The headspring, in the park’s day-use area · Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY 2.5)
Rainbow Springs State Park Campground
A Florida State Parks campground on the clear, spring-fed Rainbow River near Dunnellon, with about 47 full-hookup RV sites, a river launch for kayaks and tubes, and the headspring gardens a few miles away.
Dunnellon, Florida · on the Rainbow River, about 35 minutes southwest of Ocala
Season
Year-round
Tubing season runs spring to September
Elevation
About 40 ft
On the spring-fed Rainbow River
Hookups
Full hookups
20/30/50 amp, water and sewer
Big rigs
About 42 ft
Longest rig RVers report; a few pull-thrus
Updated October 19, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
Florida State Parks · on the Rainbow River
The Rainbow Springs camping experience
The Rainbow Springs State Park campground, on the spring-fed Rainbow River north of Dunnellon, with about 47 full-hookup RV sites among 60, a camp store that rents kayaks, and swimming and tubing right from camp.
Full hookups20/30/50 amp, water and sewer
Big-rig friendlyMostly back-ins; a few pull-thrus
River accessSwim, fish and paddle from camp
Camp storeCanoe and kayak rentals
TubingCampers tube from camp in season
BathhouseHot showers; accessible restrooms
LaundryOn site
Rec hall & playgroundIn the campground
Fire ring & grillAt every site
Picnic tablesAt every site
Pets welcomeLeashed; not in swim areas
No Wi-FiCell signal is weak
Life at camp
What guests say
The park report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, and the scores are strong except on Yelp. RVers love the clear river, the full hookups and the quieter off-season; the gripes are the coded gate for late arrivals, weak cell signal, little shade and summer tubing crowds.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report42 ft Feb 2018
Cell signal reportedAT&T 4G/5GVerizon 4GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$37 Feb 2025
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Campendium’s scores come from 37 reviews; the last reported rate was $37 a night in February 2025. Tripadvisor’s listing mixes park and campground reviews. Confirm fees and rules with Florida State Parks before you go.
SW 94th Street, near Dunnellon
Getting there
The campground is on SW 94th Street (via SW 180th Avenue Road), a few miles south of the park’s headspring entrance on US-41 and about 35 minutes southwest of Ocala.
From Ocala: SR-200 southwest to CR-484 west, then north on SW 180th Avenue Road to SW 94th StreetFrom I-75: Exit 341 to CR-484 west toward Dunnellon, then north on SW 180th Avenue Road
CR-484 · DUNNELLON
Set your GPS
18185 SW 94th St, Dunnellon, FL 34432
To the headspring & gardens*About 20 min
To downtown OcalaAbout 35 min
To Three Sisters SpringsAbout 44 min
To Silver SpringsAbout 47 min
Arrive in office hours. The gate is always closed; call the office on arrival day for the code, which changes often. Sites are hard gravel; tents need heavy stakes.
About 40 ft above sea level. Winters are mild (January highs average about 71° in nearby Ocala) and summers hot and humid; the river stays about 72°.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Ocala
Around Ocala
The headspring and gardens are about 20 minutes away by road, downtown Ocala about 35 and Silver Springs about 47, and Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River is about 44 minutes south.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain)
Three Sisters Springs
Clear springs in Crystal River where manatees gather in winter, seen from a boardwalk or by kayak in the warmer months.
Photo thanks to Jackdude101 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Silver Springs State Park
Glass-bottom boat tours over the springs, kayaking on the clear Silver River and wild monkeys along the banks.
Photo thanks to Luv24jmg (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Downtown Ocala
A walkable historic square with restaurants, shops and painted Horse Fever statues, plus a farmers market on Saturdays.
Photo thanks to Ianaré Sévi (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Juniper Springs
A spring-fed swimming hole and a famous canoe run in the Ocala National Forest, east on SR-40.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds we’ve reviewed around Ocala, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Southern Springs RV Resort
Southern Springs RV Resort
A new, gated 55+ resort by I-75 Exit 352 with landscaped concrete sites, a heated pool and pickleball.
Photo thanks to Ocala RV Camp Resort
Ocala RV Camp Resort
An older, budget-friendly park by I-75 Exit 350 with shady grass sites, ponds and simple log cabins.
