This is a free nature drive in Northern Orlando/Apopka. I WISH there was a way to donate but I have not found it. I stopped my car, turned it off, got out and stood for a minute. I heard 20 bird calls and whistles I had never heard in my life! Magical! This is wild! As in everything runs free! So pay attention! Gators everywhere! The drive is around 1 1/2 hours long depending on traffic or if you eat out at the Mill etc. Everyone needs to go once and just enjoy the drive!

This is another one of those hidden gyms in Florida. It is a wonderful park that you get to drive through or ride bikes through and see some of the most beautiful wildlife and landscaping that Florida has to offer for the area. It is free but they also take donations to help. So if you’re looking for alligators and birds and otters then this is the place that you want to come to.

Great experience with a 3.5 year old and 1 year old. They mostly slept and I listened to the audio tour. I enjoyed the drive through the wetlands. I would recommend packing snacks and the ambassadors are super friendly reminding you to fill up on gas before starting the drive. We will definitely come back!

This was really cool. Just a nice slow drive through pretty wetlands with lots of wildlife just doing what they do. Super busy on Saturday as expected. We most idled through in a line of cars, but it was a great way to get outside

One of my most favorite places in Florida. Free entry and long wild life drive. Peaceful and calm, close to nature. Lot of alligator around the lake and cannels, hundred of different types of birds throughout the drive. I have visited there several times and would visit again whenever I get an opportunity. Very refreshing!

Beautiful drive through natural habitats ... alligators , birds, fresh air... didn’t expect such a nice drive near by to my place where I live. It’s free of cost no entrance ticket ... 11 miles drive and takes approximately 1.5 hours ... definitely worth visiting this place

I lived in Orlando for a little over two years and this wildlife drive was one of the only times I actually enjoyed myself in the sea of chain restaurants and manufactured happiness that is the city beautiful.But back on topic, this is an amazing drive. We saw a huge diversity of birds, lots of alligators, snakes, fish, and wildflowers. The audio cues along the way are really interesting, and it was super cool to learn about the unique geology of the area.And its all free! I highly suggest donating to keep this awesome place running for future wildlife enthusiasts to experience.Drive slow, stop often, be considerate to the other guests, and take it all in. You can easily spend three or four hours from start to finish and not get bored.My time living in the area was really awful. I honestly cant think of a single thing that I miss about Orlando. But the afternoon we spent at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive was a TON of fun.

Absolutely a fabulous take in if you are into nature at all. 11 miles of marsh and lakeTeaming with birds and gators ect.Best part is it is free!Open Friday Saturday and Sunday plus holidays 7-3

Great little driving tour just to escape the city. It took us around an hour and a half to get through most of it, there are a few branching paths but they all merge in the end. Saw plenty of Gators, birds and turtles. The audio portion of the tour adds some much needed context behind the purpose of this area. Nice way to spend a 4th of July morning seeing as how everything else is closed. Definitely recommended.

My only complaint is that Wildlife Drive is not openmore than three days weekly.... this is birder heaven... and a great place for others to be introduced to avian species and benefit from the knowledge of others... even though the water level was high on the day of our visit, we saw thousands of ducks and other waterbirds ... Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Northern Harriers were a real treat... in past visits, we’ve seen Vermilion Flycatchers and Ash-throated Flycatchers, Ruddy Ducks, etc.Wildlife Drive allows for nature viewing from the car or stopping for long periods at things of special interest... just be prepped for the length of the one-way drive... once one commits to it, it is a matter of one, two, three, or more hours... hours will be well-spent, for certain...

This is a fabulous drive - the audio segments contain great information about the water management and wildlife. Speaking of wildlife - there is an abundance of birds and gators to see along the route. The views can go on for miles. You are limited on the speed you can drive and will frequently want to stop to get a better picture or see something, so th whole drive can take a couple of hours. The track can get really busy too but everyone is in the same frame of mind of looking at the wildlife which makes this a relaxing drive.

Its a nice drive for the most part. Theres lots of wildlife here . I have never seen as many gators as Ive seen here . It was just amazing !!! It was worth the long drive . Husband and I really enjoyed it

What an enjoyable visit! Blue skies, nice drive, tons of fowl and gators, and a steady light breeze to keep everything cool! Around the pump house were at least 4 gators, some you easily walk right up to. And the view across the lake and the marsh was clear and spectacular! I loved the blue water reflections against the greens and yellows of the grasses, with hidden birds here and there... I highly recommend it!

