Ichetucknee Springs Review

Ichetucknee State Park is a beautiful place to spend the day. It is a smaller park by comparison to some of the others and the only real attraction is the tubing down the Ichetucknee River. For our first adventure in the RV we decided to take the entire family tubing for the weekend. There are a few places to camp in the area and the one we came across first was a private campground called (funny enough) Ichetucknee Campground which is about a mile from the State Park’s North entrance. They only allow a limited number of people in the park each day and if you do not get there first thing in the morning you may not be allowed to come in at all. The fee is pretty steep at $5 per person. They have everyone come into a special entrance in the morning, let out all the passengers, drive to the South Entrance and park. They have shuttles to return you to the tubing area. You can picnik, walk the nature trails or just enjoy the peace and quiet.

This was our experience in 2011. See below for updated information about the park services and fees.

The campground was an experience. We got in after dark on Friday evening. The RV drove pretty well on the way down. The little campground is located off a dirt road and could use a little repair. Each of the slots were back-in only so it took a little bit of time and some help from the kids to get into our assigned area. We also learned that most of the private campgrounds require cash only. They had a tavern with video games, pool tables, bathrooms, public showers in the back and there is a tubing vendor opened until late in the evening right next door. They helped us get the tubes tied to the top of our minivan so that we could get an early start. They offer FREE WIFI for patrons, a dump station, etc. Each of the sites have water, electric, and a picnic table. Our fellow campers were nice but the road, again, really could use some improvements.

We got up early on Saturday morning, mom elected to stay behind with the dogs, and piled into the minivan. We first went directly to the North Entrance by 7:30 but was turned around and sent to a special “tubing entrance”. We got in line waiting for them to open up. We were expecting a lot of people but for some reason there were not a whole line of people waiting. The morning was really nice. Once we paid our $5 per head and we were told that the driver will have to drop everyone off with tubes and drive around to the South entrance where a shuttle will be waiting to ferry them back.

Once, I finally came back to join the group we all trudged down the trail to the entrance where you get into the springs to begin our journey. The kids opted for a regular inner tube but I got a little inflatable boat. We tied onto each other and set off. My son was in the lead and agreed to try out our new waterproof video camera. Floating down the river was a very pleasant experience on a warm day. There are some large spiders in the trees during the first half of the trip and there were quite a few people going with us.

At the halfway point get out, have a meal, and leave if you like. Or, you can try it again and go down the last hour of the journey. The second part of the springs is a little bit wider in spaces with more sunshine. We even saw a bunch of fish jumping up all around us. The water is cold but clear and for me it was kind of relaxing. The second landing area was much better than the middle point. But we were tired and decided to call it a day so we headed back to the campground.

Updated Information

PARK INFO

Ichetucknee Springs State Park
12087 S.W. U.S. 27
Fort White, Florida 32038
(386) 497-4690
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ichetucknee-springs-state-park

The park is open year round 8:00 a.m. to 30 minutes before sunset. However, all river and springs activities are closed by 5pm.

Admission

• $6 per vehicle (two to eight people).
• $4 single-occupant vehicle.
• $4 motorcycle (one or two people).
• $2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Tram/Shuttle
Tram and shuttle service is offered by our park concessionaire.
Visit Ichetucknee Springs for current hours and fees for rentals and transportation.
Tram and shuttle tickets and wrist bands are purchased at the concession facility adjacent to the parking lot at the park’s south entrance.

Ichetucknee Springs Concessionaire
Runs the General Store, Restaurant, Rentals and Transportation within the park
Phone: (386)497-1500
Email: info@ichetucknessprings.com
Website: https://ichetuckneesprings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paddlingadventuresichetuckneesprings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paichetuckneesprings/

• River Tubing starts at $15/per person
• Dampier’s Landing Paddle stars at $30/per person – 6.25 miles
• Paddle Ichetucknee Starts at $40 – 3.5 miles
• Extended Rivers Paddle starts at $55 – 5 hours
• Moonlit Paddle – Starting at $50

Tube price does not include tram, bus or van transportation through the park. Prices do not include sales tax.

MIDPOINT TUBE LAUNCH
Connect with nature as you float along bright turquoise waters. This launch offers a 45-minute to one-hour trip to Dampier’s Landing or continue an additional hour to South Takeout Point. Park at South Entrance. Open until daily capacity of 3,750 is met or 4 p.m.

DAMPIER’S LANDING
Drift beneath a canopy of trees as the grasses below sway in the gentle current of the River. Located at the South Entrance, Dampier’s Landing offers a one-hour journey down the river to South Takeout Point. Open until 5 p.m. daily.

Aproximation of the fees involved without the taxes

• Tram/Shuttle $7/per car wristbands
• Park Entrance fee is $6/per car
• Floats-Paddleboards/kayaks are from $8 to $30 per person

Ichetucknee Springs Campground
245 SW Breckenridge Ln
Fort White, FL 32038
Phone: (386) 497-2285
Website: http://www.ichetuckneespringscampground.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IchetuckneeCamping/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichetuckneespringscampground/

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