A NOTE FROM THE MANAGER
Joseph E. Smyth
Due to circumstances beyond our control the swimming pool in the campground will remain closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, at the headsprings we are pleased to announce that our Gift Shop is now open again.
Please review the information below to locate the various entrances to the park to help you in planning your visit.
Headsprings Entrance: We are pleased to have a concessionaire at Rainbow Springs State Park. Nature Quest, Inc. This means we have canoe and kayak rentals available at the headsprings every day of the week. Come out to the park and enjoy a picnic, walk the trails, view the birds, study nature or swim in the springs. Our Historic Gardens are always an enjoyable walk and be sure to visit our Butterfly Garden too. Rainbow Springs always has much to offer. Be sure to check back at this site often to see which of our special events are taking place so you can plan to attend the events and learn more about The Real Florida!
Tube Entrance: These facilities are seasonal and are now open on weekends through Memorial Day, when they will then be open seven days a week until Labor Day weekend. After Labor Day they will be open weekends only through the month of September. These facilities are located at 10830 SW 180th Avenue Road. Nature Quest, Inc. provides tubes and shuttle service upstream where you begin your float for the 1 ½ to 2 hour tube ride. The great thing is all you need to do is come in one car and be prepared to have a fun time on the beautify Rainbow River. With the concessionaire provided shuttle service you do not have to worry about parking one car at each end of the float. After tubing the river you can use your entrance receipt to access the Headsprings too. Once the tubing area parking lot is full (106 spaces) the gates will be closed. From then until closing at 3:30 PM we will only allow one car in as one car leaves. Once you exit the parking lot when it is full you will not be allowed back in until there is a vacant parking space. You must be through the entrance gate on 180th Avenue Road by 3:30PM. Access will be closed for the day at that time. If you leave the park for any reason you will not be able to access this area after 3:30 PM.
Campground Entrance: With 60 campsites there is a wonderful opportunity to come and relax in the park. Note: Weekends stay booked well in advance so either make a reservation as early as possible or plan to visit on weekdays. Our campground is located on 180th Avenue Road. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America or call (800) 326-3521 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) or TDD (888) 433-0287. The campground consists of 60 total sites. Three of the sites are for RVs only; these are the pull through sites. Seven of the sites are for tents only, with a common parking area and a short walk to the sites and 50 of the sites are for RV or tent. Eight of these sites are paved and enhanced for visitors with mobility challenges. Note: To ensure full access to the sites the camping pads have packed gravel on them. Tents will need heavy duty stakes. There are three restroom facilities, a pavilion by the playground, a holding tank dump station, a paved entrance road and a camp store. All of the sites have 20/30/50 amp electrical service and the RV sites all have sewer connections at the site. The campground roads are paved and we think you will find the campground to be an excellent camping experience. We look forward to seeing you in the park soon.
Click on the Park Map for directions to each entrance. Thank you.
DESIGNATIONS
GETTING HERE
Rainbow Springs State Park day use area is located three miles north of Dunnellon on the east side of U.S. 41. From I-75, exit at the second Ocala exit onto State Road 40. Take State Road 40, west. Drive until it dead-ends at U.S. 41. Turn left; the park entrance is on the left-hand side of the road. From Tampa, take U.S. 41, north. Drive through the town of Dunnellon. The Headsprings Entrance is located on the right-hand side of the road, approximately 2.5 miles north of Dunnellon. From areas in the northwest, take U.S. 41 to the town of Williston. After passing through Williston, you will come to a traffic light where State Road 40 has come to a dead-end. Go through this light.
The Campground, Tube Area and Headspring each have a separate entrance. Please use the information below to locate the entrance you need.
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ENTRANCE
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PHYSICAL ADDRESS
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LAT/LONG COORDINATES
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Headsprings
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19158 SW 81st Place Road
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N 29° 06.202’
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W 082° 26.986’
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352-465-8555
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Campground
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18185 SW 94th Street
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N 29° 05.202’
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W 082° 25.027’
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352-465-8550
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Tube Area
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10830 SW 180th Avenue Road
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N 29° 03.978’
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W 082° 25.163’
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352-465-8525
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Please review the information below to locate the various entrances to the park to help you in planning your visit.
Headsprings Entrance: We are pleased to have a concessionaire at Rainbow Springs State Park. Nature Quest, Inc. This means we have canoe and kayak rentals available at the headsprings every day of the week. Come out to the park and enjoy a picnic, walk the trails, view the birds, study nature or swim in the springs. Our Historic Gardens are always an enjoyable walk and be sure to visit our Butterfly Garden too. Rainbow Springs always has much to offer. Be sure to check back at this site often to see which of our special events are taking place so you can plan to attend the events and learn more about The Real Florida!
Tube Entrance: These facilities are seasonal and are currently closed until the first full weekend in April 2013. These facilities are located at 10830 SW 180th Avenue Road. Nature Quest, Inc. provides tubes and shuttle service upstream where you begin your float for the 1 ½ to 2 hour tube ride. The great thing is all you need to do is come in one car and be prepared to have a fun time on the beautify Rainbow River. With the concessionaire provided shuttle service you do not have to worry about parking one car at each end of the float. After tubing the river you can use your entrance receipt to access the Headsprings too. Once the tubing area parking lot is full (106 spaces) the gates will be closed. From then until closing at 3:30 PM we will only allow one car in as one car leaves. Once you exit the parking lot when it is full you will not be allowed back in until there is a vacant parking space. You must be through the entrance gate on 180th Avenue Road by 3:30PM. Access will be closed for the day at that time. If you leave the park for any reason you will not be able to access this area after 3:30 PM.
Campground Entrance: With 60 campsites there is a wonderful opportunity to come and relax in the park. Note: Weekends stay booked well in advance so either make a reservation as early as possible or plan to visit on weekdays. Our campground is located on 180th Avenue Road. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America or call (800) 326-3521 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) or TDD (888) 433-0287. The campground consists of 60 total sites. Three of the sites are for RVs only; these are the pull through sites. Seven of the sites are for tents only, with a common parking area and a short walk to the sites and 50 of the sites are for RV or tent. Eight of these sites are paved and enhanced for visitors with mobility challenges. Note: To ensure full access to the sites the camping pads have packed gravel on them. Tents will need heavy duty stakes. There are three restroom facilities, a pavilion by the playground, a holding tank dump station, a paved entrance road and a camp store. All of the sites have 20/30/50 amp electrical service and the RV sites all have sewer connections at the site. The campground roads are paved and we think you will find the campground to be an excellent camping experience. We look forward to seeing you in the park soon.
Click on the Park Map for directions to each entrance. Thank you.
GET INVOLVED
- Volunteer -
Volunteering at Rainbow Springs State Park has a spot for you, no matter what your interests, skills or hobbies. The local people, who formed the first group of volunteers, were actually the only workers when the state first bought the land. Rainbow Springs has a solid base of active volunteers, including members of the Citizen's Support Organization, Friends of Rainbow Springs. We can always use more, especially in our busiest season, summer.
- For forms, information and benefits of volunteering visit Get Involved.
- Friends of Rainbow Springs
Friends of Rainbow Springs
19158 South West 81st Place Road
Dunnellon, FL 34432
CONCESSIONAIRES
PET POLICY
