Ginnie Springs Outdoors

Jacques Cousteau reportedly visited Ginnie Springs, looked into the water, and declared the visibility "forever." The Wray family has owned the 200-acre property along the Santa Fe River since 1971. Seven named springs — Ginnie, Devil's Eye, Devil's Ear, Little Devil, Dogwood, Twin, and June — feed some of the clearest freshwater on the planet into a river corridor that doubles as one of North Florida's most popular tubing runs.

Ginnie Springs is also, unlike any state park, a place where alcohol is permitted. On a Saturday in July, the difference is noticeable.

• Location: High Springs area (Gilchrist County), on the Santa Fe River
• Address: 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Rd, High Springs, FL 32643
• Hours: Day visitors: 8 a.m. to sunset; campers: 24-hour access
• Day admission: $20 off-season / $25 peak season (per person)
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: Second-magnitude (~37.6M gal/day combined group)
• Named springs: 7 — Ginnie, Devil's Eye, Devil's Ear, Little Devil, Dogwood, Twin, June
• Ginnie Spring bowl: ~90 ft diameter, 12 ft deep
• Cave diving: Devil's Eye/Ear — one of the most famous cave systems in the world
• Camping: 200+ acres, tent + RV with hookups
• Alcohol: Permitted (21+, no glass; unlike all state parks)

• Gainesville: 30–43 minutes (I-75 north to US-441 north)
• Jacksonville: 1.5 hours
• Orlando: 2.5 hours
• Tampa: 2 hours
• Tallahassee: 1 hour 45 minutes

• Swimming at Ginnie Spring Bowl — the 90-foot, 12-foot-deep crystal-clear oval that defines the park. Sun decks, stairs with railings, sandy limestone bottom visible at all depths. The most beginner-friendly zone.
• Tubing the Santa Fe River — ~1-hour float through cypress canopy. Alcohol allowed (21+, no glass). Summer weekends are lively, social, loud.
• Snorkeling — crystal visibility throughout the spring runs and river. The Ginnie Ballroom (an air-filled cavern) is accessible to snorkelers.
• Open-water scuba diving — certified OW+ divers at Ginnie Spring and other vents. Registration at dive shop mandatory.
• Cave diving at Devil's Eye / Devil's Ear — Full cave certification required (NSS-CDS, NACD, TDI, IANTD). Miles of explored passages. The system has killed divers (see warnings). $28/day cave dive fee; $36/day for all other cert divers.
• Kayaking, canoeing, SUP — rentals on-site; Santa Fe River frontage.
• Camping — 200+ wooded acres, many with riverfront. Tent and RV (123 water/electric sites). See below.
• Volleyball (7 lit courts), pavilions (5 covered), playground, picnicking.

• Adult day admission: $20 · $25
• Child 4–12: $5 · $6
• Under 3: Free · Free
• Adult camping (per night): $30 · $40
• Child camping 4–12: $8 · $10
• Cave dive daily: $28 · $28
• All other scuba daily: $36 · $36
• Electric/water site fee: $15/night · $15/night

Prices surge on major holiday weekends. Verify at ginniespringsoutdoors.com.

One of Florida's most popular spring-camping destinations. Primitive tent sites scattered across 200+ wooded acres (many riverfront; first-come, first-served). 123 water/electric RV sites (book through Firefly Reservations, 48 hrs advance). Two-night minimum peak season; three-night on major holidays. Max 8 guests per site. Eight heated bathhouses with hot showers. Dump station. Laundromat. No pets anywhere on property.

• Ginnie's General Store — check-in, camp store, snacks, tube/kayak/SUP rentals, dive center, air fills (including nitrox-appropriate)
• Dive shop — gear rental, registration, certification card check
• Eight heated bathhouses with tiled showers
• Five covered pavilions (reservable)
• Seven lit volleyball courts
• Children's playground
• Boat ramp (no jet skis)
• Wi-Fi on store porch

• High Springs (~14 min) — BlueGem Motel, B&Bs, walkable historic downtown. Great Outdoors Restaurant (steaks, fresh fish, reservations recommended). The Steak-out (casual).
• Gainesville (~30 min) — full hotel range and university-city dining.

On-site: camp store has snacks, sandwiches, drinks, ice. Not a full restaurant — bring or prepare most meals.

Cave diving at Devil's Eye / Devil's Ear has killed divers. Documented fatalities include a 2005 free-diving death, a 2008 rebreather failure 3,800 feet into the system, a 2015 death in Sweet Surprise Tunnel, and a 2021 CCR oxygen failure. The passages are beautiful and the access is easy — which is exactly what makes them dangerous to under-qualified divers. Full cave certification is required and enforced. No exceptions.

Weekend party atmosphere. Unlike state parks, alcohol is allowed. Summer Saturdays feel like a riverside festival. Families with young children should target weekday visits or the off-season (Nov–Feb) for a calmer experience. Quiet hours midnight to 8 a.m. are enforced.

River current. The Santa Fe can strengthen significantly after rain. No lifeguards. Children 15 and under must be supervised.

Environmental note. A 2021 Nestlé aquifer-withdrawal permit has sparked concern about long-term spring flow. The ecological integrity of the system is not guaranteed without continued advocacy.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Ginnie Springs is privately owned and operated; fees and policies change more frequently than state parks. Verify at ginniespringsoutdoors.com before visiting.