OutReserve

Clearwater Lake Rec Area

Waterfront
Canoes
Trailhead
Trail information
Picnic area

Featured amenities

Showers
Showers

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

Campground Amenities

  • Beach Access
    Beach Access
  • Potable Water
    Potable Water
  • Showers
    Showers
  • Dump Station
    Dump Station

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

Sites & Availability

38 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 10, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 11, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 12, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 13, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
14, Loop: A
5 guests · Pet Friendly
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 15, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 16, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 17, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 18, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 19, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 2, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 20, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 21, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 22, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 24, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 25, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 26, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 27, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 28, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 29, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 3, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 32, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 34, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 35, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 36, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 37, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 38, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 39, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 4, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 40, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 41, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 42, Loop: B
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 5, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 6, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 7, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 8, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night
🚐 9, Loop: A
No Hookups
$38.00
/ per night

Reviews (428)

What Guests Are Saying

Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is praised for its beautiful campground, clean restrooms, and friendly hosts, creating a peaceful and enjoyable atmosphere for visitors. Many guests appreciate the spacious, well-maintained sites and the variety of outdoor activities available, including swimming, kayaking, and hiking. However, there are concerns about a significant tick infestation, which has affected several campers and their pets, suggesting the need for better awareness and prevention measures.

Review Summary

4.5
428 reviews
5
71.5%
306
4
17.5%
75
3
4.9%
21
2
4.2%
18
1
1.9%
8

Sue S

Verified

December 30, 2021 Stayed at: 36, Loop: B

5

Absolutely lovely and clean campground. Super-helpful staff. I couldn't believe it when I got a call from Emma to be sure I knew the pass code and other important things prior to arriving. And the campground hosts, Cindy and her husband (missed getting his name), were awesome! Great to have ice and firewood available for purchase.

Joyce S

Verified

December 28, 2021 Stayed at: 27, Loop: B

5

We enjoyed camping at Clearwater Lake very much wish we could have stayed longer. The bath house was kept very clean but would have liked the shower seats a little larger and more hooks to hang your clothes while taking a shower. We look forward to camping again at Clearwater Lake Recreation Area campground. Thank you

Oscar R

Verified

December 27, 2021 Stayed at: 12, Loop: A

5

excellent attention, I come from Rhode Island and I was very surprised that there are no mosquitoes wow excellent that, everything is very clean the bathrooms I recommend it 100%

John S

Verified

December 16, 2021 Stayed at: 22, Loop: A

4

The asphalt road around the campground and the RV pads need to be redone and widened at least 6 inches. Some of the sights have a lot of asphalt missing along the edges which makes for a very uneven surface to park on no matter how you chalk the wheels and other sites have so much erosion around the edges that you have to climb or jump to the ground to get in and out of your RV. The park is lovely, quiet and couldn't ask for better friendlier attendants. The new reservation system needs work, like being able to hold what kind of rig you have so you don't have to fill it in every reservation made at the same time.

Carlos M

Verified

December 12, 2021 Stayed at: 15, Loop: A

5

Great location and lovely campsites. The staff was excellent too.

Kelly H

Verified

December 12, 2021 Stayed at: 35, Loop: B

3

The map online does not give a clear idea of where your camping site is at or what it is near. We ended up right next to other campers without any trees or anything separating us. The lake is a lot smaller than it appears on the map as well. Hopefully the new all reservation site will be more user friendly and will allow for easier changing of available sites. We had wanted to switch sites, but the one we wanted was a walk-up and we would have to basically pay for 2 sites if we wanted it instead of our reservation site.
The women's toilets were clean, but by nightfall the showers were a mess. The husband said the men's restroom was all pretty dirty. The other campers had no sense of "quiet hours" since they allowed their screaming children out at the crack of dawn and were chopping wood (I'm assuming since it was loud banging) around 6am.
I suppose it was ok for Florida camping, but we will most likely not be back.
Oh and the only time my phone had any service (Verizon) was when it was laying on the picnic table. I could use speakerphone, not touch it, and have ok reception.

Steven W

Verified

December 10, 2021 Stayed at: 42, Loop: B

5

Well maintained quiet park. We were there Wednesday and Thursday, lots of open sites. Site backed up to bathrooms which has very bright lights. Next time I will pick a site farther away.

Amy P

Verified

November 29, 2021 Stayed at: 15, Loop: A

4

We loved Site #15 for our very first family camping adventure. It was spacious and private and the water view was awesome at sunset! Plenty of space for 2 tents and 2 vehicles, but quite a few walk from the restrooms, but they were very clean. My only complaint was the the 2pm checkin time and the confusion of checkout...some places said 11am and others said 1pm.

oscar m

Verified

November 28, 2021 Stayed at: 35, Loop: B

5

elecxE

William R

Verified

November 23, 2021 Stayed at: 35, Loop: B

4

Beautiful campsite. Some privacy with well spaces sites. Bath house was very clean. Very nice trail around the lake. And the Florida National Scenic Trail is fantastic.

Location Clearwater Lake Rec Area

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

Latitude & Longitude: 28.9794 / -81.555

Elevation: 16 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
General

Campers can check in at 2:00 pm and must check out by 11am.  We do not accomodate early check-ins or late check-outs. 

General

Campground gate is locked at 6 p.m. during Daylight Savings (Mar - Oct) and 4 p.m. (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. 

General

Campsites are limited to 2 tents, 2 vehicles (campers included), and 5 persons. 

General

Extra vehicles will be charged a per-vehicle, per-night fee

General

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. 

General

Alligators inhabit the area; use caution around water.

General

Private vessel launches in the Juniper Wilderness Run are subject to a fee. 

General

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.

General

Click here for more information about Ocala National Forest

General

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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