Santos Trailhead Camp & · Ocala,. Three state parks that offer camping are located fairly close to the Villages. Lake Griffin State Park is located in Leesburg, about 10 miles from Villages, and is located on a canal that connects to Lake Griffin, one of the largest lakes in Florida. Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka is about 23 miles from the Villages and contains a huge natural spring and access to the Wekiwa River.
Silver River State Park is located about 39 miles from the Villages. Silver River has dozens of springs and many water-related activities, as well as educational opportunities. If you have friends or family who live in The Villages, this park is just a few miles from the place. The Ocala National Forest, northeast of the villages, covers 380,000 acres and has many lakes and several huge springs.
The Villages is home to 90,000 people who enjoy the amenities of a gated community with 20 golf courses. The Villages is a planned retirement community located in central Florida, about 20 miles south of Ocala.
