definitely one of the greatest Ove visited in Fl.
From start to finish I loved Clearwater Lake. I purchased some firewood and ice as I checked in. They then delivered it to my campsite. Talk about customer service. Lovely campground and lake. Plenty of hiking trails and a private boat launch area. I will definitely be returning in the near future.
I never write reviews...but I have to write how above and beyond the staff is at this campsite. This is the best experience we've had from any campsite we've ever visited. The sites are clean and orderly, the showers are spotless and the staff does an amazing job keeping it all that way. But more than that...my partner and I were in a bad car wreck one of our camping nights and could not make it to the site that night. We called the staff and felt 100% secure knowing they were watching our belongings and were understanding with our late check out the next day. Several staff members checked up on us...and I can't say enough good things about this staff and experience with them (even under the unfortunate circumstance). We will definitely visit again!
We ended up here only because it was the only place with available spots, and I'm so glad it worked out that way bc we ended up having THE best camping trip. This place is definitely on our favorites list now & we plan to be returning guests many times over. Our camp spot was just perfect. Right next to the lake w/ partial shade from the trees. Sunsets were amazing with the water view. Having a lake to jump into to cool off was nice, and fishing in it was even nicer. We cought a big, fat Bass for dinner. The whole atmosphere on that campground was just awesome! Everyone was helpful & friendly. The couple running it (if that's how you say it) are just genuinely good people. Mr. Gordon took time out & taught my son some fishing skills throughout our stay & when my son finally caught that Bass, Mr. Gordon came by & taught him how to filet it. The bathrooms were nice. Big, lit up & very clean. Having a hot shower before bed was nice too. 2 nights flew by too fast & we weren't ready to leave this place, & we ended up extending our stay. I cannot wait to go back!
From the intersection of Florida Highways 19 and 42, go east on Highway 42 toward Paisley. Drive approximately 6 mi 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.
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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