Rainbow Springs State Park

It's like your own peaceful island! I spring hop often and this is by far the best I've been to! Not just for the waterfalls or the amazing springs but they also had restrooms, a gift shop and a snack bar!! It is clean and well kept also! I went during a weekday and got there as soon as they opened so it was quiet for the first few hours before it got busy! It was still serene tho!

Beautiful piece of heaven to visit amazing clear water to swim in, stunning trail walks and breathtaking waterfalls. This place has it all. We're visiting from the uk 🇬🇧 and this was definitely one of my favourite places. Highly recommended. Only 2 dollars per person to enter too and car park is fairly big with a very short walk so very easily accessible.

I've been here a couple times now and enjoyed each visit. Haven't been to many Florida state parks yet but this is one of my favorites. The kayaking is good and the gardens, flowers and waterfalls are beautiful. Worth a visit if you are near Ocala or looking to detour off I-75.

We came here for a couple hours last week on our way north and loved it! It cost $2 apiece to get in, which was a steal of a deal to swim in this amazing blue water. It felt pretty chilly to the older adults, but the kids had a great time, and we were all refreshed from not only swimming but being in such beautiful surroundings. One thing to note is that even though the water looks shallow, it's too deep to touch the bottom, so not really conducive to wading.

Very fun. Kids had a blast swimming. It was early January and only 65 degrees but the kids were more than happy to spend a few hours in the swimming area. Walking around park was very nice, lots of beautiful scenery, waterfalls and streams. Nature trails were also fun but didn’t get a chance to explore them all. Will definitely be returning next time we are here for vacation.
To be clear, not sure if diving or jumping is allowed but it was 6-7’ deep and kids never got yelled at so🤷‍♂

Beautiful place! Very well maintained, friendly staff. $2 entry fee per person. Not a lot of parking so, come early. A gift shop and a small cafe are available but, not always open so bring whatever you might need, just in case. If bringing small children, please bring some type of USCG-approved flotation device for them as the water is too deep for even adults to stand. There's no beach access, just steps and pier access. You are not allowed to hang out on the steps either so again, it's recommended to bring flotation devices for younger kids and non swimmers. Waterfalls, trails, covered picnic areas and open grassy areas for picnics and sitting are all some great features.

We took a motorcycle ride and visited here to take in the scenery. The park was beautiful. It has a crystal clear spring area for swimming. It also had very pretty waterfall's for viewing. They had a gift shop, and a snack bar. There were also indoor restrooms. There is walking involved up, and down hill. It appeared that a motorized handicapped seated scooter could be used if needed. There was a $2.00 entry fee per person.

You can find all your answers here before coming here. This place is so amazing to see one of the natural springs in Florida. Firstly, it's open all day, basically from sunrise to sunset, which sounds great! It's a perfectly clean environment with amazing natural sounds. Summertime is always packed, so I was able to visit in October, which made me feel like I was the only person in the state park. The weather here is a bit colder than in South Florida. The swimming pool area is a bit small, so it could be a problem during the summer for accommodating everyone. There's not enough flat space to sit on the ground for a picnic, but they do have a pavilion and a cafe. The restroom is close to the pool area. If you like, you can also do canoeing 🛶 or kayaking. Last but not least, it's $2 per person.

Here's all you need:

⭐ Bring a noodle; the water is a bit deep, but you can feel secure.
⭐ Tubes are not allowed 🚫.
⭐If you have a cart, keep in mind that parking and the pool area are about a 5-minute walk away.
⭐Bring your snorkel 🤿 or goggles 👓.
⭐I highly recommend bringing a wetsuit if you have one; the water is around 72 degrees all year.
⭐Be ready to take amazing pictures!

This is the heads springs for the Rainbow River the water is crystal clear. There is a roped off area for swimming. During the week it is not too crowded, a bit more peaceful and quiet. During the winter months, even quieter. A few waterfalls along a paved walkway and some fish ponds. Picnic tables, benches to relax on, public restrooms. The staff was very friendly. The nature trails are sand and very wooded but easy to navigate. Parking can be a problem During the summer months, have to get there early. You can rent kayaks there also, I didn't, so can't comment on that. Just a beautiful state park worth every bit of the $2 entrance fee.

What can I say? B E A U T I F U L!!!! Kayak rental on site, just a short beautiful walk from the entry booth; reasonable prices. Nature trail with cute waterfalls. Clean and quiet. Water is crystal clear… surreal!!! Must see!

Huge dog friendly place to hike (at least 3 miles of trail, some off the beaten path). Man made waterfalls, azaleas, beautiful landscaping, and lots of ferns.
The dogs can’t go in the springs, but the swimming area is neat. It’s 8 feet deep everywhere with a dock. Tiny holes everywhere burbeling with sand.

Beautiful place to spend the day! There are trails, a place to relax on a beautiful hill overlooking the spring. Be aware that the water is deep, if you are not a great swimmer bring flotation devices. On the weekends lots of kids jumping in and off the ledge so if you prefer the tranquil essence of the spring, find a week day or early in the day. It was very beautiful just a little much with the constant jumping in and then being sick and not feeling super confident with swimming. Otherwise amazing beautiful healing space, hikes were my favorite ❤

Beautiful park. Lots to see. Walked the yellow and white hiking trail. Very well maintained. Trail was not busy at all. We even saw deer. I would recommend going early as it was getting a bit crowded, for my taste, when we were leaving. The spring of course is simply breathtaking. Crystal clear water, can see the fish swimming.

The best part about traveling to any spring in the state of Florida . Is getting there . And the back way is the most scenic
Rainbow Springs is definitely at the top of the list for Springs. A little physical for somebody who is struggling with strength. There's waterfalls throughout the property, but it's a very hilly terrain. Handicap accessible to see the falls and around the spring. But not handicap to get into the water. I was very disappointed and exhausted after driving 3 hours to go there. I wasn't able to get into the water. I used the Springs as part of my therapy after having a broken back. I spoke to the Rangers about having a handicap accessible ramp that goes down into the water. Some of the Springs have the handicap chair. There is more than one handicap person going to the park. The park is beautifully maintained. The spring is absolutely breathtaking, always a 72° all year round. It's a $2 fee to get in and definitely worth it. There are several springs in the surrounding area. You can ask for a spring map and also a state park map for Florida. There are over 176 state parks, not including National in the State of Florida alone. And at least 75 Natural Springs in the state of Florida. Each one being more beautiful than another.
I hope you enjoy my recommendation. Safe travel🏞
Simply Paradise MicheleG

My husband and I went paddle boarding at rainbow springs and we loved it! Beautiful river! We didn’t get to see much wildlife but it was still worth seeing the crystal clear water.

Beautiful trails with gorgeous flowers and plants and waterfalls!
Crystal clear river for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding. Don't worry, the alligators don't bite!

My second time here, water was beautiful and then we went for a walk out along the trails and saw the waterfalls. Recommend checking it out! Lots of places to sit and have a packed in lunch. Bath house was clean and accessible.

This is a beautiful park! And it only costs a few dollars to enter. The water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming on a warm, sunny day. The trails are beautiful and scenic, allowing people to see the natural spring waterfalls. I would gladly return here to spend the day again.

Absolutely gorgeous place to walk, they're are both paved and dirt trails. There are a few places that have a bit of an incline (and decline). People with knee issues might need to skip some areas. Also, the gift shop is really nice!

Wow how beautiful this place was. I am definitely going swimming next time. You do have to be aware of gators around I would personally not tube but the view and the water was stunning. I look forward to coming back and experiencing more of this place. They had a cafe with drinks and food as well.