Orlando Florida trip ideas! Lake Louisa State Park things to do PLUS glamping and camping near Orlando 🌞 Florida vacation

Hi there!

Lake Louisa State Park is a Florida state park in Central Florida.

If you are looking to stay in nature for a trip to Orlando or Disney World, Lake Louisa State Park can be perfect too.

It’s about a 30 minute drive from Orlando.

There are a few overnight accommodation options so that you can stay directly IN Lake Louisa State Park!

And you can get some amazing sunset views!

 

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Now here are some outdoor things to do in Lake Louisa State Park!

 

1. Lake Louisa day use area

 

The only spot in Lake Louisa State Park where swimming is allowed is at the Lake Louisa beach that is located at the Lake Louisa day use area.

There are basic beach showers in the bathroom.

 

 

According to Florida State Parks:

Visitors are welcome to swim in Lake Louisa at the designated swimming area.

Please be aware that no lifeguards are on duty and swimming is at your own risk.

Swimming is not permitted at any other lakes in the park.

 

Whether or not you want to go swimming in Lake Louisa, well, that is up to you.

Because there are also alligator warning signs at the Lake Louisa beach too! 😜

 

 

The Lake Louisa day use area is located towards the back of Lake Louisa State Park.

From the parking lot, there’s a short boardwalk you’ll walk to get to the Lake Louisa beach.

 

 

Aside from the beach, this is also a picnic spot in Lake Louisa State Park.

 

 

You can also go for a walk along the lake.

 

 

🌞

 

 

 

2. Dixie Lake day use area

 

Another day use area in Lake Louisa State Park is at Dixie Lake.

There’s a fishing pier here that you can walk out onto to go fishing or to just look out at the views of the lake.

 

 

The Dixie Lake day use area is another picnic spot in Lake Louisa State Park.

 

 

Across from the lake from the Dixie Lake day use area fishing pier, you’ll be able to see the Lake Louisa State Park cabins.

And then there is also a dock at another part of Dixie Lake near the Lake Louisa State Park campground.

 

 

3. Hammond Lake dock

 

Another fishing pier in Lake Louisa State Park is at Hammond Lake.

 

 

This is another picnic spot in Lake Louisa State Park.

 

 

There’s the “camper canteen” located near Hammond Lake where you can find kayak rentals, canoe rentals, and bike rentals.

 

 

And yes, the camper canteen is located near the Lake Louisa State Park campground.

This means that if you’ll be camping at Lake Louisa State Park, you’ll be near Hammond Lake!

 

 

Where to stay in Lake Louisa State Park

 

4. Lake Louisa State Park campground

The Lake Louisa State Park campground is for tent camping and RV camping.

 

 

This is a modern campground with regular bathrooms and showers.

You can get electricity and water at your campsite.

There is also a laundry room.

You make Lake Louisa State Park camping reservations through the official Florida State Parks camping reservations website.

 

 

5. Lake Louisa State Park cabins

 

Lake Louisa State Park is one of the Florida state parks with cabins.

 

 

You can get a view of Dixie Lake from your cabin which can make for a perfect spot to watch the sunset in Lake Louisa State Park!

 

 

You can also walk down to the lake from your cabin.

 

 

The Lake Louisa State Park cabins are modern cabins.

But as a Florida state park, you are asked to do basic housekeeping.

See more about Lake Louisa State Park cabins.

 

You make Lake Louisa State Park cabin reservations through the official Florida State Parks lodging reservations website.

 

 

6. Glamping in Lake Louisa State Park

 

And then, there is “glamping” in Lake Louisa State Park!

This means that you can go camping in a fancy tent that will give you more comforts than traditional tent camping.

There are 2 types of glamping in Lake Louisa State Park.

You can stay in a “luxury tent.”

 

 

You can stay in an “eco-tent.”

For the eco-tents, some of the tents are a few minutes walk from the parking area.

 

 

Any glamping reservations are not made through the regular Florida State Parks lodging reservations website.

Instead, you make Lake Louisa State Park glamping reservations through lakelouisastatepark.com.

 

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More things to do in Lake Louisa State Park

See Florida State Parks for a full list of things to do in Lake Louisa State Park with details:

• Biking (bike rentals available)
• Boating
• Camping
• Camping equestrian
• Fishing
• Geo-seeking
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Paddling (kayak rentals available)
• Picnic
• Swimming

 

You can also get guided tours at Lake Louisa State Park. Phone number: 352-503-4489.

 

 

Download the Lake Louisa State Park map.

 

 

The lakes of Lake Louisa State Park

 

A trip to Lake Louisa State Park can also be about the lakes.

Lake Louisa State Park has multiple lakes.

Yes, there is Lake Louisa!

And along with Lake Louisa, there are also a couple of smaller lakes that are easy to access.

The Lake Louisa State Park lakes are a part of the Palatlakaha Chain of Lakes, along with Lake Minnehaha and Lake Minneola that are outside of Lake Louisa State Park, among other lakes.

These lakes are also near the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.

According to Florida State Parks:

Set in the northeast corner of the Green Swamp, a vast wetland in Central Florida, Lake Louisa is the largest in a chain of thirteen lakes connected by the Palatlakaha River.

 

 

 

There are alligators in Lake Louisa State Park.

If you go to a dock or pier of one of the Lake Louisa State Park lakes, then you will see a warning sign for alligators in the lake.

 

 

According to Florida State Parks:

Alligators are present along the trails and waterways of Lake Louisa State Park.

They usually eat fish, turtles, and other small animals, but may attack larger animals such as deer.

Alligators have been known to attack humans.

Alligators are dangerous.

Do not swim with alligators.

Do not approach, frighten, or feed alligators.

 

And, I did see an alligator in Lake Louisa State Park!

It was just resting there.

 

 

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For a better chance to see wild alligators near Orlando, try a Lake Kissimmee airboat tour!

 

 

Cost to go to Lake Louisa State Park

 

There is an entry fee for Lake Louisa State Park.

The cost of Lake Louisa State Park is around $5 per car. See current fees.

 

 

If you plan to make this a year of going to a ton of Florida state parks, then there is also the Florida state parks annual pass.

 

And that’s a bit about Lake Louisa State Park!

 

My trip to Lake Louisa State Park was in December 2021.

 

More of Central Florida outdoors:

• Wekiwa Springs State Park
• Lake Kissimmee airboat tour to see alligators near Orlando
• Things to do in Ocala National Forest

 

HAPPY VISIT TO LAKE LOUISA STATE PARK!