Lake Louisa State Park
Beautiful lakes, over 20 miles of trails, horseback riding, and endless opportunities to explore outside wait for you to discover at Lake Louisa State Park. I visited this park for the first time in June with a group of girls from the Florida Outdoorsy Gals group. After my first visit, I definitely plan to return! Keep reading to find out why.
Lake Louisa State Park – The Basics
Located in Clermont, Florida Lake Louisa Stae Park is the perfect day trip if you are visiting Orlando and want a change of pace from the theme parks.
- Address: 7305 U.S. Highway 27 Clermont, Florida 34714
- Driving distance from select Florida cities:
- Orlando: 30 minutes
- Tampa: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Gainesville: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Tampa: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Jacksonville: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Miami: 4 hours
- Hours: 8 AM until sunset, daily
- Entrance fee: $5 per vehicle; $4 single occupant vehicle
- Activities: Bicycling, camping, glamping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, picnicking, and swimming
- Pet Friendly: Pets must remain on a 6-foot leash at all times
What activities are there to do at Lake Louisa State Park?
Florida State Parks are always full of diverse outdoor activities and Lake Louisa State Park is no exception. Regardless of how you enjoy spending your time outside, there is something for everyone at Lake Louisa State Park. Listed below are the most common activities.
- Bicycling/mountain biking
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Kayaking
- Swimming
Bicycling
Biking is a popular activity when visiting Lake Louisa State Park and can be fun for the entire family. There are paved and unpaved bike trails. If you have a road bike you likely want to stick with the 7-miles of paved trails. However, if you have a mountain bike there is up to 20-miles of additional unpaved trails you can explore.
Hiking
It is no secret that hiking is my favorite activity at Florida State Parks and that is exactly what I spent most of my time doing. When I visited, we completed the Dixie Lake South Trail Loop which is approximately 5.5 miles. Some other trails were intersecting with this trail, but it was a great hike!
There are over 20 miles of trails to choose from when visiting Lake Louisa! Even if you are not an avid hiker there is a short 0.5-mile nature trail with interpretive signs to learn more about the park. All Trials is a great resource to find a trail that will be a good distance for you. There are trails of varying distances from 1.5 miles up to 14 miles.
Horseback Riding
An activity that you cannot find at all state parks is horseback riding. There are a couple options within the park including a more casual one time horseback riding experience or reoccurring lessons.
Horseback riding is available for anyone 8 years or older and reservations can be made online for a 1- or 2-hour time slot. Current prices are $63 or $115, respectively.
Kayaking
Lake Louisa is a great place to spend some time on the water and go kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding! You can bring your own kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or small vessel (electric trolling motors only).
Are rentals available?
Yes! Dixie Lake Outpost provides kayak and canoe rentals right by Dixie Lake in Lake Louisa State Park. Minimum duration of rentals is 2 hours and prices vary. Reservations can be made online ahead of time here. Current prices are also listed below. More information can be found here.
- Kayak: $20
- Standup Paddle Board: $30
- Tandem Kayak: $35
- Canoe: $40
Can you go swimming?
Yes, you can go swimming in designated areas throughout the park. Be sure to check park signs before cooling off in the water to ensure it is a swimming area. Pets are not allowed in the swimming area.
Can I stay in the park?
If after reading all there is to do and you aren’t sure you can squeeze it all into one day, there is no need to worry. There are three different types of accommodations to choose from if you want to spend the weekend and stay in Lake Louisa State Park.
- Camping
- Glamping
- Cabins
Lake Louisa is located in Clermont, Florida which provides multiple hotel options if you do not want to stay within the state park.
How far in advance do I need to make reservations?
Once you’ve decided you want to stay overnight at Lake Louisa State Park I recommend going ahead and making reservations as soon as possible. Reservations may be limited especially on weekends and can be made up to 11 months in advance.
Final Thoughts on Lake Louisa State Park
One of the things that stood out to me most when visiting is the small elevation changes you can see while driving through the park. Living in Florida this can be hard to come by and it definitely helps me appreciate it more anytime I get the chance to see it. Lake Louisa is centrally located to several major cities and is a Florida State Park you don’t want to miss. Comment below and let me know what you would do first at Lake Louisa State Park!
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