Photo thanks to Champions Run Luxury RV Resort
Champions Run Luxury RV Resort
A big new resort a mile off I-75 with 70 ft concrete pads, a pool and tiki bar, and pickleball.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether the Rainbow Springs campground fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a rare chance to camp with full hookups on one of Florida’s clearest rivers, with kayaking, swimming and tubing from camp for under $40 a night. Arrive during office hours for the gate code, bring your own internet, and come outside summer weekends for quiet.
Camping feesFlorida State Parks · checked Oct 19, 2026
Campsite$30 /night + tax
RV utility fee$7 /night
Reservation fee$6.70 per booking
Cancellation$17.75 per booking
An RV pays about $37 a night plus tax, plus $6.70 per reservation. The $30 base fee comes from the Florida State Parks fee schedule; the park’s own fee page doesn’t list it, so confirm when you book. Florida residents 65+ or with a qualifying disability pay half the base fee.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the Florida State Parks reservation site or call (352) 465-8550.
Typical January afternoon
Ocala71°
Chicago32°
Mild winters: 39° warmer than Chicago in January; July highs reach about 92°, with near-daily afternoon storms.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why RVers come back.
Open
Site types
About $37 a night for an RV.
Open
Rates & policies
Check-in, gate code, stay limits and pets.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
The Rainbow Springs State Park campground is run by Florida State Parks on the east bank of the Rainbow River, separate from the headspring day-use area. About 47 of its 60 sites take RVs, with full hookups. It suits paddlers, swimmers and anyone who wants the river at the door.
Best for
- Paddlers: launch kayaks and canoes from camp; rentals at the store.
- Swimmers and tubers: the river is about 72° all year.
- Full hookups: rare at a Florida state park.
- Value: about $37 a night for an RV.
Consider this
- The gate is always locked; get the code by phone in office hours.
- Weak cell signal, especially Verizon, and no Wi-Fi.
- Little shade on many sites since the 2009 rebuild.
- Summer weekends bring tubing crowds; the tubing entrance is closed October–March.
Winter in Ocala
Typical January afternoon
71°
Ocala
Ocala, NOAA station
32°
Chicago
Chicago O’Hare
39 degrees warmer than Chicago, with nights near 46°. Normal January highs, 1991–2020.
RV sites have full hookups (water, sewer and 20/30/50 amp), a picnic table, a fire ring and a grill on hard-packed gravel. Tent-only sites have water and 110V electric.
RV site $37/night
Plus a $6.70 reservation fee per booking.
Tent site $30/night
Hike-in tent sites; no utility fee.
Florida 65+ 50% offbase fee
Also for qualifying disabilities and licensed foster families.
Long stays 14 nightsmax
The manager may extend it to 28 nights.
Check-in3 p.m.No early check-in
Check-out1 p.m.Statewide rule
Stay limit14 nightsIn busy periods; then a 3-night break
Booking window11 months10 months for non-residents
Cancellation$17.75 fee$10 to change dates
Quiet hours11 p.m.–7 a.m.Statewide rule
Occupancy8 per siteOne family; 2 vehicles
PetsAllowed6 ft leash; not in buildings
CampfiresFire rings onlyFirewood sold on site
GateAlways closedCall for the code in office hours
Checked against floridastateparks.org (Rainbow Springs amenities, hours and fees) on October 19, 2026. Reserve online or call 800-326-3521; the campground office is (352) 465-8550.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- How do I get the gate code? Call the office on arrival day.
- Is my site shaded? Sites 19 and 51 are among the more private ones.
- Can I tube from camp? Registered campers can, in season, with their own tubes.
- Do I need a day-use reservation? Ask whether it applies to campers.
- What’s the max rig length? The official 103 ft figure looks like a typo.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready to camp on the Rainbow River?
Book a full-hookup site, launch your kayak from camp and float the clearest water in Florida. Reserve up to 11 months ahead with Florida State Parks.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The park photos come from Wikimedia Commons: Ebyabe (headspring, river, swim area and bridge; CC BY 2.5) and Florida paddler (park path; CC BY-SA 4.0). The video tour and poster still are by Maple Camps. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Keith Ramos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Three Sisters Springs; public domain), Jackdude101 (Silver Springs glass-bottom boats; CC BY-SA 4.0), Luv24jmg (downtown Ocala; CC BY-SA 3.0) and Ianaré Sévi (Juniper Springs; CC BY-SA 3.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Southern Springs RV Resort, Ocala RV Camp Resort and Champions Run Luxury RV Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Rainbow Springs State Park Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Rainbow Springs State Park Campground at floridastateparks.org or (352) 465-8550. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.