There’s something about loading up the kayaks, kids and all, and disappearing down a spring-fed river for a few days that just resets everything. We spent three days paddling and camping our way down the Santa Fe River, from the US 41 launch all the way to the US 47 bridge, and it turned into one of those trips where the kids still talk about it weeks later.
Day 1: Launching at US 41 and Chasing Springs Downstream
We put in around noon at the US 41 launch with the good folks at Rum 138, who make the whole shuttle-and-launch logistics ridiculously easy when you’re running a multi-day trip with two kids and a pile of gear. The girls were buzzing with excitement the second the kayaks hit the water.
From there we paddled downstream, gliding past Ginnie Spring’s crowds for the moment (we’d be back) and made a stop at Poe Spring for a quick lunch break. The water there is that unreal turquoise-green you only get from Florida springs, and it was the perfect excuse to jump in, cool off, and let the kids splash around before we kept moving.
Back in the kayaks, we kept the pace easy, weaving through the tree-lined river with cypress trees leaning out over the water and their reflections doubling the scenery. We made a short pass by Rum Island too, just enough to admire it, before pushing on toward our camp for the night at Ginnie.
Somewhere along the way we had a fun little wildlife moment right off the bow of the kayak, one of those “did you see that?!” splashes that gets everyone laughing. Around 5:30pm we finally rolled into Ginnie, and of course the sky picked that exact moment to open up. We set up camp in a proper downpour, gear getting soaked, kids shrieking with a mix of excitement and mild panic, the usual chaos of pitching a tent in the rain.
Ginnie is a beautiful spot, no question, but it’s also a popular one, and that first night reminded us why. Between the rain finally clearing and the party crowd settling in for the evening, sleep did not come easy. Worth it, but next time earplugs are getting packed.
Day 2: Sunrise Springs, Tubing, and Hammock Time
Morning redeemed the night completely. We got up early, brewed coffee camp-stove style with the moka pot (non-negotiable at this point), and had it going before most of the campground had stirred.
After a solid breakfast we did a little morning hike around the campground while the light was still soft and golden through the trees, then made our way down to the spring itself. Getting to Ginnie’s crystal-clear water before the crowds show up is a completely different experience, quiet, still, and all ours for a little while.
Once lunch was done, it was tubing time, which is exactly what the kids had been asking about since we left the house. We floated the clear, spring-fed run for a couple of hours with them, goggles on, completely unbothered by anything except how much fun they were having.
We wrapped up the afternoon the way every good camping day should end: hammocks strung between the trees, feet up, absolutely no plans for the next few hours. Dinner that night was camp mac and cheese, and judging by the double thumbs-up, it was a hit.
Day 3: Packing Up and Paddling to US 47
The last morning was all about breaking down camp, which always somehow takes longer than setting it up. Once everything was loaded back into the kayaks, we pushed off for the final stretch downstream, taking our time and soaking in the last bit of river before the takeout at the US 47 bridge.
Three days on the Santa Fe gave us everything: good springs, a proper rainstorm, way too little sleep on night one, and an afternoon of tubing that made the whole trip worth it from the kids’ perspective alone. Already thinking about doing a longer stretch of this river next time.
Tags: kayaking, camping, santa fe river, florida springs, family travel