Florida is famous for lovely beaches, but we've got a few springs around that are some of our best hidden treasures.
If you're looking for a date that's perfect for the hot summer days in Florida, head to Rainbow River Springs! Here, you'll enjoy a day of fun in the sun while cooling off in crystal clear waters. It's one of our favorite summer date ideas.
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Here's how to have a day together that's equal parts relaxation and adventure.
Rainbow River Springs
- Location: 19158 S.W. 81st Place Road, Dunnellon
- Tubing Cost: $30 per person, or $25 per person for a group of 4+ people
- Summer hours: April 1-September 30, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Rainbow River is a spring-fed river less than a two-hour drive from Tampa, making it the perfect location for a day trip! Various locations along the river offer water activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, tubing, or simply swimming in the crystal-clear water.
For this trip, we chose to take a leisurely adventure tubing down Rainbow River from KP Hole Park.
For tubing, you'll park at K.P. Hole Park, rent your tube, float down the river for about 4 hours, exit at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park, and be shuttled back to K.P. Hole to pick up your car.
Important note: In the summertime, the park will close once the parking lot is full, so make sure you plan to arrive early or buy a VIP Parking Pass in advance.
Explore more: Places to Go Tubing
What to expect tubing Rainbow River
We purchased the VIP Parking Pass ahead of time so we did not have to leave too early. Parking is first come first serve and we weren’t sure how busy it was going to be, but when we arrived around 10 a.m. there were a couple of non-VIP spots available.
Parking is always free, but the VIP Parking Pass provides a parking spot up front, as well as $5 off one tube rental for the day. For a $20 fee paid in advance, it's not a bad deal!
When you arrive, you will let the staff know you have VIP Parking and they will direct you to your spot. Once parked, you will go to the window to pay for tube rental. Just show the VIP Parking Pass so they can give you a discount.
You'll float down the river in your tube for approximately 4 hours. To make sure you and your significant other stay together, you can tie your tubes together with rope.
As you float, you'll see some Florida wildlife, including birds, fish, and more. Keep an eye out for rope swings and other fun spots. The float itself is fairly slow and relaxing with an average water temperature of 72 degrees keeping you cool.
We saw beautiful wildlife, including fish, turtles, birds, and otters, and the water was so clear and refreshing. We stopped about halfway and tied our tubes to a tree so we could swim and stretch.
Plenty of people enjoyed the water by kayaking, paddle boarding, tubing, and boating, but it did not feel crowded at any point.
Pro tip: At one point, I made the mistake of unhooking from the group and was caught in a minor cross-current. I learned my lesson and recommend you stay connected to your group or sweetheart.
what to bring
Plastic bottles, plastic bags, wrappers, cans, and alcohol are not permitted
- Small cooler
- Reusable water bottle
- Environmentally friendly sunscreen
- Hats and sunglasses
- Rope or bungee to connect tubes
You can bring food and drinks along for the ride, as long as it's all in reusable containers.
Pro tip: A lot of coolers will float, so you can even bring a small cooler along to keep your snacks chilled!
The first thing I recommend investing in is a dry bag. I ordered a 5L bag from Amazon that held my 32-ounce Hydro Flask, sunscreen, phone, and keys. If you are planning on bringing more than that, it is a good idea to size up.
The second most important thing to bring is a good pair of sandals or water shoes that have backs and will stay on your feet in the water. If you want to get out along the way and swim or walk around, this will protect your feet from all the rocks.
Before you enter the park to get on your tube, they will check your bag. You can bring a thermos, Tupperware, sports bottles, and insulated cups.
Pro tip: The key here is environmentally safe items. Anything that is not reusable and would therefore create trash is not allowed.
You cannot bring cans, bottled water/soda, wrappers, or Ziplock baggies. We admittedly had to take a few snacks back to the car. Additionally, it is a county law that you cannot have alcohol on the Rainbow River. They use a Passive Alcohol Sensor Flashlight to detect alcohol in any beverage containers you bring.
EXIT AND SHUTTLE RIDE
At the end, you'll exit the river at the tuber's exit at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park. Here, there will be a shuttle that will take you and your float back to the starting point where your car is parked.
Once the shuttle arrived, they loaded our tubes for us and we took the 10 minute ride back to KP Hole Park where we were able to change out of our wet clothes to grab some food.
After freshening up, we refueled at Swampy’s Bar & Grille, an inviting no-frills riverside eatery with outdoor picnic tables, Adirondack chairs lining the shore, and casual eats. This part of town is lowkey and laidback.
More Info ON COSTs
There are two tubing packages available at KP Hole Park. If you are in a group of 1 -3 people, the tube adventure is $30 per person, but if you have a group of 4 or more people, the cost drops to $25 per person.
Both packages include the entry fee, tube rental, and return shuttle service. Personal floatation devices are not allowed. You must rent a tube from the park.
Children must be at least three years old to tube, and life jackets are available upon request.
The park had restrooms with changing rooms, as well as some lockers available to rent.
Additionally, the last ticket sales will occur at 12:45 p.m. and you must be on the river by 1 p.m. The last shuttle will run at 6 p.m. You can find more information and frequently asked questions here.
- Summer hours: April 1-Sept. 30, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Winter hours: Oct. 1-March 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Address: 9435 SW 190th Avenue Rd., Dunnellon, FL
WHAT ABOUT ALLIGATORS?
Naturally, we’re all taking a risk when we swim in any body of water in Florida. During our tubing journey, we didn’t spot any alligators, but it’d be silly to assume there are none.
Keep an eye out and be aware. Enjoy your time in nature and respect the natives!
Another Option: Enter Through Rainbow River State Park
Those looking to go tubing can expect to pay $25 per person. If you enter through Rainbow River Springs State Park, you can also expect a $5 fee per vehicle of up to 8 people.
Important change: Rainbow River Springs State Park now requires a day-use reservation program, so be sure to reserve your park date ahead of time to avoid issues entering the park's main entrance.