Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:45 PM
About
Home to one of America’s largest natural springs, with clear water that’s a refreshing 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. The park is teeming with wildlife—spot turtles, otters, and manatees if you’re lucky. There are a host of activities you can sign up for, including tubing, paddleboarding, glass-bottom kayak adventures, snorkel tours, and scenic cruises. Hike the various trails, passing by man-made waterfalls and remnants of a decommissioned zoo. Plan your trip carefully and aim to arrive early, as the park sees high traffic on weekends and in the summer. There are campsites available equipped with potable water, electricity, and restrooms. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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  • GIBSONSONTHEGO2022
    Swartz Creek, Michigan58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Will go here again!
    Rainbow Spring was a beautiful place to either swim, snorkel, paddle boarding, kayaking & trail walking. It is pet friendly (see below). You can spend the whole day there & bring food/drinks. There is a gift shop, cafe, restrooms & changing buildings. Not enough to see for snorkeling but do it. Bring goggles. The water is clear blue & so refreshing!!! Admission was $2.00 per person. This is a must do & will go again. Rules to what we seen: -“No” floaty’s or wave boards is accepted in the swim area except baby floaty’s (for babies). -Pool noodles & life jackets are allowed in the swim area. -“No” pet swimming at all. (I don’t know if you will be fined.)
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 28, 2024
  • Karen C
    19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Crystal Clear Water for Swimming or Kayaking
    While staying in Ocala in late February, we visited Rainbow Springs State Park, which is near Dunellon, FL. Part of the property is an old zoo from the 1930s. There are winding walkways and several man-made waterfalls, which are fed by water from the crystal clear Rainbow River. The whole area is so lush and green felt like I was in an old Tarzan movie. In addition to the paved walkways are two nature trails. We chose the yellow trail, which is sandy and mostly level. The day we went it was cool and clear, but we only went as far as the river overlook before turning back. Back at the visitor center, we went closer to the roped off swimming area. The water was incredibly clear and different shades of blue. A volunteer told us the water stayed at 72 degrees year round because it's spring fed. There is a kayak/paddle board launch just past the swimming area with paddle boards and kayaks for rent. I would love to come back sometime and explore this park more. There is a campground a few miles from the park but we since we were just there for the morning we didn’t look into it. There is as least one other outfitter in the area that offers tubing.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 3, 2024
  • Jeff W
    London, Canada82 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of my favourite spots in Florida
    This park is a gem, very reasonable entry price, I think it was $4 each. The park offers some trails to walk a lovely area for picnics and a beautiful swimming area with crystal clear water and kayaking just down river. The swimming area is about 8-10' deep so small children will need life vests or some kind of water wings.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 12, 2024
  • Stacy G
    Jacksonville, Florida356 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First time!
    Lived in FL for 30yrs and NEVER knew of this place...shameful!! This was an amazing day - my mom and I found a trail to stroll. The weather today was perfection, too. We highly recommend this area and perhaps next visit we can kayak (?)
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 13, 2024
  • Laura H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see spring in Florida!
    I’ve lived in Florida since I was two. I wish I found this place sooner. It is a must see spring. Rainbow Springs State Park is quiet and peaceful. We saw otters and al types of birds on our tube float from the campground to the pick up. There was even a baby gator who acted like he didn’t care we were there. My entire family bought tubes (you can rent them too) and went on a four hour float from the campsite to the local pick up spot. It was gorgeous and relaxing. The spring head not only had a place to picnic and cookout but they had a couple of waterfalls and a beautiful trail to walk. They have a fun concession if you want to buy food. The smell of the jasmine and all the other trees and flowers within the park was breathtaking. I highly recommend this for a family vacation.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 7, 2024
  • TrailTrekker15
    Tallahassee, Florida5,495 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Refreshing Swim in Beautiful Spring
    My wife and I spent a couple of hours at Rainbow Springs on the way to Orlando. We went swimming in the spring for a while. They have an excellent floating platform to access the spring. The water was 72 which was nippy on a 94 degree day. It was extremely refreshing and enjoyable. We took a walk through the forest above the spring and enjoyed the man-made waterfalls and gorgeous scenery. There is also a gift shop which helped us purchase some things we forgot. The cafe also offers some basic fare as well at reasonable prices. It is a must-visit spot in the Central Florida area.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 4, 2024
  • Liz J
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rainbow Springs swimming!
    Beautiful, clear, cool headwaters of the Rainbow Springs! So refreshing to swim in! The park has a concession stand or you can bring in your own picnic. There is a pavilion with picnic tables and a grassy large field. The paths around the park are fun to walk through. The main attraction, though, is the swimming area! You need to have a swimming noodle (they sell them at the gift shop for a fair price). You jump in from a “pool deck” and then can swim around. It’s quite deep, so you need the noodle- no floats or tubes allowed. We went on a Tuesday and it was quite crowded, I imagine the weekends are packed. But it was still fun and refreshing.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 3, 2024
  • Chickadee2013
    Cocoa, Florida404 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Water is over your head.
    This is a hard one to review. We are happy we visited once but we wouldn't go again unless we lived nearby and then it would be for the park as much as for the beautiful springs. The entry fee was only $1 per person when we visited due to a limited discount by the governor. Normal admission is $2 per person. Can't complain about that. You are limited to what type of floats you can bring in so make sure to read about that. The main thing I would address is the fact that the swimming area is over your head the entire space. I saw a man step off the steps and down he went totally not expecting to go over his head. He was surprised. Also, many parents had children that did not have appropriate floats on. Because of not being able to touch bottom and the coldness of the water, most people just crowded around the dock and all the stairs and steps were blocked most of the time. We enjoyed going in the water and had pool noodles that we brought in. They are allowed. But, it is nice to be able to put your feet on shallow spots in most of the springs we visit. If I had children I wouldn't go here when there are so many other springs that have shallow areas. The park itself is absolutely beautiful, with waterfalls and a very nice paved walkway that is a 2.5 mile loop. Definitely worth a visit....or several.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 11, 2024
  • Romina M
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hidden gem
    Just beautiful! Great place to go with your family. Water was clear, but beware the water is cold, but refreshing. It’s a natural spring so it stays about 72 degrees year round. Lots of activities we did the canoes and had a blast!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 18, 2024
  • T7970TZmichaelp
    Westford, Massachusetts28 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    No life guard makes this place not as nice or safe as other places you can swim
    The water is so clear and refreshing but there is no life guard. I wish they would add a life guard because people do not read the signs or they just do not care. They just put up a new yellow sign but it is only visible when you are in the water they need to put another sign near the do not smoke past this point sign. Bobby Kennedy for President!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles946 reviews
Excellent
665
Very good
200
Average
48
Poor
19
Terrible
14

