Florida / Newnans Lake /

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Boat Ramp

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Boat Ramp is a public boat ramp on Newnans Lake near Gainesville, Florida, run by Florida State Parks.

Aerial view of Newnans Lake, January 2023
Newnans Lake, the water this launch is on. Aerial view of Newnans Lake, January 2023 Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency, NAIP · Public domain · via USGS The National Map
Past algal blooms

Harmful algal blooms reported on this water (state reports compiled by U.S. EPA): 2022, 2023 and 2025.

state reports compiled by U.S. EPA · checked October 20, 2026

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Boat ramp
Managed by
Florida State Parks
Coordinates
29.61808, -82.25116

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Conditions

On Newnans Lake

Newnans Lake, also written Newnan's Lake, is a shallow, eutrophic lake east of Gainesville in Alachua County, Florida, near State Road 20. Sources give different sizes: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) lists 5,800 acres, Wikipedia 7,520 acres and Gainesville Creeks about 6,609 acres. Its area changes with rainfall, and dams once regulated the water level. The average depth is about 4.9 feet and the maximum about 12 feet. Little Hatchet, Sunnyland and Lake Forest creeks flow into the lake from the north and west. Prairie Creek drains it to the south toward Paynes Prairie and Camps Canal. The lake lies within the Orange Creek Basin, part of the Ocklawaha and St. Johns river system. It was originally called Lake Pithlachocco and was renamed after Daniel Newnan, who led Georgia militia in an 1812 battle with Seminoles near the lake. More about Newnans Lake.

Boating rules on Newnans Lake

  • During low water, Alachua County has closed a Newnans Lake boat ramp to motorized watercraft; paddle craft may still launch source

Community

Where people who use Newnans Lake talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: listed by Florida State Parks points of interest (boat ramps and canoe/kayak launches). Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.