Gainesville (Florida) – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

Gainesville is in North Central Florida. It is home to the University of Florida, and Santa Fe College.

• Interstate 75 runs north and south to the west of Gainesville.

• 1 Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV ^IATA), 3880 NE 39th Ave (NE of intersection of NE State Route (SR) 24 & NE 39th Ave (SR-222), 4.5mi (7.2km) northeast of downtown Gainesville along SR-24.), ☏ +1 352-373-0249. In addition to being a general aviation airport it is also served by the following:.

• American Eagle (Dallas Ft Worth; Charlotte NC; Miami)
• Delta Connection (Atlanta)

Other nearby airports for flights to/from additional destinations are in Jacksonville (JAX^IATA) 80.5mi (129.6km), northeast of town along SR-24/US-301/I-10; and Orlando (MCO^IATA) located 122mi (196km) southeast via I-75/FL-Turnpike/SR-528.

• 2 Greyhound, (bus station) 101 NE 23rd Ave (west of Main St). Travels primarily on Interstate 75 (Atlanta, Macon, Tifton, Lake City, Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Miami and points in between). Some schedules continue west on I-10 towards Houston from Lake City via Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola, Ft Walton Beach, Mobile, Baton Rouge, etc. Passengers transfer in Lake City or Tallahassee to reach Jacksonville or another destination north and in Miami to continue south to the Florida Keys.

• 3 RedCoach, (bus stop) 1956 Gale Lernardrand Dr. RedCoach offers a bus services between Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando. From Orlando buses continue south towards Miami via Ft Pierce, West Palm Beach and Ft lauderdale on one route and through Tampa, Ft Myers and Naples on another.

• Amtrak, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. The nearest Amtrak station is in Jacksonville, Florida. Both the Silver Star and Silver Meteor service Jacksonville from Miami and Boston. You'll need to transfer to a Thruway connecting bus to go to Gainesville. The bus stops at the Rosa Parks downtown transit station at 700 Southeast 3rd Street. The bus ride takes about one hour and 45 minutes

• Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS), ☏ +1 352-334-2600. RTS provides fast frequent service throughout the City of Gainesville and to some of the outlying areas.

Bus service is provided on more than 35 routes. Some bus lines provide service until 2AM on weeknights. Late night service, referred to as the Later Gator, is provided on some lines, Wednesday through Saturday from 8PM to 3AM.

Here's a breakdown on service levels:

Weekdays 6AM to 2AM (Most Serviced Lines), Service can run from every 8 minutes on most utilized lines to every 60 minutes on less utilized lines. Make sure to check individual schedules.

Saturdays: 7AM to 7PM on most lines. Service every 30 to 60 minutes. Special Late Night Bus service begins at 8PM and ends at 3AM. These buses run every 10 to 15 minutes.

Sundays: 9AM to 5PM, very limited service. Buses only run every 60 minutes.

During school breaks and the summer holiday, RTS service runs less frequently with most routes ending service by 11PM.

• 1 Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Road, ☏ +1 352-955-2008. W-Su 9AM-5PM. A bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep which contains a miniature rain forest. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and learn more about this sinkhole through interpretive displays. $4 per vehicle or $2 per pedestrian/bicyclist.
• The Fest. One of America's premier independent music festivals concentrating mainly on punk; hundreds of bands, over three days in eight or more venues.

