Okeechobee · Off US-441 near Taylor Creek · Second Seminole War site
Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park
Stand on the open ground where U.S. troops under Col. Zachary Taylor fought Seminole and Miccosukee warriors on Christmas Day 1837, a free, quiet National Historic Landmark minutes from the US-441 RV parks.
Opens Florida State Parks’ page for the battlefield. Entry is free, except on reenactment weekend.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Historic battlefield
Memorial plaques, signs and a picnic pavilion
Admission
Free
A fee applies on reenactment weekend in February.
Hours
Wed–Sun 8–5
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Time needed
30–60 minutes
Our estimate; plan a full day for the reenactment
Parking
Park lot
Parking and restrooms; no published RV limits
Battle date
Dec. 25, 1837
One of the bloodiest battles of the Second Seminole War
What you’ll see
Where the Second Seminole War turned
The park is small and quiet most of the year: open ground, a memorial and signs that explain what happened here on Christmas Day 1837.
Start here
The battle
On December 25, 1837, more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers and volunteers under Col. Zachary Taylor attacked several hundred Seminole and Miccosukee warriors who had taken up position in a hammock along the north edge of Lake Okeechobee. The soldiers advanced through sawgrass and water under heavy fire. Florida State Parks calls it one of the bloodiest battles of the Second Seminole War and a turning point, after which full-scale attacks largely stopped.
RV tip: the battlefield is about 2 minutes from Taylor Creek RV Resort and the fittingly named Zachary Taylor RV Resort, so it makes an easy short stop on the way into town.
More to see
- Memorial plaquesBronze plaques at the site describe the battle and the men who fought it.
- The February reenactmentOn the last weekend in February, reenactors set up Seminole and U.S. Army camps with period crafts and stage the battle. A fee applies that weekend.
- Chickee and pavilionA replica Seminole chickee and a picnic pavilion make a shady lunch stop; the rest of the site is open ground.
- A National Historic LandmarkThe battlefield was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and the state acquired it as a park in 2006.
Why go
A turning point in Florida’s longest Indian war
The Second Seminole War ran from 1835 to 1842 and was the longest and costliest of the U.S. wars against Native Americans. The Battle of Okeechobee was its largest pitched battle: the Seminole and Miccosukee chose the ground and inflicted heavy losses before withdrawing, and the victory claimed by Taylor helped make the reputation that later carried him to the White House.
For RVers it’s a short, free history stop just off US-441 on the south side of Okeechobee, a couple of minutes from several RV parks. Combine it with lunch in town or a ride on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail nearby.
Visit on the last weekend in February for the reenactment, when the field fills with encampments and living-history demonstrations. Any other time, come on a cool morning; there is little shade.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Why it made our list
- Free, Wednesday through Sunday
- 2 minutes from the US-441 RV parks
- Reenactment the last weekend in February
- A National Historic Landmark
- Picnic pavilion and accessible restrooms
For RVers
Visiting from camp
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
A quick stop
The park is at 3500 SE 38th Avenue, just off US-441 near Taylor Creek. It has parking, a picnic pavilion and accessible restrooms, but Florida State Parks doesn’t publish RV size limits, so from the nearby parks the tow vehicle is the easy choice.
Reenactment weekend
The reenactment draws crowds, and parking fills. Arrive early, bring money for the event fee, and expect a full day of demonstrations, camps and the battle itself. Check the park page for the year’s dates and schedule.
Pets
Florida state parks generally allow pets on a leash of 6 feet or less in outdoor areas, and the battlefield’s page lists no special rules. Keep dogs leashed, clean up after them and bring water, since shade is scarce.
Sun and bugs
Most of the site is open field with little shade. Bring water, a hat and bug spray, especially in the warmer months.
What visitors say about Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 28, 2026.
Historic battlefield on the edge of Lake Okeechobee is preserved and honored.
Florida State Parks · floridastateparks.org
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
HistoryReenactment
Google’s review topics point to the history (9 reviews) and the reenactment (4). Checked October 28, 2026.
How far from camp
Google Maps drive times to the park, checked October 28, 2026.
Good to know
EntryFree fee on reenactment weekend
OpenWed–Sun 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ReenactmentLate Feb last weekend of the month
BringWaterHatBug spray
Hours and fees from Florida State Parks, checked October 28, 2026. Reenactment fees and times are set each year, so check the park page before you go.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park
- Address3500 SE 38th Ave, Okeechobee, FL 34974
- HoursWed–Sun 8–5
Closed Monday and Tuesday. - Phone(863) 462-5360
- Park infoFlorida State Parks page or call (863) 462-5360
- Getting thereFrom Okeechobee, follow US-441 (US-98) southeast toward Taylor Creek and turn onto SE 38th Avenue. The park is at 3500 SE 38th Ave., about 4 miles from downtown.
- ParkingParking area with accessible restrooms and a picnic pavilion. Florida State Parks doesn’t publish RV size limits.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Reenactment weekend has its own schedule.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park
These are the Lake Okeechobee parks we have visited and written up. The first two are a couple of minutes from the battlefield, and Silver Palms is about 7 minutes away.
Taylor Creek RV Resort + Marina
Canal-front sites with boat docks on Taylor Creek, practically next door to the battlefield.
Zachary Taylor Waterfront RV Resort
Waterfront park on Taylor Creek with boat access to the lake, named for the colonel who led the attack.
Silver Palms RV Resort
Upscale resort with a heated pool, clubhouse and paved sites, a short drive down US-441.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Wed–Sun · 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ready to walk the battlefield?
Stop in on a cool morning, read the plaques, and come back the last weekend in February for the reenactment.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: RobertJBanach (the entrance sign and memorial plaques; CC BY-SA 4.0), Ebyabe (the battlefield grounds; CC BY-SA 3.0), John Warner Barber (1847 engraving of the battle, Why go; public domain) and an unknown photographer (the bullet said to have killed Col. Richard Gentry; public domain), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Okeechobee the Magazine on YouTube (the Battle of Okeechobee). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including Florida State Parks’ published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, fees, rules and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park at floridastateparks.org or (863) 462-5360. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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