Camp near Spring Hill to explore Weeki Wachee Springs and Florida’s Nature Coast.
Spring Hill, Florida is best known as the home of Weeki Wachee Springs, a historic spring site featuring underwater mermaid shows in the blue and green headwaters of a first-magnitude spring. Other nearby spring sites, like the Chassahowitzka River, the Homosassa River, and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge let you explore even more enchanting waters by paddling, swimming, or snorkeling. On Florida’s Nature Coast, Spring Hill also has access to white-sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. There are tent camping, RV sites, cabins, and glamping options throughout the area. RV resorts and RV parks in Spring Hill can accommodate big rigs and campers with full hookups and free wifi.
In addition to mermaid shows, Weeki Wachee State Park has Buccaneer Bay, an aquatic park with water slides that plop you straight into the spring’s warm, crystal-clear waters. Buccaneer Bay has a kid-friendly swimming area and a natural lazy river as well. Weeki Wachee State Park also has kayak rentals and a return shuttle for paddles down the Weeki Wachee River. For a Gulf Coast beach close to Spring Hill with great sunsets, we recommend Alfred McKethan Pine Island Park, about 20 minutes west of downtown.
At the Chassahowitzka River just north of Spring Hill you can kayak or canoe on a beautiful spring-fed waterway that manatee, river otter, alligators, and wading birds call home. Boat rentals are available near the Seven Sisters Spring.
About 45 minutes north of Spring Hill, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is a sprawling springs site on Kings Bay that includes one of the only locations in Florida where swimming and snorkeling with manatees is permitted. Three Sisters Spring is also here.
For a different type of river adventure in this region, check out the Hillsborough River State Park. An hour south of Spring Hill in the Tampa Bay Area, Hillsborough River State Park features Class II rapids and both hiking and biking trails. The park’s campground offers tent and RV camping options with restrooms, showers, a dump station, picnic tables, and fire rings.
You can camp in Spring Hill year round, but the summers run hot and muggy with higher precipitation. Summer visitors may be happier in an RV or lodging with air-conditioning instead of tent camping. Summer and fall are also hurricane season on Florida’s Gulf Coast, when campers must monitor weather and storm warnings. The winters are excellent here, but make sure to book well in advance during this popular season.