Withlacoochee State Trail: The Perfect Place for an Unforgettable Family Bike Adventure!
Modern life has a way of speeding things up to the point that when you lay down to take a nap, the next thing you know is, three years have gone by! A lot of this fast-forward style of living has to do with our constant travel and connection to technology. It’s easy to hop in the car, throw on a movie for the kids, and just drive, but that convenience comes with a cost: time.
If you’re looking to slow things down and truly immerse yourself in an experience with your family, you absolutely have to plan a bike trip on the Withlacoochee State Trail! At 46 miles long, with multiple towns along the way (and plenty of opportunities to bail if if need be), it’s the perfect way to spend a multi-day trip with your family.
No distractions.
No zipping to the end in a car.
Just you, your kids, and the joy of feeling the wind go by as you pedal your bike along the Withlacoochee River!
If you’ve never planned a multi-day bike trip before, we have your back. Here is a quick and easy guide to planning an unforgettable family bike adventure on the Withlacoochee State Trail!
Tent or Hotel? It’s Up To You!
There are several towns along the Withlacoochee State Trail that make finding accommodations a breeze. If you’re flying into Florida, consider flying into Orlando and staying there for the night before you take off on your trip, as Orlando is a short 56 miles east of the tiny town of Trilby, which acts as the southern terminus of the Withlacoochee State Trail.
Once you’ve started your trip, you can choose to stay in the towns that you pass along the way or camp out. Heck, you could even do a combination to keep things interesting if you wanted!
Going north from Trilby, you’ll pass through Withlacoochee State Forest, where there are several primitive camping options to choose from. All you need to do is to bring your tent, sleeping bags, and cooking gear to have a great camping adventure! These particular sites can’t be reserved and are parceled out on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re concerned about arriving at the campground and missing out on a spot, don’t worry! You can choose to reserve a spot at one of the improved campgrounds through reserveamerica.com.
If camping isn’t your thing, there are several towns along the way that have a wide range of accommodations to enjoy. From VRBO and Airbnb’s to motels and hotels, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from!
A great town to stay in if you have little kids is Istachatta. Located just 15.1 miles north of Trilby, you’ll be able to get a great night’s sleep at the Holiday Inn Express in Istachatta (as well as access to a pool for the kids!).
Continuing north, you’ll pass Fort Cooper State Park and the town of Inverness, where you can choose to either camp at the state park or stay at a hotel in Inverness. Camping is limited at Fort Cooper State Park, so be sure to reserve your spot prior to your trip to ensure you have somewhere to stay if you plan on camping!
The last leg of your trip will be between Inverness, FL, and the northern terminus of the Withlacoochee State Trail near Dunnellon, FL. Since there are no state parks or forests around, the best option for accommodations is going to be to continue north to the town of Dunnellon to stay the night before wrapping up your adventure.
A pro-tip here would be to have someone park the car at the trailhead at the northern terminus so you can easily throw your gear into the back to drive to your hotel for the night in Dunnellon. Your legs (and your kids!) will thank you!
Important Biking Trip Essentials
If you’ve never done a multi-day bike trip, it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of packing for such a journey. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you have all the things you’ll need on your bike adventure!
Bicycle Related Items
- Bike
- Bike trailer
- Spare innertubes
- Small bike pump
- Allen wrench key set
- Helmet
- Water bottle or hydration pack
Camping Related Items
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Hammock (optional but fun)
- Water filtration system
- Small stove and butane canister
- Small pot for boiling water
- Plastic bowls/plates
- Plastic cutlery
- Headlamp
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
General/Miscellaneous Items
- Comfortable clothing for biking in
- Swimsuit
- Bike shoes
- Sandals
- Fishing rod
- First Aid supplies
Enjoying Your Time On The Trail
All along the Withlacoochee State Trail you’ll find a number of fantastic things to see and do! One of the best things to do with the kids is to take them fishing on the Withlacoochee River. There are plenty of areas where you can access the river along the trail; in fact, most of the trail follows the flow of the river! There’s nothing quite like hearing the excitement of a child hooking their first fish.
There are tons of interpretive sites along the way to learn about the history of the Withlacoochee Trail. Originally, the trail was a railroad during the mid-1800s and was later decommissioned once railroads were obsolete. The railroad was converted into a usable trail via the rails to trails initiative, but you can still learn about the original usage along the way.
A fun thing to do after you’ve spent the day pedaling along the trail is to stop in at one of the many towns to check out the local food and shopping! A great spot for a refreshing ice cream float can be found in Hernando. Stop in at Sabina’s Diner and see for yourself!
Final Thoughts
Getting outside and spending quality time with family doesn’t have to be a monumental endeavor. You can easily get on a bike, pack up a trailer, and pedal your way to some of the best memories you’ll make with your kids on the Withlacoochee State Trail! And who knows, maybe you’ll like it so much that you end up getting into Dunnellon and want to pedal the full 46 miles back to Trilby! Let us know how you enjoy your trip. We can’t wait to hear about it!
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Photo: Unsplash
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