Outdoors
Trails and recreation areas near Gainesville open to biking and mountain biking.
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
39 mi north · USDA Forest Service
Situated in Baker County, Florida, this campground includes 64 campsites and is open 24 hours/day. All sites are available at recreation.gov. There's something here for everyone in this lakeside campground.
47 mi southwest · Fish and Wildlife Service
The refuge is bisected by 20 miles of the famous Suwannee River and includes 30 miles of coastal marsh habitat along the Gulf of Mexico.
62 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service
Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs.
Map of 6 places loads as you scroll.
Situated in Baker County, Florida, this campground includes 64 campsites and is open 24 hours/day. All sites are available at recreation.gov. There's something here for everyone in this lakeside campground.
The refuge is bisected by 20 miles of the famous Suwannee River and includes 30 miles of coastal marsh habitat along the Gulf of Mexico.
Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs.
Lake Dorr Cabin is set along the south shore of beautiful Lake Dorr, ideal for a family getaway. The cabin is open year-round and creates a great setting for plenty of outdoor water fun.
Clearwater Lake Recreation Area offers a quiet getaway along the southeastern edge of the Ocala National Forest, just outside the community of Paisley, Florida.
St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man and nature.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Gainesville. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
A WALK AROUND TOWN
A recorded downtown Gainesville walk, passing University Avenue, storefront blocks and the clock-tower area. Shared by Florida Streaming; the creator’s closing graphics are part of the original film.
Watch on YouTube ↗
A WALK AROUND TOWN
A short recorded walk along downtown Gainesville’s palm-lined streets and pedestrian areas, including The Promenade. Shared by City Walk USA.
Watch on YouTube ↗Ocean Pond Campground (USDA Forest Service), about 39 miles north of Gainesville as the crow flies. Next are Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (47 mi) and Alexander Springs Recreation Area (62 mi).
Based on Gainesville’s average highs, October–April. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.