Morningside Nature Center: hours, admission & visiting (Gainesville, FL)

Morningside Nature Center

A 416-acre city nature park with more than six miles of trails through sandhill, flatwoods and cypress domes, and one of the last stands of fire-dependent longleaf pine woodland left in the area. A ten-acre Living History Farm on the grounds interprets daily life on an 1870 Florida farm. Free to visit, and dogs are not allowed anywhere in the park.

Free admission7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily from March 15 to September 30; 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily from October 1 to March 14Open in maps

In season right now

Living History Saturdays. On the first Saturday of the month from September through May, interpreters work the Living History Farm from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, portraying day-to-day life on an 1870 Florida farm. The program is free.

Barnyard Buddies. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.

Hours

Park, March 15 to September 30: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
Park, October 1 to March 14: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily
Living History Farm: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday
Holidays: Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Prescribed burns: The park closes for prescribed burns; call 352-393-8240 to check

Admission

Free.

Seasonal notes

Living History Saturdays. On the first Saturday of the month from September through May, interpreters work the Living History Farm from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, portraying day-to-day life on an 1870 Florida farm. The program is free.
Barnyard Buddies. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.

Events near here

Upcoming events within a few miles, from our nightly-updated calendar.

Questions this page answers about Morningside Nature Center

Where is Morningside Nature Center?: 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641.
When is Morningside Nature Center open?: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily from March 15 to September 30; 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily from October 1 to March 14. The published week is: Park, March 15 to September 30, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily; Park, October 1 to March 14, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily; Living History Farm, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday; Holidays, Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; Prescribed burns, The park closes for prescribed burns; call 352-393-8240 to check.
Is there anything seasonal to know about Morningside Nature Center right now?: Yes, 2 of its seasonal windows are open. Living History Saturdays. The window runs September 1 to May 31. On the first Saturday of the month from September through May, interpreters work the Living History Farm from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, portraying day-to-day life on an 1870 Florida farm. The program is free. Barnyard Buddies. The window runs September 1 to May 31. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.
Is Morningside Nature Center indoors or outdoors?: Outdoors.
Can I call Morningside Nature Center before I go?: Yes. The published number is 352-393-8240.
Is anything on near Morningside Nature Center soon?: Yes. This calendar lists 5 upcoming events at venues within a few miles, the soonest Hands-On Science Exhibit “Invention of Cool” Final Weekends on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

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Visit

Address: 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641
Phone: 352-393-8240
Official site: gainesvillefl.gov
Map: Open in Google Maps

Facts confirmed September 22, 2026 against the official source. Rechecked on a schedule; last check 2026-09-22 · 03:40 EDT. Always confirm before you go.

All things to do

Morningside Nature Center

Free admission7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily from March 15 to September 30; 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily from October 1 to March 14Open in maps

In season right now

Barnyard Buddies. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.

Hours

Park, March 15 to September 30

7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily

Park, October 1 to March 14

7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily

Living History Farm

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday

Holidays

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Prescribed burns

The park closes for prescribed burns; call 352-393-8240 to check

Seasonal notes

Barnyard Buddies. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.

Questions this page answers about Morningside Nature Center

Where is Morningside Nature Center?

3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641.

When is Morningside Nature Center open?

7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily from March 15 to September 30; 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily from October 1 to March 14. The published week is: Park, March 15 to September 30, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily; Park, October 1 to March 14, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily; Living History Farm, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday; Holidays, Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; Prescribed burns, The park closes for prescribed burns; call 352-393-8240 to check.

Is there anything seasonal to know about Morningside Nature Center right now?

Yes, 2 of its seasonal windows are open. Living History Saturdays. The window runs September 1 to May 31. On the first Saturday of the month from September through May, interpreters work the Living History Farm from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, portraying day-to-day life on an 1870 Florida farm. The program is free. Barnyard Buddies. The window runs September 1 to May 31. Every Wednesday from September through May at 3:00 PM, children with an adult can help staff with the afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. The program is free.

Is Morningside Nature Center indoors or outdoors?

Outdoors.

Can I call Morningside Nature Center before I go?

Yes. The published number is 352-393-8240.

Is anything on near Morningside Nature Center soon?

Yes. This calendar lists 5 upcoming events at venues within a few miles, the soonest Hands-On Science Exhibit “Invention of Cool” Final Weekends on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.