While quite a few of the natural springs you’ll find here in Florida contain a Disneyworld-like level of crowds and subsequent infrastructure, here at Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, you’ll discover a nice intimate and charming little natural springs environment. Add to this the campground options that it provides, you’ll find that here you can actually ‘have your cake and eat it too.’ Unlike many SPs with natural springs, more than nought, one needs to find campgrounds that are nowhere near the springs themselves, so Gilchrist will deliver in spades here, although, not without some compromises (more on this shortly). 

As for amenities, first and foremost, this open campground spans about 2 football fields with shrubbery and most of the trees on the periphery – and nothing on the interior, apart from a few scattered trees. Of course, you’ll find the requisite fire rings, scattered BBQ grills, picnic tables and standard hook-ups for RVs (electric, water and sewage). But this place offers up so much more from bicycle paths, boat ramps, geo-seeking, mountain biking non-paths, both traditional and primitive camping options, tons of birding, hiking paths, tubing, star gazing, scuba diving, boat tours, picnicking, horseback riding and watercraft rentals (which were very affordable by the hour and full day). There’s a beach, campfire circles, concession stand, on-site restaurant, fort, wheelchair accessibility, gardens, water fountains, restrooms and shower facilities (very basic and not terribly clean), swimming pool, nature trails, etc. OK, I think that this was pretty exhaustive, yes?! 

Here at Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, you’ll actually feel like you are out in the middle of nature. Its rustic charm, combined with spacious campsites helps one sit back, relax and exhale a bit easier. One fairly huge downside though is that this campground does not offer much privacy between campsites – so you will literally see any and everything from ALL of your neighbors, no matter how close or far they may be. While a bit irksome, if that doesn’t totally bother you, then everything else is pretty much amazing. The greatest advantage, of course, is planting your tent just a stone’s throw to the actual spring, where you can either go for a swim, snorkel or dive and for those bringing kayaks, canoes and other light watercraft, it’s so easy to access the spring, that if you’re not careful, your paddleboard might just sneak off without you! 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As with most popular (and even unpopular) natural springs in the state of Florida, it can get quite jam packed here on weekends as well as with major holidays, so get here early – but note: if you are a registered camper already, then you will be admitted entrance no matter how busy it gets; (2) Recently this SP has removed its dump station, so be prepared to carry out whatever you bring in; (3) While you’ll certainly want to spend a decent amount of time at Blue Spring itself, be sure to get out beyond this shallow spring to float among the currents of the Sante Fe River; and (4) Don’t be fooled by the amazing spring you are swimming in – there’s four other nearby springs to explore: Johnson Spring, Naked Spring, Kiefer Spring and Little Blue Spring. 

Happy Camping!