This place is 10/10 amazing! There are so many options along the river and I'm so glad we chose the right one. From the second we parked, we were welcomed and ready to go! Derrick took the time to tell our kiddos about "oh shoot" the alligator and explain the directions to the coolest waterfront swing along the path. They also took the time to make sure our littles had the perfect size life vests and loaded us into the comfy shuttle van. At KP hole we were unloaded and given time to pay the park entrance and receive our wristbands, then loaded into our kayak at the bottom of the boat ramp. We paddled upriver to visit the headwater then paddled back down to where we parked at RRCK. A few things I wish I had known: be sure to pack plenty of snack in reusable containers, it seems easy to dock and get concessions at the headwater park or Swampy's, but it is not. Also, be sure to bring a rope to tie off while you explore the streams or deeper areas. Overall, it's a perfect day in old Florida! We loved seeing otters, alligators and turtles...and being welcomed by Derrick who loaded up our kayak and asked about our paddle. Nothing better than all the adventures, with none of the clean up or pack up! read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

My family took a Kayaking tour down the river. Our guide Darian was kind, knowledgeable and friendly. He also shared some personal experiences with us. The water, wildlife and atmosphere was vibrant and awesome! We also went swimming and snorkeling in the swimming area. Tip: bring water noodles as it is too deep to stand. read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

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This is by far the best place on Rainbow River to get outfitted for a canoe or kayak. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Competitively priced and easy to use. I used them about 10 times over the summer before I bought my own kayak. Highly recommend! read more

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Highly recommend this place for your kayak rental instead of dealing with parking lot problems at the park you park in their private lot with great bathrooms and changing room rooms. They drive back to the head springs and you float down to their facility. The kayaks were clean and a good shape with great seatbacks, and the staff was wonderful and kind. read more

Kayaking down the Rainbow river was perfection. It's about a two hour drive from Tampa, to Denellon, but so completely worth it!!! These folks at Rainbow River and Kayak couldn't make it any easier. We made a reservation just a few days ahead of time. Arrive and park, sign the waiver, put your sunscreen on, load up any non disposable water or food containers, and you're off! They drive you to the launch area at KP Hole Park (there is an additional 7 dollar per person fee) and put your canoes in the water for you. Then you can take the shorter ride and follow the gentle current, and about two hours later, arrive back at the pick up spot. There are longer ways to go along the river, which they explain with a big wall map, or you can do what we did and go for around 2-2.5 hours. We saw otters, fish, turtles, ducks, birds of all kinds, and a gator! The water was clear and shallow. A lovely way to be out in nature in Florida during the summer. read more

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Our kayak trip down the Rainbow River was the highlight of our trip to Florida. It's about a 2-hour trip from this lunch point to the take-out point just under the bridge after Swampy's restaurant (We wound up having our hip camp host pick us up at Swampy's instead), but we stretched the adventure out by kayaking upstream a bit right after the launch point to visit a small narrow stream our camp host recommended and making plenty of stops along the way to enjoy viewing the wildlife and wildflowers along the way. The crystal clarity of the water here is incredible, and the white sandy bottom makes the view even more amazing. Watching the fish and turtles swim beneath your boat is incredible. Can't wait to go back. read more

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This experience was amazing from start to end. First, the staff was 10/10; every single person we encountered was awesome. We arrived, got checked in (made kayak reservations online because it was Memorial Day weekend and busy!!) We took a shuttle from the site to KP hole where you pay, receive wrist bands and were let into the river with our kayak. The water was still and crystal clear, the breeze was incredible, overall just an experience I cannot wait to do again. The ride down was about 2 hours, and at the end, you can have lunch or call the number on your wristband to have the shuttle transfer you back to the site. Just a few things to be aware of before going! 1. All food/beverages must be in non disposable containers. 2. No alcohol; they'll either turn you away or make you dump it. read more

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I just want to start off by saying this is not the company we rented our kayaks from. But when we got stuck in a lightning storm on Rainbow River, this site welcomed us with open arms to wait the storm out. Offered us drinks and were all around just super nice. Even drove my niece and her mom back to their car because my niece was too scared to get back on the river. When we do the river again we will definitely be taking our business here! read more

So much funnnnnnn. Gators scared the crap out of me though. Last time I had otters swimming next to me

Efficiency is lacking. The rental place is ran by high school students. I would say make a reservation before going there for sure. We got some bad weather so had to wait to get kayak which was fine but once the rain stopped it took about an hour to get one because there was no organization. The other thing is that there is not pick up service if you do the entire river so that means you have to paddle backs against the current, so prepare to work. It's a beautiful place to be in nature but i would rent from a place that picks you up at the end of the river read more

Not a lot of instruction Suggest asking a lot of questions and bring extra sunscreen and water and snacks but do not bring any "disposable" type of plastic anything and they do check inside your water bottles for alcohol. Lots of spots to kayak through and see 10/10 views and experience. They overbooked and didn't have enough kayaks for us and our reservation but it's Memorial Day weekend so not an issue really. It's a service so I'm still giving 4/5. Would have been better if given discount after they missed the appointment time but had fun a win is a win. read more

Beautiful river, to tube down!!! Great for family or friends. Also pretty affordable.

