Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive Reviews

One of our favourite places to visit. We spend a minimum of 4 hours here each time we go, we take a picnic and enjoy it at the tables overlooking the lake. Have seen so many amazing birds and animals. Seeing the alligators in their native environment is fantastic, they are such prehistoric animals and i find them fascinating. Maximum we have seen in one visit is 39 when we had small grandchildren with us, they loved it and were totally into counting how many we saw. Plenty of places to pull over and let other people pass. Definitely need to take a drink with you as gets very hot.

What a wonderful drive and a great way to see Florida wildlife! Only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I would say you need at least an hour to complete the drive. We saw Gators, Great Blue Herron, Red Winged Blackbirds and many other forms of wildlife. Enjoy!!

Our family goes there almost every other week. There is something different to see every time we visit. I see more on the Drive than at Cape Canaveral National Seashore Blackpoint) or even the Everglades. The backgrounds for animals are stunning when photographing birds. So, so many different bird species but still looking for the illusive bobcat. Found the footprints of a bobcat though! When We visited the Everglades by airboat, all we saw was one baby alligator. You can’t miss the high alligator population especially by the pump. We take all of our guests there.

Recently, a photographer friend and I drove the one way Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail...all 11 miles of it in order to photograph bird and animal life along the narrow dirt road. We were there on a Friday in order to avoid what we could imagine weekend traffic to be like. Though there are pull offs along the road, there are also some lengthy stretches where you can’t pull off or pass. There is water and wetlands on both side of you. That was fine for my friend and me since we were patiently photographing what we could find. We were not in a hurry. Speed limit is 10 miles an hour. If you are in a hurry or rushed for time, don’t go. There also is a very long hiking and non-motorized vehicle trail which we did not take. We saw many birds along the drive including many small birds that we don’t normally see. We photographed Osprey, Great egrets, Tri-Colored Herons, Great Blue Herons, Anhinga, Yellow Crowned Night Herons and more. I think that this is a place where you need to come back time and time again to see the incredible variety of wildlife and birds here. Very nice. We will be back.

This is a great nature ride around Lake Apopka. Be sure and check the website for days and times that it is open. It is a very slow ride. You will see all kinds of nature so get your camera ready and keep your eyes open. There are good informational signs along the way. If you are holding up cars please let them pass and you can take your time. Try and go early as it gets crowded later and then you will be stuck in a line!!! This is nature at its best.

Beautiful wildlife preserve. Nature at its finest. There were so many types of birds and TONs of alligators. Do not feed any of them!

10 stars for restoration projection - I've grown up around lake apopka and I am delighted to see it coming back to life. I was excited to do the drive but was a little underwhelmed from an "entertainment" perspective but I'm fortunate in that I've spent a lot of time outdoors. I would definitely recommend for anyone that has mobility issues. We saw lots of alligators and birds from the car. Well kept roads, no litter (personal pet peeve of mine) and clean portapotties. Historic pump house was a highlight. I didn't see any donation boxes anywhere. It might be a good idea to put one near car exit. I definitely would have left something.

If you have mobility issues and cannot walk birding trails then the driving wildlife trail is for you. Even if you can walk on trails this is worth the drive. Nice range of birds including a purple gallinule, king fisher, lots of shore birds, alligators. People mentioned seeing the American Bittern but we did not. There were several types of hawks flying and two immature eagles.

We saw so much wildlife as we drove through here! It was a great way to spend the morning. My sister and I hung out the car windows finding photo ops while my spouse drove slowly along. It took some time since we kept stopping , but we were comfortable in the car while enjoying the view. We couldn't have been happier with our choice of morning activity!

Great place to go in the winter months when it’s cool. On one trip was counted 35 gators.

The trip takes about an hour and the part closes at sunset so keep that in mined.

Took the self guided tour along 10 mile route. Very user friendly. Great way to see wildlife from the comfort of your car. Lots of birds. Also biking and hiking trails availible.

This place 👎! We found out fishing was not aloud.But they don't put it in the information pamplet.We saw 2 signs but they where in the parking areas. VERY UN INFORMATIVE !

Awesome bike ride for those who don't need paved trails. There is nature galore with many species of birds and alligators everywhere. If you go down all the various paths you can easily exceed 30 miles of riding. The paths are from decently smooth to very rough. Recommended that you have a bike with suspension for your own comfort. A regular bike could make it of course but many areas with a very rough ride. There is a bathroom and water fountain at the trailhead but only porta potties in a couple of other places. Cars are followed in certain parts from Friday to Sunday but shouldn't be a real issue for bikers.

A free nature drive. But only open Fri-Sun. We saw more gators here than anywhere else. They were everywhere. Some even on the road so close. It’s a slow drive and I would say the first half is best. It was busy when we went. Well worth a look and it won’t cost you a penny to enter or park

Very thoughtless... only open Fri Sat Sun and Federal holidays. STUPID. WHY? IT IS A DRIVE. We were visiting Mon-Thursday. Damn

Beautiful and amazing views, nice air, clean place, kids friendly, suitable for family holidays.

Well worth it to see birds and alligators in their natural surroundings. Our daughter really wanted to see alligators in Florida, but looking at the reviews of a couple of attractions they looked a lot like animal exploitation and one attraction was flagged as not meeting TripAdvisor animal welfare standards - which is quite unexpected in a developed country. Thankfully this free drive around Lake Apopka was peaceful and pleasant - despite visiting mid summer and at noon we saw a lot of alligators swimming, one right by the entrance. Highly recommended to see these animals in their natural surroundings without any worries about cages or them having in their mouths taped closed.

What an amazing place! We were there on a Monday to ride the bike trail, and were disappointed this was only open on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. My husband really wanted to drive through, so we came back on Friday and we are so glad we did! I'm a Florida native and I was fascinated by this beautiful landscape. So MUCH wildlife, birds are everywhere! I recommend bringing binoculars, I wish we had. There is so much to see. We saw 32 alligators, all sizes! This place is a true piece of Florida. Will definitely visit again if in the area. Highly recommend.

This place is a hidden gem. We live just a few miles from this place and did know it existed until a friend took us there. We have been on several African safaris, and in a smaller way the experience brought back some of the same feelings. Definitely worth the trip. I would pick going here over Disney's Safari Land.

First time here but won't be our last! Saw tons of birds and alligators. Take your time if you want to see animals. We spent almost two hours on this 11 mile drive.

My mom from up north was here for a visit in April and we had to take her to the trail! She was amazed at the wildlife and the best part is the ease of which to enjoy the trail. We saw over 30 gators On our drive. Keep up the great work!

Lots of gators and birds--set up camp chairs in the open bed of a truck--excellent viewing and tanning!

Take about 1 hour or so to drive through. Take your time, you never know what you will see. They have certain spots to pull over and portable restrooms in some locations.

Take your camera you will not be sorry. sometimes you can get very close view of gators and other animals just from your vehicle.

After starting our trip around this wildlife trail we saw a huge alligator, and there were lots of them, although the first was the biggest. The road is very rough so it's not possible to speed. But it's a lonely place with many birds, alligators, turtles, and probably snakes to see. We were there in the middle of the afternoon when it was very hot so, I'm sure, we didn't see a fraction of what is there. A visit earlier in the day would probably afford sightings of more birds and animals. Don't forget your binoculars and a book of birds in color so they might be identified more easily.

Great place to visit and never the same. Gators and birds galore. Lots of birders. This is free but only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Great drive through what Florida used to be like. Some places to pull over and get out. Go early. We saw lots of gators on last visit and one even crossed the road in front of us.

We found the wildlife trail when we visited Florida in August of 2018, but did not have time to visit. We were able to get there this time and I am so glad we did. My wife had talked for months about wanting to see an Alligator in the wild, and this drive did not disappoint! We lost count at 44 gators. Some as close as 3/4 feet from our car and BIG ones too. The beauty of this place is incredible. Take your time, and believe all the posts that say you need more than 1-2 hours. We will be making this drive part of every trip we make to Apopka.

What a very beautiful place to go and enjoy real wildlife from the comfort of your car! We saw variety of wildlife, including gators and birds. The weather was gorgeous! Best part is that it's free and not regulated. Great for nature lovers and great pictures !

Painfully slow roll thru a marsh. Most of the time we were stoped or at idle speed. No one patrolling traffic, so people stop whenever they want causing gridlock. Not worth it.

Lovely drive to the trail and it was fun seeing so many different types as birds. Enjoyed rolling down the car window and appreciating the weather and scenery. We spotted at least a dozen alligators. Nice to see so many animals in a very natural habitat.

I lived near Lake Apopka for nine years when it was a big polluted mess. On a recent visit, 20 years after I left the state, we found this drive and could not believe how much wildlife we saw in two hours. More than we saw in nine years as residents. This is simply a phenomenal attraction a half hour north of Walt Disney World, and it's free. In the hot months of summer, you'd probably want to get there as soon as the sun rises, when it's cooler, to see the wildlife, which will likely be hard to spot when the heat is on.

Take yourself away from the tourist areas of florida and spent as much time as you want among a beautiful restored area of wetlands.
There are hiking and biking trails as well as the drive. Slowly drive and stop to take photographs along the 20 mile one way trail, allow plenty of time,we took three hours but could have spent longer,depending on photographic opportunities.
We couldnt identify all the birds but the amount of different species along with the alligators and butterflies was a sight to behold.
There are a couple of viewing areas with portaloos.
It is only open Friday, Saturday and Sundays so pick your days carefully during your hols, dont be disappointed as this should be high on your list of visits in florida and its FREE.

Lake Apopka has recorded 309 bird species over the years...This makes it the best location inland in the US for seeing birds. Other wildlife regularly seen includes many large American Alligators, Otters, Bobcats, and many snakes and amphibians...The drive takes a couple of hours and is one of the best things to do with your family in Central Florida!

On Sundays, my son and I go out for drives because he is 15 and needs practice. We decided to give this a try because it looked cool and was free. We were amazed. This place is beautiful. I would recommend this to everyone. We will go back again in a few weeks because we got rained out of the last half and we want to take the different path. Don't forget to do the audio tour also.

What a fantastic find, 35 minutes from International Drive, we drove around the trail and within 5 minutes had seen Gators, Osprey, Great and Little Egrets, Storks, Vultures, Herons, Kestrel, Bald Eagle etc. etc. We finished the trip with 600+ photos and all for free!
Highly recommended for wildlife viewing.

Very nice experience. Driving on roads where you will encounter all kinds of different animals, including birds, turtles and of course alligators. Definitely a must do!

This is possibly the most astonishing wildlife viewing area in Florida. And we are Floridians. Both of us, as well as our Canadian friends, were blown away by the experience. So much so that we came back the next day. Since every day is different in an area teeming with many species of birds, our visits were different. Also, the second time we brought our bird books as well as our binoculars. Can't believe there is no charge! We all thought there should be a charge per car to help with expenses. They have done a magnificent job in cleaning up this huge lake, and they're not done. Maybe there's hope for Okeechobee?

We were so delighted to discover this while were staying in Orlando. It's only open on weekends and national holidays, so we took part of Thanksgiving to drive the trail. It's 11 miles long with a 10 mph speed limit, but there is so much to see along the that it easily takes over 2 hours to drive the trail. Lake Apopka was polluted by farm waste some decades ago, and nearly all the fish and wildlife in it died. But it has been under active restoration for about 15 years, and the area is really coming back to life with lots of birds, fish, alligators and many other animals we didn't see. A lot of migrating birds stop there, so it's a wonderful place for birders, and many others who just enjoy wildlife. They provide a nice audio narration of the trail that you can listen you while you drive which tells the history of the area, something about the birds and allligators, and the steps that have been taken and are still underway to restore it to health. We loved the drive and hope to do it again when we come to Orlando again.

Well worth going. Teeming with wildlife, just drive slowly and keep your eyes open. We saw a lot of gators, around 50? Baby turtles, a turtle laying eggs. A lot of birds too. We arrived at 11 am, left around 1.30 pm.

This was an awesome adventure. Only open Saturday and Sunday. You will see so many different kinds of birds. The fish are huge right off the bank. Gators here and there. Wildflowers growing around. Easy drive with a spot for walking. This is a free drive that is so worth your time. I will do this one again. Take water. No place to get a drink.

