Ichetucknee Springs In Florida Is The Best State Park To Visit

Out of the 175 jaw-dropping, award-winning state parks, historic sites, and trails throughout Florida, in the past year, Travel + Leisure named one of our very own as the best to visit — Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Not only is this state park truly majestic, but it also has quite a few unique attributes which are likely why it was chosen as the best! Come explore swamps and springs as you tube down the river in this natural paradise. Ichetucknee Springs is a magical park to explore both on foot and on the water.

Table of Contents

About Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Things to Do at Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Ichetucknee Springs State Park Hiking
Ichetucknee Springs State Park Camping
How to Get There
Tips for Your Visit

About Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a 2,241-acre Florida State Park and National Natural Landmark located in the northwest part of the state.

This spectacularly beautiful park has a major draw for visitors -- the aquamarine, crystal-clear springs that all converge to create the Ichetucknee River.

The best way to explore this park is on foot or on the water. It's the perfect place to be, especially when the weather gets warm as there are plenty of ways to cool off.

Things to Do at Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Whether it’s hiking you’re after or swimming or boating, there are plenty of things to do at Ichetucknee Springs in Florida.

Nothing says relaxation quite like a lazy river. But we're not talking about the man-made water park variety. Florida is home to some incredible natural lazy rivers, where you can float for hours.

The crystal-clear water of the lazy river at Ichetucknee Springs remains a cool 72 degrees year-round, making it perfect for those sweltering summer days. Tall trees provide shade and lush scenery along the banks. It's easy to see why it has earned the distinction as a National Natural Landmark.

Tubing season at the park begins Memorial Day Weekend when the north entrance opens. Visitors can take a relaxing float down the river surrounded by beautiful Florida wildlife.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park also offers opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking, as well as tables and grills for picnics.

If there is one thing you make sure to do, it’s snorkel Blue Hole Spring. The spring is the only first-magnitude spring within the park, with an average of 67 million gallons of water flowing daily.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park Hiking

The park offers a few hiking trails so that you can trek through the lush forests and the giant longleaf pines before cooling off in the water.

One trail, the Trestle Point Trail, is an easy 1-mile loop. Enjoy a shady hike as you take in views of the springs.

Then there's the 2.5-mile Pine Ridge Trail. This loop trail leads to the Blue Hole so expect to see several others along the way.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park Camping

Ichetucknee Springs State Park doesn’t have a campground. However, you can spend the night at the nearby Ichetucknee Springs Campground or Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins.

Ichetucknee Springs Campground offers a variety of ways to camp including primitive sites, RV sites, and tent sites with electricity.

The Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins campground is a family-owned place offering accommodations and recreation. As for camping, there are primitive sites, RV sites with full hook-ups, and cabins.

How to Get There

To find out where this beautiful Florida state park is, open this link to Google Maps.

Tips for Your Visit

The best time of day to get to Ichetucknee in Florida is as early in the morning as possible. The later it gets, the more crowded it gets. If you're looking to save money on tubing rentals, it's best to bring your own if you have one.

There are plenty of spots to set up a picnic in the park, so be sure to pack a picnic basket and cooler with food and drinks, and enjoy this remarkable Florida State Park!

Have you ever been to Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Florida before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! If you’re looking for more information about visiting this park, including current entry fees and hours of operation, Florida State Parks website.

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More to Explore

Best State Parks In Florida

Melissa M. | December 08, 2023

How many state parks are in Florida?

It may or may not come as a surprise that the Florida Park Service is comprised of 175 parks. It’s ranked 6th for the most state parks in the country. The biggest Florida State Park is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve at 75,000 acres.

What are the best Florida State Parks?

With so many state parks, we certainly have our choice of where to spend time outdoors. However, if you’re wondering what the best Florida State Parks are, take a look:

Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka
Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy
Little Manatee River State Park in Wimauma
Little Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park in Pensacola
Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka

What are the best state parks for camping in Florida?

If you enjoy camping, here are the best state parks for camping in Florida:

Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka
Myakka River State Park near Sarasota
Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park in Okeechobee
Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach

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Featured Addresses

Ichetucknee Springs State Park, 12087 Southwest, US-27, Fort White, FL 32038, USA

Ichetucknee Springs Is The Single Best State Park In Florida And It's Just Waiting To Be Explored

Melissa Mahoney

Author

About Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Things to Do at Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee Springs State Park Hiking

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