Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: a family-friendly nature activity in Orlando

If Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive had a tagline, it might be something like, “come for the theme parks, stay for the nature”. 😉

Between Disney World, Universal Studios, and a whole host of other parks, a trip to Orlando can get pretty overwhelming for both kids and adults. Lake Apopka is only a short drive away from all the activity, but it’s a hidden gem of Florida’s nature offerings. For families who are Orlando-bound for the parks, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a perfect half-day activity for a change of scenery and a much needed change of pace.

For kids, the highlight of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is undoubtedly the chance of spotting alligators. (While nothing about nature is guaranteed, this is pretty much a guarantee!) We saw *33* gators on our drive, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Big S and Lil S talk just as much, if not more, about this wildlife drive than they do about their first trip to Disney!

What is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive?

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive sits on a restored wetland conservation area just north of Orlando, on the north shore of Lake Apopka. There are trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, and you can canoe and boat in the lake.

The Wildlife Drive is a 11 mile self-driving tour (also open to cyclists) with an optional audio guide. It is suitable for all ages. We traveled with both kids and grandparents, and it was a hit with everyone.

This spot is Florida’s best birding destination, especially in the winter. You will pass a ton of nature photographers with giant telescopic cameras. (We are not birders, and even we could appreciate the fascinating variety of birds – we even saw a bald eagle!)

And as aforementioned, for non-Florida natives, *this* the the spot to see gators. We have been to Florida a handful of times – despite how ubiquitous alligators are in Florida, and the many warning signs, we had never seen one! At Lake Apopka, you will see them everywhere; swimming in the marshes, sunning on the riverbanks, resting in the tree lines. Orlando has many gator parks and tours that can take you out on boats to spot alligators. But the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is the most convenient way to see them in their natural habitat – and the drive is free!

Lake Apopka also has an interesting history. Part of the lake was drained for farming in the early 1900s, and the resulting pesticide and fertilizer run off led to this being one of the most polluted lakes in Florida. With significant restoration in the 1990s, the area is now a thriving and protected wetland biome. The pump house – one of the landmarks on the drive – once pumped water out of the north shore for farming, but now helps to maintain the water quality.

About the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Location

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is 30 minutes away from Orlando’s theme parks.

It is an easy drive along Fl-429 N. There *are* tolls along the way. We had to pay around $6 USD in each direction.

Opening Hours

The Wildlife Drive is open from 7am – 3pm on *Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays* only. It is also open on US federal holidays.

Cost

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is free! (That is not something you hear a lot in Orlando. :P) If you would like to make a donation, you can do so online through the St John’s River Water Management District’s website.

Planning for your Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

How long does it take to do the drive?

Well, it is a 11 mile drive, at a maximum speed of 10 miles/hr… so at least 1 hour. 😉 (And it is a one-way drive, so once you enter, you have committed to doing the drive.) But plan for 2-3 hours. You will want to make lots of spots to enjoy the wildlife and the scenery, and explore the historic pump house. With kids it would be a good idea to throw in a picnic and make it a half-day trip.

What to bring for the drive?

– Lots of water and snacks (snacks always help keep the kids entertained in the car… even when viewing giant alligators). There are portable washrooms but no drinking fountains in the park.

– A picnic lunch – sandwiches or wraps (there are picnic tables scattered throughout the park. It gives kids a good chance to get out of the car and stretch their legs. Just make sure you keep an eye on small children… alligators do abound!)

– Pets – dogs are allowed on the drive and leashed on the trails

– Binoculars – very handy here for spotting animals and bird watching

– Hat – you’ll be in the car, but you’ll want to keep the windows down the entire drive!

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

The Wildlife Drive is a one-way drive, so once you enter the park it is very easy to follow. There are a few different routes you can take for parts of the drive. The official park map shows the Wildlife Drive in blue.

Because the drive was so slow, the kids were not belted and went whichever window had the best view!

If you want to follow along with the audio guide, you can access it here. The map shows you when to play which clip, and there are also sign posts along the trail itself.

Lust Road

This stretch from the entrance of the park to the historic pump house was the most interesting and the most beautiful. The drive is a narrow stretch of road with marsh on either side, which eventually gives away to the lake on one side. There are a ton of different species of birds here. We saw egrets, herons, eagles, and tons of smaller birds. We spotted a turtle, and our first alligators as well!

When stopping to admire the nature (and you will want to every few minutes!) try to do so at the designated pull off spots in order not to hold up the traffic.

Historic pump house

There is a larger parking lot here, and a good spot to stop and stretch your legs, use the portable washrooms, and have a snack (or lunch). Be on the lookout for gators here, there are many! We were taking a photo and only realized afterward there was a gator about a foot away behind us!

Lake Apopka drive

The Wildlife Drive diverges at the pump house – we recommend taking the path along Lake Apopka. The views are beautiful, and there are a ton more birds along the shore.

During our drive, we saw camouflaged workers in canoes tagging ducks, which the kids found fascinating.

Laughlin road and onwards toward the exit

The rest of the Wildlife Drive is through swampy waters and fields. The kids were starting to lag by this point, so we did not stop as much as we had earlier. But we spotted a ton of alligators along the streams and canals by the side of the road during this stretch.

Big S still had his eyes peeled for alligators even as we were leaving the park!