This place is an absolute joy and one of the best ways to be out in nature and still socially distance from the comfort of your AC and car.If you come with no expectations except to be in nature, and provide a little patience with yourself and other drivers, you are in for a real treat.As others have said it’s about an hour and a half but it’s worth it. There are a few port-o-potties along the paths. Take any path you want, they all end at the same exit.I will often just coast with my foot off the pedal and let my car slowly roll down the trail with the water on either side and peaceful music on the radio. Soothing to the soul.A big thank you to everyone who helps make this entire thing possible and helps keep it maintained.

Outstanding nature preserve with the convenience of vehicle accessibility. Nice to see land preserved and remediation being done to restore the environment back as close to its natural state. With FL landscape constantly under assault with development, it is imperative to have protected land. Hopefully this land will never be relinquished for development.Look forward to returning early morning.Just wish it could stay open later in the day to observe wildlife emerging to feed for the evening. The heat of the day will minimize viewing of large numbers of wildlife.

Always beautiful here no matter what time of the year you visit. This hidden gem truly exemplifies Florida’s beauty in every way!

This place was super cool. I am a biology teacher so absolutely loved it. You drive through the park and there is an online audio tour. It was definitely worth while. We were able to see a lot of birds and gators. Very educational and a great family activity.

Such a great day trip with kids even in the rain, I actually think we’ve seen more in the rain than when it’s not.

Nice drive. Road is well maintained and holds up even in a rain storm. Would feel safe in a small sedan even if raining. The road leading to the Wildlife drive was in worse condition then the park.The drive itself is 11 miles and without any real stops takes 1:30. Multiple places to pull over and take pictures or stretch your legs. But it is a full commitment, once you start it you cant turn back.Went in the summer right after a small storm (around 1pm) and saw a decent number of gators in the water. Tons of birds. Heard that fall and winter were better and plan to head back around then as well.

Great drive and experience! Absolutely love the driving trail. It’s well maintained, easy to follow and information is posted along the way of the trail. Highly recommend

This wildlife drive is beautiful and always a welcomed break from a busy week. We often count dozens and dozens of alligators and look for different types of birds. If you are bringing toddlers, be sure to bring a pull up and some snacks/drinks as the drive is at least 1.5 hours.

If you enjoy the outdoors and the wildlife this is great not having to get out of your car. 11 mile one way drive

Great drive through nature, lots of gators.

I had a great experience. I went twice, once with my wife. You will see a lot of wild life prospering. Definitely a relaxing activity too. There is a audio tour that allows you to hear information about each area. Just download the app on the posters.

Great way to enjoy nature with some music and an ice coffee. I recommend winter months as more birds seems to migrate down and show up. Plenty of wildlife to see. Mid afternoon seems the best time to catch a bit of everything.

Is a nice drive for the most part. Theres lots of local wildlife here great for pictures and sometimes you can catch a really nice sunset IF the park hasnt closed.

This place is lovely! Ive taken my Grandma many many times over the years, she adores it. Its nice to just drive slowly with the windows down and just hear nature and see wildlife that is truly free. They have porta-potties that are kept exceptionally clean. Its takes about two hours to drive the entire thing, and its free! Whats not to love?

Saw Algiators,and all kinds of birds. 11mile drive through. Which was nice as its so hot outside. We did get out a few times. Definatly socail distancing.

Spent about an hour driving around the scenic wildlife drive. Saw a lot of birds and a few alligators. Beautiful and peaceful experience!

I ventured on to the Wildlife Drive for an afternoon excursion aided by the audio tour I found on the SJRWMD website.I didn’t really know what to expect but I loved the experience so much that I decided to go back for a sunset tour (the trail is less crowded in the evening).You’ll even spot birds, snakes, and alligators chilling on the side of the road (or even crossing it) from the safety of your vehicle.

It is a fun drive with the family. You will lots of birds and alligators along the path. Sometimes other creatures as well. Spend about 2hrs driving and stopping.

Great wildlife drive for kids. We saw lots of alligators, turtles, and birds. It took about 90 minutes to drive the whole thing so I recommend having snacks on hand for little ones. There are three locations along the route with bathrooms, and entry into the park is free.

Beautiful scenery! Lots of wildlife! They say plan for 3 hours, but we drove through in about 1 1/2 hours and took our time. Only facilities is port-a-pottys, plan according.

The wildlife drive is a perfect way to experience real Florida for an afternoon. Expect to see alligators, herons, and other abundant wildlife. The perfect place for avid birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

This was the best park I have been to in florida. We saw 54 gators and too many incredible birds to count. Its a simple drive that can take hours as you spot all manner of Florida wildlife. The fact that it is free will make it a weekly trip for you and the family.

