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Spring is in the air and it’s time to share another adventure as we explore Florida and beyond in our trusty Conquest RV.
This trip, made last summer, took us to Lake Louisa State Park in the Central Florida city of Clermont, home to rolling hills and lakes around every corner, or so it seems.
This might be because it’s located in scenic Lake County, which totally lives up to its name.
So if you’re in the Sunshine State, you’ll find this 4,300-acre gem along U.S. Highway 27, south of Clermont, about 20 miles west of Orlando.
Lots to Do, Amazing Sunsets
How did we choose this park? Well, it was a totally random pick of the draw and we really enjoyed it.
That’s because it’s got several things going for it.
One, there’s loads of things to do and see in the park itself.
Two, between nearby attractions outside the park and being within striking distance of Orlando, there’s lots to keep an active family busy.
And three, if you’re a sucker for sunsets, as I am, this park’s for you with striking blazes of color awash over huge evening skies as the sun settles down for the night.
As an aside, what a soothing balm the Great Outdoors is for all the stresses of a crazy year.
Being outside at any time and hearing the wind rustling through the trees or something as simple as hearing the birds singing calms body and soul when the world is upside down.
So masked up and socially distanced in our own family camping pod, we found so many unexpected adventures in and around this state park.
And it’s still a treat for these Florida kids of ours to see a Florida Gator just chilling in the water as the sun goes down.
About the Park
Where to start?
This park has a lot going on.
From biking and hiking trails, canoeing and kayaking, to horseback riding and swimming, there’s so much to fit in to a stay at Lake Louisa State Park.
You can bike on the park’s paved roads, as we did, and also on miles of its unpaved multi-use trails.
You’ll find the Camper Canteen store across from Lake Hammond. This is where you can arrange rentals for these activities, plus find camp and fishing supplies, including firewood.
The park also has 20 lakeside cabins with beautiful water views from their wraparound porches.
The picture below shows the cabins in the distance across Dixie Lake.
Cabins have a full kitchen, dining/living room, two bedrooms, two baths and accommodate up to six people.
The park has 60 RV campsites with 30 and 50 amp hookups. Since there’s no sewer hookups, there’s a dump station on-site.
We found our campsite spacious and secluded. We were conveniently parked near one of the site’s two bathhouses. Pets are allowed.
If you’re into tent camping, with a twist of luxury, the park offers these neat air-conditioned yurt-like tents, situated near the RV campsites but spaced away on their own.
An outdoor grill, table , string lights and a covered patio complete the glamping experience at these round tents. And they look so cozy at night!
Local Attractions
We did a little exploring outside the park and unexpectedly stumbled across a roadside attraction that looked as if it stepped straight out of 1950s Florida.
Located literally down the street from the park along Highway 27, Showcase of Citrus is a 2,500-acre citrus farm where visitors can pick oranges, shop, visit the farm animals, take a ride in a monster truck, see a gem mine with a real sluice box and wander around and take pictures.
The Old Time Country Store on site has lots of goodies, including Showcase of Citrus’ famous orange juice slushies and creamsicles, handmade jams, jellies and hot sauces and honey.
No wonder we spent an entire afternoon there. There’s a lot to take in as you stroll around.
Of course, we visited the farm animals, including chickens, goats, pigs, donkeys and an emu.
We also took a ride through the ranch on a monster truck.
Ahoy, Mateys!
No trip would be complete without a round of mini golf.
About half an hour away from quiet Lake Louisa we found Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf along International Drive in Orlando.
It’s a really entertaining, fun course.
Players climb ever higher as they putt their way through caves, a pirate ship, cascading waterfalls, bridges and reminders of buccaneers at every turn.
We virtually had the place to ourselves the day we went. It was so quiet.
See the skeleton’s head at the top of the waterfall? These little details always crack me up!
And nothing like a pirate swinging through the air with a knife between his teeth! Arrgh, arrgh me Matey!
Random Facts
Along with Lake Louisa, the park also has two other major lakes, Hammond and Dixie, and several smaller lakes.
Florida doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Native American place names, including the park, where Lake Louisa is the source of the Palatlakaha River, one of the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River.
So Lake Louisa State Park will not disappoint.
There really is so much to do both inside and outside the park you’ll have to decide how to spend your time in order to do as much as possible.
If you’d like to check out some of our other travels in Florida, we’ve also stayed at Lake Kissimmee State Park, checked out Octoberfest at Okeechobee KOA, loved St. Augustine’s Night of Lights, strolled through Bok Tower Gardens and taken in Lake Placid‘s many murals.
We also have some camping tips for new campers and shared some on-the-road lessons gleaned from a camper tire blowout, that ended up well.
Enjoy spring time, my friends!
