Directions
In Starke, from intersection of U.S. 301 and State Road 16, go east on SR 16 for 8 miles to community of Kingsley Beach. Turn right at convenience store on right (currently called Strickland’s One-Stop), and proceed to either the campground or swim park that both offer access to the lake.

For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions, satellite imagery, and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring, go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at the following address:  http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida

Spring Description
Kingsley Lake had previously been described on this site as a spring-fed lake.  According to information from William Osburn, a Hydrologist tiwh the St. Johns River Water Management District,

Kingsley Lake is a more or less a perched lake that is fed by rainfall and Surficial aquifer seepage along the lake bottom. Water leaks out of the bottom of the lake into deeper aquifer system.  During construction of the monitor wells near the entrance to Camp Blanding, the water management district found the top of the Floridan aquifer to be around 410 ft below land surface (BLS) or -184 ft MSL. The water level in the Floridan aquifer is at 64 ft MSL, while the water level in the lake is at 175 ft MSL. Only water from the Surficial aquifer system--the shallowest--can feed water to the lake. Since the Surfical consists of about 95 ft of unconsolidated sands at this site, it can't support openings--thus the water flows through the sands as seepage. This is the most common method by which Florida lakes exist. The Intermediate and Floridan aquifer water levels show that the lake would be loosing water to both of those aquifers. If water is flowing in the hole in the middle it is flowing out of the lake. However, there must be little flow as the lake maintains a pretty stabel level (e-mail communication, February 23, 2004).

The lake is notable for being both nearly perfectly round as well as nearly exactly two miles across. There is an 85-foot deep hole in the middle of the lake (Scalpone, p. 30). Water in the lake is clear and blue.

Use/Access

• The campground on the lake is a large facility with concessions, cabins, picnic pavilions, camp store, fishing, an arcade, boat rental, docks, and over 100 RV sites (no tent camping).
• Strickland Landing, next to the camp area, is a swim park with large slides, floats, and paddleboats for rent.
• Kingsley Lake borders the huge Camp Blanding National Guard Base and bombing range.

Nearby Springs
Heilbronn Springs
Wadesboro Spring
Whitewater Springs
Green Cove Spring

Other Nearby Natural Features
Ravine State Gardens
Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area
Anastasia State Recreation Area
Guana River State Park
Gold Head Branch State Park

Contact Information
Kingsley Beach RV Campground
6003 Kingsley Lake Drive
Starke, FL 32091
904-533-2006
Strickland Landing (swim park)
904-533-2321