32 Best Stops Between Gainesville and Fort Walton Beach (2024)

The spring itself is beautiful. The staff keep the grounds nice and clean. The water is refreshing and cool. It is a nice piece of nature that I pray we don’t destroy! The people are really the problem. I took my family for the first time recently and the grounds are overcrowded which makes getting to and enjoying the spring difficult! Unfortunately, the weekend is not the best time to go. Too much partying and drinking, young people are still rude and people don’t watch their children. Parents were getting drunk and leaving children unattended. The staff or the park are not to blame for the ignorance and poor behaviors of the adults present the day I was there. Those same adults allowed their children to block the steps to launch onto the spring. I will try to go on a Tuesday the next time. I rate the park a FIVE for the view and staff. The 3 represents the experience overall. I will return and do recommend this spot for a getaway. It is affordable and could be fun for the family!

What an amazing experience. We went for the day and had so much fun !! We drove from Jacksonville and the ride was sweet. The staff there were pleasant and helpful. The grounds were beautiful. The water is cold but if you love to swim it won’t stop you. Lots of fish so definitely get snorkeling gear. We went on a weekday after a storm so it wasn’t crowded but still busy in some areas.

I’m going to say for what it is and what I was expecting going in, it’s great. Is it packed? Hell. Freaking. Yes. Swarming with people. Is it completely clean everywhere? No. There’s literally no way to be with as many people were in here on a regular weekend. But our neighbors were great. The RV sites were a great size. The river float was SO fun with amazing people watching. We had both kids and adults in our group and had a great time. Just don’t expect them to answer a phone or email and expect to be shoulder to shoulder in all of the five or so spring head areas. Getting up early before everyone is up and in is a great idea.

This trip is a annual tradition for a few friends and family of mine and this was my first year joining them. Having been to a few other outdoor campgrounds in Florida I was surprised to see how well this turned out. Having a big enough spot for us all to set up our tents and canopies was nice. We were right on the river so there wasn’t no line getting in from the top. Having a deli with fresh cooked food was also a plus. If you didn’t bring any floatation devices they had some you could rent to go down the river and float in the springs. Speaking of the springs I want to say I counted 4 or 5 spring fed swimming holes. They were all so cool at around 74 degrees. Not once wasn’t there something for us to do. We were able to set up our ping pong table , corn hole boards, throw the frisbee and football while here. Totally worth the $30 for a day camping pass. I recommend anyone and everyone to at least come here once a year. You wouldn’t be disappointed not one bit.

The staff in the entrance, office, store and restaurant are pleasant, helpful, and respectful. The campground is beautiful, the springs are beautiful. There are canoes and kayaks to rent. The bathroom is clean. Do not get site 21, very small. It has a path to the bathhouse and everyone walks through this site between the camper and electric pole. It is a very noisy campground. Large groups play loud music until 1 am, and beyond. There were 4 golf carts racing on the camping loop road at 2am. This is not really a place for families with young children.Update: Appears this campground is very busy on Fridays, and weekends. Sunday afternoon many campers leave, is quieter. Departed Monday afternoon, gatekeeper said our reservation ended Sunday, although we paid for three days on Friday. Daughter and son in law behind us, same thing. They stayed to confirm that in fact we all paid for three days. The staff wrote the wrong date of departure. We left, that was the last straw.

Snorkeling equipment rentals stop at 3pm. Springs close for diving at 5:30pm.Your best bet is to bring your own equipment.The Springs are absolutely beautiful and well maintained. They have military discounts also.A great experience!

This place is fantastic. The springs are beautiful and the water is so clear. Floating down the river is spectacular. So calm and relaxing. The camping is great too. Beautiful woods to tent camp and convenient to the springs and the river. They have it mapped so you can float downstream and walk back to the beginning and do it again. What a joy. We will be coming back to this place for sure.

Stayed camping here for the first time and it was such an amazing and fun experience! Kids loved it and enjoyed every bit of it. The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and not a long waiting period to use them. The spot you pick to set up has picnic tables and grill areas! Definitely recommend this place. Wish I could have taken more pictures.

I had an excellent experience at Ginnie springs . I went there with my son an his girlfriend , and DEE went above and beyond to ensure we were satisfied with the service. She was VERY friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. She took the time to explain us the right procedure for the kayaks, the routes , the current and also told us how far we were from blue springs. THANK YOU for your outstanding service, you definitely made our experience even better! Hope to see you soon!

