Reddick FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Reddick, Florida.
1. Hampton Beach
HISTORIC LAKE WEIR GETAWAY
Hampton Beach is a public swim beach on Lake Weir donated to Marion County by the Hampton family in 1981. The beach offers swimming, picnicking, and restroom facilities with operating hours from April to October (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and November to March (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Visitors can enjoy this lakeside retreat for an entry fee of $7 per vehicle, though pets are not permitted on the premises.
2. Fort Island Gulf Beach Park
GULF COAST BEACH PARADISE
Fort Island Gulf Beach Park offers a pristine Gulf of Mexico beachfront experience with a sandy shore perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Visitors can enjoy picnic facilities, a fishing pier, and boat ramps for easy water access. The park provides a tranquil escape with stunning sunset views and crystal-clear waters ideal for family outings.
3. Fanning Springs State Park
CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRING WATERS
Fanning Springs State Park features a second-magnitude spring that produces millions of gallons of crystal-clear water daily. Visitors can swim in the refreshing 72-degree spring waters or enjoy kayaking and canoeing along the adjacent Suwannee River. The park offers picnic areas, hiking trails, and opportunities to spot manatees during winter months.
4. Manatee Springs State Park
MANATEE VIEWING NATURAL SPRING
Manatee Springs State Park centers around a first-magnitude spring that flows directly into the Suwannee River, producing millions of gallons of water daily. The park is famous for its winter manatee sightings, while summer visitors enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving in the crystal-clear 72-degree spring waters. A boardwalk system provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and connects to picnic areas, camping sites, and a boat ramp for river access.
5. Silver Glen Springs
ANCIENT ARTESIAN SPRING OASIS
Silver Glen Springs is a stunning natural spring in the Ocala National Forest that pumps millions of gallons of crystal-clear water daily. The spring basin offers excellent swimming opportunities with visibility often exceeding 100 feet and consistent 72-degree water temperatures year-round. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking, wildlife viewing, and boating access to Lake George through a spring run.
6. Juniper Springs Recreation Area
HISTORIC SPRINGS SWIMMING HOLE
Juniper Springs Recreation Area features one of the oldest and most beautiful springs in the Ocala National Forest with a historic mill house overlooking the main swimming area. The recreation area offers a pristine swimming experience in crystal-clear 72-degree waters surrounded by subtropical palm forest and abundant wildlife. Visitors can also enjoy the famous Juniper Springs canoe run, picnicking, hiking trails, and camping facilities within this natural oasis.
7. Alexander Springs
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPRING ADVENTURE
Alexander Springs is one of the few springs in Florida where visitors can swim directly in the spring boil, with crystal-clear waters maintaining a constant 72 degrees. The spring basin features a gradual slope with sandy bottom, making it ideal for families with children and swimming enthusiasts of all levels. Beyond swimming, visitors can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking through the surrounding subtropical forest trails.
8. Rainbow Springs State Park
SCENIC RIVER HEADSPRING PARADISE
Rainbow Springs State Park centers around the headspring of the Rainbow River, offering crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and tubing. The park features ornamental gardens, man-made waterfalls, and native plant gardens from its history as a private attraction in the 1930s. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing while experiencing one of Florida's most beautiful natural spring systems.
9. Salt Springs Recreation Area
MINERAL-RICH SWIMMING EXPERIENCE
Salt Springs Recreation Area features unique mineral springs that contain potassium, magnesium and sodium salts, giving the waters their distinctive taste. The spring basin offers a spacious swimming area with clear waters and a sandy bottom surrounded by a concrete retaining wall with easy entry points. Located in the Ocala National Forest, the springs flow into Lake George through Salt Springs Run, offering additional opportunities for boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
10. KP Hole Park
POPULAR RIVER TUBING DESTINATION
KP Hole Park provides access to the crystal-clear Rainbow River, famous for its refreshing 72-degree waters and excellent visibility for swimming and snorkeling. The park serves as the primary launch point for tubing adventures down the Rainbow River, with a four-hour float taking tubers through stunning natural scenery. Visitors can also enjoy the swimming area, picnic facilities, kayak and canoe rentals, and scuba diving opportunities in one of Florida's most pristine river systems.