Chiefland Florida Visitor Attractions

The Chiefland Chamber of Commerce (https://www.chieflandchamber.com/) calls Chiefland the “Gem of the Suwannee Valley.” It is a city of about 2000 residents, with a few thousand more in the Greater Chiefland area. As stated in the Chamber of Commerce website, people in and around Chiefland enjoy the best of two different worlds. It offers the benefits of a rural community, beautiful natural environment, and a peaceful, pastoral lifestyle. Yet it also is a commercial and retailing hub of the tri-county area, offering ample shopping choices and an array of professional and consumer services.

Chiefland is most well known as a major Watermelon center and its most notable event is the annual watermelon festival.

Things to Do in Chiefland

train depot chiefland florida
The old depot is both a welcome center for the chamber of commerce and a trail head for the bike trail

Visitor Information can be had in the Chiefland and Levy County Welcome Center, located in the historic old Train Depot on 2nd street. The Depot also serves as the trailhead of the Nature Coast State Trail, a 32 mile paved biking and multi-use trail than runs along the roadbed of the old Atlantic Coast Railroad. (https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/nature-coast-state-trail) The Welcome Center offers maps and brochures on attractions in the Greater Chiefland Area.

Among the most popular Chiefland area attractions are Manatee Springs State Park, the huge Chiefland Farmers & Flea Market, the Levy County Quilt Museum, and some decent restaurants with seafood and locally grown BBQ beef offerings. The nearby Suwannee River offers fishing, boating, kayaking opportunities. Both Manatee Springs and Fanning Springs offer warm water spring diving and snorkeling. The Chiefland Country Club offers a friendly 18 hole golf course with five tee boxes.

manatee springs canoeing
Manatee Springs State Park offers canoeing, swimming in the warm water spring, fishing, bike trails, camping,
a picnic area and more
You can spend hours wandering around The Chiefland indoor and outdoor Flea and Farm Market
Levy County Quilt Museum
Hundreds of antique quilts, antique sewing machines, craft items for sale, and fabric/quilt sales at the Chiefland Quilt Museum
chiefland Golf Course
The Chiefland 18 hole golf course has 5 tee boxes for all levels of ability
Nature Coast Bike Trail
The paved Nature Coast Bike Trail runs from Chiefland to Fanning Springs and beyond.

Places to Stay in Chiefland

Camping and RVing in Chiefland

manatee springs RV campsite
Camping at Manatee Springs State Park

Campers and RVers will find several excellent camping and RV park choices in Chiefland. Our favorites are Manatee Springs State Park and Strawberry Fields for RVers.

Other Lodging in Chiefland

Days Inn Hotel Chiefland Florida
Chiefland Hotels

For visitors who are not camping or RVing there are two chain hotels (Days Inn and Quality Inn) in town and some smaller motels. See Chiefland Hotel/Motel reservation here.

Distance to the Beach

Cedar Key Beach
Cedar Key Beach and City Park – Cedar Key, Florida

It is about a half-hour drive to the beach at Cedar Key, a charming, artsy island community on the Gulf of Mexico.

cedar key bars and restaurants
The restaurants and shops along Dock Street hangout over the water. See Best Places to Eat in Cedar Key

Where to Eat in Chiefland

Beef O’Gradys covered outdoor patio

We like Beef O’Bradys in Chiefland for its decent sandwiches and nice outdoor dining it’s covered and screened patio. Our favorite fast food restaurant is Ralph’s Burger House, a Chiefland favorite that has been operating for over 70 years.

When want some excellent seafood we travel a little south of town to the Treasure Camp Restaurant on the shores of the Suwannee River among Live Oak Trees.

Treasure Camp Seafood Restaurant
Treasure Camp Seafood dining indoors or outdoors on the banks of the Suwannee River.

Links to Visitor Attractions in Chiefland, Florida