Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee

Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida. The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti language and means "big water." The 20 foot (6 m) wide dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee is a part of the Florida Trail.

Okeechobee is the fourth largest lake completely within the United States. Okeechobee covers 730 square miles (1,890 km2) and is relatively shallow, with an average depth of only 9 feet (3 m).

The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti words "oki" (water) and "chubi" (big), and literally means "big water".

The 20 foot (6 m) wide dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee was declared a National Scenic Trail, specifically the Florida Trail, when it was built.

There is a well-maintained paved pathway along the entire perimeter used by hikers and bicyclists and wide enough to accommodate authorized vehicles.

Location

Lake Okeechobee
Florida, USA

Getting There

Lake Okeechobee is located in south-central Florida and is accessible by car. The closest major cities to Lake Okeechobee are West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. From West Palm Beach, take Florida's Turnpike south to exit 99 (SR 704/Okeechobee Blvd.), then turn left onto US 441 south. Follow US 441 south to the lake. From Fort Lauderdale or Miami, take I-95 north to exit 12 (SR 714/SW Martin Hwy.), then turn right onto SR 714 east. Follow SR 714 east to US 441 north, then turn left onto US 441 north and follow it to the lake.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Florida that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.