Hike, shop, and explore other fun things to do in and around Gainesville

The Country Inn & Suites, Gainesville, FL off I-75 offers a comfortable home base for exploring North Florida’s best things to do. About 10 minutes away, you’ll find the University of Florida campus and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Shopping for your Gator game-day gear or looking for a bite to eat? Visit nearby Celebration Pointe and Butler Plaza, both just minutes from us, or head to downtown Gainesville to explore its unique restaurants and shops. If you’re in town for a baseball or softball tournament, you’ll appreciate being about 25 minutes from Champions Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail or spot fossils at Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park. Afterward, you can sip a craft beer at Swamp Head Brewery or fill up on fresh seafood at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille.

Select what to see in a map

  • Culture
  • Family
  • Landmark
  • Nature

Hippodrome Theatre

4.46 mi / 7.18 km from the hotel
Located in the heart of Gainesville’s historic district, this local theater hosts film screenings, art exhibits, and plays throughout the year. To purchase tickets or to see current performances, visit their website.

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

8.05 mi / 12.95 km from the hotel
San Felasco Hammock Preserve is a 6,500-acre state park with 20 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park

6.12 mi / 9.86 km from the hotel
A hidden rain forest in a 120-foot-deep sinkhole, this verdant oasis is filled with lush vegetation and fossilized artifacts. Pack a picnic and learn all about this sinkhole via interpretive displays.

Florida Museum of Natural History

1.69 mi / 2.72 km from the hotel
You can learn about Florida’s flora and fauna at this museum owned by the University of Florida. All of the exhibits except for the traveling displays and the Butterfly Rainforest offer free admission.

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

8.04 mi / 12.94 km from the hotel
This 16-mile path is an ideal place to hike, run, skate, or bike. Parking is available at four locations along the trail.

Harn Museum of Art

1.77 mi / 2.84 km from the hotel
The Harn Museum of Art is one of the largest university-owned art museums in the South. Its collection boasts 6,200 works by artists like Ansel Adams and Claude Monet.

Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation

3.23 mi / 5.2 km from the hotel
Open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays, this historic homestead was built in 1854 by the Haile family. During your visit, you can see more than 12,500 words written on the walls by the homeowners.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

1.24 mi / 2 km from the hotel
Founded in 1978, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens feature 24 themed gardens, including an arboretum, a vinery, a rose garden, and a butterfly garden.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

16.53 mi / 26.6 km from the hotel
This 1930s homestead is where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling. While there, you can walk scenic trails, explore the seasonal garden, or enjoy a guided tour of the home.

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

4.31 mi / 6.94 km from the hotel
When you first arrive at this 21,000-acre savanna, stop by the visitor’s center to watch an informative video before climbing the 50-foot observation tower or hiking one of eight trails for chances to glimpse alligators, horses, and other wildlife.

Santa Fe College

5.19 mi / 8.35 km from the hotel
Cheer on the Santa Fe Saints sports teams or tour the beautiful 175-acre northwest campus at this state college, home to more than 14,300 students.

University of Florida at Gainesville

2.56 mi / 4.12 km from the hotel
In addition to being a large research university with a beautiful 2,000-acre campus, UF is home to the Florida Gators football team, winner of the 2009 BCS National Championship.