Kzptrippy
14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
it was a good park to be at with the kids and the family. We took the dog, as long as he’s on a leash it was OK. we went canoeing, that was a lot of fun to do with the kids, the river was extremely clear and nice. So many fish that I normally don’t see it down here in South Florida so it’s cool to see new species of fish in the water. The staff was very good at controlling the amount of people in the park. Unfortunately the waterfalls were mostly Off but at least the one that was there working was very nice and nature trail was good. I saw some wildlife and butterflies. The swimming area was awesome, the kids enjoyed theirselves and you could swim down and look at the springs under the water. All in all it was a good experience and we enjoyed ourselves and felt relatively safe compared to most places where there might be a much bigger crowd especially at this time. Sounds like Aarons
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve B
Moraine, OH121 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
This place was absolutly Beautiful , I Don't have alot of Pics. becuase I took mostly Videos , We took the 2 1/2 Hr. trip and I Highly recomend if you ever get the Chance , get you a Water proof Camera/ Phone case and do it , the water is So Crystal Clear and the Wild life is Amazing , The Birds , Turtles , Otters and Gators (Yes we were about 20 ft. from the Gators ) but they just swam along the bank and didn;t bother us , I Highly Recommend !
Written June 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jackbauerTX
Saltillo, MS336 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Family
Went here on a Tuesday and it was an ok time. The place is beautiful and is the beginning of the springs. Water is crystal clear and ideal for kayaking and swimming. We decided for a hike since it was a little on the cool side for swimming and the trails left you yearning for more. If you compare to the st George trail over in Ocala National Park it loses big time. Mostly sandy pine forest with not so much scenery of the spring. I would come here only if I was planning to swim. Cost was $2/person so very reasonable compared to surrounding sites.
Written December 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mattie
Hollywood, FL35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Friends
Love.y park and facilities. The springs were beautiful, however, please be aware that it is 6ft. deep with no areas within the swimming area to stand. No rafts allowed, only noodles. Suggest water wings or life vest to float as you can get tired from wading water all of the time. There is a snack bar, kayak-canoe-water board rental. for an additional charge. You can even tube down the Rainbow River. Only $2.00 per person to get into the park and swim and hike the various trails.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MiaInMichigan
Michigan45 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
This park is layed out terrible. It is a long walk from the parking lot to the pay booth. Then another long walk to a picnic area. There was not much to see in the park the day we went. Unfortunately the plants had all frozen and were dead. Only one waterfall had any water. The only nice thing was the swim area…but again it is a long walk back and forth to the parking lot. Not able to carry much in. The swim area is deep, no beach, so not that great for little kids. Very pretty and clear water, but not much to see while snorkeling. The official state park page says $5 a vehicle, but we were charged $2 a person, making it $8 a vehicle for us. Definitely not worth it! There were rangers standing around the money collection area, but the visitor center, shop, and concessions were all closed. I thought it was ridiculous to charge so much when nothing was opened and there was nothing to see…
Written February 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ontheroadagain1313
Florida135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
So grateful for those folks that had the foresight to preserve this lovely park! We loved seeing the waterfalls and the blooming azalea. The weather was gorgeous in January with a perfect temperature for walking! There are some hills and uneven walkways but still easy to navigate. Plenty of parking, very clean bathrooms and changing rooms for the swimmers/kayakers. Incredibly peaceful as there were few people on a cool January morning; well worth the $2 per person admission price. I loved seeing the old amusement park map and wish I could have seen the park "back in the day"!!
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janis H-P
Ocala, FL3,976 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We spent the day at beautiful Rainbow Springs State Park today. The 'peak' of the azaleas is almost over for this year but there's still the tranquil blue/green water to photograph and many flowers left to enjoy. The price to get in ($2 per adult) is minimal for the benefit of all there is to see and experience. Beauty, joy, Mother Nature's wonders.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mrsO
Grand Rapids, MN5 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
The swimming area was one big box.. flat bottom, nothing to really see. I guess getting wet in clear water is enough for some. However, the kayaking rental was reasonable and able to see several birds, fish, and turtles. Not a river through the woods though. Very residential on one side, and woods in the other. Kinda odd considering.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Valerie G
North Port, FL288 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
My husband and I decided to take a trip here after hearing from friends how amazing the river is. We drove three hours to get to Rainbow River State Park and was so excited. I felt devastated when we arrived and found they were limiting capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions, which is understandable, it just wasn't posted on any of the websites. We did a quick loop down the long road past the park and when we got back around, I was amazed that we happened to be pulling up as another car was pulling out. They were doing one in, one out, so we barely made it in. We arrived around noon. I recommend getting there earlier! It's $20 for the tube and experience which was well worth the price!