Lake Apopka wildlife trail is an awesome drive. We make it a habit to do this every time we come to Florida it really makes for an enjoyable day. Skip all the main attractions and the heat and enjoy the comfort of your car seeing all the wildlife is absolutely wonderful. Plus it's free!

An absolutely amazing experience. We took time out of the theme parks to do this experience and I am so glad we did. We saw lots of alligators, a turtle and loads of different birds. It was wonderful to see the wildlife in their natural habitat.

This is a very nice 11-mile drive through the area north of Lake Apopka. This is a free self-driven tour, but there are nearby trails that can be walked/biked. It's a wonderful place to see the nature and beauty around the lake.

During our 2 hour drive we saw approximately 40 alligators (the ones we saw), ranging in size from 18" to twelve feet. There are also many bird species to see.

There are not many facilities, although there are a few picnic tables and port-o-lets at the pump house.

Saw the biggest alligator I have ever seen .. very close to road
Lots of birds
Nice drive
Great pictures from car

Nice 2 hour drive with a lot of alligator sightings and beautiful birds. For children an teens the drive may be a little slow. Our highlight was a baby alligator nest just next to the road.

Saw lots of wildlife, birds,alligators. Take your time, pull off. We could not get the online audio tour to work so that was disappointing. Otherwise it was a good morning trip.

Been here a few times now. Trail is open sunrise to sunset on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It's a must to bring some binoculars or a field scope. The birding is just fantastic. Always see gators, especially by the pump house. It's a slow 1-way drive and you will stop often so allow at least 1-1/2 to 2 hours .. longer if you bring drinks and snacks. There are 2 bathrooms now, and they've added an audio tour you can load on your phone. I've never seen any bobcats, otters or other critters claimed to be here but that's probably because my eyes are often scanning the trees for birds.

The Wildlife Drive is a wonderful place for people of all ages and physical capabilities. You can choose to just drive through the 11 mile expanse with many places to pull over for a better look. You can also hike the trails and get up close and personal to a huge variety of birds and you will see alligators.
The drive is one way so once you start you have to finish but it is well worth it!
The Wildlife Drive is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on federal holidays, make sure to check their website.

We saw a number of alligators up 2:30 maybe more multiple species of birds. Definitely worth the drive.

This is an interesting and beautiful drive. Only caution is, once you are on it, you are committed as it is one-way!

Can't believe we have never visited this trail before. Fairly easy to find and not too busy - plenty of spots to stop and look the wildlife and take a walk around. Loads of birds and saw plenty of alligators basking the sun. Free entry which is unusual here. So good to find a place away from the crowds with so much to offer.

We drove through in a caravan with other birders from the local Audubon Society. Saw many varieties of birds and took some fabulous pictures.

A great day trip. Counted 146 alligators and many bird and duck species. It's about 11 mile drive with stops along the way. There is an audio tour you can patch into your phone that discusses the history, etc. Very interesting. Plan on about two hours. And it's free!

We learned of this tour from a maintenance man at nearby Magnolia Park (absolutely great park!) and even though we are Floridians, found the hour long tour interesting and relaxing. A audio tour found at sjrwm.com/LANS provides information about the history of Lake Apopka and the efforts to remediate the lake. The efforts must be working because there are plenty birds & gators to be seen! At the start of the tour, the first pull out has map-brochures available with color photos to identify the birds and a map. The traffic is one-way and travels about 10 mph. We found it to be a peaceful, serene drive with frequent sightings of birds and gators. Stopping at the Historic Pump House is optional & there are porta-potty restrooms available. From the pump house you can look out over Lake Apopka and view the enormous size of the lake and of course, see more gators! Kudos to Orange County for making this free and accessible to everyone!

If you want to see gators in the wild this is definitely the place to go. Early is better the gators will be basking in the sun. Once u enter the drive you can log into the website and listen to the highly informative audio tour. The drive itself is around 11 miles and takes about an hour , there are a couple places u can jump out and take pictures if you want. Outside of gators there are literally thousands of birds to see, from Osprey, to herons and coots, also turtles and the occasional snake. It is a truly beautiful and pristine location, and soooo quite, the perfect escape from the tourist traps. The lowest amount of gators we have seen is 20 , the most over 60

I have been to many State Parks in Florida consisting of walking trails but this is the first driving trail I have come across. We saw plenty of birds and wildlife from the car and the 11 mile journey took us around 2 hours with a few stops to get out and explore.

We visited on a Sunday around 3pm and it wasn't too busy and were never really held up by any other cars.

They have improved this walk and you get to experience nature with all kinds of birds, squirrel and even crows that are bigger than normal. Would come again!

Best free thing to do locally. Drive through the park to see unlimited gators, birds and other wildlife. You need a car of course, but it’s Free.

A beautiful scenic drive and you can walk/bike also part of the trail. Be there early. I was there shortly after 7 AM and I took my time (parked the car and walked couple of miles back and forth). By 10 it was getting a bit crowded.
Really worth it if you are nature lover. Kids will also enjoy it.

Great time had with the family loved the number alligators and turtle we saw the best thing it was free.

This is a beautiful place to visit. You can see all kinds of birds, alligators, and wildlife. It is a great place to take pictures of nature. It is a slow going drive so be prepared to spend a few hours there. It is only one way in and one way out. I believe that the trail is about 12 miles long. You don't have to drive you can ride a bike. Young children would be fascinated because of the wildlife. I have been there quite a few times. It is a very peaceful place and you feel so much more relaxed after the visit. You do get a few that want to rush through but it is better to take your time.

For non-Disney adventures, the Lake Apopka wildlife drive is a gem. We went at sunrise and the wildlife was very active. Lots of gators and birds. I'm a wildlife nut and can assure you that this was one of my top experiences for seeing such a diversity of species in a contained area.

It's also free. Check online as its only open a few days a week. I'd like to go back and bike the area to see more. You need to be patient as you will get stuck behind vehicles which stop on the road all the time (not following the rules of using the pull over locations).

I thought it was great.

I enjoyed driving through this trail. We seen a lot of alligators and many different types of birds and we didn't even have time to go on all the trails. I also think it's great that it's free because there is not much in this area that is.

Saw the a few reviews about this gem and made the effort to get there early (7.30am) as I knew it was going to be a hot day.. we found Lust Rd easily enough and drove down it until we saw the sign for the drive...I was surprised to see how many cars were already there, even at that time! - but it wasn't long before people started to get spaced out a little and start to look for the wildlife... of which there is a lot! (especially if you interested in birds)... they recommend you take about an hour but we were there about 3.5hrs easy... loads of Alligators (30+ today!) and birds galore!.(Look out for the beautiful Cardinals, Herons, Ospreys and birds of prey). Drive has lots of pull in's and provides information leaflets at most if the stop off/toilet points. We really enjoyed this drive today and to top it off its free! ... will be back to do this drive again next winter!

This is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. Be sure to bring your camera and some extra water.

This is a very relaxing 10 mile drive. You can go on the website and listen to the audio tour at each stop. We saw so many animals and truly enjoyed it. No cost, unless you would like to make a donation. Florida wetlands and these habitats are so interesting! The place is staffed with volunteers.

This is a great place to see many types of birds, Large Gators, 11 miles of seeing lots of wild life. Been there several time and plan to go back. Cost ? only your time: FREE ! Open Fri / Sat / Sun. Dawn to Dusk.

The Entrance to Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail is a short drive fro the Orlando theme parks, and is the perfect way to spend a relaxation day from all the crowds and queues. Open from Friday to Sunday every week, and public holidays, the trail is free to drive. It’s 11 miles long and takes around 2 hours (max speed of 10 mph + stops for photos). Along the trail you will see countless native birds and fowl as well as many alligators. There are plenty of stopping places where you can get out of the car and take photos of just watch the wildlife. We enjoyed watching the alligators swim along the water channels next to the trail, and the herons catching fish. One of the top free attractions we will visit next time we are here in Orlando.

What a find, thanks to Tim Tracker on Youtube. Thoroughly enjoyed this, many Gators on view, Birds and even an Otter.

It's a scenic gem nestled in Apopka
.... 14 foot Alligators, turtles birds and lush wetlands, best scenic drive for family and friends alike

Very long ride but if you are a bird watcher its great. Lots of different birds to see also turtles, gators and a few other wild animals. The road winds all the way around the lake. There are spots to get out and take pictures or just get out and stretch. Its about a 11 to 15 miles winding road.

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail is an outstanding outdoor adventure that you can experience in your car. Early morning is best to see all types of wildlife including bald eagles, ospreys, anhinga, cormorants, cranes, alligators and much more. The St Johns River Water Management District is to be commended for making the Trail available to the public fro 8am to 5pm Friday, Saturday and sunday of each week.

If you want to see gators up close this is the place. The ten mile plus drive is full of them. Also the bird lovers will enjoy all the different birds. The road is one way only and on dirt. So be ready to drive slow and enjoy the wildlife. Open only on Friday,Saturday,Sunday.

We went a few hours before closing and saw lots of animals. We didn't see much when we first drove in, but keep looking I promise there's tons to see. We saw all different types of birds, gators, snakes, fish, turtles, rabbits and of course bugs. Make sure to give yourself a few hours at least and drive slow. (Note: it is mostly a one lane drive but there are areas where you can pull over or let people pass)

This wildlife ride started about 11:30 am one morning while visiting in the Apopka area. Looking for something to do a suggestion came up about looking for alligators. Recommended by friends we decided to do the car tour which took a little over 2 hours at 10 miles per hour. At first all we saw was birds, so many and varied birds. As interesting as they were we wanted to see alligators. After an hour of searching the waters we saw something move in the water. Finally we spotted our first alligator slide up on a stone at the edge of the bank. After our first sighting we became very excited and continued our search. Within the hour we had spotted 5 or 6 more gators. We enjoyed the trip and would recommend it. Just be prepared for a unpaved road with many ruts and vehicles that stop in the middle so you can’t get past them. It is a lesson in nature and a test of patience.

I took a side trip while my family was in Orlando for a sports related trip. This was tonic for my soul. The variety of birds was fantastic, and the opportunity to drive through was very helpful during a hot day. Highly recommend.

THIS TRAIL IS AMAZING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BIRDS. WE SAW ABOUT 20 ALLIGATORS SUNNING THEMSELVES NEXT TO THE ROAD. NOTE WHEN YOU START THE 11 MILE TRAIL YOU CAN NOT EXIT. ALSO THERE ARE FEW PORTABLE TOILETS. IT IS WORTH TIME TIME .

Nice drive, alternate routes. Lots of birds and wild gators. The views at the old pump house are nice. Walking/ biking trails also available

The place to see alligators in the wild is along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. During the 11-mile drive from the entrance to the exit we saw 33 gators. They were along the side of the water, close to the road, on the opposite side of the banks, and in the water. We spoke to one visitor who had seen 47 on another visit! There was also a nice variety of water birds along the drive. The drive is one way and there are places to pull off along the way to observe more closely. The speed limit is 10 mph so plan on a 2-hour visit if you want to make stops. The drive entrance gate is open from 7 am to 3 pm Fridays, Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays. All visitors must exit by 5 pm.

We have lived in the Orlando area off and on for almost 15 years and didn't even know this experience existed. Sure we know about Lake Apopka but this drive back in time to see all the wildlife in its natural habitat was truly awesome. YOu will need the patience of 1.5 to 2 hrs minimum to fully savor the wonders awaiting you.

The variety of wild birds is significant. The number of visible Alligators were staggering. Would highly recommend for the family, especially the youngsters and oldsters.

This is a great place to visit the Real Florida with lots of birds, gators, marsh land etc. Allow an hour or more to drive through as it is one way and a very slow pace. This is a great place to take visitors to the area so they can experience nature at a relaxing pace. We have been there several times and will return as it is always different.

It was nice to see gators in their own habitat and was free to enter I will certainly go again on my next trip to florida

We were here for 2 days and drove the the 11 mile drive (at about 3 miles per hour!) 4 times! Every time we caught glimpses of special treasures of fauna and flora.

Great for a free ride out and seeing gators in their natural habitat. Only open on weekends when we went.

We were trying to find something to do with some relatives so we tried this out and we were very impressed. We say many alligators, all kinds of birds and really enjoyed it. The lake looked really good. The roads were a little bumpy and you have to drive pretty slow. It’s one way so once you are in there you have to drive the whole rout. It does take a while but there are things to see all the way through. I highly recommend it and it’s free!!! They do have some picnic tables by the lake.

