This place is extraordinarily beautiful. From the campsite you can go tubing down the river, we had an absolute blast!!! The water was cold, but with this Florida heat it felt very refreshing. Once you get moving around in the water it's not bad at all. This is a Beautiful Springs! No wonder Rainbow Springs is considered the most beautiful of the state's 33 first-magnitude springs, more than any other state and more than any nation can boast. Tubing here was so relaxing too! There are air stations to fill your tubes if you're bringing your own. If you are coming in by the Rainbow Springs State Park entrance be prepared to wait in line its recommended to be at the springs super early. They open at 8 AM I would recommend to be here at 6:30AM. They close the park and won't let anyone else in when it's full to capacity. Great place to come with family and friends. read more

See all

If I could give this FL SP zero stars I most definitely would! We camped during the T-Giving Holiday 2025. We pulled up at 3:02 pm and the gate was closed. I got my phone to call and noticed a VM had been left from the same phone number. Due to spotty service, I could not figure out what was being said in the VM, so I called. The gentleman on the phone was very rude. "I left you a message with this information a few minutes ago," he said. I explained what I typed above and was given the code. When entering the ranger station the gentleman barely looked up. I said nicely that I believe I just spoke to you on the phone and I am here to check-in. He was just as rude during the check-in process. Whatever, people have bad days. We found our site and got everything setup. We had a great site and the park is very beautiful. We could hear kids playing a site or two down and some dogs randomly barking here and there throughout the park. Our dogs responded by barking "HI" back a couple of times before we shushed them and they quieted down The next two days were chilly and nothing particular to note regarding park or staff. We were a tad disappointed in the lack of walking and/or bike trails, but at this point were still happy with the park. Note: we did not see any trails leading to the springs; you had to drive to a separate entrance. Saturday is the day that did it for us. As I stated above, during the day we could almost always hear kids, adults, and especially dogs throughout the park. It was not irritating or bothersome whatsoever, to us any how. It was simply normal background noise during NON QUIET TIME HOURS! Do our dogs "talk" sometimes, yes, but we quiet them quickly. We know all SP park rules require well-behaved dogs and that they are not overly noisy. I had taken our dogs on a few walks over the past couple of days, but had not taken them on the bicycle yet, and set off with one about 11 am or so. She did not make one peep during our ride around the entire park. When I was leaving to take the second dog out, I was stopped at the end of our site by who I believe was a campground host. She was driving an orange gator. Mind you, I had one dog strapped to my chest and the other three were outside, in the caged area attached to our RV, behind our truck, and could clearly hear and see us (my spouse was also standing there with the dogs). They only made a few whiny noises but did not bark once. This woman had a scowl on her face like we were having a raging rave party in the park. She asked if were the site with the overly loud and barking dogs. I was taken back a bit, and considering at this point our dogs had not barked at her once, I responded the same as I typed above. They do bark occasionally, but we get them quieted down very quickly. I was then told that was basically untrue because the night before she had received three complaints. This was simply not true! Not about our dogs anyhow. I told her that the night before we sat around the fire for a bit and the dogs were quiet and that we were inside before 9 pm because it was so cold that night (and my watch indicated I was fast asleep by 9:22 pm). She scoffed back that the complaints came around 8 pm and woke her up as she went to bed early. I just looked at her shocked and reiterated it could not have been our dogs, but that I would tell my husband. She sped off and I turned around to tell my husband. He too was shocked. I postponed the other dog bike rides so the others would not make a peep if I left. We then made sure the dogs stayed 100% quiet, even though we could hear other dogs throughout the park as also stated above. As we sat there and talked about what had happened, we replayed the last few days over and over and were still perplexed at the situation. This was our 14th time camping at FL SPs. We have also stayed at a city park a few times. We have NEVER had any complaints about us or the dogs. We then talked about the quiet time hours and how we were always inside and quiet during this time. Furthermore, our dogs were not being disruptive at any time during our trip. We were also not being loud at any point, as we never are. We respect the rules and quiet time hours. We, nor the dogs, are ever outside past 10 pm (at the latest) and we never let them out in the morning before at least 8 am. This parks quiet hours were post as 11 pm to 7 am from what we could find. I do not know what this particular worker had against us, but it pi$$ed us off. We had been quite happy with our dogs during the trip as they were less "aware" of the other campers as they usually are. Even during walks, they did not bark at a single other person or dog we passed. Up until the interaction, we had been talking about booking again, but will not be back ever again. I would have understood if our dogs had been having a barking fit, but they were not and did not during this trip. Do not go here if you, your kids, or your dog make any type of noise. read more