We waited for a tram that took us up river. The wait was about 15 minutes. The ride was enjoyable!

I left another review on the actual river and how amazing the experience of being on the Rainbow River was. This is for the actual park and our experience there. In short the river is crystal clear and you can see 30 feet down at some points. Everyone must experience it.

I recommend packing light! We brought water bottles, shoes, glasses, snorkeling gear, sunblock- oh my gosh, just way too much junk! As if we were going to be putting more sunblock on as we floated down the river anyways. Bring NOTHING other than your bathing suit. I would leave your shoes in your car.

When we exited the river at the end of our 2 hour journey, there was a really bad current while trying to exit! Be aware. The walk back to the car was beautiful and actually very relaxing. We definitely will go again.

For anything other than tubing, we didn't explore at all so I'm not sure about any other amenities in this park.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Puzzled Traveler
Atlanta, GA67 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
Arrived just after the park opened to hike and swim, unfortunately, I went on a day when kayaking and tubing were not available. I was told there was a group that uses the swimming area every morning and it was suggested that I do the hike first by the Park Ranger at the gate. I attempted to go to the gift shop but it is run by volunteers and the opening time is “when they feel like coming in” and at that point they had not arrived. Headed out to walk the garden paths that lead to the hiking trail and had a guy with a leaf blower following me around clearing the pathways. They can’t do that in the hour between sunrise and the park opening time? I skipped a bunch of the garden area just to get away from the noise. The old Zoo area was neat to look at after a short hike I was able to go back through the gardens. Unfortunately, all of the little waterfalls in the gardens are man-made and they only had the pump for one of them working while I was there. Walked back to the parking lot to retrieve things for swimming as the morning group had left. They do have a very nice building with multiple private changing rooms near the swimming area. It was also nice that they had both steps for entry and a ladder on the dock. The designated swimming area is very small and as strange as it may sound the local wildlife seems to know where the boundaries are as there were only a few small fish to see while snorkeling and all the turtles and larger fish were out on the other side of the rope. After a swim, I saw the gift shop was open. I picked out a small souvenir but I was told the limit for card usage was $5, which was odd as I had paid with a card for the entry fee which was less than $5. Usually places with a limit will have snacks, candy, or drinks near the register so you can add something to increase your total, they had none, not even bottled water. I left without a souvenir. Nice place but room for improvement.
Written May 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Rainbow Springs State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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