Experience lakeside living at its finest when you stay at this Waldo vacation rental near Gainesville! Whether you’re in town to cheer on the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or just seeking a peaceful escape by the water, you’ll find the perfect base in this 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath house. Fish or kayak on-site before checking out local shops and eateries in Melrose! Then, return home for a game of billiards or relax on the furnished porch.
-- THE PROPERTY --
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS - Bedroom 1: 1 king bed - Bedroom 2: 1 queen bed - Bedroom 3: 2 queen beds - Bedroom 4: 1 queen bed, 1 twin bunk bed - Bedroom 5: 1 twin bed, 1 bunk bed (twin/full)
INDOOR LIVING - Pool table - 2 Smart TVs - Gas fireplace - Hardwood floors
OUTDOOR LIVING - Private dock - 5 kayaks (3 adult-sized, 2 youth-sized), canoe, paddleboard - Furnished porch w/ lake view - Spacious yard w/ cypress trees - Gas grill - Outdoor shower
- Lake Santa Fe access, fishing & kayaking on-site - 7 miles to Historic Downtown Melrose: local restaurants & cafes, antique shops - 20 miles to Gainesville, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 5 miles to Brown's Farm - 11 miles to Newnans Lake Conservation Area - 15 miles to Gainesville Regional Airport, 72 miles to Jacksonville Int’l Airport
-- REST EASY WITH US --
Evolve makes it easy to find and book properties you'll never want to leave. You can relax knowing that our properties will always be ready for you and that we'll answer the phone 24/7. Even better, if anything is off about your stay, we'll make it right. You can count on our homes and our people to make you feel welcome — because we know what vacation means to you.
-- POLICIES --
- No smoking - No pets allowed - No events, parties, large gatherings, or loud music - This property has a strict maximum occupancy of 8 - Must be at least 25 years old to book - Additional fees and taxes may apply - Photo ID may be required upon check-in - Please observe quiet hours starting at 7:00 PM
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - This 2-story house requires using 4 steps to enter; 1 bedroom and full bathroom are accessible on the 1st floor - For stays longer than 3 weeks, mid-stay cleanings will be required at no additional charge
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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
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
About the area
Earleton
Located in Earleton, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Hippodrome State Theatre and Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Waldo Motorsports and Thomas Center. Travelling with kids? Consider Florida Museum of Natural History, or check out an event or a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. With kayaking and power boating nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - 25 min drive - 36.0 km
Gainesville Raceway - 26 min drive - 32.9 km
University of Florida - 32 min drive - 40.1 km
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 35 min drive - 41.8 km
Getting around
Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 23 min drive
Restaurants
Stone’s Irish Pub - 24 min drive
Dunkin' - 11 min drive
McDonald's - 25 min drive
Florida Cracker Oyster Bar & Grill - 24 min drive
Hardee's - 25 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock!?
As of 10 Aug, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock! on 25 Apr, 2027 start from S$1,986, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock!?
Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 20 Mi to UF Campus: Santa Fe Lake Escape w/ Dock! located?
This family-friendly Earleton holiday home is located on the waterfront, 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Santa Fe Lake, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Waldo Motorsports and Santa Fe River. Lake Geneva and Lake Rowell are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The host was so very sweet and very accommodating! Very responsive. The house is perfect for quiet nights and mornings. Just secluded enough for the rural and close enough for a little city.
This is a great house and property with an extremely helpful and attentive owner. We stayed for Memorial Day weekend and had the best time. Will definitely stay again.
Marisa O.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
John
7 Nov, 2024
So relaxing
A Great place to get away and relax! This is our second visit and we will be back.
Had a great weekend, convenient location, and quiet! Great place for a weekend or longer, plenty to do, and a lot of fun. Well furnished and maintained.
Had an awesome start to spring break 2023 in this beautiful home. Perfect for friend and family group. Very nice home and location. Would definitely stay here again!
Very relaxing home The back porch is fantastic and the lake views gorgeous It's a bit of a drive into Gainesville, but it was nice to get away from all the graduation crowds. Comfortable beds and plenty of room. We had a great weekend!
Cheryl S.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sonya
7 Jul, 2023
Family and Friends Spring Break Race weekend
We had 2 families enjoy this beautiful home. Some headed to the Gator Nationals and other enjoyed the lake and the sunshine!
We recently visiting this wonderful little getaway on Lake Sante Fe. I have stayed at several properties over the years on this lake, and I have to say, this has been my favorite. The owner was communicative and helpful. We are already looking to book again!
Great time at our rental on Little Santa Fe Lake. Came to Florida for the football game in Gainesville from Texas. House was very clean, comfortable and just a short drive from Gainesville. Would highly recommend!
The house was great and the view and nature is spectacular. I was not aware that all but the master bedroom are on a second floor. But they are very spacious and plenty of room. Would definitely stay there again.
The house was beautiful, better than I expected from the listing. It had been obviously renovated, and the bathrooms really are nice. The dock, and the lake were beautiful. We enjoyed using the fire pit. The kitchen was very well equipped, and I had no problem at all making an extensive Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen. There is a nice Winn-Dixie about 15 minutes away. There is an up-to-date, modern washer and dryer that worked beautifully. We would like to stay here again!
We rented this home to attend my son's graduation at UF. It is a beautiful property and house has a lot of space. Too cold and windy that weekend to get out on the lake unfortunately. It was about a 30 minute drive to the university which was not as convenient for attending some events associated with graduation. Otherwise I would definitely recommend.
Karen J.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Rita
30 Dec, 2023
Great home for families traveling for graduation
We had family coming in for our son's graduation from the University of Florida and we rented this beautiful lake house for us all to be together. The home was very spacious allowing us all to be together without being on top of each other. The bedrooms and bathrooms were very large and had ample storage space. There were so many things to do including playing a game of pool, fishing, swimming, boating, trail walking, and even a bricked-in firepit. The home was very clean with updated appliances and finishes. The owners were very responsive when we had a question and we will be recommending this home to our friends who also have kids at UF.
We stayed to celebrate our daughter’s graduation from UF Vet school. The house was beautiful and spacious. We had 4 adults and 1 teenager with plenty of room. We enjoyed mornings and evenings sitting on the dock and porch. We spent many hours fishing off the dock and landed a few small fish. The weather was also perfect the entire stay. I appreciated the canoe and kayak options however my family was scared an alligator was going to eat them LOL, no gators were seen. The only negative I have is the shower water pressure was weak and the ladies complained about getting shampoo out of their hair. Wasn’t a big deal for me and certainly not a deal breaker. I would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend this house.
This is our second time staying at this beautiful lakefront property. This home is equipped with everything you need with a fully stocked kitchen supplies, plenty of bedrooms, a wonderful porch to relax on and a great dock. We brought our boat and a had great days on Little Lake Santa Fe! We will definitely stay again.