2024 Guide to Ichetucknee Springs - Tubing, Kayaking, Camping

Adventure Towns

Apr 19

It’s not too often you get the chance to experience nine different springs within a 3-mile distance of one river.

The most famous two springs of the Ichetucknee are known as the Headspring for those wanting to swim in extremely clear turquoise waters, and the Blue Hole, a first magnitude spring connected to 600 feet of underwater caverns.

The real lure for Ichetucknee Springs is the year-round tubing where you’ll float 1.5 miles down the river and experience countless turtles sunbathing, cypress trees perfectly enclosed over you and even manatees seeking warmth during winter.

*Head Spring Swimming Area - Ichetucknee Springs*

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Locations:

Located in Fort White, Florida at 12087 S.W. U.S. Highway 27

There are two entrances to the state park, and it’s a 10-minute drive between the two entrances.

North Entrance: is where the Headspring and swimming area is located. It is also where you go to drop in your kayak or SUP if you plan to paddle the entire 3 miles of the river. There are nice restrooms, food trucks, and a large playground here.
South Entrance: is the main location as the general store, tube/kayak rentals, and shuttle are all located here.

Hours:

The park is open year-round, every day from 8am to sundown

Fees:

Entrance Fee: $6 per vehicle
Tube Rental: $15+ (includes tram ride)
Paddle rental Kayak/Canoe/SUP: $40+ (includes shuttle service)
Shuttle for BYO Paddle: $25 (add’l person is $12.50)

Parking:

Every vehicle must pay the $6 entrance fee.

North Entrance: this parking area is much smaller than the south entrance, so I would get here early. If you plan to launch your own kayak from here, you’ll want to drive past the first parking area and loop around to the second parking area as it's closer to the launch dock.

South Entrance: has a very large parking area, with suitable spots for RVs. Plan to park here if you want to rent a tube or watercraft, or use the shuttle service to the North Entrance.

Important to Note:

Food, tobacco, coolers, and pets are not allowed at Ichetucknee Springs
Drinks must be in a non-disposable container (like your water tumbler)
Life vests are recommended, but not required
Plan to launch a kayak/SUP by 11am, as the park only allows 100 vessels per day to launch
Snorkeling and diving are best at the Blue Hole Spring area (more info in the swimming section of this post)
Alligators can be present, but usually along the shoreline away from human traffic
Manatees do inhabit these springs during winter months

Ichetucknee Springs Park Map

ichetucknee springs state park map — Key points on the map:
Headspring is the main swimming area
Kayak/SUP launch is just below the Headspring
Blue Hole is the best area for divers
Tubes launch year-round from Midpoint Launch or Dampier’s Landing
All tubes must exit at the South Takeout

Swimming - Ichetucknee Springs

You can swim year-round in the consistent 72°F water of Ichetucknee Springs! You’ll want to head to the North Entrance of the park to enjoy the popular swimming, snorkeling, and diving areas.

Head Spring: designated as a Natural Landmark in 1971, these exceptionally clear, turquoise waters are a great place to explore year-round given their perfect temps and lush surroundings. The Head Spring is also the easiest spring to locate and access for swimming.

This is a great place to spend the day as in between the parking area and Head Spring you can access nice restrooms, picnic tables, a playground, and food trucks.

Blue Hole Spring: this is the better spring for those wanting to snorkel or dive. This is the only first-magnitude spring in the park, and it pushes out 67 million gallons of water per day.

Blue Hole Spring is open year-round and is accessed by walking a short, 0.4 mi nature trail from the parking lot past the Headspring.

Snorkelers will experience a 40-foot deep boil with a multitude of fish, and turtles swimming nearby.

Divers can go on to further explore an underwater cave system that is measured to be about 600 feet long through winding crevices. Divers will need to be registered and only a max of 6 divers are allowed at a time.

Ichetucknee Springs Tubing

Tubing the Ichetucknee Springs is the most popular activity here and for good reason!

The river is a perfect temperature year-round, you can see the entire depth of the water (so no surprises), and most of the float is shaded by hundreds of lush Cypress trees.

If you only plan to tube the Ichetucknee River you can either start at Midpoint Launch or Dampier’s Landing. The park doesn’t allow tubing from the North Entrance anymore.

Whether you start at Midpoint or Dampier’s Landing, everyone must take out at the South Takeout.

Midpoint to Dampier’s Landing: 0.75 miles and takes 1 hour to float
Dampier’s Landing to South Takeout: 0.75 miles and takes 1 hour to float
Midpoint to South Takeout: 1.5 miles and takes 2 hours to float

Ichetucknee Springs Tubing Map — *Tube Launch Points - Ichetucknee Springs*

Keep in mind you will be parking at The South Entrance (not the South Takeout).

Unless you don’t mind a little walking you will want to pay the $7.50 to get a wristband and have access to ride the tram for the day.

The tram will take you and your tube from the South Entrance to Midpoint Launch and pick you up from the South Takeout back to the South Entrance parking lot.

I highly recommend floating the entire 1.5 miles from Midpoint Launch to the South Takeout. It is a beautiful river to float the entire way!

The latest you can launch a tube from Midpoint is 4pm and everyone must be off the river by 6pm.

Tube Rentals

If you don’t have your own tube, you can rent one at the General Store.

I recommend reserving a tube online in advance to make sure your spot to the park is reserved and you can see all the different types of tube options they have. Tube rental costs start at $7.50.

Tips for Tubing Ichetucknee

You cannot bring coolers, food, or alcohol on the river.

You can bring a reusable water bottle and a small dry bag for important items.

I also recommend a small paddle like this one you can break apart into two and use one side as the river doesn’t run very fast and having the paddle helps tremendously.

Kayak Ichetucknee Springs

Ichetucknee River is an easy 3-mile paddle downstream that can be enjoyed year-round.

You can paddle down the Ichetucknee River on a kayak, canoe, or SUP.

I paddled down the river on our own SUP from the North Entrance and met my husband on a tube at Dampier’s Landing where we floated the last 1.5 mile together.

Altogether, it took me about 2.5 hours to paddle the 3 miles at a very leisurely pace.

It is important to note that only 100 vessels are allowed to launch per day from the North Entrance Launch and it is recommended to launch by 11am to make sure you don’t get turned away.

To avoid the summer crowds in the tubing section and have a chance at seeing more wildlife (including manatees), plan to paddle between Labor Day and Memorial Day.

ichetucknee springs state park — *Turtles lined up near Blue Hole - Ichetucknee Springs*

While you can start your paddle from Midpoint Launch or Dampier’s Landing, I would avoid this because some days the current can be stronger, and paddling upstream can be a challenge.

Additionally, you’ll definitely want to experience the first 1.5 miles of the river from the North entrance launch where you’ll get to see all 9 of the springs and there is a lot more wildlife to view on the first half of the river.

Whether you bring your own vessel or rent one from the General Store at the South Entrance, here are the steps to make your day fun and seamless!

If you need to rent, it’s easiest to rent online and reserve your spot so you aren’t rushed or turned away due to large crowds on the day of your paddle
Park at the South Entrance and check in at the general store
Hop on the shuttle with your vessel to North Entrance
Enjoy the 3 mile paddle downstream
End the float at the South Takeout point and hop on the tram ride back to the South Entrance parking area
All paddlers must be off the river by 5pm

Rental Info

All rentals are at the South Entrance General Store. The rates for rentals include your shuttle ride and tram ride.

Rates:

Kayaks: $40 to $60
Canoes: $60
Stand-up Paddle: $55
Shuttle Only for BYO: $25

The last rental for those launching from the North Entrance is at 2:30 PM.

BYO Kayak/SUP

For those bringing their own kayak, canoe, or SUP you will still want to park at the South Entrance and purchase the $25 ticket to shuttle you up to the North Entrance and back to the South Entrance parking area when you’re done.

If you have 2 people and only one vessel, it’s only $12.50 for the additional person.

At the time of this posting, a PFD is not required to paddle the river in the state park.

Our shuttle system was unique in that my husband dropped me off at the North Entrance since I was the only one with enough time to paddle the entire river. Then, he parked down at the South Entrance and walked the 0.75 miles to Dampier’s Landing where he joined me in his tube.

At the South Takeout point, instead of paying for the tram, we walked the flat 0.75 trail back to the South Entrance. It was an easy trail that I’d walk again.

Ichetucknee Springs Camping

There isn’t anywhere inside the state park to camp, but a 3 min drive from the North entrance of Ichetucknee Springs State Park is Ichetucknee Springs Campground.

Slightly confusing, I know. The campground is private even though they have the same name.

Ichetucknee Springs Campground: is a really amazing private campground that is family and pet-friendly. From a decked out game room to free-roaming livestock, it really is quite a unique and fun campground!

There are tent sites with electric hookups and RV sites with electric hookups ranging from $23-$45/night. Holidays do have increased rates. You will need to call to make reservations.

The campground also has nice bathrooms, showers, a camp store and a dump station for RVs.

If you didn’t bring your own tube or boat to float Ichetucknee Springs, I highly recommend renting one at the campground as they are much cheaper: $4 for a single tube and $12 for a medium raft.

Essential Items - Ichetucknee Springs

Floating Tube: this tube is very durable and affordable, highly recommend grabbing a paddle that separates in half so you can easily navigate on the river without getting out of your tube
Dry Bag: this is a small, waterproof bag that you can put your keys and cell phone in and attach to your tube
Water shoes: we always swim in our Chaco sandals or these water shoes
Sun hat: this straw hat is the perfect river and beach day hat
Towels: the best quick-drying Nomadix towels are super absorbent, beach-size, lightweight and somehow pack down very small
Sunscreen: Bare Republic is our go-to mineral sunscreen; it’s incredibly lightweight and isn’t harsh on marine life like normal sunscreen
Bathing Suit: this high-waisted two-piece and one-piece are my favorites
Inflatable SUP: we love having our own inflatable SUP and it’s easy to carry
Goggles and Snorkel: this adult and kids snorkel combo worked perfect for us