Lake Okeechobee is a picturesque tropical paradise for RV camping just fifty miles inland from Palm Beach in Florida. The lake, which covers over seven hundred square miles of terrain, stretches through five different states and has a shoreline dotted with uninhabited islands and quiet towns. Over several decades, extensive works were carried out on the lake by the US Army Corps of Engineers after hurricanes caused devastating flood damage in the area. The dike they constructed for drainage purposes is now used for hiking and cycling and is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
All three COE campgrounds at Lake Okeechobee are superb places to park your RV for a spot of rest and relaxation under the palm trees. There is also the W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area which is for day-use only if you're not planning on staying overnight. The campgrounds are open twelve months of the year and it's peak season from the first of January all the way through to the thirty-first of December.
The lake is great for fishing, canoeing and air-boating. Larger boats are restricted to navigating the surrounding waterways as the lake waters are less than three metres deep and sometimes shallower in places during the dry season. There are several wildlife and environmental management areas nearby the lake where you can go to spot birds, hogs and alligators or visit the archaeological site, Big Mound City. There is also an animal refuge center in the vicinity which homes almost two hundred rescued animals. For anyone wanting to stretch their legs, there's an abundance of hiking trails running through very varied landscapes to chose from. Head out on foot to explore an historic battlefield, pace yourself along the paved Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail or tramp through the Barley Barber Swamp. Whatever you do, you'll have a great stay in your RV at Lake Okeechobee.
Once you hit the highways and byways of Florida, it'll be sunshine all the way to Lake Okeechobee no matter where you're driving your RV from. If you've been up in the north of the state visiting the Ocala National Forest, once you hit Orlando you'll have around a two hour drive in front of you to reach Okeechobee. That's if you don't take a detour to the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park or get distracted into stopping at Disneyland. If you're heading to Lake Okeechobee from Tampa, motor across the state on highway 70. The two and a half hour drive might not be the shortest route, but it's scenic and will take you past the Placid Lakes.
The US Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds at Lake Okeechobee are located some distance apart. The Ortona South campground is over on the west side of the lake. Follow the signs for LaBelle which is the closest town and you'll find a turnoff on the SR80 for Dalton Road which leads to the site. If you're heading for the W.P. Franklin North Campground, you'll need to carry on through LaBelle for about another twenty minutes. It's a scenic drive over the Caloosahatchee River and along the border of the Caloosahatchee Regional Park. The St Lucie South Campground is to the east of the lake near to Indiantown. You'll have no problems navigating any of the roads as they are all well-kept state highways. All three campgrounds have wide, asphalted internal roads which are easy to negotiate.
The WP Franklin North Campground at Lake Okeechobee is a great place to park your RV if you want to spend your days fishing. The campground sits on a small peninsula so is surrounded by water on three sides. You'll only have to take a short walk from your RV or trailer before you're at the waters edge. There are boat slips and a ramp too if you're going boat fishing. All the campsites have water and electricity hook-ups and there is a dump station plus public use showers and picnic area.
It would be hard to find a prettier spot than the St Lucie South Campground to camp in your RV at Lake Okeechobee. The campground runs parallel to the St Lucie Canal and all the sites have direct views onto the water. If you're planning on launching your boat to navigate the Lake Okeechobee waterways, this is a good campground to choose as it has a boat ramp as well as slips plus a parking area for boat trailers.
All the campsites at St Lucie South Campground have hook-ups for water and electricity, a barbecue, fire pit and picnic table. The site amenities include showers, restrooms, a dump station, a playground and a quiet area. There is also an on-site, family friendly visitor center.
The RV campsites at the Ortona South Campground at Lake Okeechobee are tranquil waterside spots perfect for a quiet getaway. The campsites are lined up along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River under the shady fronds of tall palm trees. There are no access problems to the campground and all the campsites are paved.
The Ortona South Campground RV pitches are fully set up with electric and water hook-ups plus individual pavilion-style picnic areas, barbecues and a fire ring. There is an on-site dump station though visitors are charged to dispose of waste produced while not on the site and there is a once-weekly sewage dump limitation in place. Ortona South is such a pleasant place to stay that folks just don't want to leave, so RV camping at Ortona South Campground is restricted to fourteen days in any one month period.
While your RV camping at Lake Okeechobee, don't miss making a visit to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. The houses of the two well-known historic figures are side by side on McGregor Avenue. Set amidst extensive botanical gardens, the homes are a fascinating insight into the private lives of two men who literally changed the world. There is also a museum full of artefacts pertinent to the two gentleman as well as Edison's laboratory.
Lake Okeechobee and its tributary waterways are fantastic spots to go fishing. Fishermen are spoilt for choice between lake, river or canal fishing as well as fresh water and salt. There is a wooden pier at the Ortona South campground which is reputed to be a good spot for hooking crappies. There's also a smaller pier just outside the campground near the dam which is good for snook. If you're casting a line in the lake itself, you could hook bass, bluegill or sunfish.
Whizz over the waters of Lake Okeechobee in a flat-bottomed, fan-powered air-boat. It's a great way of seeing as much of the lake as possible while keeping an eye out for alligators basking on the shore plus any number of the water birds that inhabit the area. There are launch ramps at all three of the COE campgrounds at Lake Okeechobee, but if you don't have your own craft, you'll find there are several locations around the lake where you can board a one-hour, guided air-boat tour.
Manatees have to be one of the strangest aquatic creatures there are. If you've never seen one, but would like to, you can at the Lee County Manatee Park. The park is just half an hour drive from LaBelle on the edge of Fort Myers. The waters of the park are open and the manatee come and go as they please with the best time for sighting them being from mid-December to late February. Even if there are no manatee when you go, it's a beautiful place with wooden walkways, huge butterfly gardens and an amphitheater for educational presentations on wildlife.
To explore some of the region's distant past, visit the Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park. The park commemorates the biggest battle of the Second Seminole War. It's a great place to take a picnic lunch then stroll around the grounds to take a look at the many monuments and the Seminole warrior encampments. If you're RV camping at Lake Okeechobee at the end of February, don't miss the annual live battle re-enactment which is held on the fourth weekend of the month.
One of the most popular activities at Lake Okeechobee is hiking. That's not surprising when the views from the trails are as awesome as they are. Take the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and you'll be able to enjoy uninterrupted views of the lake with every step you take. The paved trail runs adjacent to the lake shore for a distance of over one-hundred and nine miles. It's a multi-use trail so expect to encounter walkers, hikers, cyclist, horse riders and even rollerbladers. To hike through trees rather than by the water, head to the Barley Barber Swamp where there are trails and plank walkways running through the dense Cypress forest.
