The University of Florida

A visit to Gainesville, and the University of Florida, offers a wonderful blend of vibrant campus life and central-Florida charm. This article will provide several travel tips to help plan — and enjoy — this college visit. Note: While Florida is famous for its beautiful beaches, it’s important to note that Gainesville very centrally located and a bit of a drive from either coast. Be sure to plan accordingly if you’re considering adding some beach time to your trip!

Applying to UF? You don’t want to miss my article with helpful UF admissions information and tips.

Getting to Gainesville, Florida

There is a small airport in Gainesville, which is great, but a little less convenient if you can’t find direct flights. Since this is a travel blog, I will recommend searching out the nonstop and more affordable flights to/from Jacksonville (JAX), Orlando (MCO), or Tampa and renting a car. The university doesn’t have a shuttle, but students use the RedCoach bus for the Orlando Airport (MCO), about $40–$50 each way. And, while Jacksonville is closer, you will need a ride or an Uber/Lyft as I have not seen a bus option.

Where to stay

No matter when you are visiting the University of Florida, you should book your hotel early for a better selection and pricing.

The Reitz Union has a nice basic hotel, and the location in the heart of campus can’t be beat. The rooms have balconies overlooking campus and it includes parking = bonus! Register in the spring for the football weekend lottery for a chance to reserve a room.
The Sweetwater Branch Inn is a cute historic B&B within walking distance of downtown Gainesville. The inn includes a nice breakfast, free bikes, a pool, and a hot tub. Weekends can be expensive, but were able to get a room at a great price on the Thursday leading into one of our weekend visits.
Downtown Gainesville has a few chair hotels — a great location and a nice area to walk around + restaurants — and, expensive.
Near the highway, you’ll find all of the standard chain hotels within a couple of miles of campus. I use Booking.com and Trip Advisor reviews to help make this selection. Be warned that when there is traffic it can take 15-20 minutes to drive a few miles to campus. You don’t want to be late for that college tour!

Where to eat

Take your prospective student to The Swamp Restaurant where you’ll be surrounded by college kids in a fun and casual indoor/outdoor dining atmosphere near campus.
And, don’t miss exploring downtown Gainesville and its many great restaurants and bars: Harrys, The Top, Amelia’s, Dragonfly Sushi, Paramount Grill, Alpin Bistro, OAK, and nearby Spurriers Gridiron Grille, Satchel’s Pizza or Embers Wood Grill. I also like Fresh Kitchen or the taco stand on the downtown plaza for a quick lunch.

What to do in the Gainesville area?

Lake Alice

Walk over to Lake Alice, right on the UF campus, where you’re likely to see flocks of resident birds and maybe even an alligator. Arrive just before sunset to view thousands of bats as they exit the bat houses across the street.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Trail

Just a few miles from campus, Sweetwater Branch Park has a couple of miles of paved trails for a quick escape into nature. As you explore the walkways, you’ll enjoy views of serene wetlands, a variety of local birds, and possibly some alligators — we saw three during out visit! There is a small parking fee.

Paynes Prairie

Just a short drive from Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a great place to experience Florida’s natural beauty and wildlife. I preferred Sweetwater Wetlands because it’s more accessible. However, we only did the three-mile La Chua Trail offers a great hike. I’m definitely heading back for the observation tower next time. The park has a small fee per vehicle.

Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs is about an hour south of Gainesville; we stopped there on our drive up from the Tampa Airport. It’s a lot of fun to rent SUPs or kayaks for a couple of hours to explore the nature and fauna in the park. You can do the hourly rentals right at the park or make a reservation ahead of time. We also saw private outfitters taking groups on guided tours. While those tours were probably more informative, we enjoyed choosing our own directions and pace. The park also has their iconic Glass Bottom Boat Tours, great for all ages.

Many more activities in order from closer to further from campus...

Go to Lake Alice at sunset to see thousands of bats.
The UF Butterfly House is popular.
Get a little exercise biking the nearby Hawthorne Trail from Depot Park.
Stroll the paths and boardwalks at Paynes Prairie or Sweetwater Wetlands to see birds galore and likely an alligator or two.
Visit historic Minacopy.
Haile Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.
Hike down into the Devil’s Millhopper sinkhole — bring bug spray!
Drive to the Ichetucknee Springs for a leisurely tube ride; reservations are strongly encouraged.
Kayak or SUP at Silver Springs State Park.
Or, drive about 1.5 to 2 hours to the ocean.

Visited in August 2022, March 2023, July 2023, August 2023, and March 2024.