Lake Louisa State Park offers luxury glamping accommodations within 27 miles southwest of Leesburg, Florida. The park features multiple lakes amid rolling hills and encompasses over 4,500 acres of protected natural landscape. Glamping in the Leesburg area allows visitors to experience upscale outdoor lodging with varied terrain not typically associated with Florida's predominantly flat topography. Water recreation opportunities range from fishing to kayaking across interconnected bodies of water.
What to do
Wildlife viewing walks: Wekiwa Springs State Park features trails where visitors can observe numerous native Florida species. One camper noted, "We saw lots of animals. Such a nice view of the sunset from where we were," while another mentioned, "The park offers hiking, biking, day swimming, a food grill, a canoe/kayak launch and rental, plus tons of wildlife!"
Glass-bottom boat tours: Silver Springs State Park Campground provides unique views of the underwater springs ecosystem. A visitor reported, "The glass bottom boat tour is an absolute must, we had such a wonderful time and the boat captain had lots of interesting information. We have a 4 year old and a 10 year old and they both really enjoyed the boat tour also."
Kayaking natural waterways: Multiple lakes at Lake Louisa State Park create opportunities for paddling between connected waterways. A camper explained, "This park is one of the most peaceful and enlightened camps in the state, so many few things to do. i could stay forever but i get hungry and hunting is tough."
Accessible water recreation: Parks in the region provide options for visitors with mobility needs. One visitor at Wekiwa Springs State Park shared how staff accommodated her: "Jane, one of the park rangers informed us about the ramp for wheelchairs, and a lift into the water! She was so helpful."
What campers like
Spacious sites with privacy: The campgrounds near Leesburg typically offer well-separated sites. At Lake Louisa State Park Campground, one camper observed, "All of the sites seemed level, most are quite private with a fair amount of trees/foliage in between sites, have a sizable picnic table and nice fire ring with grate."
Clean, updated facilities: Many visitors comment on the well-maintained bathhouses. A camper at Silver Springs reported, "Let me start by saying park is very clean and well maintained. Sites are big with gravel, fire pits, grill dining tables and did I say clean."
Natural setting near urban conveniences: The proximity to Orlando attractions while remaining in natural surroundings appeals to many. One visitor to Hillsborough River State Park Campground shared, "The campground was quiet and the restrooms fairly clean. However, a weekday is best to visit the spring and river. On the weekend there were tons of people in the park."
Diverse accommodation options: Beyond traditional camping, the region offers various lodging styles. At Silver Springs, a camper noted, "Beautiful place. Kayaking here is awesome. Try not to go during a tourist time. The cabins are very large. Fireplaces. Larger bedrooms..."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Florida's warm climate impacts camping conditions year-round. A Lake Louisa visitor mentioned, "We were here in February and we had no problems with bugs. The bath house was very clean and modern, with spacious shower stalls and plenty of hot water."
Weekend crowding: Many parks experience high visitation on weekends. A visitor to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground noted, "We loved this campground. We are not Disney people but our kids wanted to go to universal and I could not find a nice campground with good reviews near universal so we decided to stay at Disney."
Reservation requirements: Most glamping accommodations require booking well in advance. A visitor to Wekiwa Springs advised, "We're staying at the family campground as the primitive was full, so word of advice, book well in advance."
Wildlife encounters: Campers should be prepared for native wildlife interactions. A Lake Louisa visitor reported, "We camped for three nights and loved it! Yes it rained most of the time but our site never flooded! Such a nice view of the sunset from where we were. Saw lots of animals."
Tips for camping with families
Early arrival strategies: Parks often reach capacity during peak times. One visitor to Wekiwa Springs warned, "If you go on a weekend, make sure you go EARLY! Line of car starts around 9am and park will close at capacity."
Accessibility considerations: Several parks provide accommodations for visitors with special needs. At Lake Louisa State Park, a camper noted, "our site, 2, was a handicapped one, and beautiful. Restrooms directly behind us. Beautiful tall shady trees. A very clean park."
Activity planning for kids: Many parks offer dedicated facilities for children. At Thousand Trails Orlando, a visitor reported, "They have two pools, one hot tub, mini golf, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, shuffle board, club house, mail room, camp store, a small lake with kayak rental, alligators, sand hill cranes, tortoises, a garden, basketball, kids play room and play area."
Bug preparedness: Insect protection is essential, especially during warmer months. A Hillsborough River visitor cautioned, "Bring plenty of bugspray, the mosquitoes here are big enough to carry away a small dog."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: RV campers should research specific site dimensions. At Orlando/Kissimmee KOA, a visitor shared, "This park has 3 types of Motorhome/Camper sites; back-in, pull-through and deluxe patios. They are all full hook-ups(50Amp, water, sewer and cable)."
Maneuvering challenges: Some campgrounds have limited turning space. A Fort Wilderness visitor explained, "Our neighbor across from us had to move his truck and several neighbors were helping direct us into our spot. Everyone we spoke with complained about the lack of space to get a big rv into these spot. But... once in it was very nice."
Connectivity considerations: Cell service and WiFi availability varies by location. A Thousand Trails Orlando visitor noted, "This park is in Clermont, FL and it's not a huge town but decent sized town. There isn't great cell service. The park is further from a tower and there are so many RVers in the area that don't count towards the population, it becomes a bandwidth issue."
Transportation options: Some resorts provide internal transportation systems. At Fort Wilderness, a camper mentioned, "Buses run very frequently and never had an issue getting a bus to the amenities. We took the bus to the marina area for dinner at the buffet, to watch the fireworks/light show, and to see Cinderella's horses and carriage."