This was a S.P. I was really looking forward to visiting, it was relatively easy to book the campground online but does take some planning, I'm sure at certain times of the year it could get crazy when you figure in all the amenities especially the activities on the river. Traveling here from NSB was an adventure in itself, I chose not to travel I-4 and decided since I was in no hurry I'd take Route 44 to Route 42 for much of the trip - it's a beautiful drive and I've been trying to make the trip just as much as part of the fun as I do the destination. My GPS took me to the correct entrance for the campground (you do need to pay attention to the address when planning your trip here). You will need a four digit code to open the automated gate as soon as you turn into the entrance no matter what time you arrive, you can call ahead before arriving to get the code I was actually dialing the number when a friendly camper exiting the campground shouted it out to me saving me a call. I brought the rig to a stop in front of the office which is connected to the store and is also the location to rent the Kayaks. - The Ranger explained all the importance information and pointed out the firewood bundled by the door and only requires a $7.00 donation per bundle or (3) bundles for $20.00 - the S.P. is not profiting from the firewood and I highly recommend grabbing a few bundles it very clean burning and is perfect for making some delicious and sticky smore's. The sites appear to be well maintained and all seem to be cleaned throughly between campers - the sewer connections are a little further away than most campsites I've used so you might want to ensure you have a few extra links of sewer hose onboard - the electrical and water connections were very nice and accommodated the 50 amps I needed and also had a independent 30 amp breaker as well. The water pressure was good and regulated and located about three feet from the electrical connection. So this campground gets an A+++ for the utilities. All the sites I looked at were nice and I may move locations our next visit if for no other reason than to change the view - the campground has plenty of trash bins and a recycling bin for aluminum I was a little disappointed they don't recycle plastic bottles but you can always bring those back home. It's a short walk or bike ride to the river and if you turn down the tram entrance on the entrance road it will provide a few more scenic miles to bike ride. This was one of the best State Park Camping trips we've done and it will definitely be on the list of repeat locations. Lastly it was Halloween weekend and it was a joy to get a number of kids drop by in their costumes trick or treating, fortunately we had plenty of candy for all of them, I think next year we'll make Jell-O shots for the parents :-) read more

See all

We had a great time here - it's a beautiful state park that you get into free when you're staying at the campground. (The campground has its own separate entrance, and they are not within easy walking distance.) We found the staff to be friendly. The restrooms were fine, but not fantastic. The staff was helpful and polite. We did have an issue with fire ants - they bit us in the parking lot so beware! We enjoyed the fact that the campground has a gated entrance, so it felt very safe. Some of the campsites are quite open, I can see that your camping experience might depend on your site. We stayed on tent site 57, which was Excellent! Close to the parking lot and restroom but shady and private. A perfect spot! I would stay here again (not in a tent...) and I highly recommend for others. read more

See all

loved it there nice staff great campground! very helpful had great tubing gorgeous views

This park as a whole is a small slice of Heaven. I am a Floridian and it is one of my favorite places in the state. My family and I just stayed there Saturday night and had a wonderful time. The campsite was actually pretty perfect except we could have had some more cover from the site next to us. As for customer service, the park staff are used to having people test their boundaries continuously and do start off rather guarded. They soften up into some of the sweetest people once they realize you are not trying to pull something. You have to realize, they deal with thousands of people a week. Most of them are young adults ready to party and during this virus, there are more rules to follow. I have camped in many, many campgrounds in the state and in most, unless they were deserted, the cleanliness of bathroom facilities may leave something to be desired. 98% of the time it is breath sucking humidity, spiders, their webs and mosquitos that are the biggest nuisances in there though. At Rainbow this was different. The camp host cleaned the bathrooms thoroughly with bleach early in the morning. I was treated to a fresh, clean and sanitized restroom first thing, that was probably safer than any East Coast hotel room. What happens during the rest of the day, I do not know. The river and park were absolutely gorgeous as usual. My only disappointment was that the attractions; the waterfalls and grounds of the park, were not able to be maintained as needed due to the virus and I guess, funding. I'm not sure, but even with the obvious depletion of resources, the park is still beautiful. Many thanks to the staff and rangers who got us in, rented us kayaks, made sure my chihuahua didn't get eaten by gators, and left us to enjoy one of the most extraordinary places in Florida. read more

See all

Campground was extremely clean. And the employees were absolutely wonderful. We will definitely be camping at the campground again

The campground is fine bathrooms are not clean ! But ... If you want a park with the worst employees! this is one ! the women in the office and the woman in the store are the most unfriendly human beings you can meet..... What a shame that those who manage the parks do not care to hire more friendly staff, people come to have fun and enjoy a vacation. You don't want to deal with such bad employees! May God enter their hearts one day! Not coming again ! read more

I do not recommend this campground . It's dated and poorly managed. They only had two bathrooms working at the time. At 5 a worker came to us and let us know They were having issues with the water but had someone looking it . At 730 we were cooking fajitas , bought more firewood for s'more and we're enjoying our time when a worker came over to us and told us we had to go . We live 5 hours away and had been drinking alcohol . They didn't care that we had 3 kids with us , they just wanted us to pack and go . I was Visibly upset and in a panic because we had so much stuff and it was getting dark . We had to throw away our food . Money down the drain ... didn't offer to compensate us for food and or having to find a last min hotel . They did call the police to make sure everyone was gonna leave . I'm never one to get in a car under the influence and either is my husband. I told park manager that , their response was that's not our problem . Should have stopped drinking at 530 even though they said they had someone fixing things . Just a awful experience ! I get that things happens that our out of their control but the way the handle it wasn't professional read more