Highly recommend. One of the most relaxing days ever on the river. After a brief information and safety meeting we were all comfortable that we were ready for a day on the river. The water was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the memories were priceless. When we returned we were met with an amazing staff member who helped us out of the kayaks and to collect all of our belongings. The owner was on site to answer any questions and to ensure we had a great day. The showers and restrooms were neat and clean. Could not have asked for anything more. Will definitely be back. read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

This has to be the BEST place to rent your kayaks. Reserve your spot by phone. Show up and pay. They bus you and your kayaks to KP hole (5 dollar per person admitting fee), walk to the boat ramp and they assist you in the water. You can paddle up then down or just down. We just went down stream,stopped and went slow and took us about 3 hours. Once you get to the end, you paddle over and they assist you out of water/kayak. Walk to your can and your done. Great experience and would recommend to anyone! read more

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Great experience!.. we signed up the prior day, saved 10%! Got there at 8:30 am and after signing in and settling up we had a safety meeting then we loaded up for the ride to the drop off site. They got us in the water about ten minutes after we arrived. It was a Awesome time. Crystal clear water, good equipment. Slow gentle current. We couldn't have asked for a better time. The staff was fun to work with and super nice. read more

Excellent staff and beautiful scenery. Fully enjoyed ourselves with our group of friends, wonderful experience and will differently go back again for some more Tubing. The office, waiting areas and restrooms were clean and maintained well. We saw some turtles, birds & fishes. The wildlife is amazing and enjoyed thoroughly. They have explained us about the river on a large map to us and what we should expect along the way. Everything was exactly as they described. They told us about the extra $5 fee that would be needed per person at the Tubing launching location. They again announced it several times before we left their shop location. Great experience. We had a beautiful day on the Rainbow River. read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

Had a awesome time on the river yesterday Steve was so helpful and the staff was amazing They made the whole experience effortless and FUN...‍‍ read more

Tommy helped me and was amazing! They were so helpful and had a large variety of water craft to choose from. I paid about 35 for an all day canoe and felt that it was a great value. They also provided directions, and recommendations on where to eat. The river was beautiful, I saw lots of wildlife, and the people were so kind. I highly recommend doing this if you are from out of town. I am a young, solo, female, traveler, and felt very safe here. read more

Great staff, good kayaks, pet friendly! Owner was very informative would definitely go back! read more

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Don't know if I'd come back to paddle here. Came on a Saturday and had a lot of maneuvering around tubers- which I didn't mind too much. Scenery was okay, but not my favorite. I did not like the tail end of the trip. Once you pass the tube exit, the area gets far less populated and the water gets much less clear. I felt like i was paddling into the abyss. With summer storm clouds rolling in and the wind picking up, I was in an uncomfortable situation and tried to paddle faster to get to the end. The company staff itself explained everything very well and were very helpful in getting everything set up in a timely manner. read more

This is as a great place to rent a kayak! Steve took care of us, but every guy there was friendly and knowledgeable. Bathrooms and changing areas were SUPER clean. There were also outdoor showers for those who just needed a rinse-off. The women's restroom was super clean, smelled like flowers and even had complimentary pads and tampons!! How thoughtful! 5 's for the amenities! We rented two tandem, sit-on kayaks, our total was about $85 for both- for the WHOLE day, 8am-6pm!! We liked that we could explore the springs and river and not have to watch the clock! We were taken by bus to the kayak drop-off point, KP Hole park. Once you get off the bus at KP Hole there is an additional $5 PER PERSON park fee. They take credit cards, but bring cash- its quicker. There can be quite a line for payment. After leaving KP Hole, you are free to kayak down the river, or upriver toward the headsprings at Rainbow River State Park. Be aware that once you enter Rainbow River State Park (there is signage on the river) you can be stopped and asked for additional state park fees of $2 per person, separate from the KP Hole fee. However, all this being said- we did not get stopped. There are a lot of cool little places to get out and swim along the upper and middle part of the river, known as Blue Run. The only down side... Once you have kayaked down the spring and passed the last tubing exit at the bridge, our kayak drop off point is still waaay down the river... At this point almost all of the people traffic is gone and it is looking very much like any other river in Florida; no longer crystal clear and much more primitive. Near this point Rainbow River is starting to blend with the Withlacoochee River- no springs here and would not recommend swimming at all. We heard a lot of gators "barking", but never saw anything. My husband swears something 'bumped' their kayak, and my kids- ages 16 and 12 were scared to death-- they paddled faster than we've ever seen though, lol!! It seemed like a long trek back, going through this area. The river opens up quite a bit too, and this made finding our way a bit more challenging (we were warned about this by Steve, who told us to just stay to the right and we would eventually get back). We had a great day and will definitely come back! read more