Beautiful springs. 72 all year round. No lie it’s cold water in February even if it’s 80 out. I would get wetsuits if your going in the winter months. Snorkeling and diving is recommended so you can see the underwater caves. Kayaking and tubing the river is super fun but that current is strong 💪 so it’s a workout kayaking up the river but a blast floating back down!! Clearest water I’ve ever seen!! Definitely a must go to to see…

1 star for camping, 5 stars for day trip to the springs. I have come in the past to free dive the springs and float the river. It was incredible. The springs are one of the most beautiful in Florida. Camping here was another experience…. People rudely playing music until 2/3 in the morning. Our neighbors were dancing nude by their fire while children were around. People trash the place and don’t care at all about others. Be prepared if you are interested in camping here, but definitely come for a day at the springs.

We absolutely were in awe at the beauty of Ginnie Springs. The water is perfect. My family and I tubed down ginnie Springs, and it was a great family memorable experience. ❤️ we also camped 1 night at a camp ground that was just a few miles from the springs. Next time, we hope to get a camp site at Ginnie Springs. We are definitely going to be taking a trip back to stay several days. 1 day just wasn't long enough to enjoy everything that they have to offer. Don't miss out on a wonderful day at Ginnie Springs with friends and family making memories.

This is an excellent place for either camping or a day trip.For camping: There are plenty of campsites available. You must reserve one if you want water and electric. For primitive, it is first come first served. Regardless, there are accessible bathrooms within walking distance of any site. Payment for camping includes all other amenities such as water access and picnic table usage.For day trip: They have recently improved the check in experience and it now takes five times as short, and you no longer have to exit your vehicle to pay. Picnic tables are first come first use, although there are gazebos that you can reserve ahead of time.Overall: Ginnie Springs is a must visit for locals and visitors alike. Highlights include: The clear springs with year-round 75°F water; river access to float; volleyball courts; scuba diving opportunities; and canoe/paddle board access.My only reservation is the recent uptick in entrance fee, although that was inevitable.

Stayed at the campground. Did not expect people blasting their music till 3 am. First time experiencing that. The springs are gorgeous if you go early in the morning or at night. During the day it’s way too packed with people partying. Floating down the river was fun. I would love to try the cave diving one of these days.

This review is for cave diving only, we didn't use any of the other facilities. Devils eye is an awesome cave to dive. Has a pretty good amount of flow, but the water is usually very clear. If you're going on a holiday weekend, make sure you get there early so you can get a parking spot close to the steps that lead to the cave entrance.

The rooms being the campground was great. We stayed in the electric/water side with our camper. Great little spot near the front office. Bathroom/showers were close by. Only thing is our group was bunched up with another group. Might be too close together, wish we had more space/privacy. Very clean also. The springs themselves were beautiful. I recommend going during the week in the off season because there will be less foot traffic. We got to enjoy the springs with minimum people. Definitely recommend kayaking or paddle boarding the lake! Don’t forget goggles! Also the little restaurant has amazing breakfast sandwiches! 10/10

I would highly recommend this place. We booked a spot here for two nights because some other plans that we had fell through. I'm really glad that we stayed here.If you like to swim, kayak or tube this is the place to come to! Its also good for walkingWe came on an off-season I'm sure that it can get very busy here but I would still stay here anytime.We pull a 35 ft fifth wheel We had a pull through site there was plenty of room.

Beautiful springs, so gorgeous!!! The staff were helpful and kind.The facilities were decent.The noise of loud campers went way past the quiet hours and no one was enforcing so camping was challenging in that way. Some visitors absolutely trashed their campsites and there was generally a significant amount of trash around which was sad. We went the first week of April and there were so many primitive campsites available which was great! Next time I’ll camp by the lower springs because it seems quieter down that way.

This was such a beautiful place to me. The environment was warm and inviting. We chose the campsite fee for the day. Which was easier because we were able to bring our vehicles in. So, I did not have to worry about walking as far from the day parking area. We enjoyed family time with grilling and tubing.

Very nice campgrounds, from full service to tent sites, river tubing, kayak and canoe rentals. Good swimming. Well maintained facilities. Very good service and staff.I will return and would recommend to others. They need to have someone run a golf cart shuttle for tubing clients upstream. That would make it five stars.

