Mcmeekin Lake

Putnam County, Florida

McMeekin Lake is a small lake in Hawthorne, Florida. Gainesville is under 30 miles away, and Jacksonville is under 80 miles away.

It is 30 minutes from UF Health Shands Hospital and about 50 minutes from Ocala International Airport. The lake is within 10 minutes from Hitchcock’s Market, a popular Floridian grocery store.

Hungry McMeekin Lake residents can fill their stomachs at Dian’s Old Time Barbeque, a favorite local barbeque joint.

On and Around the Water

There is plenty of fun to be had at McMeekin Lake! It is connected to Little McMeekin Lake by a canal, doubling the lake fun.

These private lakes offer numerous recreational opportunities including boating, wakeboarding, water skiing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Anglers at McMeekin Lake can expect to catch bass, sunfish, white bass, and whitefish. The lake is also home to an array of wildlife like bald eagles, herons, egrets, swallow-tailed kites, woodpeckers, jays, hawks, anhingas, ducks, and white ibis.

Many other bodies of water are in the Hawthorne area, including Cowpen Lake. The lake is just across the street from McMeekin Lake and is thriving with bass, bluegill, bowfin, gar, largemouth bass, and redear sunfish eager to bite on any dedicated angler’s hook.

Explore Gainesville

Gainesville has a wide assortment of activities inside the city.

The Florida Museum of Natural History Exhibits explores the natural and human heritage of Florida, the Caribbean & Latin America.

The Hippodrome Theatre offers plays, independent films, and an art gallery.

The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is a modern museum from the inventor of Gatorade featuring interactive science and technology exhibits.

There are plenty of popular restaurants including Underground Kitchen, The Top, and MOJO Hogtown Bar-B-Que, Smoked Meats Whiskey Bar.

A Simple Lake in Central Florida

If you take kindly to the comfortable Florida climate and want a simple, well-located lake, take a look at McMeekin Lake. It just might be the location of your next lake home!