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We've been kayaking here several times and I really enjoy this location. The prices are reasonable, staff is nice and knowledgeable about the River. Nice float and it takes a few hours. Clean bathrooms to use before you leave. No complaints! read more

The staff were amazing, everyone was super friendly, and the experience was amazing. My friends and I did the 2 hour floating experience which was honestly perfect. Next time we visit, we'll do the 4 hour tubing route. Even though it was a beautiful sunny day, there were lots of clouds in the sky (typical Florida summer) but the water was still beautifully emerald green!! This place is slept on! If you're looking, you won't be disappointed, just make sure the weather conditions are ok! read more

What a great way to spend part of a day! Steve and the whole staff are friendly and helpful. Very reasonable prices. Great equipment. Facility is right on the river and was very clean, organized and tidy. Really liked being able to paddle back to where our car was waiting for us and not have to worry about waiting for a ride. Outdoor shower area to rinse off afterwards was much appreciated and the bathroom/changing area is very clean and roomy. We took our time and the trip back from KP Hole took us just about 2 1/2 hours. Went on a Thursday to avoid the weekend crowd and it was a relaxing easy paddle. The Rainbow River is incredible and just has to be seen to believed. My wife, daughter and I had a great time and this made our list of places to visit again and to recommend to anyone wanting to see a great part of Florida. My daughter even wants to bring her Girl Scout troop back for a visit. read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

The service is great! Steve handles things with such patients. We experienced him having to get Stern with some folks but it was much disserved. The water was amazing. There are clean restrooms. With outdoor showers and feet wash. If I would have been thinking I would have brought dry clothes to change in. The staff was very friendly, the bus ride was nice read more

This was an awesome and calming experience. There's a "beach" for swimming ‍ canoeing or kayaks. Nice grassy area for sun bathers and trails for hiking . You can bring your own food or there's a area to sit in the shade and order snacks or shop for souvenirs. Beautiful scenery and greenery. Beware of alligator signs kinda creeped me out but I'm from the north so it's understandable. The locals must be used to it because they were swimming just so carefree. Either way I'd definitely visit again on my next trip to Florida . read more

We have rented from Rainbow River Canoe and Kayak a few times, and they're always super friendly, accommodating, and informative. The staff is awesome, the kayaks are great, and their services and offerings are top notch. We love kayaking the Rainbow and after so many positive experiences with RRC&K, we wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. Counting the days til our next visit. Thanks to everyone who works here for making every visit better than the last! read more

I can't recommend this place enough! Would love to thank the shop owners for being so accomodating and helpful with tips on navigating along the river , being a first-timer and all. The rental price was extremely reasonable for an entire day out and the sit-in kayak was just comfortable for a long day on the river. Bathroom and shower area is clean and well-managed. The scenery along the river was just breathtaking. Lots of bird and turtle species to oogle at. The water was so pristine you could easily spot fishes and turtles swimming at its depth. I didn't get to spot any otters though. I would love to come back again! read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

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Excellent company!!!!!!!!!! Rented a paddleboard and kayak from them in late May on a Tuesday. We had a reservation for 9 and were of course late getting there. No matter, they were super cool and accommodating. I wish I could remember the lady's name at the desk, because she was AWESOME. She was super helpful, knowledgeable about everything and very kind and welcoming. I think it was $31 to rent each vessel. I believe I may have gotten a lil discount for making a reservation a few days in advance. The guy who drove us to the KP Hole drop in was super awesome too. Again, of course can't remember his name. He had just moved back there and had worked there years ago. Great guy. Shuttle took us to drop in where we paid $5 to get in there. We first paddled upstream so we could experience the whole river, see more, and get a lil work out in. My paddleboard was awesome and my friend was super comfy in her kayak. Both vessels in great condition. The river itself was beautiful. Very clear, LOTS of wildlife to see, and just so relaxing. Not crowded at all either. Would highly recommend going on a weekday and using this company! Awesome people! Awesome day!!!!! Can't wait to go back. read more

