Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, Florida encompasses 4,500 acres, 6 lakes, 2 streams, 11 natural communities, and 105 acres of lake shoreline. It is a biker, hiker, and kayaker’s paradise. Plus, it is just 40 minutes west of downtown Orlando.
Lake Louisa Campground
Lake Louisa’s full-facility campground is tucked between Dixie Lake and Hammond Lake. The park was voted one of America’s Top 100 Family Campgrounds by Reserve America. It is easy to see why! The campground consists of 3 loops with back-in and pull-through sites. Some even have full hook-ups. There are also 2 centrally located bathhouses that are really clean and tidy. Each campsite has partial to full shade, a picnic table, fire ring, water, and 30/50 amp electrical.
We have camped at Lake Louisa twice now and have stayed in the cabins once. The 2 times we have camped we have had a pull-through site on different loops. Both sites had their pluses and minuses but we still enjoyed ourselves. Our latest trip, pictured above, was nicely shaded in the hot afternoon.
Along with the full-facility campground, Lake Louisa has a primitive, group, and equestrian campsites. These sites, however, are accessed by trail.
Lake Louisa Cabins
Unlike most state parks, Lake Louisa has 20 modern cabins. Each cabin has a kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a fireplace, and a screened porch. The cabins sit high on a hill overlooking Dixie Lake. We found the cabins to be quite cozy and comfortable. Like the campsites, you must reserve the cabins online.
Trails
This Florida state park has 23 miles of trails for hiking or biking. Some trails are entirely shaded while others are in the full sun. For instance, on our first trip, we hiked around Hammond Lake and found it to be very open and unshaded. However, on our second trip, we chose more shaded trails, including the Nature Trail near Lake Louisa and part of Compton’s Loop. Choose wisely depending on the season and time of day you are visiting.
Definitely pick up a trail map from the ranger station. Each trail has numbered markers to follow. You can follow as many markers or as few as you want. Basically, you create your trail or you can follow the suggested distances. For example, on the Nature Trail, we followed the suggested route (markers 21-25). However, for Compton’s Loop we kind of created our own route (parking area to 36, 9, 10, 11, 12, then back along the road).
There are also 16 miles of trails available for horseback riding. Parking for the equestrian trailhead is located near the Lake Nellie entrance.
Lakes
Visitors can fish by boat from 4 of the park’s lakes or from piers on Dixie Lake and Hammond Lake. The piers have a nice covered area and a place to load or unload boats. However, there are no benches. The piers are a great place to watch for alligators, turtles, and birds. We spotted a couple of nice-sized gators near the pier pictured below.
There are boat launches at some of the lakes. Boats have to be small enough to be hand-carried to the water. Electric trolling motors and hand-powered boats are allowed.
Swimming is permitted only in the designated area of Lake Louisa. This spot has a sandy beach, picnic tables, a playground, and restrooms. However, use caution while swimming there are no lifeguards and, yes, there are gators in all the lakes.
Specifics
In conclusion, Lake Louisa State Park is located at 7305 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, Florida. The park is open 365 days a year from 8:00 am until sunset. There is a $5.00 fee to enter the park. Camping reservations are $24.00 per night plus taxes and fees. Reservations must be made online in advance. Therefore, book early! We booked our last trip 10 months in advance. Florida State Park campgrounds fill quickly.
More Florida State Park Camping
- Highlands Hammock, One of FL’s oldest parks
- Silver Springs State Park, Monkeys and More
- Hillsborough River State Park, A Campground Close to Tampa
- Lake Griffin State Park, A Hidden Gem
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post.
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