We all had a great time! A bit expensive for a large family @ 20.00 pp+ rental of tub or snorkel set (unless you bring your own). They do have an air station for tubes. Very clean bathroom and showers. There's also soap dispenser in the showers which is nice. The staff is also friendly and helpful which is a definite plus!! They also offer different types camping. We will be back to camp next time.Thanks for reading

The springs are beautiful, the water is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. They have inner tubes kayaks and paddle boards that you can rent for the day and free life vest rentals or bring your own. You can swim in the springs or float down the river to one of the pickup points. It a great place for the whole family to spend the day or even go camping.

Ginnie Springs is a beautiful place to visit, with clear water and fantastic scenery that offers unforgettable views. While it can be crowded at certain times of the year, it's worth it for the overall experience. The camp sites are well-organized and comfortable amenities are readily available, making it perfect for an extended stay. Overall, I had a great time visiting Ginnie Springs. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a serene getaway in a naturally beautiful area.

Really enjoyed a family day trip here. Plenty of bathrooms available. Floating in the river was really relaxing. Going into the springs was really chilly but well worth it. The water is beautiful. Just be aware that the deli closes at 3. So, if you want to order food there, keep an eye on time. The food we had was great, though.

Visited Ginnie Springs during the last Saturday of July and had the most fun but there because I went with goood company and made the most out of it however there were many things that could have been better. I would highly recommend coming early as the line was long at 11 AM and it took around 30 minutes to get into the park. I would highly recommend to bring your own floats and pump. Unfortunately, during our visit the rental floats was closed by 12 PM due to an unfortunate broken pump and we had to purchase the inflatables for $23. We also had to wait in a long line to inflate the inflatables and the air pumps were very slow and some broken. The July heat did not make it enjoyable but the cold water spring was very refreshing once we got in. The spring was very packed with campers and daily visitors so be aware of the time of your visit. The water was extremely beautiful once you get in but it gets a yellow/dark brown once you reach the main river. We encountered some turtles while floating and had the most fun. Be aware if you plan to bring children as people do like to enjoy some natural herbs at the park. I would love to visit the spring during Winter and compare it to my July visit.Things I recommend bringing: water shoes are a must, pump and floats, waterproof phone/keys case, ropes to tie floats together to stay together, glasses, hats and sunscreen.Water and food is priced according to the area you are visiting so I would recommend bringing a cooler with your own water and food.

So disappointed in our most recent trip. It is such a shame that such a beautiful place could be destroyed so quickly. The campground was extremely dirty and noisy. Each site was filled with 3-6 tents, 10-30 people, and 4-6 cars. Most of the people were extremely inconsiderate and blared thier music into the morning. There was definitely a language barrier that made cooperation from the other campers a challenge. There was an RV in our site and multiple cars in the site next to it. Took 3 hours for them to unkindly move from our reserved site so we could pull in and hook up. It is definitely not just a college student hangout problem anymore. If you go there, you'll see what I mean. This is not the Ginnie I remember nor will ever come back to.

We rented a campsite with full water and power connections. These folks are very well organized. Very clean facilities and specially the public bathrooms. Very safe. The springs are spectacular. Checking In Process with Red was delightful.

This was our first time here. We didn't get a lot of pictures but we very much enjoyed our visit and we will be back. We took a dip in each of the springs. Bath houses/bathrooms were clean and the water was wonderfully hot! Highly recommend a visit. We drove up from Ocala. Totally worth it! If your looking to camp, there are MANY awesome campsite all over with fire pita and grills and tables.

The park itself was amazing, the activities were great; however the response of the employees to my family member drowning was absolutely devastating and disappointing.We understood that we signed a waiver and how we swim at our own risk; however, this was an actual drowning and emergency. My father got a cramp in his leg and fell off of the floating tube and was unable to get back on and was being dragged by the current in the river.When we reached out for help because my father was struggling and clearly drowning in the river, the employees response was “we cannot help him unless he is drowning” which he clearly was, and everyone saw it.We then asked if we could call 911 and they said “well, if you want to” which was astonishing, meanwhile my father was drowning in the river with no one able to help because the current was taking him further down.The employees then said “we are working on it, we are waiting for our supervisor”… I’m sorry what? Someone is clearly in distress, drowning in front of everyone, and we are waiting for your supervisor?My family and I ran to follow my father along and yelled at others to help us, and it is completely crazy how the people there were the ones helping us rather than the employees.People ready to jump and help us and they were “waiting on their supervisor”.We are eternally grateful for the help we got from the family that had the boat and was able to help him before a tragedy happened.It was such a traumatic experience and we wish the employees had been a bit more empathetic and helpful as they heard the children of a man yell “save my dad”, the wife, and others break down as they see their loved one drowning.As mentioned, everything else was great and a great experience but I wish such situations would be handled differently.It was traumatizing for everyone involved along with other viewers and it would’ve helped if the employees handled our distress differently.