This is my favorite place to bring guests from out of town when we want to stay away from touristy areas. The scenery is beautiful and there is abundant wildlife. Last time we saw about 50 gators including some babies and a gator with a bird in its mouth. Great photo opportunities.

This is one of the best birding locations in Florida. We identified 30 different species of birds/ducks and saw about 30 alligators! Most exciting was the Black-bellied Whistling Duck. A life-bird for us! We spent about 3 hours on the drive, getting out of the car for pictures many times. A Gem!

This was well worth the 40 minutes drive to get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.Load up your car with gas, water, food and cameras, big lens if you have one. bug spray, and sun block,We spent about 4 hours on the drive, pulling over to take photos and chat with other cars on the drive. So much wildlife to watch. It’s a place not to be rushed, the drive is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check website

This drive was absolutely amazing!! We took our time taking tons of photos. The wildlife there was truly spectacular, we’ve seen so many alligators that eventually I stopped counting them.

I love this place! It’s a great and free thing to do here in beautiful Florida. Lots to see and photograph. Definitely a must see! Watch my videos...wildlife at my feet!!

Take your camera! Such a beautiful place. We have been several times. The wildlife is so close you don’t have to have a telephoto lens, even your cell phone camera will do. Mornings are best. You will always see gators and birds but sometimes you will see even more. Drive slow and enjoy. The kids will love it.

The third largest lake in Florida. See wild life (multiple species of birds, and alligators) in their natural wetland habitat, all at no cost. Listen along to the narrated audio tour via the website. A great outing for anyone who wishes to experience (and introduce their children to) the “real Florida”!

What a great place! This is a must see if you are near. The amazing scenery is something to see and you do not get this chance any place else. There is wildlife every place you look. So many species of birds doing what they do and you are able to get so very close. We saw at least fifty alligators along the drive. Some in the water and some not. A lot of other species too. Fish every where, turtles, snakes and many others. The fact you can drive this from the comfort and air conditioning of your car makes this enjoyable for any person. The audio tour is very helpful and entertaining too. We would recommend this very highly. Plan for two to three hours to complete the drive though. There are really no amenities other than the occasional porta potty so plan accordingly. The pictures just do not do this great place justice. Also, the vegetation is very cool too. There are numerous places to stop and get out to look but I would be careful with pets and kids as there is nothing between you and all it the nature there. We will be back soon.

Great nature drive. Allow at least an hour to complete the drive. Its on dust roads with some bumps but you can easily drive around in a sport car.The amount of wildlife you see is amazing. By the pump house the alligators were relaxing in the water.Its free too and not far from Disney so take the time and go and see some wildlife in their natural habitat.

We wanted a place to see gators and this did not disappoint. The drive from where we entered was 11 miles. But its a dirt road and took us about 2.5 hours to complete as the speed limit is ~10 miles an hour and you will want to stop and look at everything. We saw over 30 gators, and tons of birds. Great to be able to see everything from the comfort of your air conditioned car, and best of all its free!

Its a great way to spend a few hours. Lots of alligators and birds.

What an awesome place. Lots of different birds. Lots of gators scattered around. Warning: Don’t bring a lowered car to this place or you will hit ground passing some bumpy holes on the road. However a normal car is just fine!No toilets except a couple more of plastic festival toilets. Biking this route is quite easy also.

GATORS GATORS GATORS!!! i love driving thru this place, you are guaranteed to see gators and its relaxing just to drive by looking at nature.

This is a great, FREE, thing to do if you want to see some alligators. We usually go when we have visitors in town and they always enjoy it. Lots of different birds for bird lovers! The drive is long, so put aside a couple of hours to complete. There is a guided tour you can do along with it also.

This was a really nice drive. Really appreciated the audio tour as well. LOTS of birds and quite a few alligators to be seen.

Wonderful drive our family thoroughly enjoys!

We have enjoyed so much. This is almost two hours scenic drive (one way); lots of gator and birds. Best place for wildlife photography. No entry fee. The roads is around 20 feet wide, be careful about Gator as it may resting near the roadside.

If you like watching birds, this place is for you! Bring your binoculars and long lenses! You will also see plenty of alligators and if you are lucky, the occasional beaver!Highly recommend listening to the audio tour to appreciate the hard work the water reclamation team is doing to rid the place of pestisides from decades of bad farming.There are bugs obviously so you may want to have some bug spray handy!

Want to see gators? This is one way. However, bring water and be prepared to be stuck on this one-way, often one-lane dusty dirt road for an hour or two (with a reprieve at the pump house about halfway down, where there are a few porta-potties). It was well worth the experience for us, but probably too taxing on patience for kids.

