Both are worth a trip, but they suit different travelers. Here is the honest side-by-side to help you choose — or fit both into one route.
They sit about 64 miles apart, which makes doing both in one trip realistic. Here is how they actually differ.
| Ichetucknee Springs | Rainbow Springs | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.2 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
| Entry fee | $6 / vehicle | $2 / person |
| Hours | 8am – sunset | 8am – sunset |
| Magnitude | 1st magnitude (8 springs) | 1st magnitude |
| Nearest town | Fort White | Dunnellon |
| Best for | The definitive Florida tubing run | The easiest great spring day in Florida |
| Good for | Family-Friendly, Kayaking, Snorkeling, Swimming, Tubing | Camping, Family-Friendly, Kayaking, Swimming, Tubing |
| When to go | ||
| Current conditions | Open · verify capacity timing on summer weekends | Open · DAY-USE RESERVATION NOW REQUIRED for entry (new April 2026) · parking limited during renovations |
Ichetucknee Springs
Ichetucknee is the spring we recommend first to almost everyone. The 3.5-mile run down a crystal-clear river through untouched cypress forest is the single best tubing experience in Florida, fed by eight named springs that keep visibility glass-clear the entire float. The honest catch: everyone knows…
Local tip: Arrive before 9am on summer weekends or have a backup picked out — Gilchrist Blue is 25 minutes away. The head spring and Blue Hole are outstanding snorkeling before tube traffic picks up.
Full guide, fees & map →Rainbow Springs
Rainbow is often called the most beautiful of Florida's first-magnitude springs, and it is certainly the most effortless: $2 entry, gardens and man-made waterfalls from its roadside-attraction era, easy swimming in the headsprings, and a wide, gentle river. The Rainbow River tube run (from the separate…
Local tip: The headsprings swim area is best before 11am. Paddle upstream first, drift back. The gardens and waterfalls make this the best springs choice for mixed groups where not everyone swims.
Full guide, fees & map →