Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park

State park in Sanford, Lake County, Florida

Aerial view of Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Aerial near the address
USDA NAIP via USGS

State park with 62 sites

On the water

From the park's website, Oct 2026

Not yet confirmed by phone. Details can change, so check with the park before you go.

62 sites

0 with water and sewer at the site

Open year-round

All access points open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year; office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

First come: choose any open site when you arrive

Source: Official website

Primitive equestrian camp in a large river preserve near Sanford and Eustis: camping only for people bringing horses, with trailer/RV parking, stalls and corrals, a restroom with shower, and no hookups. Reserved by phone through Wekiwa Springs State Park; not a general RV campground.

What stands out

  • Camping only for visitors bringing horses
  • Stables, paddocks, corrals and a restroom with shower at the Fechtel horse barn
  • 26 miles of multi-use trails through river swamp and pasture
  • No hookups and no drinking water for horses' water supply
  • Phone reservations through Wekiwa Springs State Park, up to 60 days ahead

Sites

Equestrian primitive camp (Fechtel Tract horse barn area)

Hookups
No hookups
Power
Not listed
Pull-through
Not listed
Max length
Not listed
Pad
Not listed

What this place offers

  • Showers
  • River or creek
  • Fishing
  • Hiking trails

What this place offers

  • Showers
  • River or creek
  • Fishing
  • Hiking trails
  • Horse stalls, open paddocks and corrals
  • Mounting block and water troughs
  • Accessible restroom with shower at Fechtel horse barn area
  • Katie's Landing canoe/kayak launch on the Wekiva River (no rentals, no potable water)
  • Picnic tables and ground grills
  • 26 miles of multi-use trails (18 miles of horse trails)
  • Florida National Scenic Trail passes through

Things to know

Rig rules

  • No RV age limit listed

Pets

  • Not listed
  • Conflicting: the Pets section says pets are not permitted in any primitive camping area (horses only in the horse camp), while the equestrian camping section says pets are permitted per the Pet Policy. Pets welcome on trails on 6-ft leash. Call to confirm.

Arrival

  • All access points open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year; office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

Included in the rate: Per-person fees: $5 adult, $2 child per night (Fechtel page); fees page says $5 per person plus tax.

Other fees: Day entry honor fee at Katie's Landing $3 per car (up to 8), $2 pedestrian/bicyclist/extra passenger; Fechtel day riders $3 per vehicle, horses free (fees page says no day fee at Fechtel). No electric or water hookups.

Good to know

From the park's own website and other official pages. Policies change, so confirm with the park.

Location and directions

  • Fechtel Tract (horses, camping) at 38015 Fechtel Road, Eustis; horse barn area is a mile from the Fechtel Gate at the end of Swift Road; riders call Wekiwa Springs for the gate code on the day.
  • Katie's Landing river access at 262 Wekiva Park Drive, Sanford, off SR 46.

Sites

  • Plenty of room to park horse trailers at the horse barn area.

Pets

  • Statewide pet policy limits pets to 4 per campsite on a 6-ft leash.

Rules

  • Camping only for those with horses; proof of negative Coggins must be carried at all times.
  • Pack in all food, water and firewood and pack out trash; fires only in provided ground grills; no temporary fencing.
  • At least one camper must be 18 or older; tents only in designated areas.

Amenities and services

  • Running water for horses is not drinkable; no potable water at Katie's Landing.

Activities and nearby

  • Paddling distances from Katie's Landing: 4 mi to Blackwater Creek, 7.6 mi to Highbanks ramp, 10 mi to Wekiwa Springs.
  • Wekiva is a National Wild and Scenic River; black bears, otters and alligators live in the preserve.
  • Katie's Landing has no rentals; bring your own boat; busy on summer weekends.

Accessibility

  • Equestrian bathhouse is accessible; ADA parking next to restrooms at Fechtel and Katie's Landing.

Ownership

  • Managed with Wekiwa Springs State Park; friends group Wekiva Wilderness Trust.

Also worth knowing

  • Horse corrals at Fechtel were funded and built by a trail-riding group and volunteers.

On Google

Rating, reviews and photos from the park's Google listing.

Read reviews on Google

Where you'll be

8300 W. State Road 46, Sanford, FL, 32712

Directions

Where this info comes from

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