It's awesome. Beautiful. Peaceful..... If you don't go on a weekend. People don't know how to act. The weekends become the haven for the @$$hole rejects from Animal House. I'm all for having a good time, but my good time should not encroach on yours... know what I mean? Its also WAY too packed to have a nice peaceful float.Also and MOST important! You must come with 2 vehicles. There is NO transportation from where you get out of the river to where you got in. It is about a 35-45 minute walk depending on how fast you walk while carrying your float. Smart way is to have a vehicle at either end.Weekdays it is. Forever.

I've been to several springs in the area. Seems this is pretty overpriced for what is offered. All the springs in the area are a natural beauty and wonder, so they aren't exclusive to that part of it. In fact, only the water right near the springs is clear at Ginnie. The whole river ride is dark and LOTS of floating crud. But my biggest gripe is there's no shuttle, so you are on your own to hike up and down the river. One run takes less than an hour. You'd have to walk about a half hour to do a second trip. Second gripe is there are plenty if bathrooms but they're old and pretty nasty. I didn't get hot water. Not sure if it was broken or it's just not available. Third is a plus or minus depending how you feel. It's one of the few springs that allows drinking. So there can be pretty obnoxious people there. If you like that kind of day, you'll have fun. I go to springs for lively quiet days to enjoy nature. I won't waste my time here again.

Everything about Ginnie Springs is 10/10! Plenty of bathroom and shower facilities, consistent hot water, free air for their tubes or your own which is nice! They have a deli cafe and the food was good. There was a very nice lady who came out and double checked that my well done/burnt burger was just how I ordered it and liked it and said they would keep on cooking it if it wasn't! We had cool neighbors. The springs are very beautiful and also kid and family friendly. All of this keeps us coming back to camp here.

What a great place, and even better service. We loved the water, floating down the river and just chilling in the cold spring. It was so refreshing.Sadly, an emergency back at home ended our stay early, but the staff was super understanding and helpful. They accommodated our request and refunded us for the day we couldn't stay. A truly compassionate and honest group of folks that I'll be happy to stay with again.

Nice experience. Campsite good for us but people next to us were on a very slanted site and it was hard to level their camper. Snorkeling was great. Bathouse pretty good. Don't understand why no pets...? Overall though I would recommend. Felt very safe. Well kept grounds. Helpful staff.

A nice place to go floating and camping, I only went floating and snorkeling. There is a lot of space to camp at, but it was very full and a lot of people play their music loudly, so it definitely gives party vibes. I personally wouldn't say it's a good place to snorkel, the springs that are clear enough to see right to the bottom, which are circled on the map below, but there isn't much to see. The springs are also Entry points into the river so they are usually full of people and a lot of loud music, which means not a lot of wild life swimming around. The rest of the river has pretty dark water and not great to snorkel at. One of the things I did not like about this place is that there are not any indicators or signs telling you, as you're floating, that you're passing a spring or even which way to go. You basically are guessing, so you'll float right by the springs. then, once you're done floating, as you walk back to the rental building, you will see the springs, if you deviate a little. The whole float takes about an hour, if you float from top to end, then you walk back to the rental building. Again not great signage on your walk back. If you're just going for floating and snorkeling like I did, you have to pay a day pass, plus the floating rental equipment, plus the snorkel equipment. You can always bring your own equipment too to make it more affordable and just pay the day pass. Get there early as it does get crowded. I got there a little past 8 and by 930/10am, the parking lot was getting really full

An amazing experience every time! I have personally been coming here since 2012 on and off. These campgrounds are clean and well maintained. Not to mention the springs are so beautiful. My partner and I stayed for 4 days, we chose to go during the week as the weekends can get a little hectic. It’s a popular spot. If you don’t like too much commotion, i recommend avoiding major holiday weekends. It turns into a full blown party (unless that’s what you’re aiming for) Reserving a spot with electric & water if you’re campingis worth it. The convenience store they have there is very handy, they have most essentials. Keep in mind that Florida is very well known for their wildlife. We did a lot of bird watching, and when you are on the lake you may get lucky and spot a gator! Don’t worry, they don’t mess with you. Overall a wonderful time.

