Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Lake Okeechobee and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1 within 5 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
105 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
23
Average
14
Poor
6
Terrible
12
MoverShakerUSA
Los Angeles, CA368 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
We took a day trip up to see the lake this past weekend. But after driving the south half of the lake you learn that the lake is elevated (like two stories higher than the road!) So we drove for hours & did not even see water! It’s like seeing a large earthen dam for miles with no access. You learn that the lake is about watering the crops south of the lake & not about recreation. If you are going to fish then pre-book your guide because we didn’t see any guide services in any of the towns. I wouldn’t attempt without a guide to show you how to access the lake. Lastly, around the lake are lots of old fashion companies with smoke stacks churning smoke which it the only real scenery in the south part of the lake. You have been warned.
Written 4 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria Q
Miami, FL515 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
This was a very disappointing experience. We expected much more than a very large body of water. We arrived at the Okeechobee park and found just a pier and some public bathrooms. That’s it!
I kept thinking we were missing something so we asked some of the locals and they could not point us to anything we could go to to see more of the lake.
We were just passing through from a much longer trip to Georgia so we just went to dinner and back to the hotel to sleep and go home.
I have heard there is good fishing at the lake but if that is not your thing, there is not much else here that we could find.
Not a repeat.
I kept thinking we were missing something so we asked some of the locals and they could not point us to anything we could go to to see more of the lake.
We were just passing through from a much longer trip to Georgia so we just went to dinner and back to the hotel to sleep and go home.
I have heard there is good fishing at the lake but if that is not your thing, there is not much else here that we could find.
Not a repeat.
Written 23 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drew d
2 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
Great fishing trip! Me and my friend caught a personal best bass. We caught more fish in 2 days than we previously did in our entire lives. Thanks to Mike for hooking us up with captain Ryan and Captain Randy
Written 6 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosemarie S
16 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
I was told not to go to lake okeechobee, that there was nothing there to see. I'm glad I ignored that advice. Sunsets at the lake are beyond beautiful! And dinners at Lightseys was one of the best.
A must see if you've never been there!
A must see if you've never been there!
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ladydi722
Norfolk, NY1 contribution
Apr 2014 • Couples
Lake Okeechobee was beautiful, great fishing, lousy guide service! My husbands dream was to fish this lake and we looked up guides in the area and most of the professional guides were busy. We decided on Shellen Guide Service, local to the area.It was the worst choice we could have made.
He was very rude to me and very condescending to my husband, who is an avid fisherman here in the northeast. We asked for a full day of fishing and his statement when we pulled away from the dock was ," If were lucky we'll be off the lake at 9"! He charged us a full day and we were done with the fish we bought by 8 am, we left at 6am! Most of the fish were cast out once and then he took them off claiming they were too limp and tossed them in the water.We paid over $120 for these bait fish and he was throwing them overboard as quick as possible to get done and we didn't even get to cast our own line out, he cast them all like we were little children!
He also wanted cash ,no cards and followed us to a nearby ATM to collect his money! His Web page is much better than the service he provides!
I am writing this review so no one else has their life long dream shattered as my husbands was.Find another guide service, this one is unacceptable!
He was very rude to me and very condescending to my husband, who is an avid fisherman here in the northeast. We asked for a full day of fishing and his statement when we pulled away from the dock was ," If were lucky we'll be off the lake at 9"! He charged us a full day and we were done with the fish we bought by 8 am, we left at 6am! Most of the fish were cast out once and then he took them off claiming they were too limp and tossed them in the water.We paid over $120 for these bait fish and he was throwing them overboard as quick as possible to get done and we didn't even get to cast our own line out, he cast them all like we were little children!
He also wanted cash ,no cards and followed us to a nearby ATM to collect his money! His Web page is much better than the service he provides!
I am writing this review so no one else has their life long dream shattered as my husbands was.Find another guide service, this one is unacceptable!
Written 27 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tt153
Naples, FL52 contributions
July 2012 • Couples
We drove up there based upon the representation of the website of the parks department. Very misleading. They fail to tell you that you cannot see the lake except from three points which require you to drive for 30 minutes through a town called Pahokee. All of the scenic points that you see signs for you cannot see the lake from. When they say you can hike around the lake, they really can you can walk on top of the levee and see the canal that was dredged to build the levee. You see nothing but a muddy canal. When we finally reached the point where you could see the lake it was like looking ay a giant mud puddle. We stayed 10 minutes and left. The website says drive through scenic central florida, you see sugar cane and that's all you see. If you have nothing else to do, stay home and read a book.
Written 29 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich M
South Sioux City, NE32 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
We hired Angie for a half day. She sure put us on the fish. But she did all the casting, all the fish removal, all we did was sit there and pull it in. She belittled us for "moving the bobber out of the area SHE had put it" ,"for missing strikes"...for not holding the pole right, not reeling fast enuf, for reeling too fast.... as soon as we ran out of shiners, we pulled up anchor and headed back....barely 3 hours long. But 3 hours was about all the whining we could stand.
