For alumni visiting their alma mater, or friends and family coming for a short stay, there are accommodations for everyone. We provide helpful guides to local businesses, events, beautiful trails, and parks to plan the perfect nostalgic getaway.
For business travelers coming for work-related stays, we have arrangements especially curated to make your stay comfortable so that you feel at home, whether the stay is for a couple of days or months.
From travelers who come solo, as a couple, or in a group for vacation or to explore the city, we offer local experiences at a discounted price while ensuring their short stay is as comfortable as it is fun.
🎉 Things to Do in Gainesville, FL: June 2025 Edition
Summer is in full swing, and Gainesville, Florida, is buzzing with events for every interest. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or an extended stay in one of StayGainesville’s beautiful short-term rentals, June is the perfect time to explore all that Gainesville has to offer.
Legal Stays, Done Right: Premium Short-Term Rentals for Attorneys Visiting Gainesville, FL
When legal professionals travel for work, the last thing they need is added stress from lodging that doesn’t meet their needs.
Sometimes, the first step forward is simply finding space to breathe.
If you're navigating a separation or divorce and need a private, comfortable place to stay—even just for a little while—StayGainesville is here. Quiet, fully furnished homes. Flexible terms. Total discretion.
You don’t have to go through this season alone. 💛
StayGainesville can make short-term rental property owner's lives easier by taking over management. Free up your time and turn over the responsibilities to StayGainesville.
Looking for a better stay in Gainesville, FL? Here's why booking a whole home or condo from StayGainesville beats any hotel room—more space, better sleep, and actual bacon.
Looking for a comfortable, stylish, and well-located place to stay in Gainesville, Florida? Whether you're in town for a medical appointment, a University of Florida event, or a relaxing getaway, StayGainesville offers over 40 fully furnished short-term rentals in Gainesville, FL that feel like home.
🌿 Ultimate Guide to Nature Attractions Near Gainesville, FL Gainesville and its surrounding areas are rich in natural beauty, offering a diverse array of parks, springs, gardens, and waterways to explore. Whether you're interested in hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, or simply enjoying the outdoors, there's something for everyone. 🌳 City Parks in Gainesville 1. Alfred A. Ring Park * 📍 Address: 1801 NW 23rd Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605 * 🌐 Website: City of Gainesville Parks * 📝 Features: Over a mile of trails through upland mixed forest and slope forest, tracing the course of Hogtown Creek. 2. Depot Park * 📍 Address: 874 SE 4th St, Gainesville, FL 32601 * 🌐 Website: Depot Park * 📝 Features: A vibrant community park with playgrounds, splash pads, and a lakefront boardwalk. 3. Sweetwater Wetlands Park * 📍 Address: 325 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL 32601 * 🌐 Website: Sweetwater Wetlands Park * 📝 Features: A constructed wetland with boardwalks, birdwatching opportunities, and native plant species. 4. Morningside Nature Center * 📍 Address: 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641 * 🌐 Website: Morningside Nature Center * 📝 Features: A living history farm with heritage livestock, period gardens, and interpretive programs. 🌿 State Parks & Nature Preserves 5. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park * 📍 Address: 4732 Millhopper Road, Gainesville, FL 32653 * 🌐 Website: Florida State Parks * 📝 Features: A 120-foot deep sinkhole with a 132-step staircase leading to the bottom, showcasing unique geological formations. 6. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park * 📍 Address: 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667 * 🌐 Website: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park * 📝 Features: A vast wetland preserve with bison, wild horses, hiking trails, and birdwatching spots. 7. San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park * 📍 Address: 13201 San Felasco Parkway, Alachua, FL 32615 * 🌐 Website: San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park * 📝 Features: A forested park with trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. 8. Ichetucknee Springs State Park * 📍 Address: 12087 SW U.S. Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32038 * 🌐 Website: Ichetucknee Springs State Park * 📝 Features: A 6-mile river fed by nine springs, offering tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking through shaded hammocks. 9. O'Leno State Park * 📍 Address: 410 SE O'Leno Park Rd, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: O'Leno State Park * 📝 Features: Historic park with hiking trails, picnicking areas, and the scenic Santa Fe River. 10. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park * 📍 Address: 18700 S County Rd 325, Cross Creek, FL 32640 * 🌐 Website: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park * 📝 Features: The former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, with gardens and historic buildings. 11. Dudley Farm Historic State Park * 📍 Address: 18730 W Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL 32669 * 🌐 Website: Dudley Farm Historic State Park * 📝 Features: A preserved 19th-century farm with historic buildings, gardens, and interpretive programs. 💧 Springs & Water Features 12. Poe Springs Park * 📍 Address: 28800 NW 182nd Ave, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: Poe Springs Park * 📝 Features: A spring with a 45-foot deep vent, offering swimming and snorkeling opportunities. 13. Ginnie Springs * 📍 Address: 5000 NE 60th Ave, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: Ginnie Springs * 📝 Features: A popular spot for tubing, snorkeling, and scuba diving in crystal-clear waters. 14. Blue Springs Park * 📍 Address: 7450 NE 60th St, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: Blue Springs Park * 📝 Features: A spring known for its vibrant blue waters and opportunities for swimming and picnicking. 🌸 Botanical Gardens 15. