Rainbow River is one of the many hidden wonders in Florida. It’s located in Dunnellon, Florida, which is about an hour and a half away from both Tampa and Orlando. This natural Florida spring is home to crystal clear water with plenty of fish and wildlife, and it stays at a constant temperature of 73 degrees, making it the perfect summertime trip.
Rainbow River is famous for river tubing. You can take either a 2-hour route or 4-hour route down the river. What is so great about tubing Rainbow River is that you can simply and relaxingly float down the river, stopping to swim and explore whenever you like. Additionally, you will find kayaks and boats float down the river.
If you are interested in tubing down Rainbow River, this summer here is everything you need to know.
Where to Tube
Rainbow Springs State Park is the easiest way to start your tubing adventure. The state park provides the tubes and transportation to the river head. The tube and tram ticket is $20 a person, and parking at the state park is free. Once you arrive at the state park, you will purchase your ticket and take a 5-minute tram ride to the river where your tube will be waiting for you. After a short walk, you will be able to walk right into the river. The entire tube adventure takes about 2 hours, and you will simply exit the river when you’re done, then have a scenic 5-10 minute walk back to the state park. Your tram ticket will also get you into Rainbow River headspring for free, where there is a swimming hole and plenty of picnic seating to enjoy lunch after a morning on the river.
When to Arrive
My best advice is to arrive early. Rainbow River is known for getting to capacity quickly, especially on holidays and weekends. The park opens at 8am, and I would suggest arriving to the park before 10am. If you can, your most enjoyable experience would be making the trip during the weekday, when there are fewer crowds on the river.
What to Bring
You won’t need much while floating down the river, but I have found it is nice to have a few supplies while taking the trip.
- Rope – this is a necessity for tying your groups’ tubes together so you are guaranteed to stay together.
- Water shoes or any shoes that can get wet
- A waterproof bag – to keep your shoes, clothes, and hats dry. Ideally a bag with a tie that you can tie to the tube.
- Waterproof phone holder – for a the awesome pictures you can get on the river.
- Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen – you will be in the sun for a few hours so be sure to protect yourself.
- Water – it is important to bring some sort of drink on the river to stay hydrated. It is best to bring a reusable water bottle to avoid littering in the river.
- Lunch – we often stop on our drive up to Rainbow River at a Publix to get pub subs. There are not many places to eat near the river, so your best bet is to pack a lunch.
You go to the Dollar Tree and get kiddie floats. Still a fun day filled with many memories.
Looking for more Florida Day Trips? Check out our top 10 day trips from Tampa!