High Springs is a charming little town in the heart of North Central Florida’s spring country, about 20 miles northwest of Gainesville, a popular place to stage a scuba diving excursion at Ginnie Springs or a tube float down the Ichetucknee River. High Springs also features a quaint downtown with restaurants, boutiques, and antique shops.
For everyday shopping and services, the towns of Alachua and Newberry are ten and fifteen minutes away by car, respectively. Gainesville is about 30 minutes east.
In terms of real estate options, the median home price is in the affordable for most $300k range. Homes are typically set on large lots, as in a more rural setting.
What’s It Like Living in High Springs?
Life in High Springs is all about getting out there and enjoying nature, but the town is no slouch either. The spruced-up historic center offers a number of dining options and boutiques, a volunteer theater company, and even a restored movie theater where you can watch current films at bargain prices.
Just a stone’s throw from the town center, you find lush state parks, pastures, and of course, the many springs that put the town on the map as a world-class diving destination. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in and around town.
What to Do in High Springs
Poe Springs
Poe Springs Park is home to miles of hiking trails, picnic spots, sports fields, and of course, Poe Springs. These natural springs are clear and cool and amazingly refreshing on a hot summer day. The areas around the shore are shallow and appropriate for children, but the spring itself can be as deep as 25 feet! (Entry is free.)
Ginnie Springs
Ginnie Springs offers an impressive network of underwater caves where certified divers can explore the underwater flora and fauna. But you don’t have to be scuba-certified to have a good time at Ginnie Springs. Paddleboarding, snorkeling, and tubing are also popular ways to enjoy the springs. There are a number of campsites that can be reserved ahead of time (recommended during the hot season). You’ll be glad to know that alligators do not like cold water and rarely make an appearance around Ginnie Springs, though rowdy college students are not an uncommon sighting. (There is a modest entry fee.)
Tubing on the Ichetucknee
For a more serene aquatic experience, we recommend river tubing down the Ichetucknee, a few minutes northwest of High Springs, by car. The river’s crystalline waters are shaded from the sun by trees, making for a relaxing way to take in the scenery and wildlife. Wildlife that have been spotted from the river include white-tailed deer, raccoons, wood ducks, and great blue herons. Check out a map of the river with popular stopping points here.
Dining Options
Head back to dry land for a bite at Headwaters, a modern update on the classic American diner that doubles as a local watering hole (LGBTQ+ friendly). Check out their Instagram for the latest specials.
Don’t forget to stop by High Springs Brewing Company, a family-owned craft brewery, to sample their latest offerings or take in a live show. They’re open 7 days a week. Check their Facebook page for upcoming events.
You might also try the iconic Great Outdoors, a steakhouse and catering hall occupying two floors of a restored brick building that once housed an opera.
Public School Zones in High Springs
Pre-K – 9: High Springs Community School
Middle School: A.L. Mebane Middle School (6-8) in neighboring Alachua, FL
High School: Santa Fe High School in Alachua, FL
All of these schools belong to the Alachua County school district.
Interactive Map Search
Our website features the best High Springs real estate search for homes, condos, land, and foreclosure properties available. It is the only site you will ever need! It is easy to use and updated by the official REALTOR®’s database every 15 minutes.
You can save searches, and get daily email alerts of new listings, price changes, sold data, and market reports. Our Interactive Map Search allows you to view properties on a map or refine your search by drawing the boundaries around the area you desire.
Curious about what’s happening in the High Springs real estate market? Sign up for a High Springs Real Estate Market Report to see what’s active, under contract, and sold!
High Springs offers a lot more than beautiful outdoor recreation. With homes at affordable prices in a great school district and a new generation of small businesses enlivening the downtown, High Springs is a great place to put down roots.
At Rabell Realty Group, we believe that each and every home purchase, sale, and lease is unique and deserves a skilled touch. Located in Haile Plantation’s Haile Village Center, we’re a small, local real estate firm focused on providing our customers with consistent and outstanding real estate service.
We’re honored to be recognized as the Best Real Estate Agency in Gainesville in 2022 by the Gainesville Award Program. Each year, the awards go to small businesses that have achieved exceptional success in their local community and business category and are helping make the Gainesville area a great place to live, work, and play.