Written 26 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandi M
Grayslake, IL29 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We stayed in Okeechobee (the town), in a motel, hoping to drive and walk and enjoy lovely views of the Lake. It didn't happen. The lake is surrounded by a big levee. You can't see anything from the road. There are very limited access points to the trail that runs along the top of the levee. We went to one, which was a boat launch for fishing boats, climbed up to the trail (there was no trail up to the trail, just a worn-down area on the side of the levee), and ... there was pretty much nothing to see but marsh. Way in the distance there might have been open water. We saw an airboat go by on the other side of the levee, also a marsh. It's possible that there are other places along the lake that offer more inviting views, but from the town of Okeechobee it was a huge disappointment.
Written 21 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
qabal
Miami8 contributions
July 2014 • Friends
Lake Okeechobee is surrounded by a large earthen dam that was built as a means to prevent flooding after a hurricane in the 1920's killed some 2500 people. The Lake is huge (you cannot see across it) and is accessible best through Pahokee. In fact, if you are visiting to just view the Lake, go there. Pahokee is small somewhat poor rural community. There is little to do but it has plenty of hospitality. Pahokee boasts a great marina and a lake shore park. There's nothing special to "do", just enjoy magnificent views of the Lake. The best advice is to bring a picnic and sit by the water enjoying the vistas.
If you plan on fishing and have limited time or are unfamiliar with the Lake, do yourself a favor and hire a local excursion at Clewiston, Pahokee, or Okeechobee. Otherwise, you run the risk of being disappointed or frustrated.
Now, if you plan on hiking or bicycling the scenic trail, you should know that you will spend all your time on the dam walking around the lake. However, your views will likely be of the dredge canal from which the dam was made. Having said that visiting in Winter, will also mean you can see many birds. If you expect to be hiking/bicycling around the lake shore with constant views of it, you will be disappointed. If you plan on hiking/bicycling in the Florida wilds with no expectations, you can have a very rich experience.
If you plan on fishing and have limited time or are unfamiliar with the Lake, do yourself a favor and hire a local excursion at Clewiston, Pahokee, or Okeechobee. Otherwise, you run the risk of being disappointed or frustrated.
Now, if you plan on hiking or bicycling the scenic trail, you should know that you will spend all your time on the dam walking around the lake. However, your views will likely be of the dredge canal from which the dam was made. Having said that visiting in Winter, will also mean you can see many birds. If you expect to be hiking/bicycling around the lake shore with constant views of it, you will be disappointed. If you plan on hiking/bicycling in the Florida wilds with no expectations, you can have a very rich experience.
Written 13 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cmoye
Lutz, FL22 contributions
We stayed at Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina in Clewiston FL. There is nothing to do in this town, other than fish. It's a great place if you are looking for a fishing weekend, but that's about it. We were told by some locals that the Tiki Bar at Martins's Marina was the most happening place in town and I think they were right. The Tiki Bar at Martin's was the best part of the entire trip. They had a great band-ADD for the Memorial Day Weekend and the place was packed with tourist and locals. Was not that impressed with Martin's Marina as far as lodging. The pool for the "general guest" was dirty and no bathroom nearby. The pool for the Condo units looked much better, but was told we couldn't use that one since we were staying in one of the new park models. Don't think I'll be returning to Lake Okeechobee anytime soon.
Written 31 May 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
williambryce2017
Houston, Texas
Hi Angie, Thank you for your review of the Everglades and for the pictures. It was awesome. Do you have any pictures of the camping here? Bill
Written 24 June 2017
I want to rake sightseeing trip Aronn lake. Will I find interesting, historical sites, and clean motels. About how many days should I plan.
Written 29 July 2016
Where is the park on the north side of
Lake Okeechobee Where there is an art show this weekend.
Written 2 March 2016
Where did you rent the bicycles?
Written 8 November 2015
Hi,
I'm planning a fishing trip in late July (2015) for my dad. He has never left the Midwest and is headed to see my first home here in Florida. He is a highly skilled fisherman in Iowa/Missouri freshwater rivers and has always dreamed of catching bass at Lake Okeechobee.
I'm looking for reviews and opinions for a fishing guide service. My dad can cast his own line and is a highly proficient angler. Just need someone professional and knowledgeable with a boat, to help in in the area.
I'd appreciate any insight or advice, from those of you who have fished the area before.
Thanks!
Crystal
Written 9 July 2015
richard m
Fayetteville, West Virginia
i am looking for pet friendly accommodations on or near lake okeechobee
Written 13 January 2015
where is a good olace to stay on the lake and also rent a boat
Written 27 December 2014
Showing results 1-8 of 8
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing