Fanning Springs State Park

Fanning Springs is what you reach if you drive north on US-19 from Chiefland, cross the Suwannee River bridge, and immediately turn right. The town and the park share the name — both come from Colonel Alexander Campbell Fanning, who established a Seminole War fort here in 1838. People have been gathering at this water for at least 14,000 years; archaeological evidence of Paleo-Indian habitation runs through the park.

The spring was first-magnitude as recently as the 1990s. Today it's classified second-magnitude, the flow having declined under pressure from aquifer pumping. It is still a beautiful, clear, 72-degree spring on the bank of the Suwannee River — just one with an honest conservation story attached.

• Location: Fanning Springs (Levy County), 6 miles north of Chiefland
• Address: 18020 NW Hwy 19, Fanning Springs, FL 32693
• Hours: 8 a.m. – sunset, 365 days a year
• Vehicle entry: $6 per vehicle
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: Historically 1st (1990s); reclassified 2nd magnitude (~33–65M gal/day, source-dependent)
• Spring depth: 18–21 feet at the vent
• Phone: 352-463-3420
• Camping: Cabin rentals + full-hookup RV sites

The park sits directly on US-19 in the town of Fanning Springs, on the east bank of the Suwannee River.

• Gainesville: 45 minutes (US-27 north to Chiefland, then US-19 north)
• Tallahassee: 1 hour 30 minutes (US-19 south through Perry and Cross City — single-road drive)
• Jacksonville: 2 hours
• Tampa: 2 hours 30 minutes (I-75 north then US-19 north up the Nature Coast)
• Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes

The park entrance is on the east side of US-19, just before the Suwannee River bridge heading north.

Fanning Springs was historically a first-magnitude spring — discharging more than 64.6 million gallons per day. That is no longer reliably true. Decades of aquifer drawdown from agricultural and municipal pumping have reduced the spring's measurable output. Florida State Parks now describes it as second-magnitude, while a separate section of the same agency's literature still lists it among Florida's historic 33 first-magnitude springs. Both statements are true. Visitors comparing today's spring to old photographs may notice less force and occasionally less clarity, particularly after heavy rainfall.

The spring still pours out roughly 33 to 65 million gallons per day (figures vary by source), holds a constant 72°F, drops to 18–21 feet at the vent, and feeds a short spring run that empties into the Suwannee. It is also a designated Outstanding Florida Spring under state protection law.

• Swimming and snorkeling in a roped swim area in the spring run. Visibility measured in yards; underwater residents include musk turtles, largemouth bass, striped mullet, freshwater flounder, and bowfin.
• Scuba diving in the basin — open-water certification, limited depth (18–21 ft) makes this a friendly beginner-friendly dive.
• Paddling the Suwannee from the park's kayak/canoe launch. The closest combo paddle: 10 miles downstream to Manatee Springs State Park — a same-day or overnight trip via the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
• Boardwalk through cypress swamp to a river overlook (damaged by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023, since reopened — confirm current status before visiting).
• Manatee viewing in winter (November–March). Manatees seek the 72°F spring water as a thermal refuge — one of the Suwannee corridor's most reliable manatee spots.
• Ranger programs offered periodically (mornings, 9–10 a.m.; check the state-parks events calendar).
• Sand volleyball court.
• Playground.
• Fishing — bass, catfish, bream in the Suwannee; FL freshwater license required.

• Designated swim area with marked boundaries
• Boardwalk through cypress swamp to river overlook
• Kayak/canoe launch dock with Suwannee access
• Restrooms
• Picnic pavilions with grills
• White-sand volleyball court
• Playground
• Ranger station / visitor center
• Gift shop
• Boat entry from the Suwannee River

A relatively recent addition that puts Fanning Springs above its peers in the corridor for family overnight stays:

• Cabin rentals — Available; book through reserveamerica.com or 800-326-3521.
• RV sites with full hookups — Convenient for travelers passing through on US-19.
• Burn ban active as of February 2026 — No open fires or cooking fires; confirm current status by phone.

Book months ahead for summer weekends and winter manatee-viewing season.

Anderson's Outdoor Adventures — Based at 11650 NW 115th St, Chiefland (~6 miles south). Phone: 352-507-0059. Canoe and kayak rentals, paddleboards, pontoon tours, guided paddle trips. Anderson's will deliver kayaks to Fanning Springs for park visitors — a useful service for travelers without their own gear.

Additional liveries operate along US-19 in the Chiefland area; call the park at 352-463-3420 for current referrals.

• Chiefland (~6 miles south on US-19) — Closest town with chain motels (Best Western, Super 8, Hampton Inn).
• Cedar Key (~35 miles southwest via SR-24) — Historic Gulf island fishing village with character lodging (Island Hotel — 1860s landmark). Highly recommended for character.
• Gainesville (~45 miles east) — Full chain hotel selection and university-city amenities.

• Chiefland (~6 miles south) — Family restaurants, fast food, and a handful of sit-down diners along US-19.
• Cedar Key (~35 miles southwest) — Tony's Seafood Restaurant in downtown Cedar Key is a destination in its own right. Tony's Cedar Key clam chowder won the Great Chowder Cook-off World Championship three consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011), retiring the recipe to the Hall of Fame. Fresh Gulf seafood and stone crab in season. Allow 40–50 minutes drive each way.
• Gainesville (~45 miles east) — Full dining range.
• In Fanning Springs town — Limited diners and convenience options along US-19.

• The boardwalk was damaged by Hurricane Idalia (August 2023) — repaired and reopened, but storm-related closures recur during active hurricane seasons. Call 352-463-3420 to confirm.
• Spring flow has declined — visitors comparing old photos to today's spring may notice reduced force. This is the honest reality of Florida's aquifer pressures, not a misrepresentation.
• Winter is manatee season — November through March, the warm spring water attracts manatees. This is when Fanning Springs is at its most magical.
• Combine with Manatee Springs (10 miles downstream). Same-day double-spring trip works; multi-day paddlers run the Suwannee between them as a leg of the Wilderness Trail.
• Burn ban active as of Feb 2026. Verify before booking camping if cookouts matter.
• Don't bring firewood — emerald ash borer risk. Buy on-site for $10.
• Mosquitos heavy May–September on the boardwalk and floodplain trails. Bug spray essential at dusk.
• Alligators in the Suwannee — do not swim outside the designated spring area; stay alert at the river launch.
• Cedar Key day-trip pairs well with a Fanning Springs morning — clam chowder Hall of Fame is 40 minutes away.

• Manatee Springs State Park (~10 miles downstream, Chiefland) — Most natural pairing; same-day paddle is feasible. Higher manatee concentrations in winter.
• Branford Spring (~30 miles upstream, Branford) — Free community spring and Suwannee River Greenway trailhead.
• Troy Spring State Park (~35 miles upstream, Lafayette County) — Civil War steamboat wreck visible from surface.
• Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (~55 miles upstream, Mayo) — Stilt cabins, natural limestone bridge, cave-diving destination.
• Suwanacoochee Spring (~80 miles north at Suwannee River State Park) — Paddle-in spring on the Withlacoochee.
• Suwannee River Wilderness Trail — 207 miles of paddling corridor; Fanning Springs is a major access point.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Boardwalk status, manatee season dates, and burn-ban status can change. Confirm current conditions at floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fanning-springs-state-park or call 352-463-3420 before visiting. Photos via Wikimedia Commons.