East Lake is an unincorporated community in northeast Pinellas County, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Tampa. It lies along East Lake Road east of Lake Tarpon, north of Oldsmar and east of Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. It is defined by planned golf communities such as East Lake Woodlands and Lansbrook, the east shore of Lake Tarpon, and Brooker Creek Preserve, the largest natural area in Pinellas County. Homes here carry Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs or Oldsmar mailing addresses.
Living in East Lake
East Lake Road is the community's north-south spine, with Tampa Road (State Road 584) crossing at the south end and Keystone Road at the north. The Shoppes of Boot Ranch, at East Lake Road and Tampa Road, is an open-air center opened in 1990. It is anchored by Publix and Target and known for the giant boot sculpture at its center. East Lake is a Census place in Pinellas County, not to be confused with East Lake-Orient Park in Hillsborough County.
Parks, Lake Tarpon and Brooker Creek Preserve in East Lake
Brooker Creek Preserve, entered at 3940 Keystone Road, covers about 8,700 acres of forested wetlands and pine flatwoods. Pinellas County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District own it. It has an environmental education center with exhibits, boardwalks, hiking trails and horse trails, and it runs guided hikes and nature programs; admission is free.
John Chesnut Sr. Park covers 255 acres on Lake Tarpon's east shore at 2200 East Lake Road South. It has a boat ramp, nature trails and boardwalks, a canoe trail, a dog park, playgrounds and a softball field. Lake Tarpon, about 2,500 acres and the largest freshwater lake in the county, is known for largemouth bass fishing. Swimming is not allowed inside the park.
The nearest Gulf beach is Honeymoon Island State Park, about 15 miles west.
Homes in East Lake
Most homes are in planned communities, many built around golf courses or water. East Lake Woodlands is a master homeowners association with controlled access, two 18-hole championship golf courses and 14 Har-Tru tennis courts. Lansbrook has the Lansbrook Golf Club, and Cypress Run and Crescent Oaks are also golf communities. Other neighborhoods include Ridgemoor, Woodfield, Tarpon Woods, Bridlewood and Anchorage, and some homes front the east shore of Lake Tarpon.
Getting around East Lake
Tampa Road leads east through Oldsmar into Hillsborough County, and Tampa International Airport is about 20 miles away. US 19 is a few miles west. East Lake Road runs north to Keystone Road and Tarpon Springs.