Deciding to take in all the beautiful springs that Florida has, I decided to camp here after reading a lot about the amenities it offer along with the convenient location. We were greeted by friendly Park rangers which also facilitated our kayak rental a well. Once our camper van was fully unloaded and were able to roast some marshmallows, we took in the beautiful scenery amongst us. The raccoons even became my friends. The foliage was unlike any other and the well paved roads with lit key spots made it easier to find the restrooms. This is the real Florida, folks. Since it's a state park, they do have hours that you must abide by. It's rustic in every sense of the word so if you're not well equipped, you might experience difficulties. Bring a bike if you can so you can cruise around and explore. The gravel is a bit unkept in some sites but that's what camping is all about-roughing it out and enjoying the outdoors. I'd gladly return, this time during tubing season ! read more

Rainbow Springs State Park Campground - The entrance isn't where the maps will lead you to. Entrance is on SW 180th Ave Rd & US40 - Campgrounds Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

See all

Dear Ranger Johnathan, Great campgrounds. Only one complaint. You built a fire in my heart and left it unattended. Fervidly, Site 59 read more

Facilities are pretty nice and the camp grounds are very well taken care of. Each camp site if fairly personal with bushes between to block the view of other camp sites. Showers and toilets are complementary. Nice eh? What's also nice is that an entrance to Rainbow River is within reasonable walking distance and it's a pretty nice walk. read more

This campground was very poorly managed. The grounds were not cared for and the facilities were disgusting. The shower drains were backed up and the shower curtains were ill fitting and had mildew. The pool was closed and people let their dogs swim in the swimming area by the river even though there are signs that says not to. Terrible. If your expectations are low you won't be disappointed. read more

Rainbow Springs State Park Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

It's important to manage your expectations on this one... If you're expecting a fairly outdoorsy experience, you'll be disappointed. Being a full-facility campground, there's some aspects of civilized life that you'd expect to find -- like bathrooms, grills, etc. Unfortunately, this campground is a lot more suited to "camping" in an RV rather than a tent. Each campsite is fairly close to the next, the ground is gravel rather than dirt, and there are only very small patches of trees and plants. I'm sure if you're just staying here as a way to be close to the river during the day, it would probably be fine, though. read more

This was a nice campground, compared to others around the state I would say that the camping area is a little small. They basically have one loop, and the sites are really setup more for RV camping vs tent camping. We were late to reserve a site which left us with a handicap site. The issue with the HC site is that it is paved and you can not anchor your tent. The other sites were more gravel based and the entire area was fairly open (not many trees or shade in this camp site. The restrooms were pretty new and also very clean. I would suggest this for a RV or 1st time campers. read more

Just drove 6 hrs to camp here tonight, just to find that you can't access the campground after 5pm, and that it is closed april 1st-September, without making reservations in advance Guess impromptu trips get you locked out of the gate with nowhere to stay in these parts! read more

This is a great park to camp in if you are planning to make use of the river. It has power and water at each campsite, which is nice. I would not recommend tent camping in the middle of summer as there is little shade. We went in a tent during the month of November and it was fine. It seems this campground was designed with rvs & trailers in mind. There is enough brush and bushes to insulate you from the other campers. It is a smaller campground and fills quickly. If you are looking for trees try to book the sites on the outskirt of the loop. read more

A nice state park! Full hookups for RV'rs and nice attractions in the area. I stayed here in a 40ft 5th wheel and the sites were roomy and the road wide. You must try Copp Winery/Brewery in Crystal River!!! read more

We went tubing on Rainbow River and had a delightful time! The staff was extremely welcoming and accommodating. We would like to especially give kudos to Barry, Terri, and Chance! All three of them were so sweet and we enjoyed getting to know each of them. read more

Starting from the moment we got there at 9am (the online opening hours) we were greeted by a locked door. The door stating opens at 9am. We wondered around to the game room convenient store and were then greeted by a very grumpy woman Unfortunately didn't get her name. This woman was acting as if she was disgusted with our presence. She proceeded to tell us the online (and door) hours are not updated. The park ranger will not be in until 10am. Which I thought was very strange that costumers has to wait until 10am Saturday morning to check in to see if there is even a campsite available. So we wondered around the what we thought waiting room which had pretty cool history facts posted through out. After about 5 minutes she told us we were not allowed to wait in there. So we politely moved out of the room into the game room were she proceeded to huff and puff and give us dirty looks and snarky remarks about our questions about the river. So sad to say we will not be returning until they obtain a new and friendly staff. Also they should really up the hours back to at least 9am. 10am is ridiculous. By the time we check in, set up camp, and make it down to the river it will be at least noon. We traveled 4.5 hours to this park and left with a terrible taste and memory. We left and went to Ginnie Springs and had an amazing time. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND GINNIE SPRINGS. read more

Loved it here. Excellent staff. Waterfalls and water activities like canoeing, tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving. Each site has electric and water. Site 054 is right at the end with playground and pavilion and close to restrooms of looking for tent site read more