Rockhounding near Gainesville, FL
28 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Gainesville, most inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.
Covering parts of Florida, Georgia.
Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Gainesville, Florida
Closest rockhounding spots to Gainesville
The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.
- Alachua County QuarriesAlachua County, Florida14 mi · 18 min driveChert, Fossilized Ivory
- Marion County QuarriesMarion County, Florida30 mi · 37 min driveChert, Fossilized Ivory
- Lawtey Highland MineBradford County, Florida32 mi · 40 min driveKyanite, Zircon, Ilmenite
- Cross Florida Barge CanalPutnam County, Florida37 mi · 46 min driveFossil, Silicified Coral
- Suwannee River (North)Suwannee County, Florida45 mi · 56 min driveSilicified Coral
- Crystal RiverCitrus County, Florida51 mi · 1 hr 4 min driveCalcite, Quartz, Chert
Most-reported finds near Gainesville
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.
Hunting something specific near Gainesville?
These materials have enough dedicated spots around Gainesville to earn their own page, with distances and a separate map.
Every spot within 150 miles of Gainesville
Sorted by distance from Gainesville. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County QuarriesNorthwest 202nd Street | Alachua County | 29.6745, -82.5626 | Public | |
| Marion County QuarriesUS 301;US 441 | Marion County | 29.2491, -82.1497 | Public | |
| Lawtey Highland MineNorth 6th Avenue | Bradford County | 30.0530, -82.0513 | Permission | |
| Cross Florida Barge Canal | Putnam County | 29.5520, -81.7175 | Public | |
| Suwannee River (North)105th Lane | Suwannee County | 29.9926, -82.9627 | Public | |
| Crystal RiverSuncoast Boulevard | Citrus County | 28.9642, -82.6352 | Public | |
| Stephen Foster State ParkLillian Sanders Drive | Hamilton County | 30.3320, -82.7640 | Public | |
| Suwannee RiverCR 25A | Hamilton County | 30.3431, -82.7982 | Public | |
| Bradford CountyEagle Ridge Horse Trail | Citrus County | 28.8191, -82.4822 | Public | |
| Withlacoochee RiverCounty Road 413 | Sumter County | 28.8001, -82.1537 | Public | |
| Unnamed Area (Agatized Coral)Southeast69th Boulevard | Hamilton County | 30.4388, -82.8628 | Public | |
| Sumter County QuarriesCR 470 | Sumter County | 28.7676, -82.0472 | Public | |
| St. Johns County AreaAnastasia Park Road | Saint Johns County | 29.8696, -81.2685 | Permission | |
| Skinner Mine | Duval County | 30.3384, -81.5534 | Permission | |
| BrooksvilleCement Plant Road | Hernando County | 28.5745, -82.4255 | Public | |
| Pasco County | Pasco County | 28.3646, -82.4556 | Public | |
| Withlacoochee River | Lowndes County | 30.6414, -83.3201 | Public | |
| Flor-a-MarTopsail Trail | Pasco County | 28.2338, -82.7479 | Public | |
| Lakeland | Polk County | 28.1235, -81.8869 | Public | |
| Hillsborough RiverTemple Terrace Highway | Hillsborough County |
| 28.0321, -82.3811 | Public |
| DunedinHoneymoon Island Trail | Pinellas County | 28.0666, -82.8339 | Permission | |
| Caledesi Causeway BanksHoneymoon Island Trail | Pinellas County | 28.0578, -82.8089 | Public | |
| Unnamed Area (Agatized Coral #1)Interbay Boulevard | Hillsborough County | 27.8889, -82.4808 | Public | |
| Unnamed Area (Agatized Coral #2)Interbay Boulevard | Hillsborough County | 27.8862, -82.4808 | Public | |
| Polk County QuarriesAlcoma Grove Road | Polk County | 27.9116, -81.5067 | Public |
Gainesville rockhounding FAQ
Where can I go rockhounding near Gainesville?+
There are 28 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Gainesville, Florida. The closest is Alachua County Quarries in Alachua County, roughly 14 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
What rocks and minerals can you find near Gainesville?+
Spots within driving distance of Gainesville most commonly produce agatized coral, chert, chalcedony, fossil, fossilized ivory, silicified coral.
Is rockhounding legal near Gainesville?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How far do most rockhounders drive from Gainesville?+
Most weekend trips from Gainesville fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.
More state coverage
The spots above span 2 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.
Pack Gainesville's rockhounding map in your pocket
Open RockHoundR for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds, wherever the drive takes you.
