Carney Island in Ocklawaha, Florida
Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area
A 750+ acre Marion County park on Lake Weir at 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha, with a beach, a boat ramp, a hand launch, pavilions, a playground and trails. $7 per vehicle; pets not permitted.
Where is Carney Island in Ocklawaha, Florida?
Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area is a Marion County park at 13275 SE 115th Ave in Ocklawaha, on Lake Weir. According to Marion County Parks, the property includes more than 750 acres of sandhill islands, causeways, wetland systems and shoreline beaches, and was acquired by the county to protect its ecological character and provide resource-based recreation.
The facility directory lists a beach and swimming, a boat ramp, a hand launch, hiking and walking trails, picnic pavilions and tables, a playground, restrooms, horseshoes, volleyball, monofilament recycling and wildlife viewing. The county's reservation portal shows six covered pavilions with grills and picnic tables: three on Little Lake Weir and three on Lake Weir.
The park is open 7 AM to 8 PM from March 1 through October 31 and 7 AM to 5 PM from November 1 through the end of February. The daily user fee is $7 per vehicle, and pets and animals are not permitted. Call Marion County Parks & Recreation at (352) 671-8560 for pavilion reservations.
Is there a boat ramp at Carney Island?
Yes. Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area in Ocklawaha, Florida, has a boat ramp and a hand launch on Lake Weir, according to the Marion County Parks directory. The park is at 13275 SE 115th Ave and charges a $7 daily fee per vehicle. Hours change with the season, from 7 AM to 8 PM in summer months.
The same directory lists monofilament recycling at the park. For other county water access on Lake Weir, the directory also lists the Hope Boat Ramp at 16050 SE 115 Ave in Weirsdale (boat ramp, hand launch, restrooms; limited to park pass holders, sunrise to sunset) and Kiwanis Beach at Albright Park (by reservation only). See the Lake Weir guide and fishing spots near Ocala.
Park Amenities
As listed by Marion County Parks & Recreation:
On the Water
- •Beach and swimming
- •Boat ramp
- •Hand launch
- •Monofilament recycling
On Land
- •Six reservable picnic pavilions
- •Picnic tables
- •Playground
- •Hiking and walking trails
- •Horseshoes and volleyball
- •Wildlife viewing
- •Restrooms
Planning Your Visit
Hours
March 1 through October 31: 7 AM to 8 PM. November 1 through the end of February: 7 AM to 5 PM.
Fees
The daily user fee is $7 per vehicle.
Pets
Pets and animals are not permitted at Carney Island.
Pavilion Reservations
Six pavilions are reservable through the county portal or Marion County Parks & Recreation at (352) 671-8560.
History of Carney Island
According to Marion County Parks, Captain John L. Carney and his brother E.L. Carney bought the land in 1875 and developed a citrus grove there; the Carneys are credited with propagating citrus varieties including the Parson Brown. Citrus was shipped by steamboat from a packinghouse on the property across Lake Weir, and pilings from that packinghouse remain today.
The Coca-Cola Company acquired the property in 1960 when it purchased the Minute Maid Corporation. In 1990, Coca-Cola agreed to sell Carney Island to Marion County below market value, and the county bought it with funds from its “Pennies for Parks” program.
Explore More Parks & Recreation
Discover more outdoor destinations and parks throughout Marion County, or see how Carney Island compares by drive time with other tourist spots near Ocala:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carney Island?▼
Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area is at 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha, FL 32179, on Lake Weir in southeastern Marion County. It is a Marion County park; call Marion County Parks & Recreation at (352) 671-8560 for information.
What are the hours and entry fee for Carney Island?▼
According to Marion County Parks, Carney Island is open 7 AM to 8 PM from March 1 through October 31, and 7 AM to 5 PM from November 1 through the end of February. The daily user fee is $7 per vehicle.
Can you swim at Carney Island?▼
Yes. Marion County Parks lists a beach and swimming among the amenities at Carney Island. The park has two pavilion areas, one on Little Lake Weir and one on Lake Weir, according to the county reservation portal.
Is there a boat ramp at Carney Island?▼
Yes. Marion County Parks lists a boat ramp and a hand launch among the amenities at Carney Island, 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha. The daily user fee of $7 per vehicle applies to the park. Anglers should follow Florida freshwater fishing license rules.
Does Carney Island have pavilions and playgrounds?▼
Yes. Marion County Parks lists picnic pavilions, picnic tables and a playground at Carney Island, and its reservation portal shows six covered pavilions, three on Little Lake Weir and three on Lake Weir, each with a grill and picnic tables. Pavilions can be reserved through the county portal or Marion County Parks & Recreation at (352) 671-8560.
Are dogs allowed at Carney Island?▼
No. Marion County Parks states that pets and animals are not permitted at Carney Island.
What is there to do at Carney Island besides boating?▼
Marion County Parks lists hiking and walking, a beach with swimming, a playground, picnic tables and pavilions, horseshoes, volleyball and wildlife viewing at Carney Island.
Carney Island en Lake Weir (Ocklawaha)
Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area es un parque del Condado de Marion de más de 750 acres a orillas del Lake Weir, ubicado en 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha, FL 32179. Tiene una rampa para botes, un lanzamiento manual, playa para nadar, mesas de picnic, área de juegos infantiles y pabellones, además de senderos para caminar. La entrada cuesta $7 por vehículo y no se permiten mascotas. El horario es de 7 a.m. a 8 p.m. del 1 de marzo al 31 de octubre, y de 7 a.m. a 5 p.m. del 1 de noviembre al final de febrero. Para más información, llame a Marion County Parks & Recreation al (352) 671-8560.