Beautiful springs to swim and float in. Crystal clear springs witch lead to river float. Bathrooms are kept up, and the office/store has everything you need. There are tons of tent spots on the water and a bunch of electric/ water sites. Can get packed but still a great spot for the multiple springs.

Honestly if you plan on a quiet night of camping with some pals, do not come here. Starting at about 8:00am to even 3am/4am music is BLARING and people are SCREAMING. People are drunk driving up and down the roadway all night, headlights strobing into the tents, blaring music, honking their horns, and literally howling at each other from across campsites. The complete lack of self awareness is mind blowing. There was a drunk driving accident while we were here.Don’t bring kids here, it’s disgusting and you will not get any sleep. The bathrooms are abhorrent, even if you wanted to take a shower there’s hair clumps and sand/dirt absolutely everywhere, no soap in the sinks and trash everywhere. Honestly trash is all around the campground, as if people have no regard for the space around them.The “park rangers” roam around on their golf carts after midnight yet no one really cares. There is no number to call either, the employees really do not care.If they want to be a partying campground, they need to advertise that. They make it seem like they have all of these rules and regulations like staying in a state park but it’s more like a hillbilly burning man. Don’t waste your money.

I have been coming here since 2018 I loved it until now! Now you are not allowed to even have music on because people complain the park rangers are rude and don’t even let me begin on the front office staff they need customers service classes for sure the manager ( dark hair tan lady ) is so rude and disrespectful and her face is not welcoming at all! The front desk staff pick and choose who they want to be nice too and who they want to let in! I drove 5 hour for the front lady desk to give me a hard time to go in! This place was good back in the day now is full of races front office staff who literally roll eyes for any question and sound very sarcastic!

Ginnie Springs is an absolute gem! The crystal-clear water is mesmerizing and invites you to dive right in. The beauty of the springs is truly unparalleled, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking in the breathtaking surroundings, Ginnie Springs offers an unforgettable experience that's worth every moment. It's a must-visit destination for anyone seeking natural beauty and tranquility.

Details:TentMid size SUVNo power or water neededWe were looking for a simple spot to pitch a tent n hang out for a couple days. This place is absolutely perfect for that. Lots of sites to pick from but note the ground conditions are not ideal for a tent. Plan for an extra pad, a good pad, or maybe an extra blanket or two because the local trees like to have shallow roots and it is tough to find an unobstructed tent space. Maybe a cot or blow up mattress would work but anyways, no obvious grassy spots. But there is plenty of bath houses, water spouts, and swim spots. Between the tubing, floating down the river, cozy clear springs, and a large area, this place made for an awesome spot. There are a lot of employees wandering around cleaning up after people which sucks they have to but it's also nice seeing it getting done. The local shop on site as well as deli (it's more than a deli) made for a great place to stop if you don't wanna get back in a vehicle for a few days. Very well done.

This spring is indeed beautiful, however it was the worst experience. Our family moved to Florida and couldn't wait to visit! When we got there we had to wait in a 40 minute line just to buy our over priced entry tickets! When we finally got to the first spring it was packed with people! You couldn't even enjoy swimming or relaxing because there was that many people!! The entire area smelled like weed!! People drinking everywhere they don't enforce rules. Honestly, it's a shame because it's such a beautiful place once again destroyed by man by disrespecting nature and treating the springs like their own personal garabage can. We even moved down toward another spring in the park and it was crowed their too! We literally paid over $60 and we didn't even get a chance to swim the springs!! We left because there was no where we could enjoy ourselves. My children shouldn't have to breathe in disgusting second hand weed smoke from inconsiderate people! WE WILL NEVER RETURN!!

Came snorkeling here for the first time and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, we’re from the Florida keys and I did not know there was water this blue and clear in this part of Florida. A very well kept and taken care of park, we will be back hopefully camping next time as well! 💙

Great place to take the kids tubing,swimming,snorkelling. The water is 72Degrees year round. some camping sites are free but have no water or electric and are 1st come 1st serve. we visit every other year. so much fun

Ginnie Springs is an absolutely amazing place for camping and diving. The springs look amazing. Floating down the river is very relaxing. The campsite is family-friendly, just be safe with the little ones as there is obviously water everywhere. We bring floating vest for the little ones. They also have day passes if you just want to visit some of the springs for a day. I've been coming here for the last 20 years and it's always a blast!

4.4

(7085)

3.5

(636)

7300 NE Ginnie Spgs Rd, High Springs, FL 32643, USA