Best place for birding hands down. Also other wildlife such as alligators, otters, turtles, frogs, and bobcats. It is one way 11 miles and slow going. Expect the trip to take 2 hours minimum. Only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and some holidays.

Great place to enjoy nature while you are driving in a car. You will spot some alligators and lots and lots of birds.Please be prepared to allocate 1-2hours for the drive because the speed limit is 15MPH.Kids will thoroughly enjoy the ride.

Stunning wildlife drive. The roads overlook large wetlands. Boardwalk at one end and a few porta potties throughout. Free, no admission and one way lanes. Open Fri, Sat, and Sunday. Drove 9.8 miles and saw 41 species of birds including American bittern right next to the car. Simply wonderful for bird photography. Total of 4280 birds counted. Which included 2700 American Coots. Anyway, well worth the trip!

Very educational and entertaining. Love nature.

Wonderful Driving Tour of Lake Apopka, Great Opportunity to View Alligators and Birds on a Slow Driving Caravan!!

Since were not allowed in, Id have to give LAWD the lowest score possible.Its curious that in the ONE place where visitors are isolated in individual cars, the management would close it! Meanwhile, the stores are teeming with people without masks.Ironically, if you are a walker or biker--most of whom are in close-knit groups--Lake Apopka is open for business.It has taken tens of thousands of people to make this a success, but only one or two bone-headed management-types to crush it.

Easily one of the coolest places I never knew about. We went two days in a row and will definitely be going back. Theres such an impressive abundance of wildlife to see.

The road condition is horrible. Other than that, it is pretty nice.

It is an excellent peaceful hour long drive, and it is free. A bird lovers paradise. Do not forget your best camera. If you can get there at 7 AM, the wildlife is amazing, In the pond by the pump house I lost count after 50 alligators in a pond smaller than a football field. Did I mention it is FREE!

There’s plenty of wildlife to see during the trail along Lake Apopka’s Wildlife Drive. Definitely recommend having a competition against passengers in your car to see who can spot the most alligators! Such a fun, safe and free activity. My only recommendation for other visitors - When an alligator is attempting to cross the trail, please do NOT park your vehicle directly beside it where it can puncture your tires. Either keep the line of traffic moving or stop at a safe distance.

If you want to see alligators THIS is the place to go. This is a free activity, you can make this as long or as short as you like, and it’s fun for adults and kids alike will enjoy it. If you take this drive on a temperate day it’s perfectly possible to see over 20 alligators. There are also lots of interesting birds, plants, animals and even BIG fish in the water.

Absolutely incredible! It exceeded our expectations. Who knew we had such a hidden gem this close to home!

This place is absolutely amazing if you want to see real Wildlife (mostly gators and birds). But please know that the drive will take NO LESS than one hour (its 11 miles long and the speed limit is 10 mph). This is a place of serenity. A place where you take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints. If you cant respect that, please stay home.

I’d been seeing “scenic wildlife drive” signs for a while before I decided to actually make the turn and visit.. and I’m so glad I did. I’ve never seen anything like this before! This drive can take anywhere from 45 minutes- 2 hours, depending on the route you take. I’ve gone and seen dozens of gators, in the water, on the road, and other times I’ve gone and seen only a handful. Either way it’s an incredible experience, especially when you take into account what Lake Apopka was just a few decades ago. (They considered it a dead lake due to overfishing and dumping). It is very much so alive and well today- a beautiful and serene piece of central Florida’s ecosystem.

This is a wetland preserve (opened in 2015) that can be driven by car, bike or horse but not walked because of the gators and its 11 miles with no cover, although a couple porta potties. Theres an audio tour on web site that discusses how it used to be under water, was drained in 40s to farm for war and now since 2000 theyve been buying back farmland to fix the wetlands. It looked like they were farming sod which confused me. We went at 11 on a Sunday and saw birds but few gators, best to come earlier than we did and latest you can come is 3pm, closed weekdays. We saw people biking on an offshoot multi use trail, got out and looked at Lake Apopka (which is 50 miles and 4th largest lake in FL) and the pump house.

Wonderful place to see local wildlife!

Awesome experience. You’ll Will Definitely see a many many gators and other wildlife and great spots to get out and stretch and take some family selfie’sENJOY SHARE AND YOUR PHOTOS

This is a truly amazing piece of nature on its own terms. Lived here for years and had never heard of it. A co-worker mentioned it and we gave it a shot. It was very cool. Its a slow drive (walking spots available) through a protected area where gators and other wildlife are abundant. Our whole family enjoyed it.