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive; Currently only open on Fri, Sat and Sun. We normally spend 6 hours here. Getting here early is the best. Open from sunrise to sunset. We enjoy photographing the birds, but watching them is a hoot. Some people come for Alligators only (kids in back of pickups counting out loud). There are intense birders here and there is everything in between. If there is a group stopped along the road, asking questions is a must. Everyone is always excited to share their findings. Today we saw a Krider's Hawk and many more birds, including American Bittern, Snipe, Sora Rail, Night crowned Heron, Fulvous Whistling Duck, and many more common ducks and birds. We always take lunch and stop at the pump station where there is restrooms and 2 covered picnic tables. Remember there is 1 other location along the drive that has portapotties. This is not a recommended activity for children under 7 years old. Most children would find this boring. The people that drive fast through the drive only see the obvious things, and the others that drive 5-10 mph get to see the birds they miss. There is plenty of pull offs to allow the faster drivers access to pass. This is a wonderful free way to see many different species that inhabit Florida. Enjoy.

Wildlife Drive, which is only open from Friday--Sunday. You drive by car on a narrow gravel road. Look left and right and then you see a lot of animals. This time we saw countless alligators, many different water birds (some even with babies), turtles and a large eagle. Everything up close and at no admission fee. Top Recommendation!

So incredible! Free to get into and you will see a lot of wildlife. We spent over three hours driving around and looking at the critters. We saw gators, lots of birds, large turtles, and more! Would 100% go back

Amazing place and its free . The entrance is not immediately apparent being adjacent to some houses and industrial units. But as soon as we drove in , we immediately saw local wild life . Gators , birds and turtle / terrapins in abundance. It was the best wild life experience we have had in all the time we have been coming to Florida. Its a single track road so the queues can be long though , so when entering do not be in a rush just chill.

Open sunup to sunset. Take a lunch, and drinks. There is 1 location with 2 covered picnic tables. 2 locations along the drive that has porta pottys. You never know what you will see. I am not sure how far the drive was but it was long. ( MAY BE 8 MILES) You will spend 3-5 hrs there, dependent on how fast you drive. The drive is a one way very level gravel road, with a few pull offs to let others go by you. If you drive fast you WILL NOT see birds and other animals. We sometimes just got out of the car and soon a big hawk would fly by or a blue heron. Blue Herons seem to be huge here. This is a very relaxing way to watch for birds. Bring your camera and binoculars. Enjoy your time there. NO TRAVEL TRAILERS ALLOWED.

I don't understand the 5 star reviews from almost everyone. A way-too-long drive down a boring sandy road with pretty birds and lots of alligators. But it took us almost 2 hours because of inconsiderate people just stopping dead in the middle of the road and causing a very long traffic jam. Just to look at a bird or a gator in the water. And once you see one gator, you've seen them all. It would be a fine drive if it wasn't for the frustrating traffic jam caused by inconsiderate drivers. Be prepared to be bored!

Heard about this place several months ago from an article in the newspaper and ever since wanted to go. It was about an hour drive out of The Villages to this destination. Found it easily. We brought a lunch due to the foreseen remoteness of the tour from what I read on the website. Made a fun weekend outing out of it. We were met by tour guide just inside entrance and given a brief overview of what to expect as first time visitors. We set out down on what would be an approximate 3-hour drive on an 11-mile long rock road that was well maintained. Plenty of pullover places to get off road and gander at the wildlife that was present. There were outhouses well spaced out along the route. Within the first 3 miles, we had two encounters with gators crossing the roadway which made the adrenalin flow. We followed along on the cell phone tour which gave us audible information on what we were seeing along the way. The trip was without any cost and was very fulfilling. I’d recommend it to anyone but suggest bringing food, sunscreen & plenty of water as there are no concessions on the property. There are places to ride bikes and hike if interested as well. Great attraction and we feel privileged to have taken it in over Memorial Day weekend without any major congestion along the way.

We saw hundreds of ducks and birds. We several alligators(some very close to the road. The drive takes about 2+ hours. It was busy the day we drove through. Several photographers stopping to get that special shot. Very peaceful eay to soend an afternoon. Loved it.

I traveled the trail with my neighbor who is an experienced bird watcher. During our 4 hours on the trail, he identified 54 different species of birds. We also saw many large alligators, some very close up and were also surprised to see a bobcat. Once you enter the trail at the south end (Lust Rd.) you are committed. It's a narrow, on-lane dirt road. There are areas where you can pull off. The speed limit is 10mph and it will take a couple of hours minimum to exit the trail at the north end (Jones Ave.) - much longer depending on how many stops you make and for how long. The trail is open weekends and holidays from dawn to dusk.

We spent 2 hours here today. Gorgeous, sunny and just the right temp with a little breeze. This is a nice super relaxing drive. Surprisingly, we saw 7 alligators and birds too many to count. Saw a nice turtle sunning himself. The gators were sunning in the canals along the road as the day was a little cool for them. But there were cranes, egrets, ducks, osprey and herons of many types all along the trail.

The porta pots weren't too awful really and there were enough of them. The wetland is beautiful and driving through it is peaceful. This would be a nice drive that you could do over and over as I'm sure the wildlife changes all the time. Best thing is it is free and not overrun with tourists.

I had family visit with children that ranged from 19 to 6. This was a perfect afternoon for all of them. Being able to drive at your own pace, get out and walk, and see all of the alligators, huge turtles and different birds was a plus for everyone!

Amazing place, so many alligators, birds and turtles, it was a non-stop wildlife extraviganza.

you take a slow ride around a fixed circuit, lots of gators, so close to the sides of the ride

We saw much wildlife including alligators and many types of birds. You can drive at your own pace and listen to audio.

Loving this! Lots and lots of gators, birds, turtles and fish to see in this beautiful clean lakeside. Animal and naturelovers; definitely worth of going. Eco-friendly way to meet the animal and completely free.

This is open weekends only, but totally worth the wait. It is a very long trail and has many potholes, but it has so many bird species and MANY allligators to see! I will go back on my next trip to Apopka.

My friend and I enjoyed our time at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. We went in December which is the beginning of duck season and saw a nice variety of ducks which included American Wigeons, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers and Ring-necked ducks which migrate and their big selection of non-migratory fulvous whistling ducks and black-bellied whistling ducks. Plenty of wading birds and a few raptors. It looks a lot like the STA's in South Florida but some of the ducks were closer. Lots of different kinds of terrain which includes retention ponds, sod fields and at the beginning before the entrance is a good spot for different types of sparrows. Nice warbler and flycatcher habitat towards the front too.

Fun leisure ride. Lots of birds. We saw about 6 different gators. Took about 2 hours but we stopped a bunch of times for pictures.

A beautiful 11 mile drive through the wetlands preserve. It’s nice to see that all the hard work in restoring this area is paying off. The area was teaming with wild birds, plenty of gators too. The audio guide was very helpful in explaining the history and progress of the project.

We love this drive. It’s a nice way to see migrating birds and alligators. The birds were very chatty and it was cool but sunny so the gators were out in force. If you walk the loop trail by the pump house, be aware that the gators sun themselves along the shore line.

Me and the wife have been twice and absolutely love this place! We park at the walking trails and get our exercise in while photographing the multiple different species of birds. Then we continue onto the wildlife drive where you can spot anywhere between 10-30 American Alligators. Make sure to bring drinks and snacks the drive alone can be 2-3 hours long depending on how many times you want to stop and enjoy snapping pictures or admiring the animals. We make it an all day event its so relaxing. Best of all its free. I wish there was a donation bin or website to donate to this wonderful preservation.

This is one of our favorite places to visit in Florida. 11 miles of wildlife viewing gators, otters, turtles, beautiful birds and much more. Free and open on weekends. Many areas you can stop and get out of the car. Take your camera and some binoculars.

A great way to see FLA wildlife from the comfort of your car. Good for birders and folks wanting to see alligators galore. Regarding the latter, don’t go near the water for obvious reasons and don’t walk the dog(s). Don’t forget to bring a good set of binoculars, and a bird identification book, and don’t be afraid to pull your car off to the side to let those in a hurry get past you. Why they would go to this wonderful find and be in a hurry is sad. Take your time and enjoy!!

Rough gravel. Mountain Bikes only. It is basically a maintenance road for a swamp. A monument to the utter stupidity of the Water Management District. The largest environmental disaster in Florida. No one was punished for Killing lake Apopka. Today it is a Dead Lake.
Go to GatorLand instead.

Several of our neighbors had posted pictures taken on this drive, so we decided to check it out today. We did the drive through, but there were several bicyclists on part of the route. The speed limit is low but the road is wide enough for people who want to move at a faster pace to pass. There were pull-offs too. We saw numerous varieties of birds and many alligators. Natural Florida. And the best thing is, it's free!

This place was discovered by us last Nov, we are planning our 2nd trip next week. Take your Camera, and Binoculars, drive slowly, its too far to walk for some, about 11 miles they say. No refreshments, toilets yes.
STOP LOOK LISTEN.. you will see a great deal of wildlife. Watch our for basking gators at the waters edge. It is FREE. PLEASE take care this is a fragile place, and the land is precious.

Open Sunrise to Sunset

At last we got here .
Pleased to drive this trail,moved over for faster drivers to pass.
Wanted to see as much as we could,so much wildlife,alligators,turtles,
even an eagle.
Completely overwhelmed with the beauty and peace .
Loved the drive up to Lake Apopka too ,just wished we could live there too.

We went right after hours of rain and thought it might be closed or that few people would be there. We were wrong on both accounts but really glad we went!

As usual, we saw many beautiful wading birds, osprey, warblers, cardinals, hawks, gators, etc.

Highly recommend that you get out of your car to talk to birders that can make it even more fun and educational!

Apopka Wildlife trail is the habitat of hundreds of gators, you will be able to see them roaming around and sunbathing here and there. They didn't seem dangerous at all. Though we were at a safe distance. In fact you can be in the car. It's about two hours of drive (if you go slowly and watch around). You will be able to see not just these gators, but also different varieties of birds, mainly ducks and cranes. They say they have bears too, but I wasn't fortunate(or unfortunate) enough to see one. It was a fun trip, counting gators, listening to the chirp of the birds and have some sun in Florida

I had heard from some of my birding friends that this was a lovely place to visit and they were all right!!!! I saw so many lovely birds, a few gators, a snake and a few turtles. I was wonderful. This is the REAL Florida. If you are in the area, this is a lovely place to see what Florida is like outside of all the tourist stuff!! I wish I had visited it sooner, I will definitely be going back!!

We did this trail a months back. We went in the early morning so it wasn't too hot when we started. It was such a treat to see so many different species of birds and even ducks. There were so many gators to see too, small and big. It was so peaceful and so many people with their professional cameras taking photos of the wildlife. I heard that the trail is now a little longer so time to go back!
You don't even have to get out of your car to see!

This is a fantastic place for viewing and photographing birds and alligators. This was my second visit, and we saw TONS of birds, way more than my first visit in 2016. We went on a rainy dreary day and it was a great activity on such a day - to see so much diverse wildlife from the car and not get wet. I am a birder and photographer, and easily spent 4 hours here. I saw over 40 species and thousands and thousands of individual birds. If you are a birder from out of state visiting, as I was, you must stop here. Be sure to bring food/water and realize that there is only one stop with portable restrooms.

We drove the 11-mile trail on a Sunday afternoon, very little traffic, so we were able to stop at will and photograph the birds and alligators. Late in the day was perfect lighting for photography.

Amazing place to visit! So many beautiful birds and in a natural habitat. 11 miles of enjoyment and free! Thank you so much!

We are local and will be taking all our guests here. There are so many ways to spend money packed around tourists. This is so refreshing and memorable. It was 75 degrees when we were there. The gators were active and we even saw a little fight!

Wasn't sure what to expect, and really enjoyed ourselves. Saw an armadillo as soon as we drove in. Throughout the drive saw many alligators, huge variety of birds, a few snakes and a baby turtle. Only a handful of cars were on the road. Very peaceful and serene. And free! We will do again soon.

We went on a Gator hunt (viewing) we were greeted in a friendly and helpful manner. The area is beautiful and exceptionally interesting. Twitchers would just love it here. Managed to see 13 gators including one eating an unfortunate large fish.
Top place.

