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Located on the Santa Fe River in High Springs Florida, Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest springs in Florida. The 72-degree water is perfect for river tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba and cave diving. Visitors to Ginnie Springs Outdoors can enjoy camping (wilderness sites or sites with electricity), an overnight rental cottage, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing and volleyball.
Getting to Ginnie Springs Outdoors from I-75, Heading North
Use these directions if you are driving north on Interstate 75 from the Tampa Bay area, or from Florida’s Turnpike, coming through Orlando. Take I-75 north through Ocala and Gainesville. Thirteen miles north of Gainesville, look for and take Exit 399 (the Alachua exit). From Exit 399, take US-441 north approximately five miles to the town of High Springs. At the first stop light in High Springs (at the Hardee’s), turn left onto state road 27/41. Continue through the next stop light, at the center of town, and go approximately one-half mile on main street to County Road 340/NE 182nd Avenue. (You will see a sign on top of a pole indicating that this is the turn off for Ginnie, Blue and Poe Springs.) Turn right on to County Road 340 and go West approximately 6.5 miles, to the sign indicating the turn off to Ginnie Springs (NE 60th Ave.) Turn right at the sign (NE 60th Ave.) and go approximately one mile further to the Ginnie Springs Outdoors entrance.
Getting to Ginnie Springs Outdoors from I-75, Heading South
Use these directions if you are driving south on Interstate 75 from Georgia, or coming east from the Florida Panhandle on I-10. Take Exit 423, just south of Lake City. From Exit 423, take State Route 47 south, through the flashing light at Columbia City and the stop light in Fort White. Approximately 20 minutes after getting off I-75, and four miles south of Fort While, you will cross the Santa Fe River bridge.
There are two ways to get to Ginnie from State Route 47:
Approximately two miles south of the Santa Fe River you will see a green sign mounted on top of a pole along the highway’s shoulder, indicating the approaching turn off to Ginnie Springs. This is a county lime rock road and sometimes is in poor repair. We suggest that you proceed past the sign to the flashing yellow light at County Road 340. Turn left and go approximately 2 miles to NE 60th Ave (look for the Ginnie sign). Turn left and go about one mile further to the Ginnie Springs Outdoors entrance.
Getting to Ginnie Springs Outdoors from Jacksonville
Use these directions if you are driving south on Interstate 95 from Georgia, or coming west from Jacksonville on I-10.
From I-95 south, take I-295 to skirt the outside of Jacksonville. From Jacksonville, take I-10 west for approximately 25 minutes, to Exit 335 (the second Macclenny exit).
From exit 335, take State Route 121 south, through the towns of Raiford, Lake Butler, Dukes and Worthington Springs. Approximately 30 minutes after exiting I-10, you will pass through the town of Worthington Springs. At the south end of town, you will cross the Santa Fe River bridge.
A little less than three miles further, you will see the turn off for County Road 236.
At the CR-236 intersection, turn right and continue for approximately ten minutes. In the process, you will cross I-75 and enter the town of High Springs. Continue straight through the two stop lights in High Springs, and go approximately one-half mile further to the turn off for County Road 340/NE 182nd Avenue. (You will see a sign on top of a pole indicating that this is the turn off for Ginnie, Blue and Poe Springs.) Turn right on to County Road 340 and go approximate 6.5 miles, to the sign indicating the turn off to Ginnie Springs (NE 60th Ave.) Turn right at the sign (NE 60th Ave.) and go approximately one mile further to the Ginnie Springs Outdoors entrance.
Love diving Ginnie Springs. Several unique areas. The main spring has white sand area in the 3-25 ft area. The you get to the mouth of the cavern. Enter into a different world. Enjoy the unique environment. Just remember: always dive with a buddy if. If you have an equipment failure, you’re going to need one! Head out with at least 1/3 left. And play in the shallower area until 500 psi.
You will see a gate near the bottom that has a skull and crossbones. It says “in you enter this cave, you will DIE. The mean it. Only special cave equipment and training should you enter the cave. The cavern where you can see the glow of daylight is the part you want to stay in.
I don't usually review but woke up irritated. The views and the amenities are fantastic here and the staff is very polite, but there is no one to stop trouble at night and there is no peace and quiet. At least three different campsites played music at max volume until 0130 am and someone very drunk in a ram 2500 was doing burnouts at one of the bath houses and down the small tent roads. Not very safe for your kids.
This was our first time here. We didn't get a lot of pictures but we very much enjoyed our visit and we will be back. We took a dip in each of the springs. Bath houses/bathrooms were clean and the water was wonderfully hot! Highly recommend a visit. We drove up from Ocala. Totally worth it! If your looking to camp, there are MANY awesome campsite all over with fire pita and grills and tables.
