Things to Do in Yankeetown, Florida
About 41 miles west of Ocala, Yankeetown is a tiny Levy County town on the Withlacoochee River near where it meets the Gulf of Mexico — a quiet Nature Coast day trip for paddling, fishing, and birding.
Yankeetown is a small Nature Coast town about 41 miles (roughly 70 minutes) west of Ocala, where the Withlacoochee River meets the Gulf. Top things to do are the free Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve (boardwalk, 30-foot observation tower, Gulf kayak dock), inshore fishing, summer bay scalloping, and biking the paved Withlacoochee Bay Trail near Inglis. There is no sandy swimming beach.
Yankeetown is a small incorporated town in Levy County (population 588 in the 2020 census) on the banks of the Withlacoochee River, just upstream from where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is about 41 miles west-southwest of downtown Ocala; the drive takes roughly 70 minutes via SR-40 West through Dunnellon and Inglis. It is one of the closer places to reach Gulf water from Ocala — the Crystal River area is a few miles closer — and the most undeveloped.
Yankeetown is not a beach town. The Gulf shoreline here is salt marsh, tidal creeks, and flats rather than sand, and there is no public swimming beach, lifeguard, or beach rental. The main public access to the coast is the Town of Yankeetown's Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve. If you want a sandy Gulf beach, Fort Island Gulf Beach in Crystal River is the closest one to Ocala. (Looking for Eaton's Beach? It is a restaurant on Lake Weir in Weirsdale, not in Yankeetown.)
Fishing and scalloping are the town's traditional draws. The lower Withlacoochee River and the surrounding Gulf flats hold inshore species such as redfish, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead. Yankeetown sits in the FWC bay scallop zone for Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties, where the 2026 recreational season runs July 1 through September 24.
Kayaking from Yankeetown opens up a network of tidal creeks, mangrove channels, and offshore islands that are part of the Gulf's undeveloped Nature Coast. Paddlers can launch from the Gulf-accessible kayak dock at the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve and explore the lower Withlacoochee and the salt marsh. The Preserve is a Great Florida Birding Trail site, and wading birds, ospreys, and bald eagles are common along the marshes and river banks.
The town itself has a sleepy, Old Florida character. The historic Izaak Walton Lodge on Riverside Drive is its best-known landmark. A few miles away near Inglis, the paved Withlacoochee Bay Trail runs about five miles along the Cross Florida Greenway to the Gulf. For Ocala residents looking for a quiet, undeveloped stretch of the Gulf coast, Yankeetown makes an easy day trip.
Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
Gulf AccessA 413-acre Town of Yankeetown preserve of forest, tidal marsh, and salt ponds on the Gulf. It has a 30-foot observation tower, a salt pond boardwalk, a Gulf-accessible canoe and kayak dock, hiking and biking trails, and an education center that hosts talks and events. It is a place for paddling, birding, and sunsets over the marsh rather than swimming — there is no sandy beach. Open daily from dawn to dusk, per the Preserve's website.
Inshore Fishing & Scalloping
Must VisitThe Withlacoochee River mouth and the Gulf flats off Yankeetown hold inshore species such as redfish, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead. The area is in the FWC bay scallop zone for Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties; the 2026 recreational season runs July 1 through September 24, with a daily limit of two gallons of whole scallops per person. Check FWC's bay scallop rules and license requirements before you go.
Kayaking to the Gulf
Paddling from Yankeetown opens up tidal creeks and salt marsh along the undeveloped Nature Coast. The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve has a Gulf-accessible canoe and kayak dock, and the lower Withlacoochee River is more sheltered than the open Gulf. Watch for wading birds, ospreys, and bald eagles, and check tides and wind before heading into open water.
Bird Watching
The Nature Coast around Yankeetown supports exceptional birding year-round. The salt marshes, river banks, and tidal flats attract wading birds such as herons, egrets, and ibis, along with ospreys and bald eagles. Winter brings more shorebirds and waterfowl. The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve is a Great Florida Birding Trail site, and its boardwalk and 30-foot observation tower make it the easiest place to bird from shore.
Yankeetown Village & Izaak Walton Lodge
Yankeetown is small and quiet, with an unhurried Old Florida feel. The Izaak Walton Lodge at 6301 Riverside Drive, named after the English angler and author, is the town's best-known historic building and sits right on the Withlacoochee River. Its restaurant has changed names and operators several times, so confirm it is open before you plan a meal around it. Inglis, Crystal River, and Dunnellon have more places to eat.
Withlacoochee Bay Trail
FreePart of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, this 12-foot-wide paved trail runs about five miles west from the Felburn Park Trailhead on US-19, just south of Inglis, to the Gulf. The first half follows the barge canal and the rest crosses maritime hammock and salt marsh, making it a flat, easy bike ride or walk to open water. Details are on the Florida State Parks trail page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Yankeetown from Ocala?
Yankeetown is about 41 miles west-southwest of downtown Ocala, roughly a 70-minute drive. Take SR-40 West through Dunnellon, cross US-19 at Inglis, and continue west on CR-40 into town. The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve at the end of the road is about 42 miles from downtown Ocala.
Is Eaton's Beach in Yankeetown?
No. Eaton's Beach is Eaton's Beach Sandbar & Grill, a restaurant and bar at 15790 SE 134th Avenue in Weirsdale, on the southwest shore of Lake Weir in Marion County. It is not in Yankeetown and is not on the Gulf. Yankeetown does not have a sandy swimming beach; its Gulf access is the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, a Town of Yankeetown nature preserve with a kayak dock, boardwalk, and observation tower.
What is the best fishing in Yankeetown?
The lower Withlacoochee River and the Gulf flats off Yankeetown are known for inshore species such as redfish, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead. Yankeetown is also in the FWC bay scallop zone for Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties; the 2026 recreational season runs July 1 through September 24. Check FWC rules for current seasons, bag limits, and licenses before you go.
Are there restaurants in Yankeetown?
Yankeetown has very few restaurants. The historic Izaak Walton Lodge at 6301 Riverside Drive on the Withlacoochee River has housed a restaurant, but it has changed names and operators several times, so confirm it is open before you plan a meal around it. Nearby Inglis, Crystal River, and Dunnellon have more dining options.
Is Yankeetown family-friendly?
Yankeetown is family-friendly in a rustic, outdoorsy way. There are no amusement parks or resort amenities, but families who enjoy fishing, kayaking, nature observation, and exploring quiet coastal areas will find it rewarding. The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve has an accessible boardwalk, an observation tower, and short trails, and the paved Withlacoochee Bay Trail near Inglis is flat and good for family bike rides. The town itself is very small and quiet.
Plan Your Yankeetown Day Trip
From the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve and summer scalloping to paddling the salt marsh and biking to the Gulf, Yankeetown is a quiet Nature Coast escape about 70 minutes from Ocala.