St. Lucie Lock Recreation Area

St. Lucie Lock Recreation Area, located in Stuart along the St. Lucie Canal, provides convenient water access for kayakers, canoeists, and boaters exploring the 152-mile Okeechobee Waterway that connects Florida's Atlantic coast to the Gulf of Mexico. The facility features a concrete boat ramp alongside a small U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground with 9 RV/tent sites and 8 boat slips with electric and water hookups. The calm canal waters and lock system make this an accessible launching point for paddlers of varying skill levels.

Beyond the ramp itself, the site offers amenities including a dump station, shower facilities, fishing piers, and a picnic shelter—making it convenient for day trips or extended paddling expeditions. The area is known for wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly manatees and boats transiting through the St. Lucie Lock. A nature trail on the property's north side provides additional recreation options. For reservations, contact the facility at 772-287-1382 or visit Recreation.gov.

**Access Directions:** From I-95 (Exit 101), take SR 76 west for 0.5 miles to Locks Road, then turn right for 1.3 miles to SW Canal Street and follow signs to the campground entrance.

Overview
St. Lucie Campground provides a relaxing camping experience on the St. Lucie Canal, part of the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway that spans South Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Campers can enjoy watching boats and the occasional manatee pass through the St Lucie Lock while sitting under the warm Florida sun.Recreation
Hike the St. Lucie Nature Trail on the north...

Overview
St. Lucie Campground provides a relaxing camping experience on the St. Lucie Canal, part of the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway that spans South Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Campers can enjoy watching boats and the occasional manatee pass through the St Lucie Lock while sitting under the warm Florida sun.Recreation
Hike the St. Lucie Nature Trail on the north side of the canal, or spend the day fishing and boating on the St Lucie Canal and the south fork of the St. Lucie River.Facilities
The St. Lucie South Campground offers waterfront RV and tent sites, plus cruiser sites for boat campers. All RV and cruiser sites have 50 amp electric and water hookups. Our tent sites also have electric. A trailer dump station is on site for your convenience A family-friendly visitor center, group picnic shelter, horseshoe pit and are onsite to entertain the group.
Natural Features
Tropical vegetation surrounds the campground, which is about 25 miles east of Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the United States.
The lake is 451,000 acres and on average only 9 feet deep.
Nearby Attractions
The Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge is recommended for visitors who are interested in the many species of birds in the area.
The city of Stuart is just down the road with restaurants and shopping. Sandy beaches located on nearby Hutchison Island make for a fun days trip to the Atlantic Ocean.
Nearby Fort Pierce is home to the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.

Read More Read Less