A perfect activity for the times we are living in. 30 minutes from downtown Orlando and right off the 429.

Free of charge and all you have to do is enter and follow the roads as you weave through what can only be summed up as being Natural Florida. You drive at your own pace and can get out of your car, in certain areas, to stop and take pictures. Birds, small mammals and gators galore.

Only issue is the last 1/3 I found to be more of a grassland that seemed to be managed and had less wildlife in it, compared to the first 2/3 that had more wild growing habitats and lots of waterways to view the gators.

It is a nice drive. Allow about 2 hours from start to finish. The drive is only open on Fri-Sun.
Pick a nice day & pack a lunch. There's a place to picnic about midway.
We saw maybe 5 alligators on our brisk day. I recommend.

We had only 2-3 hours, I would have liked a full half day. Lots of birds and alligators. If you go in summer, its worth going early, otherwise it will either be hot, or raining. A good outing for nature lovers.

This turned out to be a very nice drive. We drove slowly along since there was so many birds and alligators to see. If you love birding this is the place to visit. Take a camera and binoculars if you have them. I will return to drive through again.

We drove through the 11 miles of trails. If you have time you can ride a bike or hike through many more miles. We saw about 10 alligators, birds galore( some of which I have to contact Cornell because I don't know what they were). We saw herons, egrets, bald eagles, osprey and many others. It is free and open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I highly recommend it for everyone!!

Worth the trip. Get up close and personal with alligators, snakes, birds of all kinds. Drive through takes a couple of hours with occasional stops. Great photo ops and FREE! A must for out of towners!

We've driven this trail every month of the year and seen something different every time! The birds - you lose count! We've seen birds, snakes, fish, alligators, fox, bear, and turtles. It's so nice to see so many creatures so close up and in their natural habitat. Half way through there is a place to pull over, walk around, go to the bathroom, take your bicycle out and take a bike path. Bring your camera!

This place is unbelievable - we always take our out of town guests so they can see the real Florida. Surprise, it's not a theme park. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday sunrise to sunset. Give yourself 90 minutes and bring a camera. Lots of wildlife, mostly birds but also alligators and lake views. It's just driving with a couple spots to stop and get out and a set of restrooms about halfway through the drive. Have fun.

We enjoyed this loop drive so much, spotted many gators, birds, ducks in a beautiful setting. The drive is 11mile long. It took us around 2-3hours. And it's free. Good fun and educational half day for the kids. Definitely go.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see wildlife and Florida natural greenery from the safety of your car. It's best enjoyed from the vehicle. Stop and marvel at some of the animal interactions, but it's best to stay inside the vehicle. This is a beautiful look at the area around Lake Apopka, and it is well worth spending a couple of hours on a leisurely ride through the roughly 11 miles.

This is a wonderful way to visit the wild life of Florida, without leaving the car. No miles of walking, no pushy crowds, just alligators, turtles, hogs (we heard them, but didn't see them but they say they are there), many different birds of all sizes, and a nice volunteer at the front entrance. Be sure to set aside a couple hours as there is only one way through the area, and there is no turning back. We were there on a spectacular day, so we rolled down the windows, turned off the radio and just enjoyed the sounds of nature. Leave the walking shoes behind, but use the restroom before entering, bring some water and binoculars and enjoy the scenery.

If you want to see gators, this is the place to go. They are just roaming around in their natural habitat sunning themselves or slowly swimming along in the water. Saw about nine of them on the day we were there. I am not a birder, but if you are, there are several different species to observe.

It's a slow drive that you can enjoy at your own pace. Definitely a hidden gem in the central Florida area.

Visiting Orlando for business this was an easy 45 minute drive to spend the entire afternoon driving this 11 mile trail to view 52 species of birds. There are rest stops and porta potty‘s along the way. For non-birder watchers there were many alligators of various sizes in the water and on the banks. Bring your binoculars, a scope, if you have one, your favorite bird app. water, lunch, insect repellent, sun block, plan on spending several hours (we birded five) and have your companion scan as you drive you won’t be disappointed!

Definitely recommended trip for half a day - lots of bird life and alligators, and plenty of stopping places. A great place to visit to see the other side of Florida, and best of all it's free - albeit only open on certain days so be sure to check that.

The scenery is peaceful and beautiful. Wish I could have enjoyed it. It was bumper cars packed in. Everyone just stopped wherever they wanted with no regard to anyone or the huge line of cars backing up. Road is NOT wide enough in most places to pass. THERE ARE DESIGNATED VIEWING AREAS. But no one paid them any attention. Just stopped wherever, when it plainly says no stopping on the website and the audio tour. You can go 10MPH and it’s a perfect speed to see everything. The park needs to have clear signs throughout advising on NO stopping. When you are made to stop and look at nothing only because some jerk 6 cars ahead sees something that THEY’VE decided they get to stare at or get out and take pictures, it’s very stressful. People are so very selfish, thinking it’s all about them and that they will make their own rules. Will not go back- ever.

Drive one way thru the edge of Lake Apopka to view the marshes and birds and other wildlife. Saw a lot of different birds and some alligators.

As noted on one of the reviews below, this area is not a zoo and may not be for some people. Just be aware before you drive out.
It has become popular and it can become almost congested on the weekends. Friday’s would be a little less stressful if your trying to shoot or spot.
As it’s only open to cars Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, one option would be to bring a bike on the other days as you can enter (with bike) on off days. In addition, there are two additional areas on the North Shore not directly connected to the Drive that you can also access with bike. These both have parking areas.
Enjoy.

Wonderful experience. Saw alligators and many bird species, turtles and much more. Recommend this to all.

If you want to get a feel for the real Florida, I highly recommend driving this trail, loads of birds,beautiful scenery and alligators in there natural habitat.
You can only drive at ten mph and there are pull one and parking areas to stretch legs and walk round.
We were not expecting to really see alligators but in the end we saw five pretty close up. Made for all the family.

Loved doing this drive on a beautiful Sunday. We saw tons of birds and so many huge gators. Drive very slow and keep a eye out or you might miss some of the best ones. Best practice: move over so others may pass you. And if you’re the one coming up from behind to another car, don’t tailgate them. There will be a chance for you to pass them. That way you can move along and you don’t ruin the visit for someone else. The best part, it’s free!

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday between sunrise and sunset only. 10 mph speed limit. No vehicles over 25 feet and no trailers. A few port-a-poties available in a very few locations. Leashed dogs only. No drinking water available. Stopping is supposed to be limited to designated pull outs, but everybody stops when there is a big gator or big bird or bob cat. Please watch for bikers and hikers.
If you are in a hurry, don't do this. There is no need to tailgate, either. People want to see the wildlife and take their time. It is relaxing and beautiful as only old Florida can be. I would list the bird varieties, but most of them are listed here already. I included a photo of the information sign about the birds and wildlife.
Bring a camera!

Go early and DONT EVER TOUCH OR FEED the wildlife. Please. Respect these ancient creatures and they will humble you.

Only open on weekends. No cost. You need to enter the gate by 3pm and exit by 5pm. It is an 11 mile drive and takes about an hour and a half (give or take). We went in May when weather was not in the the extreme temps and easily saw 100 alligators in the waters and large turtles on road and in waters. We returned in late July during extreme heat and were lucky if we saw 5 gators. You will definitely see more in more reasonable temperatures. It was a beautiful drive to see all of the different birds and insects as well as turtles & gators. Definitely worth the trip if looking for something to do.

As a photographer, I visit this conservation area a couple times a year. I thing it's the best place to phtograph Ospreys in the State. That said, you never know what else you may encounter. My very best shots of Painted Buntings were taken here. I know many people only look at the large birds, but the place is loaded with song birds. Hard to shoot I know, but worth it if you have patience. It gets busy so arrive early.

We enjoy driving through and checking out the wildlife. Gators and Birds. Stopped off the enjoy the view at the Pump Station.

Take you time and drive this some afternoon. So many things to see, especially the wildlife. Stop at the pump house and enjoy the rebirth of Lake Apopka.

We found this place by accident and are delighted we did .
The loop is 11 miles at max speed 10mph .
Lovely scenery , many different species of birds and loads of aligators , a couple of them were HUGE .
It's only open at weekends so check it's open before you visit .
It's also FREE , yet another beautiful Floridian park for free .
Well worth a visit and it's different .

Easy drive in what felt like the Everglades but was the backwaters of a lake. Places to get out and walk along the way. We saw over 50 alligators including about 15 of them swimming in a pond. Tons of birds. We went around 1:00 in afternoon. Easy to navigate. Great biking in area.

This trail is one to drive at your own pace. You can stop at designated areas and spend as much time there as you want. We saw many birds of different varieties and of course, alligators. We had hoped to see other wildlife, but none was to be found. It takes a couple hours to drive the length of the trail. I would recommend putting on bug spray if you plan to stop anywhere along the trail. We plan to vary the time of day that we go in hopes of catching sight of other wildlife that may be hiding among the fauna. It is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The drive is a great nature experience that is accessible to anyone from a family to those with mobility issues to serious birders. The drive loop is one way but has a few places that have different options as to where to go, so I am already looking forward to going back again. I'm an intermediate birder/photographer and could have stayed there for the entire day. Lots of raptors, warblers, RWBB were everywhere. Waterfowl were abundant, coots, moorhens, blue winged teal, and I saw whistling ducks flying. It's nice to have such a great area closer to home than some of the other popular wildlife drives. There are also great hiking trails around the lake shore as well, so if you're able to I would recommend checking those out too.

I drove the trail early in the morning. There were many many alligators. Lots of water birds, especially anhingas and herons. Also many osprey. I watched three hunting in one are as they dived for breakfast. The views particularly during the first half of the drive were spectacular. This is a great outing whether you're looking for a relaxing drive to appreciate nature, or for wildlife and landscape photography.

Super nice to drive the car and stop at different places.
Countless alligators seen (including a mother with 18 little ones) and enjoyed various bird species including the beautiful fish eagle.
Just over 2 hours enjoyed all this natural beauty!

We did the 11 mile drive and had a wonderful time. In total we saw 47 alligators, 20 turtles, and numerous herons and egrets. Highly recommend.

We set out on a Saturday morning with no great expectations of seeing anything. So, when we spotted an alligator within a few minutes of driving the 11 mile trail, we were thrilled and delighted. When we emerged two and a half hours later, we had seen lots of birds, an otter, fish and more than 30 alligators. This is a wonderful wild place. It is well maintained and feels secluded. It even has a parking place with toilet facilities!!! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and unreservedly recommend it. We shall be going again - of course.

We so enjoyed our drive today. Saw alligators and so many birds and beautiful ducks. Saw a few turtles too. We must go back with a birding book. The audio part of the tour is so-so. I know they want to promote how Lake Apopka is being restored, but a few more animal references and descriptions would be nice.

In a state full of places that take your money at every turn, this place is fabulous. Stay in your car to beat the heat and be safe from the huge number of gators and wildlife we saw. There are spots to pull over and let people faster than you by, so be aware of your surroundings and don’t be a jerk. Take your camera, some waters, a snack and some TP if you LOVE nature as we spent way longer than planned enjoy this park. It’s fabulous !!

Saw all kinds of wildlife! Great way to see Florida nature at its best. Alligators in the water and crossing over the road in front of us.

Nice and family oriented, nature is beautiful. Very clean. I love it, i go there every year just to get away from work.

I attended the wildlife festival in Apopka which included a 2-hour guided tour of the North Shore Wildlife Trail. Although the weather was not ideal (overcast, then raining), I was able to identify over 230 birds of 23 different species, including herons, egrets, osprey, a bald eagle, pied grebes, American Coots and Common Moorhens and more. This was my second visit to the 11 mile North Shore wildlife trail. It is a one way, drivable trails with turn-offs to view wildlife. If you are interested in birding and learning more about conservation efforts, highly recommend. The North Shore trail is open Friday, Sat & Sunday. It is free. There are portable restrooms at one location, along the trail (near the pump house).The best time of year to visit is winter when the bird population is at the highest.

This is a great idea . it takes a few hours , you can get out of the car here and there . Lots of gators and birds . just look at the pictures .great family out .
i would recommend this for people that want to see something and have a hard time to get around or walk .

