Fanning Springs State Park

Fanning Springs State Park is beautifully maintained and offers a truly remarkable swimming experience right at the spring head. A scenic boardwalk and surrounding walkways provide easy access and nearly encircle the spring, making it simple to explore, relax, and take in the views from every angle. Boats frequently pull up from the spring run and dock for the day, adding to the laid-back, social atmosphere. There are benches right at the edge of the spring head and plenty of space for families to spread out and enjoy the area comfortably. Restrooms are available on site, making it easy to spend the entire day here. For those looking to explore more, paddling the spring run and the Suwannee River opens up access to other nearby springs and turns a visit into a full-day adventure. Bring your snorkel gear and be ready for a fantastic time, and as always, do your spring planning to catch the best water conditions for a truly beautiful spring experience.

We had a quick visit to Fanning Springs while we were visiting the neighboring Manatee Springs. We took a day trip over to explore Fanning Springs. The Spring was beautiful as ever and it’s a short walk out to see the Suwannee River. Across from the park is a trail head for the Scenic Bike Trail. It’s 30 ish miles and if you head towards Old Town from Fanning Springs you will get to go over the Suwannee River Bridge.

Not a lot of water anymore. Our kids were small and the girls and dad jumped off the platform, but they couldn't do that anymore. Did see 10 or 11 manatees farther away from the walking platform. A lot of trees down! It was really sad 😔.

Lovely area with color changing foliage (November), plenty of interesting trails, and clear springs with an adorable baby manatee (there were more but he came up close to the dock).

State Park pass holder so I visit as much as I can yearly. Nice pretty cool spring water. Nice boardwalk with a river lookout. Picnic tables. Grills Trails. Obviously there will be biting insects and ticks - it’s wooded! Cool huge cypress trees. Ramp and steps. Would be wonderful if people didn’t have out on the steps and the floating dock. Spring run is separated and boats do pull up. Not a bad experience. Photos on a Saturday, the weekend after Memorial Day so wasn’t too bad for a weekend. Concessions but didn’t get anything by so no sure what they serve.

Don't think twice and just go. Finally found out why local Florida folks love to go on vacations to these spings. While deciding to go swimming in ANY body of water can be risky, this felt very safe. The water is so clear and getting in and out was easy enough. Once in, it became super relaxing and refreshing. You can stand up along the edges and see right to the bottom. I'm looking forward to trying out more natural springs in the future.

Awesome spring! First of all, I called around 11am to see if they might close due to capacity since its summer and we've been turned away many times by other nearby springs if its past 8-9am, and the lady told me that yesterday (Sat June 21st) was the first day they reached capacity all year but it was rare and I should be good. I traveled about 2.5 hrs, taking the risk anyway... We got there around 3:30 pm and there were maybe 80 people there? There was plenty of swimming space, so it didn't feel crowded or busy.. It's only $6 per car and soooo worth it. Some things to note.... I would recommend this for a solid swimmer. My daughter is 8 and swims well, but there were very few standing places for her except the sides, which she was fine with but might be a concern for smaller children, or be sure to bring floaties. Be sure to bring goggles as the water was crystal clear all throughout. There was a dock for jumping on one side and boats/jet skis on the other. We didn't see any fish or other aquatic critters, and we kind of like to see fish or manatees, but that's okay, nothing to watch out for! We didn't make it to any of the other areas in the park, but we did notice a nice boardwalk that looked neat and we checked out the cabin areas that looked really nice. It would be a good stop for a springs tour/camping trip... within a few miles was Hart, Ginnie and Poe to name a few.

The cabins are awesome! Full kitchen, full bathroom with tub, two bedrooms, fireplace in the living room, in a beautiful, tree canopied section of the park.

A smaller park, wher the spring Is separated from the river by a concrete area. While we were there, they had a boat docked to the spring wall and lots of activity. There are hiking trails and a park, with conference center for use. Not much else to do, and was smaller than Manatee Springs. Still a really nice park.

This spot is absolutely fantastic and definitely worth a visit! The water is refreshingly cold, yet wonderfully clear. Don't forget to bring goggles and a float so you can fully enjoy observing all the beautiful fish. Plus, the admission is incredibly affordable at just $6. There are plenty of picnic tables available and a designated area for kids to play, making it a fantastic destination for the entire family. This spot is absolutely worth a visit!

