Rodman Reservoir lies in Marion and Putnam Counties on the northwest corner of the Ocala National Forest on the eastern end of the Cross Florida Greenway. It was created in the 1960s by damming the Ocklawaha River.
The Ocklawaha River is about 135 miles long with its headwaters in the Green Swamp area south of Apopka. The river flows north and joins the Silver River near Silver Springs. It continues north to Orange Springs, joins Orange Creek and then flows east until it empties into the St. Johns River west of Welaka.