Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area(Carney Island)

Located in the city of Ocklawaha in Marion County, Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area is a nature preserve that has an unnamed long beach with beige sand along the northern side of Lake Weir.  There are many kinds of plants near the beach including oak trees, Spanish moss, orange trees, mangrove trees, Australian pine trees, cabbage palm trees, and myrtle oak plants. 

Although Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area does not have lifeguards, it has many other amenities including restrooms, benches, picnic pavilions, picnic tables, playgrounds, boat ramps, and walking trails.  Dogs are not allowed at Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, which is open from 7 am until 8 pm. 

Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area offers many fun activities including biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, picnicking, volleyball, fishing, and wildlife watching.  If you are planning to go in the water near the beach, we recommend you to be careful as the water here is known to have rip currents.  In addition, the visitors can spot many coastal birds around the beach including pelicans, sandpipers, white egrets, great blue herons, and ospreys.  Depending on the time of year, you can also spot dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles in the water near the beach.  If you are planning to fish in the water near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, please make sure that you ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations.

Getting to Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area is easy - the beach’s paid parking lot ($7 per car) is located at 13275 Southeast 115th Avenue and is within walking distance to the beach.  

There are many attractions near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area.   Silver Spring State Park has several springs and the Ocklawaha River, which offer many adventurous activities including glass-bottom boating, hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, camping, and wildlife watching.  In addition, visitors can enjoy tours to the Cracker Village and Silver River Museum which offer exhibits related to geology, paleontology, archaeology, and the natural history of Florida.  Ferran Park is a park on Lake Eustis that offers many amenities including a playground, Mediterranean-style band shell, benches, a gazebo, restrooms, paved walking trails, water fountains, and an electric vehicle charging station.  Visitors to the park can enjoy many fun activities including fishing, kayaking, canoeing, picnicking, and hiking.  If you are looking for another attraction near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, Wilkerson Creek Park & Children’s Playground is a family park that offers many amenities including a playground with slides, pavilions, picnic tables, a barbeque grill facility, and a paved walking trail.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area.  La Cuisine Restaurant is an upscale French restaurant that serves crepes, French toast, seafood, ribs, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, risotto, and desserts - it also serves gluten-free dishes.  Gator Joe's Beach Bar & Grill is a waterfront restaurant that offers light-filled views and serves salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and desserts.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, Los Magueyes Mex Belleview serves amazing Mexican cuisine including salads, burritos, tacos, nachos, enchiladas, quesadillas, pizzas, fajitas, steaks, and seafood.

If you are looking for a hotel near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection is one hour and nineteen minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a spa, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a restaurant, and a modern art gallery that features 150 pieces of art.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Mission Inn Resort & Club, which offers many amenities including a spa, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a golf course, tennis courts, a playground, a shooting range, and several restaurants.  As another moderately priced option, the 3-Star The Waterfront Inn offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a golf course, and a restaurant.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area, the modestly priced 2-Star Holiday Inn Express & Suites the Villages, an IHG hotel, offers a fitness center, a heated outdoor pool, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.