• University of Florida, ☏ +1 352-846-2000. These folks are serious about their football and basketball. A full calendar of entertainment in sports and the arts is available. For information on the school's sports teams, known as the Gators, see the dedicated website.
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. University of Florida's stadium known as "The Swamp" seats over 90,000. It's one of the largest (and loudest) anywhere.
  • Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center has a reputation around the country – enthusiastic and friendly if you're a Gator...noisy, deafening and menacing if you're the opposition. Florida's student section, dubbed the "Rowdy Reptiles", has made the O'Connell Center one of the toughest places to play in the nation.
  • 2 Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 315 Hull Rd, ☏ +1 352-392-1900.
  • 3 Harn Museum of Art, ☏ +1 352-392-9826. Tu-F 11AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 1-5PM. SW 34th Street and Hull Road.
  • Lake Alice on the UF campus. Lake Alice is a sanctuary for alligators and birds. At dusk, bats that roost in a nearby bathouse fly out to feed on the insect life that the lake nourishes. A trip out at dusk to watch the cloud of bats is a popular local pastime.
• 4 Florida Museum of Natural History, SW 34th Street & Hull Road, ☏ +1 352-846-2000. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Nice Butterfly Rainforest exhibit (extra charge). Permanent exhibits include the Butterfly Rainforest: Where Science Takes Flight!, Northwest Florida: Waterways & Wildlife, South Florida People & Environments, Florida Wildflower & Butterfly Garden, and the Fossil Plant Garden. Suggested donation: adult $6, seniors, students, children $4, under 3 free.
• 5 Hippodrome State Theatre, ☏ +1 352-375-4477.
• 6 Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 S.W. 58th Drive, ☏ +1 352-372-4981. M-W 9AM-5PM; Sa Su 9AM-dusk. Adult $5, child 6-13 $3, child under 6 free.
• Matheson Museum complex, 513 E. University Avenue, ☏ +1 352-378-2280. M-Th 9:30AM-3:30PM. Alachua County history. The complex contains a museum housed in the old American Legion Hall and Matheson House, the second oldest house in Gainesville.
• The Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo. Tours by appointment.
• Haile Village Center. A planning and development community that is a throwback to the traditional style and beauty of a New England town. Restaurants, Shops, Events, Parks, and Trails.

• 1 Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, ☏ +1 352-466-3397. Florida's first state preserve in 1971 and is now designated as a National Natural Landmark. Alligators, wild horses, bison and over 260 species of birds live in many diverse habitats here. Eight trails provide hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling opportunities. Ranger-led activities during weekends, November through April. Exhibits and an audio-visual program at the visitor center explain the area´s natural and cultural history. A 50-foot-high observation tower near the visitor center provides a panoramic view of the preserve. $4/vehicle (up to 8 passengers), single car occupant $3, motorcycle (one or two persons) $3, admission fee $1 per person, camping fee $15 per night, equestrian fee is $10 for both horse and rider.
• Ginnie Springs Outdoors, 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, ☏ +1 352-454-7188. Bring the family or a cooler of beer and friends and float down the natural spring-fed river. Amenities include beach volleyball courts, campsites, picnic tables, shower/bath facility, and dive excursions. Entry $12/person. Camping (including entry) $20/person.
• Ocala Jai-alai and Poker, 4601 NW County Rd. 318 Reddick (About 30 minutes south of campus on 441), ☏ +1 352-591-2345. Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa 1:30PM-1:30AM. Watch live Jai-alai or play in the poker room. Runs tournaments and sit'n'goes daily. 18+
• Devil's Millhopper, 4732 Millhopper Rd. W-Su 9AM-5PM. In the midst of north Florida's sandy terrain and pine forests, a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep leads down to a miniature rain forest. Small streams trickle down the steep slopes of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls even in dry summers. A significant geological formation, Devil's Millhopper is a National Natural Landmark that has been visited by the curious since the early 1880s. Researchers have learned a great deal about Florida's natural history by studying fossil shark teeth, marine shells and the fossilized remains of extinct land animals found in the sink. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and learn more about this sinkhole through interpretive displays. $4/vehicle, $2/pedestrian.
• 2 River Ranch Water Park (High Springs). (updated Jun 2020)

• Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival.
• Festival of Trees at Gainesville Woman's Club.
• Old Time Christmas in Historic High Springs.
• Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.
• Dudley Farm Historic State Park Cane Grinding Day.
• Kanapaha Spring Garden Festival, Waldo Railroad Days.
• Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Writers Workshop "Writing the Region".
• Newberry Watermelon Festival.
• The Fest.
• Gainesville Improv Festival.

University of Florida Bookstore: Florida Gator fan gear and books.

