Hart Springs

Hart Springs claims one of the largest natural spring-fed swimming areas in Florida — a 100-foot-wide basin fed by two vents (one 50 feet across and 27 feet deep, one smaller V-shaped pool) with a jump dock, an ADA-accessible ramp, and stairs into 72°F water. Below the surface, more than 22,000 feet of mapped underwater cave passages extend into the limestone. Above it, a half-mile cypress-shaded boardwalk follows the spring run to its confluence with the Suwannee River, where Gulf sturgeon leap in summer and manatees enter in winter.

The county park includes RV camping with full hookups, a three-bedroom rental house steps from the spring, and Anderson's Outdoor Adventures as the on-site concessionaire.

• Location: Bell (Gilchrist County), on the Suwannee River
• Address: 4240 SW 86th Avenue, Bell, FL 32619
• Hours: Apr–Sep: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. / Oct–Mar: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Entry: $5 weekdays / $8 weekends (peak); $3 off-season; seniors/under 5 free
• Cave dive fee: $18/day + park entry
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: Second-magnitude (~26.7M gal/day)
• Cave system: 22,000+ feet mapped
• Camping: RV full hookup $35/night; primitive $30/night
• Phone: 352-463-3444

• Swimming in one of Florida's largest spring-fed areas — jump dock, stairs, ADA ramp. No lifeguard.
• Snorkeling — crystal visibility, white sand bottom, limestone features.
• Cave diving — 22,000+ ft of passage; Black Lagoon entry requires a park-approved Active Guide; Little Hart allows buddy-team access. Full cave cert, 100+ logged cave dives, and DAN insurance required. No DPVs. No solo diving. No training dives.
• Half-mile boardwalk through cypress to the Suwannee River. Gulf sturgeon in summer, manatees in winter.
• Kayaking/canoeing the Suwannee (Anderson's on-site rentals and shuttles).
• Hiking — 5+ miles of trails through upland pine and wetland.
• Splash park and playground included with admission.
• Camping — RV sites (full hookup, $35/night), primitive for paddlers ($30/night), Hart House (3BR/2BA, $200/night).

Anderson's Outdoor Adventures (on-site) — kayak, tandem, canoe, paddleboard, tube, and pontoon boat rentals with shuttle. Full-day rentals 9 a.m.–6 p.m. 352-507-0059.

• Hart House (on-site) — 3BR/2BA, sleeps 8, steps from the spring, $200/night. No Wi-Fi, no cable. Reserve via hartsprings.com.
• RV campground with bathhouse, laundry, fire rings.
• Postcard Cabins Gilchrist Springs (nearby, Marriott Bonvoy).
• Chiefland (~13 mi) — chain motels.
• Gainesville (~40 mi) — full hotel range.

Dining: No restaurant in the park. Camp store for basics. Akins BBQ (Bell, since 1991), Off The Beet and Green Barn Prime (Trenton), Lighthouse Restaurant (Fanning Springs).

• Daily capacity limit — summer weekends fill. Arrive early or hold a reservation.
• No alcohol anywhere. No pets in the Springs Park (campground only). No smoking.
• Annual pass $15 — covers weekdays peak, all days off-season.
• Cave divers: Full cave cert + 100 dives + DAN insurance, non-negotiable. Black Lagoon requires an Active Guide.
• Alligators in the Suwannee — stay in the swim area.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Verify fees and hours at hartsprings.com or call 352-463-3444.