Relaxing ride through Florida watching the birds spotting turtles alligators all kinds of animals. Takes a little while to drive but teens even enjoyed it. Listened to the audio tour at the stops which is a must for people not from Florida but interesting for everyone even the Floridians. Recommend going if you want to get away from city and into nature.

This is about a 20 mile trail through a beautifully restored wilderness area on Lake Apopka. People can drive, hike, or bike, although cars are limited to gravel roads. There are port a potties in two places along the trail. It is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and on some Federal holidays. What a beautiful way to spend several hours. Bring your binoculars and a camera if you wish, plus water. On Sunday, we saw 31 different species of birds (plus more we couldn't identify - we call them little brown birds), alligators, and turtles. What a hidden treasure!

A free hidden gem! Spend a few hours on a leisurely tour on trails through marsh around Lake Apopka. Great for all ages as you can drive or walk on hiking/biking trail. Plenty of birds & gators to see. A lot of photo opportunities. Only open Friday through Sunday.

We went at a time that people always say you won't see anything but even in nonmigration time it was great. Lots of babies which were fun to watch. A porta potty in the middle of the drive is helpful. Place could use a few simple directional signs so if you're not familiar with it you can tell where the roads go. We went several times over the span of a couple of days. Bugs weren't too bad, especially for summer. Most definitely plan on going back during peak birding times when it must really be fabulous. Don't really understand why the hours and days are so limited since it is not staffed and the exit gate is automatic. Is it really that difficult to open a gate in the morning?

The folks who imagined this place were true visionaries --- birds, birds and more birds. So many species and so many individual birds. The layout makes it easy, just drive and take your time and enjoy the wildlife. We saw mostly shore and water birds, but there were a couple of elevated spots that were fully of warblers, wrens, sparrows and such. This is a most worthy destination.

We really enjoyed this drive. You could do it every weekend and always see something different. Alligators, turtles, every different kind of bird you can think of. Just don't use the portable toilets. They're disgusting!

It’s a great drive around the reserve. There are opportunities to pass really slow cars but the speed limit is 10.

Tons on birds and gators to be seen. You can get real close to sunning gators!

Only open Fri/Sat/Sun. This 11 mile drive is a haven for wildlife and it is free to enter. We must have seen around 20 different ospreys, dozens of gators and dozens of different birds. It’s a self drive tour with plenty of pull ins and a single restroom stop. It allegedly takes around 1 hour but if you like to take plenty of photos like we do it can take much longer. We were there for around 5 hours. Make sure you take plenty of water with you.

Took the tour and with all the side trips will have to do it again. A great look at Mother Nature. Good way to spend several; hours with the family.

Every year we visit Kissimmee we vista Lake Apopka at least once it's such a wonderful wildlife sanctuary and its free, there's so much wildlife its just simply stunning.

This is an incredible wildlife drive. We were looking for "covid friendly" activities and this was perfect. There are spots to stop along the way to walk and stretch your legs and port-a-potties for breaks. We packed snacks and waters and saw so many incredible birds and gators along our drive. You can listen to an audio feed as you go that tells you information of how the area was formed and the history of it. We thought it was a great place to go and get back to nature. It took us a few hours to complete the drive.

Great experience. Only complaint is occasional traffic jams. We were bold and passed a few people. The best waterbird viewing is the first mile so keep that in mind. We were lucky enough to see a great blue heron snag and wrassle a water snake! Super cool! Lots of scenic vistas. Nice number of gators, including one absolutely massive one. A great activity for the whole family. And it's free!

I really can't recommend this highly enough. It was a real surprise and well worth visiting if you are in the area. We saw so much wildlife; not limited to bald eagles, ospreys, herons, anhingas, turtles and, of course, alligators - lots of them. We literally lost count of the alligators and got some really close (but safe) views. We even saw a couple of mothers with lots of young gators. If you love wildlife, it is a must. If you just want to see alligators in the wild, there is nowhere better. And it's free!

We spent more than 3 hours on the drive and could easily have spent longer had we allowed for it. My thanks to the volunteers who have made it possible.

This is quite an amazing drive for people who love birds and nature in general. The road is a well maintained, unpaved dirt road that only goes one way. There's pull overs throughout the drive so you can pass others but there's birds everywhere and you have to drive slow. There were tons of tree swallows swooping down missing my car by mere inches. I think it's a game they all play to see who can get the closest to the cars. BAM! Oh yeah, he lost. There's water and marshland all along the drive. There's parking at the lakefront with 2 portable toilets. The drive can take you an hour or 8 hours depending on how often you want to stop. BEWARE if you're driving with a birder and you are not a feather enthusiast, you're in for a looong ride. I saw herons, ibises, egrets, hawks, ospreys, warblers, kingfishers, coots and some very large alligators. It's not too far from the Disney area so it's a great side trip for those who want take in a little nature during your stay.

The wildlife drive is well worth the time. Lots of birds, gators and plant life to be seen. The Etting is quite serene.

I took some time to drive the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail. The trail is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and some holidays. It begins at Lust Road and crosses the north shore of Lake Apopka to Jones Road. The area was created to cleanup the lake and the water system it is connected to. The road is pretty bumpy and the speed limit is 10 miles per hour. However you do not need an off-road or four wheel drive vehicle. I saw compact cars, luxury cars, pickup trucks, and Jeeps as I drove through. The trail is about 11 miles long. Most vehicles drive very slowly through the trail in order to spot wildlife and to protect wildlife that might be on or near the road. When other vehicles were around they did not really drive more than 5 miles per hour. Drivers frequently stop to take photographs. You should plan at least three hours to take the drive so that you have time to stop and see the wildlife. There is an audio tour available online by the Saint Johns River Water Management District who manages the area.
I very much enjoyed the drive. I saw lots of wildlife, especially birds and gators. I saw many species of birds including: egret, anhinga, ibis, heron, hawk, and osprey. I saw many alligators; some were large and very close to the road. Be sure to enjoy them from a distance. It was an enjoyable drive and I got some really good pictures. I highly recommend the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail.

Easy place to find. Unfortunately could not use the audio downloads as I did not have internet - but I knew this before I went so had downloaded text copies and they were helpful. Wasn't sure what I would see but within minutes of starting the trail we saw our first alligator! The 10 mph limit is good as it gives you plenty time to see stuff. The pull over places work and you can get out of you car to see things closer. The gators got bigger the further we got into the trail. Spent over 2 hours there and will most definitely go back. And it's free!

Awesome place to see wildlife and decompress. Doesn’t really matter when you go but the later you go the more crowded. Will take 2-3 hours so please be patient

We had seen this trail on a show and decided to check it out for ourselves. Wow so much wildlife!! We saw more gators then we have ever seen in the Everglades. Lots of birds also and the trail itself was very well done and nice setting great photo opts. We even had a small turtle cross the road in front of us. They have done a wonderful job on this restoration a must see when your in the area

Amazing...the amount of wildlife that can be seen on this well signposted trail. We saw so many Alligators we lost count, an otter running along the bank, so many bird species in a wonderful surrounding, what a privilege to be able to drive this route. Not to be missed.

Usually love this place. Very little wildlife on the drive today. Saw a few birds and a few gators. Worth the drive. Since it is free what can you say...

If you are looking for the real Florida, you need to go to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. You can drive along the trail or go to the walking and bike trail. No fences or cages. Gators, otters and tons of birds.

My husband and I come here at least every couple of months...when we need to de-stress and just be with nature without having to get out of the car lol. This is an 11 mile drive where you can just get comfortable let the car stroll and look around. This place actually has one of the largest variety of bird species in this side of the world. You will often see professional photographers here.
As you drive through the trail you will not only will you see all sorts of bird species, you will also see gators (yes wild gators no one is there to protect you so please use common sense, this is THEIR territory, do not do anything silly please), bunnies, bob cats, coyotes, snakes, turtles, lots of plant species and flowers.
Halfway through you will come to the place called Alligator Lagoon and as the name suggests, there are a lot of gators here, you can park here and go up the hill to the pump house, there is a picnic table overlooking Lake Apopka where you will usually see more gators too, but overall its is a very nice view where you can relax, have a meal, take a potty break (there are potter potties behind the pump house, which are usually surprisingly clean lol) or just look at the gator at the lagoon.
If you're ever looking for something FREE to do where you can relax, breathe fresh air and unclear your mind, I highly recommend this drive. This trail can actually be done in other way by doing the bike or horse trails, but the trail is longer and starts somewhere else for those trails. By the way, the reason we go so often is because this trail NEVER looks the same, it is constantly changing...sometimes you go and everything is purple, other times yellow or red...its just always changing!

This drive is open Fri Sat Sun from dawn to dusk and an amazing place to visit and what's better its FREE. Wildlife is amazing and great fun gator hunting where you are almost guaranteed to see over 20 on any visit. It take a couple to hours to drive round but don't be surprised if it takes you 4 hours. Look in the lake by the pump house as there are normally several gators swimming around. I'm not a nature expert so cant tell you the names of the birds but to see them all in their natural environment living, eating and surviving is amazing. You MUST visit and the kids will love it.

This one’s typically a drive there are a few bike riders minimal walkers ... car will get dusty. Plan at least an hour

Different every time you come big gators , small gators, snakes, all kinds of birds some of everything lots of photography options.

Going dawn or dusk definitely bring mosquito spray

there are a couple Porta potty’s around but they are very clean.

There is an audio tour you can do I’ve never done it we usually just spot the animals and do photos

This was recommended to us by a couple when we were trying to find birds at Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. This drive is fantastic! Great Blue Herons, egrets, even alligators are right next to the road, as well as an endless variety of water birds in the canals. We even saw an osprey and a pair of black vultures as we were nearing the exit. It's a great way to see natural Florida wildlife, and it's free. I hope to return for another trip someday.

I took a bus tour of this trail in Feb 2016. It was a birding trip and we were told about all the different birds we saw.

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail is the prefect family adventure to see the many varieties of wildlife that Florida has to offer. On our trip out there we saw 22 different species of birds and, get this 22 alligators ranging in size from 3 to 10 feet in length. This has recently been opened to the public and is a great activity. The road has been widened and there are plenty of place to pull off to the side(so you don't block others) and observe/photograph the many varieties of Florida's nature.

I would highly recommend taking the whole family to see Florida up close and personal. And the best part is that it is free.

Absolutely beautiful! Be prepared for the photographers to slow down in areas where there isn’t a pull off spot. There are so many photo ops, it is hard to pass them up!

We drove on the trail on a cool February day. I wasn't expecting to see as much wildlife as we did. We saw at least 28 alligators, most of then sunning on the banks.

The picnic tables at the pump house afforded a nice view of the lake.

This was definitely was a worthwhile way to spend a couple of hours away from the hubbub of traffic and Florida tourist attractions. It was free entrance fee.

Found this on an internet search and thought we'd give it a go and we are so pleased we did, the place is beautiful with loads of wildlife. We saw well over 20 gators many of them swimming along in their natural habitat, you can park up and go to the waters edge to get a better look. If you want to see aligators in the wild this place is a must.

An 11 mile drive that was only 9 miles too long. Birds and one small gator. Not a good use of your time. Visit a drive thru zoo instead.

The Lake Apopka Nature Drive is a wonderful way to spend about 90 minutes, and it's absolutely free.
This is a nature drive, not a carnival ride. The trail is a sand/gravel road, which you drive slowly (10 mph limit) for eleven miles. Stops are frequent as cars ahead to stop to ooo and ahhh over gorgeous birds and basking alligators. Birds are to your left and right. Alligators mainly on the right.Consider that when seating your guests in the back seat. The best views will generally be from the passenger side.
Being a piece of restored nature, rather than a park ride, it is impossible to say which birds you'll see or where the 'gators will be, or how many of each. The main birds of interest are the egrets, herons, storks and cranes of various descriptions, but there are many more species to see (over 30) if you take the time and know what to look for. Binoculars are handy for birders, not necessary for the gators. You'll start seeing the gators when you're about a third of the way through. Look sharp, they blend in. But after you've discerned a few, you'll be able to spot more.
Some of the gators can get very close to the road (which has water near both sides, so drive with caution). Personally, I would not open the door to give a gator a nudge with my foot, but do as you like.
While this is mainly a driving trail, there is also a walking trail. I took a look (from the vantage of my car) and saw one woman and hiking with her dachshound. To me, she was just walking nine pounds of bait.
Overall, a fabulous, leisurely nature experience free of gift shops, admission tickets or any other commercial hustle. Well worth the drive from wherever you are.