• 1 Dragonfly Sushi and Sake Company, 201 Southeast 2nd Avenue (at Union Street Station), ☏ +1 352-371-3359. 11:30AM - 10PM. A trendy downtown sushi bar, Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company offers an innovative and gourmet selection of sushi, sashimi and Eurasian Fusion fare that's thought by locals and visitors alike to be some of the best in town, in an atmosphere that's hip and vibrant.
• Ti Amo! Reasurant and Bar, 12 SE Second Avenue (Downtown Gainesville), ☏ +1 352-378-6307. M-Th 4PM-10PM, F Sa 4PM-midnight. Great food. Fantastic wine. Classic dining space.
• Leonardo's 706, 706 West University Avenue, ☏ +1 352-378-2001. Su-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM.
• Amelia's, 235 S. Main Street (in the downtown Sun Center), ☏ +1 352-373-1919. M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 5-9PM. Excellent Italian fare in a cozy restaurant in the heart of downtown Gainesville. $12-20.
• Mr. Han's, 6944 NW 10TH PL, ☏ +1 352-331-6400. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. A consistent recipient of the 'best Chinese restaurant in Gainesville' award, Mr. Han's serves up outstanding Peking, Szechuan and Hunan inspired dishes. There's a nightclub on the premises as well. $12-40.
• Liquid Ginger, 101 SE 2nd Place, ☏ +1 352-371-2323. Sun Center. Open every day for dinner, 6 days for lunch (closed Sa afternoon) M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-10:30PM, Su noon-10PM. Eclectic Asian fusion cuisine. It can get quite crowded on weekends, so a reservation is good to have.
• Falafel King, 3252 SW 35th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-375-6342. If you're in the mood for falafel, gyro, baba ghanoush, tabouleh or some amazing hummus, this is the place to go. Located in Butler Plaza, this small restaurant gives you large amounts of delicious food for a really reasonable price.
• Bento Cafe, 3832 W Newberry Rd and 3841 SW Archer Rd, ☏ +1 352-377-8686 (Newberry), +1 352-224-5123 (Archer). In the mood for sushi? Perhaps a bento box with some Asian fusion food? Or maybe just some boba tea or sake? Bento Cafe, with two locations in Gainesville, has a large variety of Asian foods and wonderful sushi. There's also a Gator Roll for those looking for the ultimate Gator experience in Gainesville.
• The Swamp, 1104 SW 2nd Avenue, ☏ +1 352-377-9267. 11AM-2AM daily. Great college atmosphere for food and fun! (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Mi Apa Latin Cafe, 114 SW 34th St. (The NW corner of 34th St and SW 2nd Ave.), ☏ +1 352-376-7020. Su-Th 7AM–10PM; F Sa 7AM–11PM. Given its central location, it is walking distance from the west end of UF campus. It has a wonderful family atmosphere, with genuinely nice staff. The food is delicious and one of the finest examples of Cuban cuisine. A second location is in Alachua, Florida. About $16 with dessert and tip. (updated Jun 2017)
• Kabab House, 1129 West University Ave (One Block East on University Ave From 13 Street), ☏ +1 352-374-2114. M–Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–11PM, Su noon–9PM. Kabab House serves meat (chicken, beef, & lamb) kababs cooked in the tandoor (clay oven). Offers wide variety of curries, rice and vegetables dishes. Serves halal meat. $15. (updated Jun 2017)
• Indian Cuisine, 3550 Sw 34th St, Ste M (Near the intersection of SW 34th St and SR-121/SW 35th Pl), ☏ +1 352-271-1190. Closed Mondays. Great Indian restaurant with eclectic menu. Good atmosphere and helpful staff. $12-20.
• Miya Sushi, 3222 SW 35th Blvd (next to Publix), ☏ +1 352-335-3030. Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM. Korean joint with some Japanese dishes. Great sushi roll choices and Korean BBQ, tempura, and lunch/dinner boxes excellent. Try the dinner for two that comes with soup, salad, spring rolls, sushi and a beef dish for $28. $12-25.
• The Jones Eastside, 401 NE 23rd Ave, ☏ +1 352-373-6777. Freshest breakfast all day, everyday. Some organic ingredients, vegetarian dishes. Friendly staff, and hip music. Must try.
• 3 The Hyppo, 214 S.E. 2nd Avenue (one block east of Main Street in downtown), ☏ +1 352-727-4233. M - Th 1pm - 10pm; F 1pm - 11pm; Sa noon- 11pm; Su noon - 10pm. Frozen fruit popsicles. A large variety of unique flavors, such as avocado coconut. (updated May 2016)
• 4 The Twisted Peaco*ck, 3610 SW 13th Street (from I-75 take Exit 382 east to SW 13th Street and go north; restaurant on west side of street), ☏ +1 352-505-6827. M-Sa 11AM to 10PM; closed Su in summer. Indian restaurant. Quality of food excellent, and spicy. Serves beer and wine and some mixed drinks. $11-30. (updated May 2016)
• 5 Tinker Latin Restaurant & Food Truck (Tinker Food Truck), 502 S Main St, ☏ +1 352-225-3563, tinkerfoodtruck@gmail.com. Daily noon-10PM. Latin Restaurant in Gainesville family friendly bringing miami to gainesville food and drinks are great, it is walking distance from depot part and downtown gainesville. $12. (updated Jun 2022)

There are bars all over Gainesville. It's traditionally known as a huge drinking town.

