Entire home

Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida

Photo gallery for Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida

Outdoor seating chairs, a concrete pathway, and a view of a body of water.
A room with a wooden floor, two rocking chairs, a bookshelf filled with books and decorative items, and a window with blinds.
A wooden boardwalk leading to a building with a green roof, surrounded by trees with Spanish moss.
A wooden dining table with four plates, a small plant, and a coffee pot on a bench.
A room with wicker furniture, a ceiling fan, and large windows.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
Located on the lake, this vacation home features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, accommodating 7 guests. Enjoy beautiful lake views from the patio. The property is pet-friendly and situated near Santa Fe Lake and Waldo Farmers Market.

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Santa Fe Lake
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dog-friendly
  • Onsite parking available
  • Air-conditioning
  • Patio
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Melrose, FL
  • Place, Santa Fe Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Florida
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Place, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
    ‪33 min drive‬
  • Airport, Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida

You will love spending your vacation relaxing lake side or enjoying Florida's largest water sports lake, Lake Santa Fe! Just 25 minutes to Gainesville and all it has to offer. You can go to a Gator game or hike the Hawthorne Trail to see Florida's natural wildlife. There's something for everyone!
*Sleeps 7 (5 in beds and 1 pullout couch)
*Pets allowed after owner consent.

Long-term rentals available.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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Exterior
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House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Additional fee for pets
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 7411139
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Melrose

Located in Melrose, this holiday home is on a lake. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Thomas Center are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Waldo Motorsports and Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Stephen C. O'Connell Center or Gainesville Raceway.
View more Holiday homes in MelroseOpens in a new window
Map
Melrose, FL

What's nearby

  • Santa Fe Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • University of Florida - 30 min drive - 36.6 km
  • Gainesville Raceway - 30 min drive - 41.0 km
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 33 min drive - 38.3 km
  • Oaks Mall - 42 min drive - 54.2 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stone’s Irish Pub - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Florida Cracker Oyster Bar & Grill - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Hardee's - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Lake living close to Gainesville, UF Health and University of Florida located?

Situated on a lake, this holiday home is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Santa Fe Lake and within 12 miles (20 km) of Lake Geneva and Santa Fe River. Waldo Motorsports and Cowpen Lake are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 91 out of 104 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 104 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 104 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 104 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 104 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quaint and private. Beautiful lake. Had everything we needed. Easy communication with the host. Easy check in
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First timers on VRBO! The host communicated very well. We visited for graduation at UF. I was nervous to try out staying somewhere that wasn’t a hotel but it was such a great experience! The family really enjoyed the dock and there was plenty of space for everyone, It was about a 30 minute drive to UF which was not bad at all.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Rustic lake place. Clean inside. Well appointed kitchen. Beautiful view of lake from huge sunroom and from living room. We brought our kayak and small sailboat. Perfect trip! Would love to stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2026
And we would love to have you back :)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pleasant Lake Cottage. Very clean.

Family loved the place. Decorated like a 50's Diner, which I loved.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation

Have stayed here several times, great as always
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage

House was lovely and very comfortable - quiet and peaceful!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice family trip

Very nice location on the water. Brought my bass boat and had a great family outing.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake House living

Perfect place to stay outside of Gainesville for University of Florida graduation.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint lakeside cottage

Adorable and comfortable place with a beautiful lakeside view. The owners included many little touches to make our stay enjoyable.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family time

We love it here!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake vacay

We love it here!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Santa fe

Beautiful property
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great stay

We have used this property for several years. It’s always clean and accommodating. Our favorite features are the spacious covered dock and the back porch overlooking the lake.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location close to Gainesville

This is a Great Lake house with a covered dock providing full view of Lake Santa Fe. It is close to the boat ramp and is located on the southwest corner of the lake for easy access to town. Beautiful views of the lake from two viewing areas inside and a raised area outside provide relaxing time for watching or playing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jul 2025
We always enjoy hosting you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great stay!

So clean and comfy! Convenient to the public boat ramp. This was our 2nd trip. Love the views from the sunroom.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great everything we needed and more. The home was very clean and well kept. So enjoyed the lake.

This was easy peasy! Will use Home away again
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family time

Had a great time just hanging out and enjoying the lake
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Santa Fe

Lovely and cozy
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great short stay

Great stay at the lake house. Beautiful views and a really unique, fun property. It was exactly what we needed. Very clean and cozy. Thank you! When we are in the area, we will stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Nov 2024
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay and can't wait to have you visit again!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Wedding

We were here for a wedding
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Even though we didn’t have internet for 5 days, we had a nice time. I do recommend the host to fix the kitchen floor, so others don’t trip or cut their toes. Also, the bathtub wasn’t clean.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jan 2026
Thanks for the feedback, Tammy. I wish you would have mentioned the tub while I was there and I would have cleaned it for you. We are working hard on making improvements to the house and can't wait to share with guests!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serene

The place is serene and beautiful beyond measure. Erica was extraordinary and kind with all communication. Highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

September 2023 visit

It’s always a pleasure to visit this home and lake Santa Fe. This part of Florida is as beautiful as ever (but let’s keep that a secret). Thanks for the visit!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Anniversary

The place was great with the exception of the {swimming area)
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Back to school

Great end to the summer break and minutes away from campus
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

About the host

Hosted by Erica

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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