Big Island

Big Island: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this river spot: Water flowing well · Low flow / trickle · Dry, no water · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Big Island

Season: September to February; boat services pause in floods.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Big Island — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 28.78846, -82.26066. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Big Island

• Flying Eagle Preserve · sanctuary · Citrus · ~4 km · Must-see
• Fort Cooper State Park · fort · Citrus · ~6 km · Must-see
• Withlacoochee State Forest · sanctuary · Citrus · ~9 km · Must-see
• Old Courthouse Heritage Museum · museum · Citrus · ~11 km · Must-see
• Tsala Apopka Lake · lake · Citrus · ~13 km · Must-see
• Dade Battlefield Historic State Park · sanctuary · Sumter · ~25 km · Must-see
• Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area · sanctuary · Hernando · ~28 km · Must-see
• Lake Okahumpka Park · lake · Sumter · ~32 km · Must-see
• Hálpata Tastanaki Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Marion · ~34 km · Must-see
• Lake Deaton · lake · Sumter · ~35 km · Must-see
• Fickett Hammock Preserve · sanctuary · Hernando · ~35 km · Must-see
• Cypress Lake Preserve · lake · Hernando · ~38 km · Must-see
• Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park · park · Citrus · ~39 km · Must-see
• Holy Trinity Episcopal Church · church · Lake · ~44 km · Must-see
• Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Hernando · ~45 km · Must-see
• Sholom Park · park · Marion · ~45 km · Must-see
• Lake Griffin State Park · lake · Lake · ~46 km · Must-see
• Leesburg Heritage Society and Historical Museum · museum · Lake · ~47 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Big Island

Other rivers, islands & mangroves near Big Island

• Caladesi Island · river spot · Pinellas · ~126 km · Must-see
• Hicks Island · river spot · Citrus · ~2 km
• Cypress Island · river spot · Citrus · ~8 km
• The Pocket · river spot · Citrus · ~26 km
• Adams Hammock · river spot · Marion · ~38 km
• Bird Island · river spot · Marion · ~46 km
• Raulerson Hammock · river spot · Pasco · ~51 km
• Bear Hammock · river spot · Marion · ~52 km
• Horseshoe Island · river spot · Lake · ~59 km
• Heather Island · river spot · Marion · ~60 km

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Florida

Frequently asked