Rainbow Springs State Park is the perfect weekend getaway if you’re looking for a fun-filled adventure. The state park is conveniently located in Marion County, Florida, about an hour from Gainesville and two hours from Tampa.
Rainbow Springs State Park offers travelers many ways to experience Florida’s natural beauty and splendor. Here are just a few of our top picks for things to do.
With its pristine waters and serene setting, Rainbow River is ideal for cooling off on a hot summer day. The water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round.
Rainbow Springs State Park is a nature lover’s paradise. The trails span an impressive 2.5 miles along the Rainbow River, offering picturesque views of sandhill communities, temperate hardwood hammocks, oaks, azaleas, the river, and the phosphate pits.
Walk through the gardens, discover the park’s diverse wildlife, and look out for some of its famous residents, like the river otters, Osprey, hawks, alligators, and Sandhill Cranes.
The park has a headsprings launch area for privately-owned vessels, so you can bring your boat and drift down the crystal-clear waters of the Rainbow River.