Love love love this place. I absolutely love hanging out in the swamp. Lol There is a beauty about it like none other. One of the things I love most about Mexico is swimming in the cool waters in the many sinkhole cenotes. This place has a really cool "cenote" it's more like a fresh spring but it does look just like a natural sinkhole "cenote" in Mexico. Very clear body of water with a natural sandy bottom. It's a beautiful place to swim. You can spot many a wildlife here, even the manatees. We stopped off twice to take a swim but it was raining like a monsoon both times! I will have to keep trying for better weather. One of my favorite places to Swim. One of my favorite State parks in Florida. Will return. Highly highly recommend.

What a find. So beautiful. You have to visit. Amazing crystal clear water. Peaceful, tranquil a must do when in the area. The spring is situated right on the Suwansee River. They also have picnic areas, tables and bbq areas. It cost 6 dollars per car to enter this park and it is open every day of the year. Here is some information about this majestic slice of beauty I found on the internet - Fanning Springs produces 65 million gallons of water daily, making it a second-magnitude spring. Historically, Fanning Spring was a first-magnitude springs as recently as the 1990s. The springs not only offer the perfect 72 degree water to cool down on hot Florida days, it also offers an abundance of underwater wildlife to view such as musk turtles, bass, mullet, freshwater flounder, bowfin, and manatees during the colder days, just to name a few. Visitors can enjoy grilling and picnicking under the majestic live oaks, kids can swing and run around at the playground, and friends and family can have a friendly game of volleyball on the white sand volleyball court. We have a boardwalk that allows you to step back in time to old Florida as you stroll through a breathtaking cypress swamp with cypress knees standing six feet tall. This boardwalk ends with an overlook allowing you to see the Suwannee River and all it has to offer, including massive sturgeons jumping during the summer months. White-tailed deer, gray squirrels, red-shouldered hawks, pileated woodpeckers and barred owls are some of the animals that may be seen around the park. An overlook at the park allows you to see the spring in its entirety and has a spectacular view of the boil. Visitors can enter the park by boat from the Suwannee River or by vehicle from U.S. Highway 19

We were sad that during CoVid the cabins were not available. We have stayed here twice in the last few years, and would love to reserve a cabin now or in the future. It is the perfect place to watch the stars and, if it is not cloudy, meteor showers. Both times we have stayed here we had bad weather. It was either rainy or cloudy. When the clouds passed, or the rain stopped, which was for a short time, we got lost in the stars. No meteors though. The Springs look wonderful. We did not make time to swim in them the first time as we were both working, and had to get back to work the next day. The second time we stayed was in November, and it was too chilly. Both times were perfect - except for mud and puddles from rain - for walking around the area. Today we stopped by to double check on cabin rentals. Two rangers on duty said cabin rentals are now open. Yay! When we get home, we'll be online to book for August or November meteor showers.

Beautiful spring for swimming, nice but small hiking trail, nice views of river, manatees!!! Staff is very pleasant and helpful. Did not check out camping or conference area so not comments about those areas.

We spent the majority of our summer here. Just getting around to the review. The water is crystal clear. It is cold at 72 degrees, but once you're in for a few minutes you're fine. Great place to take the whole family! Relax in and on the water. There's not much "beach" but there's a few areas, you also have a pavilion area with picnic tables and park grills plus there's a beautiful nature walk. It's 3 bucks for each person, and if you have a snap or food stamp card I believe you get the car for 3 dollars. It's truly a cheap and wonderful place to spend the day with the family or just by yourself. I'm adding some pictures, but I apologize that I didn't take photos of the pavilion area.

Great location and easy to find using your GPS. I have a FL state park pass, which is very handy when visiting state parks in FL. Lots of trails, bike rentals, cabin rentals, clean bathrooms and a large dock with ramps. All the staff are helpful and friendly. The price is very reasonable, lots of peace and quietness thru- out the park! Great time to just chill and relax.

