Before it became Clewiston, the area beside Lake Okeechobee was used as a fishing camp by the Seminole Native American tribe. The first permanent settlement took form in 1920. At that time, John O'Brien and Alonzo Clewis purchased a large tract of land with the intent to form a new town. The new city of Clewiston was officially incorporated in 1925, and it would soon become a popular destination for sport fishing. Within the next few decades, large sugar plantations were established in the area, and the cultivation of citrus, vegetables, and cattle became important to the economy as well.
Today, Clewiston has a population of approximately 7,400 residents and is known as "America's Sweetest Town" due to its involvement in the sugar industry. While visiting, you could start your exploration of the city by checking out a couple of its fascinating museums. There's the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum, where you can learn about the history of the Seminole Native Americans in the area. If you're more interested in the general history of the area, you can take a couple of hours to browse the Clewiston Museum.
If you'd rather get outside to enjoy the Florida sunshine, you might want to work on your stroke at the Clewiston Golf Course. You could also go for a scenic bike ride along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail or take an airboat tour of Billie Swamp Safari. Alternatively, you could spend a relaxing day fishing or boating in beautiful Lake Okeechobee. If the kids are with you, they'll enjoy an afternoon at Tiger Shark Cove Park, which features lots of playgrounds and slides.
When you're ready to eat, you'll have some quality options around Clewiston. You could try authentic Mexican food at Jalapenos, have a juicy steak at The Galley Grill, or grab a tasty sandwich at Main Street Subs. If you're in the mood for a drink afterward, you might want to pick up some delicious rum at the Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery.
Clewiston Sugar Festival - The Clewiston Sugar Festival is an annual country music festival taking place at Civic Park in mid-March. The multi-day event features sports tournaments, a beauty pageant, food trucks, concerts, a car show, and much more.
Okeechobee Music & Artist Festival - Taking place in early March, the annual Okeechobee Music & Artist Festival is a four-day celebration featuring great live music and works of art. The event is happening at Sunshine Grove.
Festival of Trees - Come celebrate the holidays at the annual Festival of Trees in Okeechobee. The event, which takes place at the American Legion in late November, features a cocktail party and an auction with lots of gifts, food, and fun!
Everglades National Park is located in southern Florida and is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. Comprising over 1.5 million acres, the park offers quite a few unique opportunities. While you're there, you can take an airboat tour of the wetlands, go hiking or camping surrounded by amazing scenery, and observe exotic animals like manatees, crocodiles, and Florida panthers. Boating and birdwatching are also popular activities for the park's visitors.
Biscayne National Park is exactly what people envision when considering a vacation in Florida. Located along the state's southeastern coast, the park features gorgeous ocean waters and glittering coral reefs. The park is one of the country's premier destinations for water-based recreation. You'd be hard-pressed to find better spots for fishing, boating, snorkeling, or scuba diving. If you're lucky, you may even find one or two shallow-water shipwrecks to explore while you're diving. You should also be on the lookout for scuttling crustaceans and leaping bottlenose dolphins.
Another wonderful destination for water-based recreation is Dry Tortugas National Park. Located about 70 miles west of Key West, FL and comprised of several islands, the park is only reachable via boat or seaplane. The islands are home to a fascinating 19th-century fortress, a charming lighthouse, and a large population of sea turtles. The remote park offers top-notch opportunities for boating, paddling, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is located within an hour of Clewiston and comprises a vast stretch of grassland. The park is known as an excellent destination for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. It's inhabited by alligators, deer, parakeets, grasshopper sparrows, and other unique creatures. The area is also home to several miles of scenic hiking and biking trails.
If you enjoy outdoor recreation, Jonathan Dickinson State Park is sure to have something for you. During your visit to the large park, you can canoe or kayak along the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River, climb the ancient Hobe Mountain sand dune, or go hiking or biking on the area's trails. You can also check out the nature center or even take an interpretive boat tour.
Highlands Hammock State Park is a superb destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The beautiful park is inhabited by black bears, Florida panthers, deer, alligators, and numerous bird species. In addition to observing the local wildlife, visitors can stroll the botanical garden or partake in activities like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and horseback riding.
When you have the opportunity, how about stopping by one or more of Florida's most interesting monuments and landmarks? One unique landmark is the Coral Castle, which is located in the town of Homestead, FL. Originally conceived back in the 1920s, the castle was carved using over 1,100 tons of coral rock over the course of over 10 years. Today, you can take a memorable tour of the surreal castle.
If you make your way down to Key West, you can visit the southernmost point of the continental United States. While you're there, you can pose for a picture beside the giant, colorful buoy that marks the precise spot.
One of Florida's most famous landmarks is Walt Disney World. Located in Orlando, the iconic park features four amusement parks and two water parks, offering an incredible selection of rides and other attractions.
One quality campground near Clewiston is the Meadowlark Shores RV Park, which contains 160 RV campsites with full hookups available for $35 per night or $215 per week. Located beside the Caloosahatchee River, the park features a heated outdoor pool and a boat ramp.
Lake Letta RV Park is another great place to stay in the area. There, you can rent one of the 63 full-hookup RV campsites for $40 per night or $200 per week. The campground features two clubhouses, which contain a communal kitchen, a lending library, and a card room.
You could also camp at Lake Bonnet Village, which offers scheduled activities for every day of the week. For example, Tuesdays give you the chance to enjoy coffee and donuts while listening to a professional speaker. The campground also features 2,000 feet of private lakeshore and two on-site clubhouses. You can stay in one of the 175 full-hookup RV campsites for $40 per night.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Clewiston, FL, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Clewiston?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Clewiston from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Clewiston?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.