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
Showers
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
Kelly H
VerifiedDecember 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: B
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
VerifiedDecember 10, 2021 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: B
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
VerifiedNovember 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: A
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
VerifiedNovember 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: B
elecxE
William R
VerifiedNovember 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: B
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.
Ryan W
VerifiedNovember 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: A
Great Quiet Place with perfect view of lake and wild like was not a nuisance. Clean facility’s and staff was nice.
William H
VerifiedNovember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: A
Great camping location. Beautiful lake. Nice bathrooms. The campsite itself was spacious, with grill and fire ring, and plenty of room for the tent.
Siularic Z
VerifiedOctober 18, 2021 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: A
Excelente
James W
VerifiedOctober 11, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: B
This was a well-equipped camp ground. The bathrooms/showers were super clean and well lit.
Carlos J R
VerifiedSeptember 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: A
Very quiet and clean campsites.
Some campsites are more private than others. We stayed at 14A and it was a short walk to the facilities. Fire pits, grill, storage container, and picnic table per campsite.
We had a great time and would definitely come back.
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