The town in general isn't quite as hip and wild as it once was. As admission standards at the university continue to rise, a different crowd has trickled in. But there's still plenty of diversity, and partying, in Gainesville.

The area referred to as mid-town, directly across the street from the school on University Ave., has some of the more traditional Gainesville bars. Grog House, Salty Dog, Balls, XS, and Gator City all share the same building. Almost any night of the week one can find great specials and large crowds. Nearby is the restaurant/bar Swamp housed in a former professor's house. It is a can't-miss both for the atmosphere and the decent food.

The downtown area is a combination of clubs and more laid back bars. Places like the Loosey's, Lillian's (a former music store) and Stubby's, a bar that features hundreds of imported beers, cater to an older crowd. Clubs such as :08 and Sky having dancing and music but are usually most crowded on "ladies' night."

Bars close at 2AM due to the "Rave Law", passed in the late 1990s when Gainesville became one of Florida's premier rave scenes. Last call can be as early as 1:30AM. After the bars close, roads can be dangerous due to drunk drivers.

• Best Western Gateway Grand, 4200 NW 97th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-331-3336, fax: +1 352-331-3337.
• Comfort Inn West, 3440 Southwest 40th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-264-1771, fax: +1 352-264-9996. Offers guests free breakfast, an exercise room and a pool.
• Courtyard Gainesville, 3700 SW 42nd Street, ☏ +1 352-335-9100, fax: +1 352-335-1502. Near University of Florida and 4 miles from the Swamp, the hotel offers a pool, hot tub, free high speed Internet, and rooms are equipped with fridge and microwave.
• Fairfield Inn Gainesville, 6901 Northwest 4th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-332-8292, fax: +1 352 332-2884.
• Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville, 4075 SW 33rd Street, ☏ +1 352-338-1466, fax: +1 352 338-1481.
• Holiday Inn, 1250 W. University Ave, ☏ +1 352-376-1661.
• Holiday Inn, 7417 Newberry Road, ☏ +1 352-332-7500.
• Holiday Inn Express, 3905 Sw 43rd Street, ☏ +1 352-376-0004.
• Homewood Suites Gainesville, 3333 SW 42nd St, ☏ +1 352-335-3133, fax: +1 352 335-3570.
• Motel 6 Gainesville - Univ. of Florida, 4000 SW 40th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-373-1604, fax: +1 352 335-8314.
• Residence Inn Gainesville, 4001 SW 13th Street, ☏ +1 352-371-2101, fax: +1 352 377-2247.
• Paramount Plaza Hotel and Suites, 2900 SW 13 Street, ☏ +1 352-377-4000.
• Sweetwater Branch Inn, 625 E University Ave, ☏ +1 352-373-6760. Sweetwater Branch Inn is a historic bed and breakfast and event venue in downtown Gainesville, Florida.
• Hampton Inn: Gainesville, 4225 SW 40th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-371-4171.
• Red Roof Inn, 3500 SW 42nd St (exit 384 off I 75), ☏ +1 352-336-3311. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Offers an outdoor pool that is open year round and selected rooms offer microwave/microfridge units. All rooms offer T-Mobile high speed internet access (not included), "On Command Video" with a selection of free TV channels and pay-to-view as well as one well-behaved family pet. from $49.99.
• Residence Inn Gainesville I-75, 3275 SW 40th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-264-0000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. All suites hotel 3 miles from the University of Florida. Suites provide full kitchens with complimentary internet and flat screen TV. Hotel amenities include complimentary hot breakfast, complementary parking, pool, and fitness center. $119.
• Hotel Indigo, 5020 SW 30th Ln, ☏ +1 352-240-8900. (updated Mar 2020)

• Orlando is 1½-2 hours south. Take I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike, then East.
• Jacksonville is 1½ hours north. Take US-301 North to I-10, then East.
• Miami is 5½ hours south. Take I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike, then east to I-95, then south.
• Atlanta is 5 hours north along I-75.
• Tallahassee is 2½ hours West. Take I-75 North to I-10, then West.
• Tampa is 2 hours south along I-75.
• Daytona Beach is 2½ hours east. Take US-441 South to Ocala, then State Rd 40 East.

Routes through Gainesville

Macon ← Lake City ←

NS

→ Ocala → Tampa