This is a drive through the old Lake Apopka muck farms. It takes about an hour. You'll see plenty of alligators and birds along the way.

Oh wow - we enjoyed the many birds along the restored wilderness area on Lake Apopka. There are many bird species along with butterflies, alligators. The sights and sounds permeate you and the weather isn't all that bad either. If you are a birder, place it high on your bucket list. It is free but open only on the weekends. We made the mistake of traveling 1 1/2 hrs. only to find it closed.

Cattle Egrets all over, Snowy Egrets, Herons, Coots, Moore Hens, ducks of various kinds, Ibis are also in great numbers. Cormorants and Anhingas as well. And on my visit, a mother gator with babies. Really a great place to visit for bird watching or nature photography.

If you are in Orlando, the wildlife trail is only about a half hour drive from all the attractions, and is an easy to get to place to see the real natural Florida. Like all wildlife areas, viewing is usually best in the mornings or afternoons and what you see will depend on a bit of luck.

Very nice drive watching wildlife. You drive along one lane dikes throughout the swamp. Alligators and birds are plentiful in the canals next to the roads. An audio tour via the internet is available for information at points along the route. We killed a couple of hours while waiting for our plane to leave Orlando for Las Vegas. One of the very few free activities in the area. Need for grading on the roads in several locations when we were there. Pullouts available for slower cars to pull over. Bring your camera for lots of pictures. This is a natural area not a tourist trap! Pit toilets are available but no modern facilities or shopping of food or trinkets. Enjoy the drive, view the wildlife, take your time.

A very nice drive on lake Apopka. Great bird watching, and did I say gators? The most gators in one area (besides a gator farm)

We read about this place on trip advisor and thought it sounded worth doing it and certainly was. It’s very like the black point drive at Merritt island but if you are staying in Orlando it’s closer and is without cost. It’s 11 miles long, single track with passing points and 10 mph speed limit.

We were amazed by the amount of wild life we saw, wading birds and loads of very big alligators. The highlight was the heron who had caught a cat fish.

There are several places to picnic on the way round and places to get out and stretch your legs. There are toilets but they are those unpleasant portable ones.

The only thing we found irritating is other people who drove to fast or overtook rather than wait.

11 mile loop with thousands of birds and lots of alligators. We saw 106 alligators from babies about12" to 10'+ adults. It is a one way driving well maintained road and takes @ 2 hours. Only open Friday - Sunday and is free. Great for relaxing and seeing nature.

This wildlife drive is amazing! I saw so many alligators, dozens of beautiful birds, turtles, otters and even a few snakes! It was peaceful and serene and just the place I needed to be after a hectic week!

Visited in August 22 and it was HOT. This is a really nice way to get a break from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. It's only open a couple of days a week, so make sure you check before traveling.

There were lots and lots of birds, butterflies, fish and gators to be seen as you plod along at about 10mph, mostly on the right hand side of the car. There are also a couple of spots where you can park and either go for a walk or use the restroom.

One thing to consider is that after the first mile or so, passing places are limited and so you may either have to go at the pace of the car in front, or possibly feel pressured to move more quickly due to a queue building up behind you.

Finally, we saw very little on the last couple of miles and nothing at all that we hadn't seen dozens of before - obviously this is nobody's fault as it's wildlife that will come and go as it wants, but be prepared for the kids to get a bit bored for the last 20 or so minutes.

Overall, well worth a visit provided that you are prepared to be a bit patient - the wildlife on the first half in particular is well worth the drive.

A relaxing drive with great views of the lake and the wildlife. Plenty of alligator sightings and all of the birds. A relaxing way to spend an afternoon. It's free, too.

How often do you get to do ANYTHING anymore that is free. I love nature so this was right up my alley. We drove this wildlife trail on a Sunday afternoon, so there were quite a few cars on the trail, but we were taking our time, and it seems everyone else was too, and there are plenty of pull off areas to park.. Beautiful birds and PLENTY of alligators to see along the way. A nice way to spend an afternoon. We plan to return when we visit Florida in the coming years.

Driving around the trail allows you to see all the wildlife of florida in airconditioned comfort plus it doesn't cost a penny as one of only things Florida has to offer for free you will see gators frogs turtles and all types of birds if lucky snakes and large cats but be aware it has limited opening not open every day so check first but amazing way to spend a couple hours

Best Time to see Alligators is nesting season may-aug, you can see all kinds of wild life.plenty of pull off. got out of the car a few spots to get some great pics of soft shell turtle, and of few other wild life. the speed limit is 10 mph. open from sunrise to sunset.

Absolutely amazing! A wonderful experience for seeing many alligators up-close in their natural habitat from the safety of your car. Multiple opportunities for taking pictures of birds, ducks, and turtles, too. We all enjoyed this unique experience. "Good place -- definitely go to it," commented our grand-daughter.

We spent over 2 hours covering the 11 mile route and every twist and turn presented a new and awe inspiring sight. To be able to get so close to alligators in their natural habitat is amazing, and the variety of birds and other wildlife all for free is not to be missed.
You can travel at your own pace and do not have to go with the flow if you want to stop and stare.

Those that appreciate different varieties of birds will be in 5heir element.

We love coming to this wildlife trail, we go just about every weekend. It's only open Friday thru Sunday and certain holidays thru the year. I wish it was open Thursday thru Monday to have 2 extra days to go but I still love it anyways. You always see beautiful birds out there and GATORS!! We always count to see how many gators we see on each visit to see if we beat the number we saw from the last time we went. Some people have reported seeing bobcats and coyotes out here but we haven't seen them yet. We have seen raccoons, otters, big frogs, snakes, crawfish, rabbits out there. We try going at different times of the day. The sunsets are beautiful out there. Always plan to spend about 2 hours going through it. It's awesome out there!!!!

This wild life drive was spectacular. The alligators were plentiful. One huge guy actually crossed the road in front of us. The birds were plentiful even though it was in the middle of the day. Recommend you go in the middle of the week to avoid crowds.

This place is a hidden gem, only open Fri, Sat & Sun but is free to enter, staffed by volunteers who talk you through the route if it is your first time. I would advise taking your time and stopping off regularly to view the nature. We saw so many gators and birds We took food and drinks with us and ate at one of the picnic areas. There are restrooms clearly labelled on the map. Navigating the route was easy and it was easy to find your way back to the main road at the end.

Our old dog can't go for walks anymore, so we put her in the car and took this wildlife drive. It was great! We saw eight gators, osprey, herons, egrets, coots, rails, anhingas... we just took our time and enjoyed the day. The drive is one-way only, and you have to go slow, so make sure you have time to get through before sunset. The road is good. It's a dirt road, but cars can easily handle it.

This place is a well hidden secret. A well kept gravel road takes you on a 2 to 3 hour drive through this wonder of nature. A huge variety of birds, bunnies and not to forget, alligators in every size can be seen without fences in their natural habitat.
There are some porta potties and several pull over spots.

Great drive and to see real Florida wildlife up close was amazing
A must for all those who love wildlife
A change from all hustle and bustle of the theme parks

taken this drive 4 times it is a great place to see different kinds of birds and wild life see many gators along the trail it is a drive thorough with place with pull out so you can get out to look dogs are allowed but must be on leash be careful with dogs as there are lots of gators

Saw more variety of birds and waterfowl than anywhere else ! Plenty of alligators....watch out for families of otters. Narrow unpaved road but had plenty of places to pull over. Remote with no shade so be sure your air conditioning is working. There are 2 seperate areas with relatively clean portable toilets. No running water...bring your own drinks and food and of course your camera! Its also FREE!! Thats something unique for FL!

Excellent observation of fauna throughout the year, a day of walking and relaxation in contact with nature.

Nice relaxing drive through the wildlife trail, seeing the birds, alligators and all the wild flowers, very nice way to spend a couple of hours.

A quiet day, so we thought we would go and have a look at this place as I'd seen it recommended. Really, really enjoyed it. As a photographer back in the UK I was very frustrated I didn't have my camera with me. Some amazing wildlife opportunities. I could spend hours if not days there.

Wonderful wildlife! Bring binoculars. We really enjoyed this journey as did our visiting family. Most want to go again! Go on a warm day to see alligators sunbathing! Bring a camera too!
Not for young children as patience is important and part of the journey!

Lake Apopka offers the opportunity for bird watchers and bird photographers to see and photograph many of Florida’s beautiful birds. Although I was able to spend only a few hours there early one morning, great blue herons, egrets and little blue herons made appearances only steps from the road. The beauty of this site is that the wildlife trail/road is easy to drive, and the location of the trail is within 20-30 minutes of Orlando.

I stumbled upon a reference to this wildlife trail on a Reddit thread and am very glad I did. As the lady on the gate said, there aren’t many free things to do in Central Florida :). A trip here will take you a couple of hours but you could spend longer; you drive slowly, up to 10mph, and there are points where you can park and get out (and you can easily get out for a quick photo if there is nothing behind you). We saw lots of gators and birds and a couple of turtles in a gorgeous wetland environment. My only regret is that at one point on the circuit you can go north or west - do NOT go west, it is basically a short cut to the exit (it’s our fault, if we’d looked at the map a few more seconds we’d have seen that there were points on the audio tour - which we weren’t using due to not having data - on the north route and none on the west). Not a total disaster because we’d got a load of great photos before that point anyway, and we did see a large turtle on the west route, but I wouldn’t want others making the same mistake.

The trail operated by SJRWMD is a gem and appears to be a well-kept secret. The wildlife is incredible on this 11 mile, meandering road trip along the northern edge of Lake Apopka through the preserve and conservatory. The audio tour was great. A truly incredible, no-cost wilderness adventure and restoration clean-up project. To see the improvement since the 60s as a child who once lived on the lake's edge is amazing and we hope to be able to see further improvements in the next 20 years.

It was an amazing drive. Its a bit tricky to get to - my older GPS had a bit of trouble finding it and had to backtrack. First half was better for viewing - the right side of the car is where the action is. Tons of gators and various birds. I am excited to see it in the various seasons. Drivers were respectful and plenty of pass points along the route. The audio tour was about how they are cleaning up the pesticides and area, so informative. Your car does get dusty as this is a gravel-like road. Best thing is that it is free.

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a real hidden gem for visitors to Orlando. If you have a rental car I would strongly suggest you consider this. My boys and I did it and loved it. The drive is only open on Friday to Sunday and it’s free. It took us around 30 to 40 minutes to get there from our Orlando hotel. The wildlife on offer is abundant and we stopped counting the gator sightings after 50. Saw many species of turtles and amazing birdlife. The actual wildlife drive took around an hour. Watch out for gators before getting out of your car though.

Loved this! A great way to see nature at its best. Gators and birds were everywhere. We even got out and walked for a bit on a trail. Need to get there early and be patient with other vehicles. Staff at the main gate was very helpful and friendly. Only open on Friday,Saturday and sundsys. Will return again next year.

If you want to see beautiful wildlife lots of gators in birds, then this is for you! I took breathtaking photos of the a storm building in the distance with birds in the trees, which could be framed. The whole family could see this to learn about Florida wildlife.

Been here twice now, great place to see birds and gators, although not as many gator this time as we saw in April. Weather was a little too hot in April to walk any distance so was nice to be able to explore more on foot this time. Fantastic place to visit if you have trouble walking as you can get up close to wildlife without leaving your vehicle.

A great place to see Florida with no cost. It was a nice nature ride with hiking trails. Make sure you bring drinks because there is no food or drink facilities.

I love to spend a morning driving through the wetlands at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. It opens at sunrise and closes at sundown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Great opportunities for photography. I think Friday is the best day because there are fewwer visitors

The Wildlife Drive is a one-way drive on narrow former farm roads built on top of levees through this amazing habitat in restoration. "In restoration" does not convey the fantastic breadth of wildlife, especially birds, you will see here. Only open on Fri, Sat and Sun, and the "in" gate closes 1 hour before sunset. However, you'll want to allow 2 hours to see it all. Bring your binoculars and a bird book/app. The kids will love the gator sightings - some of them enormous. I went with a friend, we were mesmerized. I will bring all my visitors here in future.

My wife and I took this drive recently What a great view of the different birds and alligators. Be sure to access the audio to learn the history of the trail. Highly recommend this!

