Tucked on Lake Wauburg, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (No Gas Motors) is a freshwater launch that gives Alachua County boaters direct access to some of the region's most fishable water. It's the kind of ramp locals keep in their rotation — close to home, reliably usable, and a quick run to open water. It runs a single lane, so plan to arrive early on peak weekends. As of the last FWC inventory update, a launch fee applies here.
Share your photo of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (No Gas Motors)
Been to this ramp? Add a photo to help other Florida boaters know what to expect.
Photos are reviewed before appearing on the site. JPG/PNG/HEIC, up to 15 MB.
At a glance
- County
- Alachua
- City
- Micanopy
- Waterbody
- Lake Wauburg
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Ramp type
- Stand Alone Ramp
- Launch lanes
- 1
- Ramp surface
- Concrete
- Dock
- No Dock
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Restroom
- No Toilet
- Fee required
- Yes
- Managed by
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 8:00 AM until Sunset, 365 days a year
Address: 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy, FL, 32667 · Coordinates: 29.529356, -82.298473
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat between freshwater launches to help stop the spread of invasive plants like hydrilla.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Cedar Key, about 52 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
Been to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (No Gas Motors)? Share tide tips, parking notes, or what you caught. Sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Disqus — comments are reviewed before appearing. See our privacy notes on Disqus for what's shared.