I would love to give Rainbow River Canoe & Kayak 5 Stars But....I can't. We all did our registration on line so the office was ready for us when we arrived. Cleanest Public bathroom ever!!! Check in was fast, bus trip & loading in to river also fast. Also what was TOO FAST was the directions down the river. Out of 15 of us, none of us found or knew where to find the areas to beach our kayaks to take a break to swim & enjoy the river, & picnic once we got out on the river. The instructions were "you can do this or this, or if you do this, etc". We even had maps! So either all 15 of us were idiots or we didn't get good instructions.....! The map DID help us find the little fork to take at the end of the trip. They really need signs like Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has, that way you can't get lost & know exactly how many miles to exit point. When we got to to the exit point, there wasn't but one person there to help us so the guys in our group helped us pull our kayaks in & helped us get out. Sitting for ours in a kayak & not being able to get out, makes you a little wobbly on your feet. I don't know what the employees were doing that 2 of our guys had to help beach our kayaks & help others out. I truly hate to write this review. I'm giving them a 4 because we had a great time but we were truly exhausted from the sun because we were not able to stop & rest & enjoy the water & cool down. Would I go back? Yes I will but first I will try some other kayaking companies along Rainbow River. Dunnellon is so close to Citrus Hills so the convenience makes us want to investigate other places. Then go eat & drink at Swampy's Restaurant & be home in 25 minutes! read more

Easy to find, and all the staff were a pleasure to work with. Pro tip... you can bring your fur baby with you, if they can handle being on-board a small water fairing vessel. read more

We reserved kayaks for a Monday morning but ended up getting there late. They were accommodating and nice even under the circumstances. Everyone was laid back & extremely friendly. Their facility was clean and safe. Keri, our bus driver, was a sweetheart. It's nice cuz they drive you to KP hole to drop you off & you paddle down river to their place. All your stuff is their to shower off & change. Not having to be trucked back at the end was relaxing. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks! read more

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It was our first time there and it was great so much fun, never thought that we would do this in our lives, but we don't regret it, we loved the place and we definitely come back, we definitely recommended, thanks to our cousins for taking us. read more

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Absolutely one of they worst places to get a rental. " if you have any problems on the water give us a call and we will help" lightning storm comes in for 2hrs and 35-40 plus missed calls as we where stranded on the river. Dunnellon PD told me this is the 2nd consecutive day they received a call saying they where stuck on water with no way to contact anyone for help that worked here. Manger lacked professionalism and proper training as well as the employees working there. One employee said after we finally got thru the storm " I am not trained to answer phones". Grounds when you arrive are very dirty same with bathrooms as well. Probably the only good thing is the prices weren't terrible. But if you want to go on the river spend the extra few $ on a professional business that doesn't lack communication. read more

My family and I had a great time at rainbow river. The people were very friendly and helpful! Highly recommend this place if you and your family are looking for an easy, relaxing and fun place to rent a canoe or kayak from! read more

This is definitely the place to rent canoes or kayaks. The equipment is all in top condition. The owners are locals who know everything about the area and are friendly and generous with advice about where to go and what to do. If you need a place to stay they also own Otters Landing, a beautiful and quiet rental house right next door, with the river right outside the door. read more

We really enjoyed kayaking at Rainbow Springs! We went on a Thursday on our way to the beach and it was not too crowded. The water is crystal clear and you can see all the way to the bottom. We found a rope swing, which was a lot of fun. The water was chilly and we never saw alligators, but I don't doubt they're in there. read more

Rainbow River Canoe And Kayak - Boat Charters Near Me - Dunnellon, Florida

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Great location Nice staff. Good price. Driver was very knowledgeable about the river and local eateries.

Have paddled with this company on a few occasions. My kids love it. I had an assured feeling finally letting my youngest kayak alone. Wish it just wasn't so busy on the river. But that's not the company's fault. Still, highly recommend. read more

We had a great time on the river. We met up with a bunch of friends on what was supposed to be a warm winter day. It turned out to be a colder day (in the 60's) The water was a nice 72, the current was easy, and the wildlife was plentiful. We saw all kinds of birds, fish, and even some otters! The kayaks were very comfortable, and we had no problems navigating the river. Definitely hope to go back when it is warmer. Oh, and a tip to the wise-- bring a change of clothes... JUST IN CASE. I ended up having to drive wet over to Walmart to buy a change of clothes (We didn't go in the drink, but on our second put-in, we got some water in the boat that travelled with us for the rest of the way. read more