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Reported: February 2023

Biking in Gainesville, FL...

Growing Bike Trail Network in a University Town

As a university town, bicycling is a frequent mode of transportation in Gainesville. The city has an expanding network of trails, rail-trails, and buffered bike lanes as part of its program to develop alternate forms of transportation and enhance safety. In southeast Gainesville, skirting the University of Florida and running on a former rail corridor through residential and industrial areas, the Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail, Depot Avenue Rail-Trail, and Waldo Road Greenway join to provide 6.6 miles of continuous biking, linking to the University of Florida Greenway Trail, the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, and Gainesville Regional Airport. (Map link and photos below.)

Map link... Biking in Gainesville FL

Location: Alachua County (Gainesville)
Mileage: 6.6++ miles
Surface: Various; Asphalt, 8-14'
Nearby points of interest: University of Florida, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

Support and Advocacy: Gainesville Cycling Club

Bike Shops/Rentals:
Trek Bicycle Gainesville (sales, service)
Super Cool Bike Shop (sales, service)
REI Bike Shop (sales, service)
Pedego Electric Bikes (rentals, sales, service)
Bikes & More (sales, service)

City of Gainesville Micromobility Program (shared scooter/bike rentals)

Page Summary:

1. Biking in Gainesville
2. Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail
3. Depot Avenue Rail-Trail
   - Depot Park
4. Waldo Road Greenway
5. University of Florida Campus Greenway
6. Nearby Places of Interest
   - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park, The Yearling
7. More Information and Resources

Biking in Gainesville, FL - Comments and Photos

Gainesville's growing bike network links the University, business, and residential areas. Used by students and residents for recreation and commuting, the negatives are the busy roads with many intersections and business crossings. There are some shaded sections, but mostly unshaded so bring sunscreen, hat and water. Here we visit the three rail-trails in the University of Florida area from west to east along SR 24 (Archer Rd.), plus cycling on the UF Campus Greenway.

Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail - 1 mile

The Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail runs along the south side of SW Archer Rd. (SR 24) from SW 16th Ave. (SR 24A ) to the trail bridge spanning SW 13th St. The trail passes the VA Hospital and medical sciences areas of the University of Florida including the College of Dentistry and Shands Hospital. There are several road crossings and entrances to parking and school facilities along the way. Crossing SW Archer Rd. at S. Newell Dr. is a link to the UF Campus Greenway (more below). This is a busy crossing with many pedestrians, be careful. Past here, SW Archer Rd. branches north and the trail continues straight to the SW 13th St. bridge - a former train trestle.

Depot Avenue Rail-Trail - 2 miles

The Depot Avenue Rail-Trail runs from the SW 13th St. bridge to E. University Blvd. at Waldo Rd. Depot Park is at about the mid-point.

13th St. Bridge to Depot Park

From the SW 13th St. bridge to SW 11th Ave, the trail runs 1/4 mile away from the road through a wooded area past university housing. After crossing SW 11th St., it meets SW Depot Ave. and continues along the south side of the road, past P.K Yonge Middle and High Schools, and more university housing. After crossing SW 6th St. is an industrial area. The roundabout at S. Main St. marks the beginning of Depot Park. A sidewalk and bike lane continue along Depot Ave., but a better choice is to loop down into Depot Park and ride its trails to SW 4th St. where restrooms and parking are available.

Note: A trail crosses Depot Ave. Rail-Trail at SW 6th St. To the north it runs as the 6th St. Rail-Trail linking to downtown Gainesville at NE 16th Ave. To the south, it runs as the Downtown Connector Trail to the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail at the south end of Depot Park.

13th St. Bridge to S. Main St.

Crossing 13th St.

Onto Depot Ave. Rail-Trail

 

At 11th St.-Yonge Middle and High School

Along Depot Ave.

SW 6th St.

 

S. Main St. Roundabout

Trail at Depot Park

Entering Depot Park

Sections of old railroad track

Trail at Depot Park

 

 

Parking

Bike lane/sidewalk along Depot Ave.