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens * 📍 Address: 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608 * 🌐 Website: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens * 📝 Features: 24 major collections, including the state's largest public bamboo garden and a butterfly garden. 16. Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens * 📍 Address: 4990 NE 180th Ave, Williston, FL 32696 * 🌐 Website: Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens * 📝 Features: A 20-acre botanical garden set in a century-old limestone quarry, featuring waterfalls, koi ponds, and tropical plant displays. 🛶 Public Boat Ramps & River Launch Points 17. Lake Santa Fe Boat Ramp * 📍 Address: 2308 SE 30th St, Melrose, FL 32666 * 🌐 Website: Lake Santa Fe Boat Ramp * 📝 Features: A concrete boat ramp providing access to Lake Santa Fe for various watercraft. 18. Jill McGuire Santa Fe Lake Park * 📍 Address: 24500 NE SR 26, Melrose, FL 32666 * 🌐 Website: Jill McGuire Santa Fe Lake Park * 📝 Features: A park with a boat ramp, shelter, and play area, offering access to Santa Fe Lake. 21. Ellie Ray's Resort Boat Ramp * 📍 Address: Ellie Ray's Resort, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: Ellie Ray's Resort * 📝 Features: A private resort with a boat ramp providing access to the Santa Fe River. 22. Sandy Point Campground * 📍 Address: Sandy Point Campground, High Springs, FL 32643 * 🌐 Website: Sandy Point Campground * 📝 Features: A campground with a boat ramp offering access to the Santa Fe River. 🌲 Nature Preserves & Additional Parks 23. Barr Hammock Preserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Barr Hammock Preserve * 📝 Features: A preserve with hiking trails through pine flatwoods and cypress swamps. 24. Buck Bay Flatwoods Preserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Buck Bay Flatwoods Preserve * 📝 Features: A preserve with hiking trails through flatwoods and wetlands. 25. Four Creeks Preserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Four Creeks Preserve * 📝 Features: A preserve protecting the headwaters of four local creeks, with seasonal trails. 26. Lake Alto Preserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Lake Alto Preserve * 📝 Features: A preserve with trails through pine flatwoods and lake shore hardwood forest. 27. Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve * 📝 Features: A reserve with trails through longleaf pine forests and wetlands. 28. Mill Creek Nature Preserve * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Mill Creek Nature Preserve * 📝 Features: A preserve with hiking trails through hardwood forests and wetlands. 29. Newnans Lake Conservation Area * 📍 Address: Located near Gainesville, FL * 🌐 Website: Newnans Lake Conservation Area * 📝 Features: A conservation area with trails and birdwatching opportunities. 🏞️ Other Notable Natural Attractions 30. The Bluffs at Paynes Prairie * 📍 Address: Located at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Micanopy, FL 32667 * 🌐 Website: Paynes Prairie Preserve * 📝 Features: Scenic lookout points offering panoramic views of the prairie, ideal for wildlife watching and photography. 31. Lookout Points at Paynes Prairie * 📍 Address: Located at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Micanopy, FL 32667 * 🌐 Website: Paynes Prairie Preserve * 📝 Features: Stunning views over the prairie from observation points, popular for birdwatching and hiking. 🛶 Kayaking, Canoeing, and Tubing Spots 32. Santa Fe River (Canoe and Kayak Launch) * 📍 Address: Various Launch Points (including near High Springs) * 🌐 Website: Santa Fe Canoe Outpost * 📝 Features: Enjoy paddling down the scenic Santa Fe River, a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing. 33. Suwannee River (Canoe and Kayak Launch) * 📍 Address: Various Launch Points (High Springs, Micanopy) * 🌐 Website: Suwannee River * 📝 Features: A popular river for long canoe trips with beautiful landscapes and opportunities for wildlife viewing. Gainesville, Florida, and its surrounding areas are a paradise for nature lovers, offering a rich variety of outdoor experiences from hiking and birdwatching to kayaking and tubing. Whether you prefer the tranquility of a botanical garden, the adventure of a hike through a state park, or the excitement of a spring-fed river, there's no shortage of beautiful places to explore. Each of these locations provides a unique opportunity to experience the natural wonders of North Central Florida. Feel free to visit any of these parks, preserves, and waterways and immerse yourself in the incredible nature surrounding Gainesville! While visiting Gainesville, be sure to stay in one of StayGainesville's comfortable homes and condos. We have a large variety of sizes, locations, prices and more! Stay local. Stay Comfortable. StayGainesville. 352-519-3994 info@staygainesville.com
When life gets stressful – such as caring for a loved one in the hospital – Gainesville, Florida’s great outdoors can offer a natural sanctuary. Amid the uncertainty and anxiety, stepping outside into Gainesville’s parks, preserves, and springs provides more than just a change of scenery. It offers a proven boost to physical and mental well-being. Research shows that spending time in nature can lower stress, improve mood, and even help us heal
StayGainesville's comprehensive guide for patients and families coming to Gainesville for extended medical stays. How to budget, where to find housing, where to find resources, entertainment, and more.
Gainesville, Florida is a renowned medical hub – home to UF Health Shands Hospital and the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center – and many patients, families, and medical professionals find themselves in need of comfortable, extended stay housing. StayGainesville is here to help.
WHERE THE GATOR GREATS STAY
When Gator Greats return to Gainesville, they trust StayGainesville to provide them with a comfortable and convenient home away from home.
Whether it's a spacious condo, a charming house, or a beautiful historic Inn room, StayGainesville offers the perfect place to relax and reminisce.
Our guests have included KeVaughn Allen, Corey Brewer, Phlandrous Fleming Jr., Taurean Green, Walter Hodge, Lee Humphrey, Myreon Jones, Egor Koulechov, Keith Stone and Erving Walker. Matt McCall, and Billy Donovan.
