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
Lucinda F
VerifiedMarch 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 24, Loop: B
We spent 3 nights here because our site at another campground was reserved for the weekend. The online description for site 24A did not indicate any restrictions or obstructions and did not provide a picture that would have shown a tree in the way for our right side slide. We had to pull forward of the tree which left a very tight spot to park our truck. The camp hosts were quick to demand no tires touching the dirt next to the asphalt but did nothing about the 10 people in 3 tents partying until 3 am at the site behind us (site limit is 5 people and 2 tents) or their extension cord running to the bath house. If you're going to enforce rules, make it the ones that matter. The campground loop is very tight; a little uncomfortable driving our 33 ft 5th wheel out.
Elke h C
VerifiedFebruary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: A
Tent camped here with a friend before meeting up with a group of people to backpack a couple of days on the Florida trail. Left our cars at the campground for a fee because we felt that they would be safer there than at the trailhead.
Nice quiet place. Clean shower house. Only drawback was that I didn't had cell phone coverage. Had to drive a few miles to be able to contact my friend when she wasn't arriving on time.
John N
VerifiedFebruary 11, 2020 • Stayed at: 8, Loop: A
Nice clean quiet Park9
Ed H
VerifiedFebruary 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: A
Great location, facilities, and staff.
Ed H
VerifiedFebruary 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: A
Great location, facilities, and staff
Gerald H
VerifiedFebruary 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 41, Loop: B
Beautiful place. Well maintained. Hosts were friendly and wonderful.
Dawn B
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2020 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: B
We go every year and love it more each time! Great park, clean and well kept bathrooms and showers. Beautiful scenery and wildlife, couldn't ask for more!
Glenn G
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: A
No hesitation in recommending the Clearwater Lake Campground for a great camping experience. You’ll find scenic and well-maintained campsites, professional, knowledgeable, accommodating and congenial staff, and affordable rates.
Kirby C
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: B
Great place to camp, clean restrooms and campsites, the staff is friendly and helpful, I'll be back soon.
Cindy V
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: B
This was our 3rd time visiting with a large group of about 10-12 families that go annually. The park is beautiful and peaceful in itself. Unfortunately, this year, we had a negative encounter with Jim, the campground host. We were taking pictures of our kids in a beautiful tree while they sat on a low lying branch, about 4 feet off the ground. He comes out of his camper and in a very nasty manner starts yelling at us about killing a 100 year old tree. When we couldn’t completely understand what he was saying, another mom said I’m sorry, I can’t hear you and he barked back at her “well that’s obvious! Get down before I call the ranger and give you a citation. At first we all thought he was joking. When we realized he was just a nasty old curmudgeon, we said ok and they got out of the tree. We asked him if there is a law about tree climbing because we had never heard of it nor did we see a sign about it. We certainly were not intending to break any laws. When we got back to our camp, we checked the campground rules and never saw anything about tree climbing. For heavens sake, we’ve climbed trees our whole lives without breaking any laws. We all want our kids off electronics and to enjoy the outdoors, then to run into this nasty jerk, was disappointing to say the least. And even if this is a rule, why be so nasty and speak to us in such a rude manner. So if this park seems to be loosing guests, I have a pretty good idea of why. I think Jim wants the entire park to himself. If you decide to give this park a try, good luck and beware of “Jim’s rules”. For our next family camping trip, we will be looking elsewhere, where kids are allowed to be kids and climb trees😂
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