Excellent 11 mile long wildlife drive on the shores of Lake ApopkaIf you want an opportunity to view an impressive array of Florida birds and mammals across this large water treatment facility you will not be disappointedIf you are looking for anything else you are in the wrong placeFacilities are few and basic the local people are friendly and willing to help you with advice and info on what can be seen and the best areas to lookThere are some areas where you can get out and walk but it is mostly car based viewing

You dont need 90 min to see what you can see in 10 min. Its a painful and agonizing drive seeing the same nature continuously. I cleaned up the review, but you guys can insert any cuss word for any noun and adverb

This was an awesome experience! It was about 11 miles of wilderness, animals in their natural habitats and so much history. My family and I enjoyed every minute of it. They have a website where you can play audio information depending on where you are on the drive. I suggest to bring water, maybe even binoculars. Get ready to roll the windows down and spot some gators in the lakes!

Ive been on a few airboat alligator tours and have seen a few wild alligators, but this place is absolutely amazing. Not only is it free, but I lost count with gator sightings. Also, if you are a bird watcher or just enjoy seeing thousands of them, do this drive. It took about an hour and a half to complete and it was a perfect day. Highly recommend.

Omg LOVE this drive! HUGE alligators, tons of birds! Perfect for the photo enthusiast or those who just want to feel a little rush walking by a 13ft beast sleeping on the bank. Just dont get too close.

Great for the family. Make sure you have water, camera ready and a good hour (or more) to spend

This is a wonderful drive through the preserve. Lots of gators sunning in the winter and also a birders paradise. The drive is one way, 11 miles on one lane. Be prepared to go at 5 mph or less most of the way so make sure you have the time and patience!

Great place for all kinds of pictures b amatures or professional.

What a wonderful drive. Free for you to do. Take your time. Be patient and enjoy. I recommend the audio tour

One of my favorite places. Been here many times and everytime is a different experience. You will need at least an hour and a half because once you enter, you can’t go back and you will be driving at 10 miles per hour or less. There are restrooms available at the beggining and middle of the drive. You will see gators, herons, gallinules, etc. It is an opportunity to see the natural landscape of Florida.

Bike walking all good lots off aligators

Fantastic for birdiers and photographers. So much to see and do.

Gators, gators, and more gators. Highly recommend. Plenty of bird watching and alligators to see. I think it took us about 1 1/2 hrs to drive the 11 mile stretch. You can stop and get out to take pictures any time...and it doesnt cost a dime.

When my family first moved here it was recommended we do the Wildlife Drive and now we take all our out of town visitors here. The drive itself can take about 2 hours if driving slow with one or two stops. I feel like its a mini Everglades. Lots of wildlife - birds, alligators, etc to see. We like to go just to relax a little bit. Keep in mind when it gets busy to be conscious when you stop you leave room so people can drive around you.

This is a great trip highly recommend bring snacks and drinks its a slow drive 10 miles an hour plenty of wildlife plenty of spots to pull over and take photos some spots you can walk out on a platform

Love this place for the nature. PLEASE REOPEN SOON. We are all in cars. When will you reopen? Thank you for reopening!!!

Great place to spend the day and take in the beautiful views. Plenty of Gators!

We take this drive often....everytime it is a new experience..... the pictures we have taken are amazing but even the pictures dont capture the beauty we see while there.

Such a fun and FREE thing to do with the family! Took us about an hour to drive through and we saw several gators and beautiful birds along the way. The restrooms located halfway through were also very appreciated.

This place is cool! Its free and you can really see a lot of wildlife! You can walk around or just drive through. Fun for all ages!

Great Wildlife Trail near Orlando, Florida. The trail can be driven, walked, bicycled, and equestrian in some areas. In January more bird species will migrate making this a great location to see 100+species of birds. Visit @sbarnold105 on Instagram for more photos and other locations.

Great place to visit and take the family

One of my favorite places ️

An incredibly unique Florida experience. Free, fascinating and fun. It’s worth the trip and full of fascinating material. Bring some water, it gets hot. Also, binoculars, so you can see the animals from a distance.

Super cool. I did the drive before sunset we counted 15 alligator

World class bird watching... And its free! I must have seen two dozen species from my car. It seemed like an individual was every 20ft along this 11 mile drive.

Drove round the trial twice and saw loads. great day well worth the trip and free. Saves you doing any paid wildlife or gator trips.

Its great if youre a birder. Miles of roads with acres of marshland between. Also includes some hiking trails. Takes at least 2-3 hours, and you could easily spend a day.