Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee ( OH-kee-CHOH-bee) is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S.
A lake, 12 mi northwest of Pahokee
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 126K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 97% of the 7,799 attractions we track.
Buckhead Ridge is the nearest base
Buckhead Ridge is 14 miles northwest, with 10 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov and Dec
January, February, March, November and December are the mild months, with highs of 75–81°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Pahokee. Green months are the mild ones.
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee ( OH-kee-CHOH-bee) is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the eighth-largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states, excluding Lake Michigan which is connected to Lake Huron. The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti (the ancestral language of most of the Seminoles in Florida) words oki (water) and chubi (big).
Okeechobee covers 730 square miles (1,900 km2) and is exceptionally shallow for a lake of its size, with an average depth of only 9 feet (2.7 m). It is the largest lake in Florida and the southeastern United States, and is too large to see across. The Kissimmee River, located directly north of Lake Okeechobee, is the lake's primary source. The lake is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades watershed.
- Type
- Lake
- Area
- 730 square miles
- Wikipedia readers
- 126K a year
Where to stay near Lake Okeechobee
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Buckhead Ridge (10) and Taylor Creek (18).
Buckhead Ridge
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
986 people · 31% vacation homes
14 mi northwest of Lake Okeechobee
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Lake Okeechobee | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhead Ridge 31% vacation homes | 14 mi northwest | 20 min | 10 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 5 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 986 | $152K | — |
| Taylor Creek | 18 mi north | 25 min | 18 3 hotels · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 11 RV parks | 4,457 | $115K | — |
| Clewiston | 16 mi southwest | 25 min | 13 7 hotels · 4 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 RV park | 7,594 | $239K | — |
| Okeechobee | 20 mi north | 30 min | 18 8 hotels · 4 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 5,811 | $198K | — |
| Belle Glade | 20 mi southeast | 30 min | 5 2 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 17,241 | $163K | D− |
| South Bay | 19 mi south | 30 min | 4 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 5,140 | $142K | D |
| Pahokee | 12 mi southeast | 20 min | 1 1 RV park | 5,794 | $152K | D |
| Harlem | 18 mi southwest | 25 min | 2 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,420 | $56K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Lake Okeechobee
Other well-known places within 70 miles.
62 mi Stadium & arenaAmerant Bank Arena
66 mi Stadium & arenaChase Stadium49 mi Ancient siteUrca de Lima
59 mi Stadium & arenaFAU Stadium34 mi Zoo & aquariumLion Country Safari
50 mi MuseumFlagler Museum63 mi Theme parkWannado City
70 mi Stadium & arenaHertz ArenaPhoto credits
Amerant Bank Arena: Yanjipy, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chase Stadium: elisfkc2, CC BY-SA 2.0 · FAU Stadium: Jerseydem, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Flagler Museum: Roger Wollstadt from Sarasota, Florida, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hertz Arena: Tthaas, CC BY-SA 3.0
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Visiting Lake Okeechobee
What town is Lake Okeechobee near?
Pahokee, FL, about 12 miles southeast.
When is the best time to visit Lake Okeechobee?
January, February, March, November and December, with highs of 75–81°.
How far is Lake Okeechobee from Miami?
About 89 miles southeast of Miami, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Lake Okeechobee?
President Donald J. Trump (DJT), about 47 miles away.
Where should I stay near Lake Okeechobee?
Buckhead Ridge (14 mi, 10 places to stay), Taylor Creek (18 mi, 18 places to stay) and Clewiston (16 mi, 13 places to stay).
Tips from people in Pahokee
What people nearby have posted about Lake Okeechobee.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.