Believe it or not, there is more to Orlando than Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland, and SeaWorld. Orlando is home to a ton of natural attractions, too. Some of the best springs near Orlando make for the perfect day trip from this super busy city.
What better way to break up your days at the theme park than by spending some time in Florida’s crystal clear waters?
Florida is home to more than 1,000 natural springs. It has more natural springs than anywhere else on the planet! Not only are the springs drop-dead gorgeous, but they are super relaxing! The springs are home to some of Florida’s iconic wildlife such as manatees, turtles, otters, and yes…alligators.
The springs near Orlando were Florida’s original tourist attraction. People would migrate from the north to relax in the cool Florida waters. Silver Springs and de Leon Springs were once some of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States.
Today the springs offer visitors a space to swim, relax on an innertube, kayak, paddleboard, canoe, snorkel, scuba dive, and even enjoy a boat tour.
While some of these springs are near Orlando, others require a little bit of a longer drive. The great thing about some of these springs is that you can often hit more than one spring a day. For instance, Alexander Springs and DeLeon Springs are really close to each other. You could easily hit one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. No matter which spring you choose, you seriously cannot go wrong. All of them make a perfect day trip from Orlando.
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12 Best Springs Near Orlando
Wekiwa Springs State Park
It’s amazing to think that this gorgeous natural wonder is just 14 miles from downtown Orlando. Wekiwa Springs State Park has fabulous emerald waters, lush tropical hammocks, and miles of trails for your to explore.
The entrance fee is $6 per vehicle. Like many of the nearby springs, it’s suggested that you arrive early as the springs tend to hit capacity early in the day.
The park is popular for swimming, snorkeling, diving, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and simply floating on an innertube.
You could easily spend the day at the theme park and unwind in the crisp cool water in the afternoon.
Kelly Park/Rock Springs
Kelly Park/Rock Springs is 31 miles from Orlando. This stunning oasis has some of the most gorgeous crystal clear water. Kelly Park is a nature park that is popular for hiking, swimming, and camping. The lazy river run for Rock Springs starts in Kelly Park and continues over 8 miles outside of the park.
The cost for Kelly Park is $3 for a car of 2 people or $5 for 3-8 people. The park is super popular on warm days so we strongly suggest getting there early. The park often reaches capacity early. This is truly one of the best springs near Orlando! We cannot wait to explore this park!
Blue Spring State Park
34 miles outside of Orlando, you’ll find one of our favorite hangouts- Blue Spring State Park. This park is extremely popular on hot days so plan on getting there early!
What makes it so popular, you might ask? Not only is it close to the city, but it is literally the most perfect place in the world for tubing. The natural lazy river is incredibly refreshing- especially during the heat of summer.
The park is also popular for swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddling, hiking, and biking.
The entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. The park offers inner tube rentals at the park.
The park is equally impressive during the winter months. When the thermometer drops, the park becomes a sanctuary for manatees. You can expect to see anywhere between 25 and 500 manatees in the springs!
De Leon Springs State Park
46 miles miles away, you’ll find one of our favorite springs near Orlando! De Leon Springs State Park is another site that was once a popular tourist destination. The site was once home to the Ponce de Leon Springs Hotel and Casino which was popular with wealthy northern visitors.
By the 1950s the site featured tropical gardens, a jungle cruise, a tram tour, oh yeah… and a water skiing elephant.
While the days of water skiing elephants are long gone, this place is still pretty rad. It features a unique restaurant where you make your own pancakes, and a swimming hole the resembles a swimming pool.
There are so eco-boat tours available where you can see what the park looks like from the river without having to get wet.
If you don’t mind getting wet, you can rent a kayak or canoe (or bring your own) and hit the water. The cost to enter the park is $6 per vehicle. This unique park is one of the best springs near Orlando and definitely worth the visit!
Alexander Springs
Alexander Springs is one of the largest and most accessible springs in the state. It is the perfect place for families with young children. Alexander Springs is 59 miles away from downtown is truly one of the best springs near Orlando.
The park is well known for camping, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and paddling. The launch site really close to the swimming hole so it is easy to go back and forth between the two.
