Home » Things To Do » Top 5 Things to Do Near Gainesville FL

When it comes to the best things to do near Gainesville FL, our friends at WUCF covered a lot of territory on their Gainesville episode of Florida Road Trip.

There’s certainly never a shortage of awesome things to do near Gainesville FL. As soon as you can, pack your bags, get in your car, put your seatbelt on and let’s go explore!

Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.

Additionally, there’s Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, several world-class museums (Cade Museum, Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art), the Matheson History Museum, and so many other fascinating places to discover.

When it comes to the best restaurants in Alachua County, Downtown Gainesville is one of the top places to go. However, there are so many great dining options in this general area. We picked our 10 favorites and shared them here.

A visit to Alachua County should be on everyone’s bucket list. There’s so much more to discover about the North Central Florida region than meets the eye.

If you are in the Gainesville area, then a trip to a Florida spring is a must! Springs are popular with nature lovers, young people, families, and retirees. Basically, anyone craving an opportunity to explore great outdoor activities.

No matter which Spring you visit, go early in the day. These Florida gems will reach full capacity FAST. Picnic tables are claimed quickly, too. If you can get away on a weekday, then we highly recommend you do that.

We’ve put together a collection of our favorite natural springs within an hour’s drive of Gainesville (North Central Florida). Undeniably a freshwater Spring is a perfect place to cool down from the Florida heat.

Tips for Visiting Devil’s Den Spring

Location: 5390 NE 180th Ave., Williston, FL 32696 (approximately 33 minutes from Gainesville)

If you’d like more information about Devil’s Den, check out this article: 5 Things to Do in Devil’s Den for the Perfect Trip.

Tips for Visiting Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Location: 7450 NE 60th St., High Springs, FL 32643 (approximately 44 minutes from Gainesville)

Tips for Visiting Ginnie Springs

Location: 7300 Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, FL 32643 (approximately 45 minutes from Gainesville)

Tips for Visiting Ichetucknee Springs

Location: 12087 S.W. U.S. Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32038 (approximately 55 minutes from Gainesville)

Want to learn more about Ichetucknee Springs? Check out our article: Tube the Ichetucknee River & Experience Authentic Florida.

Tips for Visiting Rainbow Springs

Location: 19158 SW 81st Pl Rd., Dunnellon, FL 34432 (approximately 55 minutes from Gainesville)

We wrote a whole story about Rainbow Springs. Check it out: A Visit to Remarkable Rainbow Springs.

In case you are looking for more information about our beautiful Springs in Florida, here are two articles you should read: Our 15 Favorite Freshwater Florida Springs and Make a Splash at These 14 Natural Waterparks in Florida.

Located 15 minutes south of Gainesville, the historic district of Micanopy is the oldest inland town in Florida. The Thrasher Warehouse is home to the Micanopy Historical Museum, the Herlong Mansion, and a number of historic buildings. Micanopy truly offers a glimpse into the lives of early pioneers.

Antique enthusiasts will be impressed with the collection of vintage goods throughout the town. It’s a perfect place to slow down and travel back in time.

Be sure to grab an authentic Cuban sandwich and a great cup of coffee at the Old Florida Cafe.

Micanopy is definitely a place to put on your must-visit list. If you want to learn more about Micanopy, check out our feature story: Micanopy: The Town that Time Forgot.

TIP: When you visit, if you want to learn more about this quaint, historic Florida town, dial 352-327-9005 on your phone, then enter the following tour stop number and press #.

Located about 15 miles north of Gainesville, the town of Waldo is primarily known today for the Waldo Farmer’s and Flea Market.

The 20,000-square-foot market has been in operation for over 40 years and houses hundreds of independent vendors selling lots of vintage and quirky treasures.

Basically, it’s a fun place to spend a few hours perusing around. The best things can be found here if you’re willing to search! Plus, they have fresh produce and fair food if you work up an appetite shopping.

Did you know in the 1870s, Waldo was advertised as a “Winter Playground”? People traveled by railroad to Waldo regularly, stayed at the Waldo Hotel, went to the Opera House and enjoyed everything the city offered.

TIP: Where comfortable shoes and bring your own reusable shopping bag if you plan to visit the farmer’s and flea market. We did a lot of shopping and wore flip-flops. Plus, we are not fans of plastic bags so we keep reusable bags in our car.

Location: 17805 U.S. 301, Waldo, FL 32694

If you are looking for an authentic historic Florida farming experience, put a visit to Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry on your places-to-go list.

Dudley Farm is managed by the Florida State Park services. This working farm includes the family farmhouse with original furnishings.

The homestead consists of eighteen original buildings that have been preserved and restored (all built between 1880 and 1940). Plus, there are crop fields and livestock. You can plow the garden, pump water, grind corn and feed the chickens.

The farm was donated to the state in 1983 by Myrtle E. Dudley and was originally purchased in 1859 by her grandfather Phillip Benjamin Dudley Sr.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry was designated as a National Historic Landmark on Jan. 13, 2021. The farm received this designation for its exceptional ability to illustrate the history of owner-operator farms in the southern U.S. in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

This living history farm is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday & Tuesday).

TIP: Start at the Visitor Center and watch the informative 12-minute video about Dudley Farm. Next to the Visitor Center is the Commissary. The Commissary is open from 10 am – 3:30 pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

In addition, handmade items (i.e., quilts, knitted and crocheted items, jellies and wooden toys) are available to purchase in the Commissary.

Location: 18730 W. Newberry Road, Newberry FL 32669

The city of Gainesville, Alachua County and the surrounding area is chock full of live music, local artists, food trucks, and other fun special events.

Here’s a list of some of the festivals and regular events we recommend attending:

TIP: Check out Visit Gainesville’s calendar of events at visitgainesville.com/events/.

In conclusion, if you enjoyed this thing to do near Gainesville FL blog, check out some other fun things to do in this general area:

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.