It started to rain just as we pulled up to Hart Springs, so we decided to save a few bucks and give Fanning Springs a try at a much more affordable price of only $6/carload vs $8/person. Parking is right next to the restroom building and just beyond that under the canopy of massive trees are a number of picnic tables, grills, a small playground and a covered pavilion. Stairs and ramps lead down to the floating docks that surround the swimming area. There is no shoreline or sand to play in at the waters edge and nowhere to really leave your stuff without the risk of it getting wet or potentially kicked into the water, so only bring down the minimum. Inside the swimming area the bottom is obviously maintained with most of algae and plant growth removed and the water is crystal clear, outside the floating docks there is much more plant life and visibility is slightly reduced (due to normal plant growth) but still clear. I can touch the bottom across most of the area so a float isn't required but makes it much more enjoyable. The mouth of the spring is slightly deep but doable with a simple mask and snorkel, although there's not much to see. There is also boat/kayak/canoe access from the Suwannee River so you can tie off, walk across the dock, and jump into the swimming area of the spring. The nature trail just off the ramp to spring is very short and has few overlooks to take in the trees and knobby knees of the cypress trees. The end of the boardwalk has a nice (little) covered deck overlooking the Suwannee River. With so many great springs to choose from in the area, it's an affordable alternative when the more popular and more expensive springs are near capacity.

Located 10 miles north of Chiefland re: Manatee Springs State Park. This Park also has a cove of spring water - cool, and crystal clear! The swimming area is a little bit bigger than Manatee Springs, but is more user-friendly with ramps and large floating dock. The Park has trails to hike, canoe rentals, and camping areas. They also have cabin rentals, but they do not allow pets in the cabins though :( Plus, the Rangers and volunteers are nice and friendly!

My Sun Joe loved that Park we used to go there and my other son likes Hot springs so we switched it up always a great time at the springs I miss the springs I need a trip there missing my boys it's such a beautiful Park to take your kids to manatees come up in there it's so much to do the food was good the guy would put a restaurant in with I think he had beer and wine to really beautiful Park if you have a chance of a chance to be around there go to that Park thank you have a great day Diane

Heaven! Almost don't want to share! Don't ruin it k? $6 for 4 people to go to heaven! Not crowded! Spring has ramps and stairs that have a sizable step down. Water is pretty crappy and crystal clear. We saw lots of fish swimming no gator. They say at times you can swim with Manistee! Some folks kayak or boat up to the springs to swim. Parking right up front at 11:30am on a Saturday!?!? Bathrooms. Hiking trails. A symphony of nature! Playground, picnic tables, shade and BBQs. Sweet ranger very informative.

Fanning Springs State Park is a Florida State Park on the Suwannee River at the town of Fanning Springs, near Old Town. The Nature Coast State Trail runs near the park--this is a rails to trails project of the Florida State Park System--offering additional nature-viewing and hiking activities. Fanning Springs Park itself offers camping plus a very nice swimming area built around the springs. On the western side of this pool is a floating dock and a small inlet meeting the Suwannee River so boaters can come in and dock their boats and then enjoy the park. A lot of people also like to use this floating dock area for sunbathing and on the opposite side of the springs pool is a boardwalk around the springs and a pretty cool diving platform near the deepest part of the springs. The park is very popular on hot summer days for swimming. I think camping includes cabins that can be rented, a space for RVs, and tent camping but I've not been camping here so I cannot really comment on it much. The facilities otherwise are fairly limited: there's restrooms and vending machines and I think someone selling concessions, also. The park staff, like those at most Florida State Parks, seem to love their jobs and are very polite and friendly. The bathrooms--as also is the case with most state parks with springs, alas--do not have any space to change your clothing, that is, they have toilets and sinks but no changing space as do the USDA public lands facilities at springs. Just something to consider. The parking is not the best: it gets crowded and there's "overflow" parking but it's hodge-podge on the grass more or less. However, these criticisms are very small compared to how awesome the park and springs are overall.

I spent the day alone at this park while waiting for my friend to arrive in late afternoon. I did not know I needed this day to myself. I needed this day. This beautiful park was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. I sat in the sun, had a picnic, read my book, swam in the springs. It was so awesome I made sure I brought my friend back for a swim and the experience. Take your family here! Get in the car and go outside and play!!

