Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Yes several

Yes.... Only about a quarter mile to the Santa Fe River... Beautiful!!

They are allowed but not in the water. There are signs showing where the cutoff is.

Yes there is a beach that slopes into the water

Yes, I thought the smaller spring was the best and no one there. If I were a fish I would live there.

Yes you can rent tubes. I think its 6 or 7 dollars. And they take debit cards . thank God we didn't get tubes at Ginnie Springs they were like $21

Yes but they can not go in the water.

If you have a family yes, if you want a drunken party no

Its 70 dollars for a qhole day

Yes you have to go online to do that check florida state parks website

It is very close to the spring entrance. This is one of the most kid friendly, spring parks I've been to.

Signs say no pets sorry

Yes it is included but you have to arrive early and the entrance is by car and you have. To arrive early because there is a limit of cars at 7 that this is a good time

I saw many people with dogs in their canoe/ kayak

Not at gilchrist but right down road at Ginnie springs they have tubing area, but you can bring your own and go tubing

Yes

The fee still the same????

Yes, but must be on a leash and cannot go in the spring

I believe so, but I'm not 100% sure. Just call and ask. 386-454-1369

Yes you can.

from my understanding no! It is now a national park and no longer privately owned. And that has changed a few things including the price!

You have to be there in line atleast 30 min before they open once the capacity is full you cannot get in.

I'm pretty sure for a single person it's $4 for the day.

Yes you are allowed to have 🐕 in the campsite area.

Yes

Water and 30 amp was $19.62 per night. All sites are the same price regardless. So the primitive sites are the same price.

I would'nt chance it. The gate closes off pretty early..... in the morning. We went at 9a.m. and it was already full. Early bird get's the worm. Some picnic areas are shaded some are not. Beautiful blue Hole spring! Natural Florida....the way God made it.

Yes, canoe and tandem kayaks are for rent-- $20 for 2 hours (plus tax). . Also paddle boards-- $16 plus tax. Requires a photo ID to rent

Yes and they are very nasty and dirty ans only clean them once a day and thats at night.. Giod luck

Pets are to be in leashes. And they cannot go on the boardwalks

As far as I know you can swim anywhere you want but if you go too far out of the clear swimming area then you risk dealing with alligators. Last i was there , some people swam across the Santa Fe river, towards the back of the park, but water is murky brown

Call them directly.

$6 per car, up to 8 people.

In all Florida State Parks, alcohol is only permitted on your campsite, no where else in the park. Look up Florida statute 62D, it will give you all of the rules pertaining to all Florida State Parks.

No

We had water.

Yes, it's now a host spot

I do not believe so no

No rules on hammock camping

Nope. They have workers walking/atv-ing around the area at all times. Leave your dog somewhere else, this isn’t the place.

I watch young kids jump off the little dock into the water... technically it's a small railing made out of wood

Right now it's closed due to Brown water because of all the flooding. Hard to tell when it will open back up presumably when the water goes back down.

Crystal clear and beautiful! Enjoy your visit!

Yes but the equipment goes for you

If you can, just take your coal and have a good day with your family

If you can bring grill drinks discreetly

Whenever it reaches Capacity.

Yes, lots of local amenities and great restaurants.

There are 2 up in Highsprings. Cadillac Motel and Highsprings Morel are right across the street from each other.

Public wifi

About 20 minutes

Some weekends are busier than others. Just check the site for availability.

Yes

they have a little snack store. I havent bought ice here, so not sure. the store is right behind the welcoming booth.

They have a snack shop

They are open at 8:00 however if you're camping, check in time is at 3:00:00 but I noticed a lot of the people around me were checking in a little bit early if the campsite was empty

Yes

8.00 am

All springs in FL are about 72 deg F year round.

Oleno State Park

They have 18 camping spots with electric and water. I don't think they are big enough for 42' rig. We could barely fit with 31'.

It is a state park so as long as you don't disturb others there should not be any problem. The park is renovating the Spring area so call ahead to make sure it is open. I have not been scuba diving at that Spring. I is a beautiful Spring. Many people snorkel there. Check with a local dive shop. They can advise about the quality of the underwater environment.

Water is crystal clear. The depth of water ranges from 4ft to 6ft. But the spring opening is deep and looks like a cave.

I think so I saw some but not sure soory

No I don't think so if so they only charge 6 bucks per truck load up to 6 or 8 people per day

Yes campers had them while we was there

Not needed. First come first serve

There is little to nothing cell service in the whole area. You can send videos or photos to Facebook. May take a half hour. Take pics, enjoy yourself and send when you get home. You will not see anyone there talking on their cell. When the campground did list wifi I never got a signal

Yes. You have to reserve way in advance through ReserveAmerica.com

Snack bar

Yes

There is also a day use fee($6 a car iirc). Also, while they do reopen the park after some people leave, of s not immediate, and could be hours later, so your best bet is get there well before opening or come in the mid afternoon when people have left.

No closes at 6

I believe it is 10 a car, we always camp. But it is much cheaper now that the state has taken over.

Out in the santa Fe river yes but they rarely venture up I to the spring area. If there are a lot of people, no gator will come

Not sure what tubing is, but I think I saw they have canoes that they rent out.

You can fish there i think but just not where people swim

8 am

I don't think so but you could try lol!

$6 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. $4 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2 Pedestrians, bicyclists

No!

