6 Top Florida Lakes for Lakefront Living

Florida’s not just a Sunshine State; it’s a waterfront state. But don’t limit yourself to the beach for waterfront living. Florida flaunts an impressive count of 30,000-plus lakes scattered across its peninsula, covering over 3 million acres of land. Ranging from retention ponds to the colossal Lake Okeechobee, this state is truly a haven for those who long for the calm of lakeside living.

From spring-fed to dam-created, how do you decide which lakes are the best for lakefront living in Florida? No doubt it’s a tough choice, but here are a few at the top of the list. 

Lake Okeechobee

We can’t exclude the obvious choice, the state’s largest lake at 448,000 acres: Lake Okeechobee. With its sprawling size, clear water, and a glut of recreational activities, this lake is truly a boater’s paradise. 

Lake Okeechobee is a natural lake, although today, it’s surrounded by a manmade levee. It’s actually a shallow inland sea with an average depth of 12-15 feet. The Kissimmee River feeds the lake to the north, and its waters are released into the Indian River and Caloosahatchee.

The name is from the Seminole language meaning “Big Water.” The earthen wall you see today was built after a 1928 hurricane flooded the lake and created a massive inland storm surge that covered around 75 miles and killed at least 2,500 people in the nation’s second-deadliest hurricane. 

The whole lake has prime fishing, with top catches including largemouth bass and speckled perch. It has some of the best bird-watching in the state. 

Much of the waterfront is still rustic because of the levee, which means actual lakefront living isn’t really a thing. But you can live nearby and have fast access to the lake waters for your day of fun. Towns on the lakefront include Pahokee, Canal Point, Taylor Creek, Okeechobee, and Lewiston. And you are still within a day’s drive of top Florida destinations, like the Atlantic seafront from Fort Lauderdale to Miami.

Winter Haven Chain of Lakes

One unique Florida feature is how many lakes are interconnected, whether through natural or manmade canals and inlets. The Winter Haven Chain of Lakes is one such interconnected chain of lakes. 

Located–you guessed it– in the city of Winter Haven, seven lakes are part of the landscape, including lakes Rochelle, Echo, Hamilton, and Connie. The lakes are fed by the Florida Aquifer and are the headwaters for the Peace River.

Those who live on the waterfront can take their boat to a lakefront restaurant after a day at their favorite fishing hole. The chain includes two lakes suitable for skiing and tubing. The area has been called the “water skiing capital of Florida.”

For those that like to cast a reel, the prime fish species in the chain are largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. 

Whether looking for that perfect fishing spot or an evening sunset view from your backyard porch swing, you’ll have plenty of places to look for lakefront property in a peaceful yet urban setting. Winter Haven has many luxurious and unique homes in a community with highly-rated schools. And, as part of the Orlando metro, residents gain a thriving dining scene and many cultural attractions. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most desirable places to live in Florida. 

Lake Tohopekaliga

Winter Haven isn’t the only central Florida area with great lakefront living. Just south of Orlando, near Kissimmee, lies Lake Tohopekaliga, or “Lake Toho” for short. The 23,000-acre lake is the seventh largest in Florida but is shallow, with an average depth of 13 feet.

The dam-controlled Lake Toho has been a popular fishing spot for years and is well-known for its monster bass. Field and Stream Magazine named it one of the top 10 best places to fish in North America in 2006. 

The lake is mostly surrounded by parkland and conservation areas, but the town of Kissimmee is directly lakefront on the northern end, and there are residential developments on the western side. This makes it easy for residents to explore nearby lakes and waterways without leaving their boat at home. 

In multiple areas along the lake are parks that include boating access, a scenic biking trail, and picnic areas.

Kissimmee has some great options for luxury-style waterfront living and plenty of access to amenities. For instance, the Walt Disney Resorts are about half an hour away. So residents gain all the entertainment perks of living near Orlando but with the slower, more peaceful life of living next to Lake Tohopekaliga.

Lake Griffin

Just north of Orlando, in the small town of Leesburg, you can live next to Lake Griffin. This 8,000-acre lake is the southernmost in the Harris Chain of Lakes, which feeds the Ocklawaha River and the St. Johns River. It’s an extensive system that includes 14 lakes, two rivers, and three canals. 

Griffin is connected to Lake Eustis, Harris, and Dora. Locks on the southern and northern ends help boaters navigate the chain to reach destinations like Silver Spring. The lock also controls the lake’s water levels.

The lake has a more rural vibe than some other lakes in the chain, like Mount Dora, but the upside is it has some of the best freshwater fishing spots in the area. It’s deep enough for skiing, at an average of 51-65 feet, but there are plenty of shallow sites with good bass fishing attractors, too. 

Despite its rural nature and multiple lakefront nature preserves, there are lakefront developments on the shoreline in Leesburg–including a lakefront golf course community! Living in Leesburg delivers small-town living, but residents have multiple nearby attractions about an hour away in Orlando. And its location on I-75 makes it easy to travel to Gainesville or the Tampa Bay Area.

Lake Tarpon

Considered Pinellas County’s best lake for bass fishing, Lake Tarpon is a hidden gem in a dense metro area. This 2,500-acre lake is relatively small compared to other Florida lakes on this list. However, its sixteen miles in length still deliver big on fun water activities and lakefront living. 

The area around the lake is as scenic as it gets, with cypress trees, cattails, and plenty of wildlife. The top catches are largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. 

Lakefront living around Lake Tarpon is still relatively affordable compared to other urban parts of Florida. Expect to find some great deals for luxurious homes on the water. As a bonus, locals live under an hour from the nationally recognized beaches in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. And the Tampa Bay waterfront and the metro are also an hour’s drive away. 

As an urban lakefront, families live close to a few of the area’s top schools and shopping areas in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. It’s a balanced combination of modern city living with a charming lakeside retreat.

Lake Apopka

Lake Apopka, in the Orlando metro area near Ocoee, is the fifth largest lake in Florida. The haven for nature lovers is spring and rain-fed, with its waters forming the Ocklawaha River headwaters and Chain of Lakes. 

The shoreline of this 11,000-acre lake is home to some of the most beautiful wildlife in Florida, with more than 200 species of birds and 230 kinds of fish. It’s one of the top places to go bass fishing, but you’ll find plenty of bluegill and black crappie, too.

The northern end is protected by a nature preserve, which helps provide vital habitat for migratory birds and native wildlife. But residents of the communities along southern Lake Apopka enjoy the lake’s natural beauty and its wildlife, as well as easy access to some of the Orlando area’s best parks, schools, and shopping centers. 

In terms of protected spaces, Magnolia Park facilities include a boat launch, a paddleboard rental facility, and walking trails. The Oakland Nature Preserve allows visitors to explore some of the area’s unique wildlife along its boardwalks and observation tower. And a 17-mile trail loops around the lake, perfect for a scenic bike ride or a challenging run.

Living near Lake Apopka is like living in two worlds at once: the peaceful world of the lake and the urban world just beyond its shoreline. 

Find Florida lakefront living

This small sampling of Florida’s lakefront living shows there is a lifestyle for everyone, from lakes in the heart of a city to more rustic lakefront getaways. You’ll have plenty of options when looking for your ideal lakefront property in Florida. The hardest decision is whether you want to prioritize fishing, water sports, or scenic views! And you can pretty much pick any part of the state and find a nearby lake.