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a really awesome (and free) way to explore Florida wildlife. Saw lots of wildlife, birds, and alligators on our drive through.Take your time, pull off. Bring your cameras and binoculars. It was a really great experience.

I was very happy during our visit to this great Reserve. We learned a lot from the Audio Tour and we had the chance to spot many gators from different sizes and we even saw one chasing down a bird. The amount of beautiful birds species was amazing and if you drive with you car windows down you can enjoy the beautiful sound of the birds singing. It was an amazing experience and the best thing is that it is Free!

This is a great drive in a car.if you like to mountain bike, you can park at Magnolia Park and ride as much as 40 miles. Most of the bike trails are NOT shared with cars. You don’t see as many animals on the bike trails, but it is a worthwhile ride. Roads are well signed. The road surface is uneven rock in most places. It is quite a bumpy ride. Best for hybrid or mountain bike.

It’s free, so it’s worth about that much. The first 3 miles are fun and exciting, then it’s just the same thing for the next 8 miles. It might have been better if the car ahead of us didn’t drive 3-miles per hour for all of it. I’m not sure why they had to drive that slow as nothing changed for miles and miles. Some people apparently have nothing better to do than get in other people’s way. Anyway, have at least 2 hours to spare for this - maybe more if the jerk in front of you feels like driving slow.

A very good wildlife trail to walk or cycle (alligators permitting).
We were here n February 6th on a nice sunny, hot day. We entered at Lust Rd. off 429 and parked in the lot near the gate stopping vehicles from entering the trail.
The trail is well maintained and marked. You will see numerous birds, turtles, and lots of alligators in the water (and one on the pathway). Lots of pictures to be had. The are intermittent kiosks along the way for rest, shade and port a potties (clean).
Lots of bicyclists but the trail is quite wide and there are no issues. Everyone we saw on foot and cycle were friendly and we had a great walk with beautiful scenery. Eventually we came upon an alligator sunning itself on the edge of the trail. Cyclists were going around him and they didn't bother each other, however we decided that discretion was the better part of valour and turned back at this point - LOL!
A great trail and well worth a visit. Easy to get to and to access.

I decided to try this drive after reading so many great reviews about it on trip advisor and I'm glad I did! It's free and a great way to see so many varieties of birds and different types of wildlife in their natural habitat. It is only open Friday through sunday, sunrise to an hour before sunset. The drive is a one way trail with a 10 mph speed limit and plenty of pull off areas to stop and observe or take pictures while allowing other vehicles to pass. I would highly recommend this drive.

11 miles of wetlands and some prairie
Excellent habitats with well maintain trails
Keep close eye on gators
There are multiple places to pull over and enjoy the views
Bring mosquitos repellent good hat and lots of water there is no great deal of shelter
So umbrella handy
There are bathrooms by pump building
Def need car to visit
It is great birding

We really enjoyed our drive on the wildlife trail. It was busier than we expected as it was a perfect day for alligator viewing. We were there for the birds and we weren't disappointed. As others have said it is only open Fri-Sun. There is a guide that you can listen to on your phone that explains the development of the area and how it is maintained. Kudos to those responsible for the development of this area.

This is a wonderful way to view local wildlife, including hundreds of birds and dozens of alligators. The road is well maintained and there is usually plenty of space to pass those that choose to stop. We stopped a number of times to view some of the gators up close. It's a beautiful, peaceful, and serene location not far from downtown Orlando that's packed with wildlife. I read other reviews complaining about traffic jams but we went on a Saturday and saw just a few dozen other cars during our visit. We will go back there whenever we are in the area.

This is a must see. It is only open on Fri-Sat-Sun and we went right when they opened shortly after sun up.

Absolute must for wildlife enthusiasts.
Check opening hours .
Well laid out trail with parking areas to pullover to avoid holding up traffic

Went with three out of town relatives. Its a slow 11 mile drive. The part that impressed me was the wixe expanses of wet lands with flowers. It was surreal at times and so peaceful. Of course, its also fun to see the critters, birds, and alligators.

I started at the North Shore Trailhead and the first 1.8 mile is shallow wetlands with many ducks, herons, and others. I then went east and saw an alligator. There are 4 official entrances.

2803 Lust Road, Apopka, FL is the start of the Wildlife Drive Entrance and is one way exiting onto Duda Road near Hwy 441.

For hikers, bikers, and horse riders there is much more area to travel but you'll have to backtrack to get out because the much of the area doesn't loop. The North Shore Trailhead has plenty of room for horse trailers. The entire area is wetlands but at this time of the year I didn't have any issue with bugs (Feb.). It was nice and quiet during my 2 hours I saw 2 people on bicycles.

I believe the historic pump house is the only place you will find restrooms. Remember to bring water, and check the forecast.

The area is part of the St. Johns River Water Management District and they have a website with the trail guides. Also free trail guide maps at the official trailheads, but on busy weekends who knows.

We wanted to escape the madness of the parks for the day and see another side of Florida so set about on this wonderful, wildlife drive!
It was absolutely wonderful seeing so many animals in their natural habitats.
Would absolutely recommend doing it. The drive says it takes 1 - 3 hours. You do end up driving slowly as you don’t want to miss anything but I’d say it took us just over an hour. Take water as we forgot!! There are toilets on the route.
We followed the drive by lunch in the nearby town Winter Gardens .... a beautiful little place with lots of cafes and restaurants. A must is the old fashioned ice cream store “Scoops”.

We enjoyed the leisurely drive on the trail by Lake Apopka. We saw alligators, raccoons and a wide variety of birds and water fowl. We took a lot of pictures and really appreciated the air conditioning in the car. We'll be going again during the cooler weather. Great for all ages.

Have been a couple times. Saw Massive gators, but not anything else. Well, birds. : ( I know they are there, but if you can't sit all day waiting to catch something, then just enjoy the drive and sunset.

We had such an amazing time at this experience! We decided the morning of to hop in the car and head over to this driving trail and hope to see some alligators up close from the safety from our car — this is exactly what we got on this trip.After a few days at a very packed Universal Studios - this was a great refuge to get away from the crowds and experience some REAL Florida!

We hoped to find alligators but little did we realize how the other wildlife in the area would make us smile as well. We got to see amazing birds, turtles, fish and plenty of alligators.

The area that the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail sits on is an environmental success story that you get to hear if you listen to the audio tour along the way.

One tip — we got hung up trying to get to the correct entrance. Several of the access roads to get to the entrance seem to cause Google Maps to get confused. We had a difficult time finding right route so make sure you know where the driving trail entrance is before you go 30 minutes out of the way to the wrong entrance!

We enjoyed this drive very much and we will do it again as we need to drive the alternate routed to the ones we chose this time. We saw quite a few alligators and birds, but no turtles. Turtles next time :) Take your time, sit and watch along the way. Definitely one of our favorite wildlife experiences.

If you're sick of the touristy way of seeing alligators in Florida, try the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail. It's a bit of a drive from Orlando and environs, but if you can get the kids in the car, they will enjoy old-fashioned alligator sightings. All our kids only had their cell phones out to take pictures and the rest of the time, they were busy looking for wildlife. We saw many alligators. No one wrestling with them for entertainment or anything like that or feeding them chickens or anything, but they way they were meant to be seen. This is a long, quiet road where you will only see a few other vehicles and some bird watchers, but it's well worth out. Oh by the way, did I mention it was free?

There are 2 places to see wildlife, the one I am going to review is the one open 24/7 just outside of the city of Winter Garden. The trial you drive is another location on the other side of the lake open limited hours. This place is wonderful! You can walk along the lake and see all kinds of wildlife. We saw several alligators of varied sizes, turtles, and birds galore. There were even a few squirrel in the park. Great place to come boating, fishing, or bring a picnic. There are restrooms and a small park for the kiddos to slide down a slide etc. Many sat on the grass and had a picnic lunch. If you enjoy seeing the wildlife in their natural place this it it. Not far from the parks this is free and a great place to balance out your trip. We saw SO MANY animals and listening to the birds was awesome. This was my all-time favorite place to go and just walk and watch the animals. Talked to fishermen on pier. Elevated walkway keeps you above the animals. No fear here. Was safe. Please be sure to clean up after yourselves. Litter is in the lake and not pretty. Thank you.

The manager of our B&B recommended this hidden gem! Hot summer, so touring in ac car was the way to go! Saw some huge gators and the lake scenery was so serene and beautiful. Loved all the birds! You are able to pull over for pictures. Just remember one way in and one way out!

We were traveling with a group of 11 high school students. We had a conference in Orlando and were avoiding any of the theme parks, as some of the students we had with had never seen the ocean, had never been to Florida, had never seen an alligator. SO, we went in search of a place to find alligators at a reasonable price. Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail was THE PERFECT place for finding alligators, at the right price... it was FREE! We had 2 vans of students and between the two vans we saw 48-53 alligators, depending upon which van you ask, many turtles, and lots of birds. We witnessed an alligator nesting, so she was hissing at us...., birds eating fish, alligators eating birds.... it was an all around two thumbs up experience for everyone along.

We wanted to find something that we could safely do during this time of covid so we decided to try the wildlife trail. Be prepared to take your time and enjoy the scenery and animals. We saw many birds and lots of alligators. It was about a 2 hour trip and we stopped and had lunch in our car while watching critters. A great place to visit if you want to see alligators in the wild.

It takes a lot longer than advised because is one lane and some people just stop and take their time. Unfortunately we were on our way to the airport and it was very stressful. Otherwise is a very nice ride.

Only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Nice wildlife drive like you’d expect in a National Wildlife Refuge. Great assortment of birds the slower you go and the longer you stay. Many side routes you can walk.

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail is located on a huge Lake Apopka reclamation project. While taking a leisurely drive along the north shore, one can see a plethora of birds, turtles and alligators. On one of our treks, we saw flamingos, snake birds, rice birds and of course lots of gators. There are also bike trails on the North Shore but we prefer the safety of our car.

I enjoy driving (must drive slow) or riding bikes though the trails. If you are a birder and enjoy wildlife this is a must see.

Take your kids, make a game out of counting certain animals, - always have your camera ready (phone). This drive will take at at least 2 hours,, there is a slow speed limit, but there is also the need to be cautious to others who are trying to take pictures or see a particular bird. Birds and reptiles are often out of your eye site, so being quiet and slow will allow you the opportunity to see what is just out of site.

This was an excellent experience! It took us 3-4 hours to travel the 11 miles from start to finish. We stopped many times along the way to view and photograph wildlife.
We saw a large number of birds in great variety and lots of large alligators.
The ports-potties at the half-way mark we’re a welcome oasis, however, I’d like to see them maintained a little better.
It was a little bumpy and dusty, so don’t start with a freshly polished car!
There is a fork in the road somewhere after the rest stop. It would have been good to expect this in order to know whether to go east or west. We chose the western fork - next time we will choose the eastern one.
Overall, it was a relaxing and educational day. We had a great time!

Last time we were at Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Drive, we saw 10gators, mostly good size. Seeing them in their natural element was great. Birds are the main attraction here. We saw many different kinds of cranes and some herons. The Great Blue Herons are huge. In the past we have seen a bobcat, Osprey, large turtles, and a huge gator who had to have been 14ft. The best thing about it is you can see in from your car, on bicycle or walking. If you are a wildlife lover, you will love it here.

Beautiful natural drive with hundreds of birds. We easily saw a dozen gators from small to humongous! Took tons of pictures!

We enjoyed the Wildlife Trail. We saw lots of wading birds, ducks, osprey and aligators. We went twice on Friday and then again Saturday morning.Was hoping to see a bobcat, coyote or raccoon.

I have never seen so many interesting birds so close for viewing from your car although you'll want to get out of the car and walk along the road because there is so much to see. While these birds aren't exotic to those who live in Florida, for anyone from the North, there are surprises wherever you look - Common Gallinule, Sora, in addition to many herons, grebes, warblers, kingfisher and perhaps a flock of ducks overhead. We watched a great blue heron catch and then attempt to eat a small catfish all without the need for binoculars. Oh and yes, there are lots of gators sunning along the water. This is a "must see and experience" place.

Great place to view Florida wildlife without ever getting out of your vehicle. The first half of the drive is the best! Lots of birds, gators, etc. Best of all, it’s FREE!! Open 7am to 3pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 11 mile tour, with a 10 mph speed limit. There are a couple of spots that have portable toilets along the way.

I highly recommend this wildlife tour! It’s a true Florida habitat where you see several different types of birds and many crocodiles too! Allow yourself a couple of hours to drive slow and take it all in! And definitely tune in to listen to the audio tour, some interesting information about the area!

I never really knew about this park until hearing about it on social media. Over the weekend decided to drive up and check it out. Absolutely loved it. Tons of different types of wildlife to see from different species of birds, mammals and gators galore along the drive. Tons of photo opportunities along the drive with areas you can stop at. If you like that kind of thing highly recommend it!

Saw lots of wildlife....bring drinks and water....great experience.
The dive is slow and has many places to stop and take photos.
Only one stop with restrooms however.

This 11-mile long road is open only on weekends, from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. We visited on an afternoon, and again in the early morning. The morning visit was outstanding- for most of the drive the sun is behind you, making for good photo opportunities. The only problem we encountered is that some drivers stop outside of marked pull outs, and stay there for an extended time, con tray to the posted rules.

A fabulous way for the whole family to experience the real Florida. The dirt, car accessible trail takes you through Lake Apopka's shore line, back water and wetlands areas. The trail is long and at the required SLOW speed, will take you a good hour and a half to two hours, especially if you stop along the way. Once you start, you are not allowed to turn around, so unless you have the time, don't even attempt it. You will definitely see numerous alligators, all sorts of water birds and possible coyote, fox, and bob cat sightings. There are porta-potties about half way through the drive and picnic tables overlooking Lake Apopka. Be sure to take a camera, waters and snacks or possible lunch to enjoy. This is an amazing drive!

Visited December 20, 2019, with my sister who loves to bird. I learned so very much and was thrilled to see so many amazing birds, as well as huge alligators. Come prepared with binoculars, a good bird guide like Sibley's Eastern Birds, and a camera. Make sure to allow plenty of time to enjoy the treasures, and also have munchies and beverages, since the drive is one-way and can take several hours if you stop and start a lot, which you will want to do. Also, get there first thing in the morning.

Some of the birds we saw were great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, little blue herons, tri-colored herons, anhingas, bald eagles, ospreys, hawks, fulvous whistling ducks, double-crested cormorants, blue-winged teals, mottled ducks, grebes, coots, white ibis, and common gallinules! We also saw several American alligators including a juvenile--all from a distance thankfully!

This is probably the most memorable part of my trip to Florida!

This was an amazing way of seeing the wild life around Lake Apopka. We had intended to walk around the trail but it was such a hot day, thankfully we spoke to a park ranger who suggested the drive. I loved this and it's free all you need is mobile data and listen to the audio tour while driving around, just keep track through the numbered signs. You'll definitely going to see plenty of birds and gators. Amazing! One for all the family.

Decided to visit after reading earlier reviews, it is definitely worth a visit a really natural place not one bit of commercialism anywhere.
Managed to see about 30 alligators lots of bird species and turtles. It's great fun spotting the alligators lurking just below the water.
Only criticism is when you leave no sign to say what road you are on or any place name directions, not being a local felt a bit lost.

A truly hidden gem. Friends recommended this wildlife area to us. 5 people were in our truck. The 12 mile driving tour exceeded our expectations. Speed limit is 10 MPH on a packed sand road with numerous pullouts. We saw 40 alligators. The smallest looked to be 1’. The largest I would guess to be 12’. I can’t imagine how many we missed. Go on a warm day otherwise you may not see the alligators. Several species of birds were too numerous to count. A photographers paradise. Halfway through our drive there was a viewing area that had some porta johns. A beautiful area that is worth the trip. The tour is free.

When I say slow I mean 5-10 mph kind of slow. If you do then you will see all manner of wildlife. Birds, turtles and gators line this trail. There are so many varieties of birds you any find some that you have never see before. Plan on this tour taking an hour. Any quicker and you are certain to miss something

We took family from Seattle who wanted to see gators and boy they weren't disappointed! Saw 28 gators and lots of birds. It was sunny and warm and the gators were loving it as was the family! Take a good hour and a half to drive slowly through the tour.

Never seen so much wildlife in one place! If you are a nature nut like me and love photography too.....you will be in heaven. The herons and waterfowl are endless. We saw so many species, not to mention the alligators. We caught a heron on camera bringing in a snake to consume and got some incredible shots. I could have spent multiple days at this place if I had the chance. Truly a great place to drive thru, this is a gravel road suitable for any automobile. 11 miles doesn't seem long enough when you are having a great time!! Only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

A true Florida gem and its free which is something very rare these days. We enjoyed some outstanding natural Florida wildlife. Not crowded and very relaxing.

Amazing place! Some of the biggest alligators in Florida. More native shorebirds than you ever realized existed!

We saw so many birds. We saw well over 100 alligators. We quit counting at 100. Some were even in the road.
We didn't even take the 2 cutoffs. I loved the wild elephant ear plants, water lettuce and water hycianths growing in the water areas. Very beautiful. We plan on going again when visiting daughter in Orlando. A photographers paradise. I highly recommend that you slow down and enjoy. So much to see.

This was a pleasant surprise. Thought we were going on a nurture walk and it turned out to be the best drive. We were able to see over 50 alligators and many birds. The audio tour was an added bonus as well. We opted to stay in the car and drive while others walked. Amazing experience!

We love this wildlife drive (my husband especially as it is a drive so he does't have to walk).
Always lots of variety of birds and aligators etc to be seen. It is a one way drive which is only open Friday through Sunday and is very popular.
We had an eventful drive during our last visit when there was a bad storm - dark skies, lightening flashing all around and torrential rain. This sent everyone heading for the exit. We were in a line of cars which suddenly stopped and word went down the line that lightening had taken out the electrics of the lead car and it wouldn't go. A few people walked down the line and helped push it to one side, to allow others to pass. Two guys stood at the water's edge to stop cars driving too far down and into the water.
When we returned the next morning for a repeat drive through, the car had gone, obviously rescued.

So good we did it twice!

1st lap, we saw 30+ gators and many other things, but who cares, it was all about the gators for us.

2nd lap, most of them must’ve been hungry or bored as only saw around 10, but still awesome to see these prehistoric beasts in heir own backyard.

I experienced this wonderful place on a bicycle and in a car. The bike was more up-close and personal but the car was nice too. I started my bike tour from Magnolia Park where I parked my car and hit the trail. The trail is clearly marked and runs for about 5-6 miles along the shore of lake Apopka. I got up-close to an 8ft gator along with many birds and even a huge otter. A week later my wife and I took the car and seen many gators along with all kinds of wildlife. I never realized this kind of preserve was so close to Clermont/Orlando. We will do this again with visiting guests from the North Country.

Great drive. Allow plenty of time to take it all in. It will take about 2 hours. This is Florida. It is free. So much wildlife. Drive slow so you can take it all in. There are plenty of places to pull off and take it all in. Am planning on going again.

If you’re looking for something to do Apopka wildlife is it, it makes you feel like all Florida used to be.
Tranquil, scenic, amazing views of wildlife and nature in general. Just seeing the alligators in natural environment is a site to see. I highly recommend if you have a few hours

My friend and I drove through the one-way road at the end of July, hoping to see some animals, and this drive did not disappoint! We saw so many different kinds of birds and some alligators, too. We would have stepped out of our car more, but we didn't enjoy the bugs. It was a beautiful morning until the pouring rain towards the end of the drive made it hard to see. Coming from California, it was a nice little place to see the beauty of Florida without the crowds and theme parks.

Great chance to see an amazing array of Wildlife at your own pace. We saw around 40 gators, turtles and lots of beautiful birds too. The guide upon arrival was also really friendly and helpful.

Lake Apopka wildlife drive is a one-way 11 mile drive. It is a beautiful place for seeing nature! Its a bird lovers paradise with gators galore! Plan to spend 1-2 hours cause you'll want to stop and take pictures!

If you're at all into wildlife and nature, this is a must-do in central Florida. We're keen birdwatchers, so this was right up our alley, but had a non-birding friend in the back seat who also had a great time.

Take it slow and just soak everything in.

We were taken here by some friends who live locally otherwise we would never have heard or found it. The trail is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and it not that well signposted if you want to drive it. The trail is a one way dirt track that is just over 11 miles long and goes along the canals and swampland on the north side of Lake Apopka. It is a Mecca for wildlife, particularly birds and is of course full of Aligators. On our trip we must have seen over 40 including a nest of about 10 baby Aligators. The biggest looked over 10 feet long. Our friends were disappointed we had seen so few !!!! For us it was just amazing to see Ospreys skimming across the canals and catching fish with their talons.Besides the driving trail there are lots of areas where you can cycle or hike. The drive has only been open about a year and does not seem to be well known. We only saw a few other cars and though there are passing spaces along the trail you could get stuck behind other vehicles if it were very busy. We spent just over 2 hours driving the 11 miles including we getting out of the car to get closer to some of the birds (not the Aligators) and were so glad we were taken there. A lovely way to spend an afternoon and a must if you enjoy wildlife. If you have binoculars -- take them !!!!!

Bring your big cameras and make sure to allow plenty of time. You are pretty much guaranteed to see alligators, plenty of birds and just gorgeous nature scenery for miles.

Lovely drive with wonderfl and plentiful variety of birds. The landscape is worth the ride and the birds put on a dazzling show.

Just love Lake Apopka wildlife drive.
There is just so much to see ,it’s different each time .
Where else can a visitor see so much wildlife .
Love the stopping points to just soak it all in and allow other cars to pass.
We took all the the trail and it was around a 2 hour drive ,delighted to see so many children soaking up the experience watching out sunroofs.

LAWT is a nature lovers hidden treasure. The trail is about 11 miles long and you drive through the park. There are many varieties of flora & fauna and will reward the discerning observer with many beautiful pictures & memories. There are many unique spots to stop and explore the area. The Lake Apopka pump house is a very nice spot to get in some history and see some real nice wildlife including the beautiful Florida Alligator. This trail, because it is a drive through trail, is great for all ages. Come out to the trail, you will love it!

I went on this 11 mile drive on a 95 degree August day in an air-conditioned car. While the best time of year for birding at this location is reportedly winter, due to the number of birds and variety of species, I had an excellent experience on a mid-day drive in the summer. On this visit I was able to count 190 birds of 16 species. The summer drive was quite different from the winter drive, because of the extensive growth of marshy plants, about 6-10 feet high along the canals. In a way, this was easier for a newer birder, because the visible birds were very close and easier to identify without the use of binoculars. The drive is one-way, on a well-maintained white gravel path. I spent 2 1/2 hours driving through, with just a few stops for more detailed viewing. There is one restroom stop at the pump house with portables. One drawback is that once you start the drive at 10 mph or less, there is no option to end the trip prior to the end at 11 miles. In the future, I will try to visit once each season, because of the seasonal variation. On this trip, I had many, many chances to see juvenile common gallinules (about 40, clustered with with adults). I was also able to identify juvenile little blue herons (white). While the very best birding experience is close to sunrise or sunset, I was very satisfied with my mid-day visit. The drive is open only on Friday, Sat & Sunday. It was very uncrowded when I visited.

My sister in law found this area looking at a map. Great find!! Birding was very good and many photo ops! It's now on our must go to places when in FL. Not sure why it's not open every day!

This is a wildlife viewing drive-through trail and my sister and her family who have lived in the area for 20 years had not heard of it. We were visiting over the Fourth and looking for more nature stuff to do (we'd walked the Oakland Nature Preserve Trail in Winter Garden the previous day and loved the experience--it's on the south side of Lake Apopka). Just happened upon this place. WOW!! I'd have booked a flight just to get to see it--seriously, that good. Saw more birds here than I have ever seen in my life! Alligators in the drainage ditches (they resemble well-tended canals in the Netherlands...). Why is this place not on everyone's radar??? OK by me, because it was like paradise. I'm gushing, I know. But the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail beats an afternoon at Disney ANY DAY.

Great place to see a really wide range of birds and other wildlife. Take your time and keep your eyes peeled! Stop and pick up a map and leaflet at the entry. We saw many kinds of birds, gators and turtles. We stopped off part way round at the historic pumphouse and took a short walk along the trail. There are restrooms available and covered picnic tables overlooking the lake. Entry is free and it too us a few hours as we were going mega slow!