No

72°F year round

6$ per car load but max 8 people also they take card payments but be prepared because sometimes the card station goes down

yup, they have both RV/elec sites and Primitive Camping sites

Yes.

Yes!

Out in the river yes, not a good idea by the spring, were all the human activity is!

No they don't😥 do to safety reasons. A woman fell off the doc

Yes, you can call or go to their website for more information.

Yes

Probably not the state dont want it there to big a risk for them I guess....although all the years I've been going never seen anyone hurt but have seen thousands and thousands of people jump....I say we all pitch a fit till they replace it

When you check in to a campsite they will give you the lock combination of you need it.

I wouldn't recommend dirt bikes. Families with small children everywhere.

If every day

The long walking dock to the sante fe river is not being rebuilt until wintertime during off season. No word on jumping dock, but it's gone also.

6 dollars a car

No there are 3 access points to the water the right has 3 steps spaced about 6 get apart, the left is a small dock going into the water and I think the center is a gradual slope. The walk from the parking area is about 100 years to the water same as the bathrooms.

Not really a place for bikes. Its permitted, but most areas are very loose sand.

Yes but only until sundown or u have to drive to town

No. There is no fishing in the spring. You can only fish in the river.

No and no cell service either

Water is only waist deep and small swimming area. There is a deep spot off the jump dock, which is closed.

No grills that I seen in the campground, but they do have fire rings. There are grills in the day use areas.

Check YouTube for videos.

Lot of local street vendors sell fire wood just outside the park!

Much easier to book on the website. We were just there at the tent only sites...they were not nearly fully booked but it gets much busier on the weekends. If you are looking at the map on the florida parks website camp area G is the closest tent site to the two main springs and well secluded from the packed in RV Sites

It are still there but in disrepair

ReserveAmerica.com

Lawyers have to decide that...

The dock is gone..I don't know if it will be back.. It's doubtful

Don't know but nothing was happening to it when we were there today.

They show a map on reserve America ... The primitive campgrounds are somewhat open and you can see your neighbor... But the sites with electric and water are as tight as sardines in a can!.. nevertheless... I love swimming there...🤗

Plan your trip to the shower house to get hot water.

no i just called them u cannot fish in the park at all they said. probly cause hooks can get into people

ReserveAmerica.com

There dump stations near the park but I don't think there is a dump station at the park.

Both are beautiful... But from Gilcrest you can swim to the Santa Fe River 🤗 and there's a diving board!!!

Yes...water and elec

Not long but the spring may be nicest in Florida.

No. They are in the process of upgrading the entire park.

You can only stay for 14 days at a time.

Water and electric hook ups. They do have showers.

Cash for sure, card possibly.

A rented canoe- not sure Your canine in your canoe is up to you.

Yes.

No

Use the website and call them prior to going

I am not sure about any fire, but it is flooded right now. The river has taken over the springs

$ 6.00 per car.

unaware of that

You would probably be able to get in once school starts back up.

Very close walk within 200 feet

You have to make a reservation at reserve america..its usually $18-$25 for State park camping

Both. They rent floats and kayaks they have a snack bar there with hot dogs

Yes. There are shallow areas perfect for small children.

Stores bout 5 miles... I don't think they sell ice at the park

Last month my friend rented it for a bday party, i believe it was $100. They rent out quick too make sure you reserve it before hand.

Id say about 8' right now.

They do not want coolers right next to the swimming area. They have designated areas for coolers, picnic tables, grills and chairs. There are pavilions also. No glass or alcohol.

There are grills in the picnic areas, first come as available. I can't recall if there was a grill available at every tent site.

They don't have cabins at "Gilchrist" Blue Springs.

Just checked website hrs are 9 to 6

No.

It filled up before 10 a few weekends ago. The earlier you get there the better tbh

Yes, as well as a fully stocked snack bar

No slides, but many enjoy jumping from the dock!

It's okay, but the entry road is dirt

Not really, you would have to walk back upstream if you did.

Yes

No not there.

May thru September weekends & holidays are very crowded. Even when crowded there's generally places to eat/swim as long as you're not on the main spring. Weekdays are wonderfully empty.

Kayaks, canoes, tubes, paddle boards, snorkel and mask, price range between $15-$45 depending upon what you rent and length of rental. Tubes not allowed down river. Portage company will pick you up either upstream or downstream for canies/kayaks.

Not sure why people think you can't have RV's at a state park but yes they take RV's. You can always check on Reserve America. It's an online reservation system for Florida State Parks and forests. Google it.

Yes It is amazing

No

Is like 3 miles

Beware, no sewer hook ups AND no dump station. Plus the road in is best suited for pop ups or smaller travel trailers. Sandy and rough.

Huge Cypress along the water and a few springs. We also biked a trail.

Excellent location to launch a canoe or kayak. Beautiful spring and run to the river to enjoy.

Yes, you can tube down the spring run into the santa fe river, just watch out for canoes and kayaks.

No cabins. I think it's a $8 per car entrance fee. Campers and motor homes are allowed but you have to book your campsite online through their website.

There are grills near the front, along with restrooms and water, however, the primitive campsites have nothing.

When we went there 3 weeks ago camping was not available yet.

Yes

Yes, cool weather is the best time to see Manatee. They are there in the summer but far more numbers during cool weather. LoL i have a tuff time saying Florida has winter.

Not in the spring area but at Camp sites

Not that I am aware of, although if you call they will tell you. The staff is super nice !

Should be!

State bought it, no more camping.