Ginnie Springs is one of the most beautiful springs in Florida, but it comes with some serious downsides.

Unlike many other springs in Florida, Ginnie Springs is privately owned, and allows excessive crowds and alcohol consumption.

Partly due to the alcohol, Ginnie Springs has a reputation for rowdy partying and trashy crowds, especially on holiday weekends.

Many people, especially families and those who enjoy peace and quiet, avoid Ginnie Springs because of the party environment.

Ginnie Springs Details

The springs are among the most beautiful in Florida, and it’s one of the most famous freshwater diving sites in the world.

If you enjoy peace and quiet it is best to visit during the off-season, when school is in session. Weekends during the off-season can still be crowded, especially when the weather is warm.

For the most peaceful experience it is always best to visit during the week, and avoid weekends whenever possible.

Ginnie Springs is located inside a privately-owned park, campground and resort called Ginnie Springs Outdoors.

Ginnie Springs is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northwest of the town of High Springs. It’s located on the Santa Fe River.

The Ginnie Springs Outdoors Resort is massive. It has full facilities, including camping, cabins, an on-site dive shop, and more.

Ginnie Springs is a major international scuba diving attraction. It’s said to be one of the most popular freshwater dive sites in the world. Ginnie Springs has options for both open water and cave diving.

The Ginnie Spring pool is round. It measures 90 ft (27.4 m) in diameter and 12.2 ft (3.7 m) deep in the center. The bottom is sand and limestone.

Clear, bluish water issues from a cavernous vent underneath a limestone ledge on the east side of the pool.

There is sometimes a spring boil, depending on current conditions.

There are two scuba diving/swimming access platforms along the south side of the spring pool. The pool is otherwise surrounded by cypress and hardwood trees.

A spring run flows from Ginnie Spring into the Santa Fe River. The spring run is approximately 35 ft (10.7 m) wide, 3 ft (0.9 m) deep. It flows east about 500 ft (152.4 m) under a forest canopy, before dumping into the Santa Fe River.

The spring and run are situated entirely within the Santa Fe River floodplain.

The Santa Fe River can be crystal clear at times, but is usually tannic and tea-colored.

Exotic aquatic vegetation is abundant in Ginnie Spring, the spring run and nearby Santa Fe River.

An extensive cave system extends well beyond the vent underneath the limestone ledge to the east and south. The cave system includes some 1,100 ft (335.3 m) of known passages.

Cavern diving is popular in Ginnie Spring, and the conditions are magnificent. The cave system is partially blocked with a gate to prevent divers from entering beyond the light zone.

There are several other springs inside the park that offer cave diving.

Nearby Cities

Gainesville
Lake City
Fort White
Alachua
Newberry
Orlando

Region

Central Florida

Activities

Canoeing
Kayaking
Paddle Boarding
Picnicking
SCUBA Diving
Snorkeling
Swimming
Tubing
Weddings

Camping

Cabin Rentals
On-site Camping

Contact Information

Phone: (386) 454-7188

Location

Google Map to Address: 7300 Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, FL 32643