Lake Griffin State Park

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Whether admiring the State’s fifth largest Live Oak, watching squirrels scamper in the picnic area or gazing at a motionless Great Blue Heron along the dock, visitors can relax and enjoy a shady respite from the busy working world.

The Setting

Lake Griffin State Park encompasses nearly 600 acres of wetlands and uplands. Lake Griffin is the northernmost lake in the series of lakes comprising the Ocklawaha (or Harris) Chain of Lakes in Lake County. While the park is not directly on Lake Griffin, the lake can be accessed by powerboat or canoe via the canal that leads through the marsh. Here, anglers will find plenty of largemouth bass, bluegill, speckled perch, and catfish.

A shady, full-facility campground is located in a hardwood hammock consisting of Live Oak, Pignut Hickory, and Southern Magnolia and Red Cedar trees.

The fifth largest live oak tree in Florida, a 300 year-old mammoth tree, is found off a short trail near the park’s entrance. Over 70 feet tall, it has a crown spread of 137 feet and a trunk diameter of 10 feet.

Although no archaeological surveys have been conducted at the park, it falls within the East and Central Lake Archaeological Region. The area around Lake Griffin State Park was occupied and utilized by native Americans during the full sequence of Precolumbian cultural periods.

The Facility

There are 40 campsites at Lake Griffin State Park. Accepting RVs up to 40 feet in length, Travel Trailers & Tents.

• 20 and 30 amp electric service & water available on all sites, 50 amp electric service available on 9 sites.
  
• BBQ grills/Picnic Tables
  
• Choice of shaded or open canopy sites
  
• Bathhouse – clean, heated during the winter
  
• Laundry Facilities
  
• Pavilion for events (family reunions/RV clubs/Meetings) located in picnic area
  
• Restrooms (located in center of campground)
  
• Showers w/hot water (located in center of campground)
  
• Playground located in picnic area (5 minute walk from campground)
  
• Canoe rentals
  
• Boat dock
  
• Volleyball net and horseshoe pits (horseshoes available at Ranger Station)
  
• Shopping (groceries/gifts/clothing/bait & tackle) within 1 mile of park.
  
• RV Sanitation Pump out facilities
  
• Dozens of walking trails, including the Ocala National Forest, within a short driving distance of the park.
  
• Parking - Campers are permitted more than one vehicle on-site, other than their basic camping rig, under the constraint that any equipment, including vehicles, must fit within the confines of the site without encroaching on buffer zones or other use areas or interfere with neighbouring campers. Limited parking is available for additional vehicles within the campground.
  

Park Features

• Playground located near picnic area.
  
• Firewood can be purchased at the ranger station.
  
• Canoe rentals available.
  
• Nature trails.
  
• Campfire programs available Saturday evenings, December thru March.
  
• Coffee with a Ranger program available Wednesday mornings,
• December thru March.
  
• Over 70 species of birds-including Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk and Purple Gallinule.
  
• Over 175 native plants - American beautyberry, coral honeysuckle, bald cypress and Hercules-club to name a few.
  
• Numerous resident species of butterflies- including Spicebush Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail, Zebra longwing and Gulf Fritillary.
  

Directions

From 1-75, take exit 66 (Wildwood/Leeburg), following SR 44 east for about 10 miles to US 27. Turn left onto US 27 north about 5 miles. Park entrance is on the right about 1 mile past Wal-mart.

From Orlando, take the Florida Turnpike north to exit 285 (Clermont/Leesburg), and follow US 27 North about 17 miles. Park entrance is on the right about 1 mile past Wal-mart.
From Ocala, take US 27 South about 28 miles. Park entrance is on the left about 1 mile past Florida Highway Patrol Station.

Learn more about this park and book your reservation online
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