I hate to report how wonderful this park is along with all the fl state parks. I like to keep this place secret and all to myself. We had a great week staying in one of these cabins. Everything you need is there, just bring your clothes, a toothbrush, and some swimming trunks. Nature is on full display and doesn't get much prettier. We were there in April and saw the most spectacular light show from fireflies. I never seen before such a massive amount of them filling the whole park with this light show. The staff is also very helpful.

I went to Fanning Springs State Park to do some swimming and relax for a bit and test out my new GoPro. During the summer I visit springs during a weekday to avoid the crowds. The springs in Florida vary greatly. Some are large swimming areas with little natural features left, others are almost all natural with minimal human disturbance in the surrounding area. The park built boardwalks and platforms down to the spring to minimize erosion. The spring has a deep area around the vent and shallower areas at the access points, various fish are around and let you get fairly close, especially the mullet who lazily swim around. Springs also vary in clarity, on the day I went Fanning was extremely clear, the photos I took made it seem like I was flying through the air rather than swimming. This is one of the better springs to visit in Florida. Add the fact that it is within 20 miles of two other state parks that have springs as well and it makes for a great day trip and a plus for picnicing.

Fanning Springs State Park is located off US-19 in the small town of Fanning Springs, Florida. They have cute modern cabins that can be rented for 100.00 per night ( sleeps 6 people ). They have a campground for overnight accommodations. The park itself has plenty of picnic tables and grills. There is plenty of shade. The bathrooms are small and inadequate on busy days. The parking lot is disjointed and mainly unpaved. The spring itself is beautiful with ample access to the cold clear water. There is access to the Suwannee River. Boats come into the spring. Overall it's a very nice place. Try Manatee Springs down the road in Chiefland also.

The springs were refreshing, but unfortunately I came home covered in ticks. Do not sit on the stairs leading down into the water at the springs. I believe that is where I got them.

Great swimming area. Cabin stay was ok until they made excuses to charge us more. It was a 5 day family vacation with kids. Rangers reimbursed our one neighbor because they filed a complaint for noise. Yep, only our one neighbor complained about noise --the moment they checked-in @4pm while no one else did. It was 4PM! If we were truly loud, everyone would've complained. They continued to complain throughout the whole day and got that free night from the park. We could've and should've filed multiple complaints as well but chose not to because we are not free loaders, and/or problem causers. A DRESSER FELL ONTO MY CHILD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ANCHORED TO THE WALL. We didn't even complain to the park about it. Now it came to bite us. Don't make the same mistake. So FYI, please stay at your own risk, complain as much as possible to get your free night(s). Otherwise, they will charge you for everything big or small. Almost forgot to mention ... found tons of ticks in the bathroom! My husband got bitten by one on this stay. Some animal came into our porch overnight and made a mess out of tied trash bags because there was no lock on the back porch door (didn't complain about it neither, just woke up and cleaned the mess up ourselves). I'll be back there though. Next time I'll make sure to get my free stay. BET.

Beautiful Florida Must visit when in my home State Crystal clear cold water well maintained by the state Come in by boat or car.... On the famous Swanee River

Cool place, you have to go down the stairs to the Springs entrance . Tables and park are up at the top.

It's worth stopping at this pretty park. You can swim with the manatees if they are there. There was just one when we stopped. It's a clean, safe looking area to swim. We especially enjoyed the one mile walking trail.

Fanning Springs is a very beautiful place it cost like five bucks to get in but if you're wanting to go on nature walks or just go swimming it's a very beautiful place you can see manatees if there there. Cuz it is on the Suwannee River also when I was there I seen jumping fish not sure what they're called that was awesome it is a very quiet place if you like nature I don't see why not showing up and enjoying your time I've been here twice and I've never went swimming but the water looks extremely clear just like your bath water. But when me and my friend went it seem like we're the only ones there and I will say the reasoning for that is Fanning Springs Florida it is way out in the Boondocks and a very very small town so if the population is 700 you're really not going to have a lot of people at this part but it is a beautiful place to go and relax

Good clean place nice staff and some times it gets packed but the water is great you can walk the trail docks out to the river!