Alachua district, Florida, United States

Places to visit near Gainesville

Gainesville is a city in Alachua district, Florida, United States, home to about 130,128 people. Within 50 km by road there are 205 places to visit — 61 churches, 52 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 45 forts & heritage and 13 wildlife, forests & gardens. The must-see places are Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention (1 km), Plaza of the Americas (2 km) and Century Tower (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Gainesville on the map

Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Alachua district, Florida, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Gainesville at a glance

Location
Alachua district, Florida, United States
Population
about 130,128
Coordinates
29.6516° N, 82.3248° W
Places within 50 km
205 (37 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Gainesville

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Gainesville: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Gainesville, by type

Churches near Gainesville

66 churches within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (1 km); the best-known is Calvary Baptist Church (4 km). Best time: year-round.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Gainesville

64 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is Duckpond (1 km); the best-known is Bivens Arm (4 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Forts & heritage near Gainesville

47 forts & heritage within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is First Gainesville Skirmish (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Gainesville

26 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is Morningside Nature Center (6 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Museums near Gainesville

18 museums within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is Matheson History Museum (1 km); the best-known is Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Gainesville

16 parks within 100 km of Gainesville. The closest is Plaza of the Americas (2 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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A one-day trip from Gainesville

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 21 km on the road.

  1. Start in Gainesville
  2. 1 km Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention · museum, Alachua
  3. 5 km Fred Cone Park · park, Alachua
  4. 4 km Calvary Baptist Church · church, Alachua
  5. 5 km Bivens Arm · lake, Alachua
  6. 4 km Plaza of the Americas · park, Alachua
  7. 2 km Back to Gainesville

Plan a longer trip from Gainesville — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Gainesville

No traveller has reported from around Gainesville yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Gainesville

    All places near Gainesville by distance

    Within 15 km of Gainesville

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Gainesville by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches6166Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs5264Duckpond (1 km)
    Forts & heritage4547First Gainesville Skirmish (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1326Morningside Nature Center (6 km)
    Museums1318Matheson History Museum (1 km)
    Parks916Plaza of the Americas (2 km)
    Other attractions910Century Tower (2 km)
    Caves22Herzog Cave Preserve (14 km)
    Temples11Hare Krishna Temple (28 km)

    Gainesville: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Gainesville?

    Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention (museum, about 1 km), Plaza of the Americas (park, about 2 km), Century Tower (attraction, about 2 km), Ring of Honor (attraction, about 3 km), Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (hill, about 3 km), Albert & Alberta (attraction, about 3 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Gainesville?

    205 places on Spotwander: 61 churches, 52 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 45 forts & heritage, 13 wildlife, forests & gardens, 13 museums.

    Which is the nearest church to Gainesville?

    Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, about 1 km by road; First United Methodist Church Sanctuary (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Gainesville?

    Duckpond, about 1 km by road; Bivens Arm (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Gainesville?

    First Gainesville Skirmish, about 1 km by road; Norman Hall (2 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Gainesville?

    Start in Gainesville, visit Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, then Fred Cone Park, then Calvary Baptist Church, then Bivens Arm, then Plaza of the Americas, and drive back — about 21 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Gainesville?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Gainesville

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Gainesville’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Gainesville on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.