Where is the best place to see WILD alligators around Orlando attractions?
I thought Gatorland was a rip off and will not go back. We would like to see wild ones, pull the car over etc. Are there any great spots closer to Disneyland or I-Drive within 15-30 miles…Thanks in advanced
Asked by:F11
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jessica_lucci2006 posted: 19 Aug at 2:01 pm
gators arn’t exactly local to orlando- try further south (in the swamp lands)
Josh C posted: 21 Aug at 5:01 am
Saw some when I went over to Merritt Island which is about an hour away
If you go thru the 7 mile
Black Point Wildlife Drive
VVV better idea, much closer VVV
SandwichGeneration posted: 22 Aug at 9:47 am
Gators are not always easy to see. Most lakes and rivers in Central Florida have at least a gator or two; however, they spend most of the time submerged in the water or laying in areas where you aren’t likely to see them-like tall grass. You do not want to be tromping around in tall grass near any body of water around here….gators can be territorial.
I’ve seen them along the St. Johns River, at several spots near Canaveral National Seashore, and on several local lakes including Lake Conway, Lake Toho and Wekiwa Springs Run near Apopka.
One good way to see gators in the wild is to splurge on an Airboat ride. Black Hammock Adventures on Lake Jessup in Oviedo is a decent ride. Lake Jessup has the highest concentration of gators outside of the Everglades. It’s a little less than an hour away from Walt Disney World. There are also Airboat rides available in Kissimmee FL…which is much closer to Disney, but I’ve not been on those Airboats.
la madre de quattro posted: 25 Aug at 4:58 pm
Go to Animal kingdom and ride the Safari ride. There are alligators in there. You don’t get out of the vehicle though, so you won’t get to see them up close and personal, but who wants to get too close? Yeh if you go to fort lauderdale or miami you may run into some in more rural neighborhoods or swampy areas.
ajsmommy posted: 26 Aug at 2:48 pm
Well, wild gators exist pretty much anywhere there is water. I am not sure what the previous answerer was saying about gators not being in Orlando because there are everywhere. I’ve seen several in the lakes of my neighborhood. It is rare however, to just see them lying up on the side of the water. My husband saw one crossing the road the other night, though.
You probably drive by gators any time you drive by water, but the likelihood that you can just pull over and watch them is slimmer. They are usually hidden for the most part.
Jenn E posted: 30 Aug at 1:43 am
Josh, there are some at Lakeside park at Celebration! dork! lol
zuesefl posted: 02 Sep at 8:02 am
Why did you think Gatorland was a rip off? They have 3 shows and you see HUNDREDS of Gators!
The breeding marsh is very natural and you get very close!
Give them another chance!
Bruce C posted: 03 Sep at 8:29 am
I am not trying to push my services on you by any means, but if you really want to see big, wild alligators, up close and personal, I offer airboat rides for people and children over the age of 5. You may check out my website at.
I have been hunting gators for decades and I have a high horsepower airboat that allows us to go place most airboats and other boats can’t go. Gators don’t really like people, so they are a little tricky to find, and if they get too close to people where you could actually see them, they are usually captured and destroyed, they need a natural fear of humans. We do usually see big gators sunning and we see all sorts of other wildlife, hogs, deer, manatees, tons of different birds. We also use headsets so we can talk, not many airboaters use those, so its really educational, too.
I hope this helps, I know people who visit really want to see gators, and not everybody wants to see them in a pen.
good luck