Rainbow Springs State Park — Attraction in Ocala

A favorite place to go for a swim in cool clear spring water and to walk trails through waterfalls (man-made) but very pretty none the less. This is also a stunning river to see. It is very clear.

The park can fill up early on a weekend, so you need to plan and arrive early as they close the gates once capacity is reached.

There are clean bathrooms, not terribly modern, but clean and a very nice swimming area that is quite popular.

Swimming- There is no beach area, you enter from a long floating raft / dock area. You do not get to swim over the mouth or openings of the springs, just in a large sandy bottomed area of cool, clear, spring water. You will not be able to touch bottom and stand, so bring a pool noodle if you want to float about with some support. **Do know the only floats allowed in the swimming area are the pool noodles. Show up with anything else, and they will not let you bring it in.

Playground - Open Space I don't recall any kids' "playground". There is a large lawn with pavilions around for picnics and I often see younger people tossing a football around and such. Great spot to throw out a blanket and relax, lets the kids run and play. The whole park is hilly and those with mobility issues will find it difficult.

Waterfalls and Trails Many years ago this was a tourist attraction. They created waterfalls with the use of limestone and pumps, and they run still today. You can walk along the river and then through wooded settings that showcase these running streams and fountains. There are plants and flowers to admire along the way. If you go when the azaleas are blooming, it is quite nice to see.

The information on the old tourist attraction can be found online, it is interesting to read up on. You can visit the old animal habitats and a few other bits and pieces left over from long ago.

Canoes - Kayaks - etc. I believe you may be able to rent canoes and such from a company who works with the park. The S.P website should tell you.

Gift Shop - Cafe There is a small gift shop and a little cafe. I have picked up a drink at this spot, but never any food as I always bring a lunch. I have seen many people eating there, so it is an option. The gift shop has your typical things and they do often have those approved pool noodles you may want and other swimming gear. The cafe is a slightly limited menu, but there are some options. I believe you can even get a beer or wine.

I really enjoy the building these two things are in, it is limestone and stepped levels of seating that allow you to look out and down over the spring and river. It is very pretty. We often bring our lunch from the car up here, usually a few deli sandwiches, chips and drinks and eat here and that is no problem.

Fees Entrance fee is minimal. I think around 2 dollars per person. The parking lot is separated from the entry gate that you pay at. If you want to go back to your car, you'll need to keep hold of your receipt...

Located well off the beaten path, this gem is well-worth the $5 admission per vehicle! This idyllic setting is a perfect example of native Florida in all its glory. Showcasing the woodlands, full of pine trees and oaks; just driving into this state park is a trip back in time. When you get to the headspring, you are greeted by a small waterfall with a cute pond and a friendly turtle 🐢 sunning himself next to the Welcome Center/Gift Shop where you can find friendly and helpful friends of Rainbow Springs to help guide you around this small but beautiful park. There is a well-paved walkway running throughout the park accessible by baby strollers and people walking in their kayaks to take advantage of the small launch where the rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Definitely get there early. There was a wait for a tandem kayak, but our schedule wouldn't allow us that adventure. Next time, we'll get there early and be sure not to miss it. The spring is a cool 72 degrees year-round and is only accessible by a boat dock with multiple ladders 🪜 or a set of stairs. Be careful, however! The springs are 10 feet deep with no shallow areas and no lifeguards. Swimmers are warned to swim at their own peril with either personal fpoatation devices (PFD's) or pool noodles; nonother floatation devices are permitted. No inner tubes or store bough inflatables. They do sell pool noodles for $4 at the gift store, so I would recommend getting them there or bringing them with you before you enter the park. We definitely wanted to snorkel, which is permitted, but thought about saving it for another time. The water is crystal clear and absolutely beautiful and tastes great if you happen to swallow a little. I would not advise it for younger children, but if they can get past the cool water and are supervised, they can enjoy it too. Make sure to check out the amazing waterfalls, and if you stop at the cafe beside the gift shop, they have some great food options. Make a day and enjoy all that this hidden jem...

The spring itself and river are great, but if you're there with intentions to kayak or explore beyond the roped off swimming area, consider bringing your own kayak, canoe, or SUP. You'd have to carry or wheel it from the parking lot to the launch area, but it sure beats waiting two hours for a rental from the onsite place. My spouse and I waited about that long for a tandem kayak rental to become available, and the attendants kept telling people they were short of required life jackets but there was a rack next to the window with plenty of them hanging in both adult and children's sizes. 🤔 I completely understand rate-limiting the number of people on the water with rentals but didn't appreciate the excuse about PFDs. That detracted from our experience and adds to the frustration of customers waiting long times to rent equipment. We waited patiently until we were allowed to get in and didn't make a scene but management can certainly do better there.

The park is pretty cool, aside from whoever was running that rental outfit. There's a gift shop and cafe also available at the entrance, during park hours. The swimming area is around 6' deep, so bring floats (no inflatables or body boards allowed) or be prepared to tread water for the duration of your swim. This isn't a park to go see raw nature without crowds of people or manmade developments, but it's still a very neat place. If you venture outside of the park on the water, you're likely to encounter boaters in motorized vessels — most of which are attentive and doing the right things but some will be distracted so paddle or float with that in mind. Most parts of the river have moderate to strong current. Manatees don't travel that far up the river, but the snorkeling is good and with clear water you can see plenty of fish and turtles, as well as cormorants diving after the fish. We even saw a small alligator...