The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: The Best Way to See Alligators in Central Florida
Whether you are visiting Central Florida or you are a Florida Native like we are, you should definitely add the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to your must-see list. It is a free, self-guided tour (there is also a free audio tour option available here) through Florida’s wetlands in Orange County.
Fun fact: Lake Apopka is the 4th largest lake in Florida. Lake Okeechobee right above the Everglades is the largest lake in the Sunshine State and is also the second largest freshwater lake in the U.S.!
The Apopka Wildlife Drive is 11 miles long and is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (and some holidays) from sunrise to sunset. The entrance gate closes one hour prior to sunset to allow visitors to complete the drive before dark. They recommend arriving either early morning or late afternoon to see the most wildlife, but we went during the early afternoon in November and saw tons of activity!
How to Get to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
The official address to the entrance of the wildlife drive is 2850 Lust Road in Apopka. Coming from the theme parks take exit 29 off of Highway 429 and look for the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive sign, it is right off of the highway.
The Apopka Wildlife Drive takes approximately 2 hours, depending on how many times you pull over at the designated stops. There are 11 points of interest along the map which follow the audio tour, and the speed limit is 10 MPH. It is a narrow one way drive but there are areas to pass others if they are stopping too much for your liking.
Off of the wildlife drive there are also various trails to hike, bike, or even horseback ride throughout the Lake Apopka North Shore area. There are four observation towers as well if you want to explore further and get a bird’s eye view!
Spotting Wildlife Along the Drive
We had an amazing time spotting all of the incredible birds that call this area home. From the iconic Great Blue Herons to the colorful peacock we spotted on our way in, we were blown away by the diversity and beauty of the bird life here.
Did you know that over 350 bird species have been documented in this area? Water birds like egrets, anhinga, and ibis flock to this area along with majestic osprey, eagles, and hawks, making Lake Apopka one of the top three birding destinations in Florida.
LEARN MORE: Visit Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont
The main draw for visitors to Lake Apopka is viewing all of the alligators in their natural habitat, from the safety of your own car of course. If you drive slowly and look, you are bound to see anything from a small gator to the super big guys basking along the shoreline. The Lake Apopka North Shore is also home to bobcats, otters, bears, raccoons, and coyotes.
Being only 30 minutes from the theme parks in Central Florida, the Lake Apopka North Shore is a must see. Restoration for Lake Apopka has been underway since 1996. In the 1980’s and 90’s chemicals causing algae blooms decimated the fish population, and pesticides were improperly disposed of and seeped into the lake, harming wildlife. Thanks to the Lake Apopka Restoration Act, we can see and enjoy the flourishing plant and wildlife today!
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Other amazing places to see in Central Florida:
Happy Travels!
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