Depot Park

Depot Park is a gem, a popular open space with parking, restrooms, walking and biking trails (about 1 mile), 1.2 acre playground, splash pad, lakes and a wetland with many birds. It was developed on the old rail yard at the Historic Gainesville Train Depot - now restored, today it houses a convenience store, beer and wine garden, snacks and food. The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention at the park offers exhibits in different areas of science, invention and creativity, as well as hands-on programming for children. Depot Park also serves as a connector point to the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. The park's trails loop around the wetland at the south end of the park, which provides a stormwater management system for downtown.

About the Depot: Part of the building dates from about 1860, the only remaining Civil War railroad depot from the Florida Railroad line (Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key) and one of just three surviving depots in Florida built before the start of the war (the others are located on the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad line). The Gainesville Depot is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Depot Park to Waldo Rd.

Exiting Depot Park at SW 4th St., the trail crosses to the north side of Depot Ave. It runs alongside Depot Ave. through an industrial area to SE 7th St., then cuts away from the road and runs through Springhill Neighborhood Park, a quieter, shaded area. We did see some homeless here, but no one bothered us. There are several road crossings. After passing SE 2nd Ave., the trail draws closer to SE 11th St., then ends at E. University Ave. This is a big, busy intersection. The Waldo Road Greenway continues across the road, be extremely careful crossing.

Waldo Road Greenway - 3.6 miles

The Waldo Road Greenway runs on the east side of NE Waldo Rd. (SR 24) from University Ave. to NE 47th Ave. at Gainesville Regional Airport. A wide median buffers the trail from the road, with tree-lined sections past hammock, but this is not a tranquil "greenway" - this is a busy industrial area with numerous road and business crossings. The section from 8th Ave. to 16th Ave. is busiest, including a Super Wal-Mart. After 16th Ave, it's possible to ride with fewer interruptions. Homeless have been reported in the woods along the northern portion, but we saw none.

University of Florida Campus Greenway - 2.5 miles

The UF Campus Greenway is a shared-use path that winds through the campus east-west from Archer Rd. (SR 24) at Newell Lane to SW 34th St. at Hull Rd. It creates a safer transportation alternative for bikers, joggers and pedestrians on campus, while connecting into Gainesville's trail network along Archer Rd. The pathway passes and links to university buildings and facilities. It includes natural areas and boardwalks at Bartram-Carr Woods, but also passes a power plant and water reclamation storage tank. At Gale Lemerand Drive, the trail cuts down along the Lake Alice Conservation Area behind the Gator Band Practice Field to Mowry Rd. Here it continues roadside past the conservation area and various university buildings and sporting facilities along Mowry Rd. It then turns onto Hull Rd. before ending at SW 34th St. With several twists and turns along the way, helpful signs point out the shared-use path route.

Archer Rd. to Gale Lemerand Dr.

Onto campus from Archer Rd.

Shared Use Trail

 

Entering Bartram-Carr Woods

 

Boardwalk

Power plant

Over a wetland

Water reclamation tank

At Gale Lemerand Dr.

Gale Lemerand Dr. to SW 34th St.

Along Gale Lemerand Dr.

Boardwalk at Lake Alice Conservation Area

Between conservation area and Gator Band Practice Field

Onto Mowry Rd.

 

 

Onto Hull Rd.

McKethan Field/Condron Ballpark (Gators baseball)

Horticultural Sciences complex

Nearby Places of Interest

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

Author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953) moved to Cross Creek in 1928. Taken by the land and lifestyle of her North Florida Cracker neighbors, she began to write stories based on her observations. She gained fame and a Pulitzer Prize for "The Yearling" (1938), the story of a Florida boy, his pet deer, and relationship with his father that later became a popular movie. "Cross Creek" is an autobiographical story of her life there. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park preserves Rawlins' original Cracker farmhouse and furnishings, gardens and citrus groves. The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House and Farmyard is a National Historic Landmark.

More about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park

The Yearling Restaurant at Cross Creek, a local landmark since 1952, is a worthwhile stop not just for the traditional Southern food but the Old Florida atmosphere.

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (eco-biking and hiking)
North FL Region - More trails plus Regional Overview map

Nearby Paddling:

Potano Paddling Trail
Santa Fe River

Related Resources:

City of Gainesville - Gainesville Bike-Ped
City of Gainesville - Depot Park
University of Florida - Cycling in Gainesville