Entrance fees are $7/person on weekdays and $10/person on weekends.
Juniper Springs
68 miles from Orlando, you’ll find one of the most picturesque kayak trails in Florida. The seven-mile route will take your breath away. Juniper Springs is idea for swimming, snorkeling, paddling, and hiking. Paddling is popular year round, so don’t feel like visits are limited to just the warm months.
The cost to enter the park is $7/person on weekdays and $10/person on weekends. There is a launching fee of $10/watercraft.
Silver Glen Springs
69 miles outside of Orlando you’ll find Silver Glen Springs. Trust us, this park is well worth the drive! The aquamarine water is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and floating. The water here is super clear and shallow making it perfect for children.
Like Blue Spring, it is also a refuge for manatee during the winter months.
Admission is $6 per person.
Silver Springs State Park
Although this park is 80 miles outside of the city, you should still definitely consider visiting it! Silver Springs State Park was one the state’s first tourist attractions and one of the most unique springs near Orlando.
In the 1950s, more than 800,000 people a year would visit the park! The park is famous for its glass bottom boats and kayaking trail. It is also known for being the winter home to manatees.
We suggest taking the glass bottom boat tour as soon as you enter the park, it’s a great way to get acquainted with the area. The cost of the boat tour is $12 for adults.
Although there is no swimming permitted, the park is perfect for paddling. The park offers rentals, or you can pack your own vessel. The cost to launch is $4/vessel. There is also an entrance fee of $2/person.
Rainbow Springs State Park
The name alone makes us want to check this place out! 83 miles away from Orlando you’ll find one of the most stunning springs the state has to offer. The water here is sapphire blue and the swimming area is massive! The park features some of the best hiking trails in Florida and features man-made waterfalls and beautiful natural gardens.
The park is popular for hiking, snorkeling, tubing, paddling, and swimming. The cost to enter is $2/person.
Salt Springs
Salt Springs is one of the jewels of the Ocala National Forest. Located just 85 miles from the city, this unique spring is home to freshwater and saltwater fish. Blue crabs, turtles, and manatees also call these springs home. Swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and hiking are all popular here. Admission is $7 /person.
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Gilchrist Blue Springs was rated the #1 Florida spring by our Instagram followers. 136 miles away from Orlando, you’ll find Florida’s newest state park- Gilchrist Blue Springs. The park is known for paddling, swimming, and snorkeling.
There are kayaks and canoes available to rent on the site. If you go out for a paddle, be sure to wander past the ropes that mark off the swimming hole. The river is absolutely remarkable!
The cost to enter is $4 to $6 per vehicle. If you make the drive from Orlando, we suggest also making a stop at nearby Poe Springs and Rum Island Springs to make the drive worth your while! These are also great places to check out in the event that the park is at capacity when you arrive.
Ginnie Springs
Ginnie Springs is 138 miles outside of Orlando, making it just over 2 hours away. You would definitely need to dedicate an entire day to visiting this state park. Ginnie Springs advertises itself as a “true slice of pure Florida”. It is made up of seven springs and several caves. These caves make the spring one of the most unique freshwater diving spots in the world. Aside from diving, the springs are also popular for tubing, paddling, swimming, snorkeling, and hiking.
Admission ranges between $15-$20/adult depending on the season. Children ages 5-12 are $5. Although this site is the furthest from Orlando, it is definitely worth the drive!
Are There Alligators in the Springs?
Something visitors need to understand about Florida is that alligators can be found in any fresh body of water. Our state is home to more than a million alligators that live in lakes, rivers, marshes, canals, springs, and even ponds at places like Disney and golf courses.
There is always the possibility of seeing an alligator in a fresh body of water. In fact, as Floridians we just assume that they are lurking around.
However, alligators don’t tend to like all of the splishing and splashing. Think of them as cranky old people. They’ll try to stay as far away from humans as possible.
Our Spring Essentials
Floats and Rafts
SportsStuff Noodler 2
River Run Inflatable American Flag 2 Person Tube Float with Cooler
Giant Flamingo Float
Giant Unicorn Float
More Fun Stuff!
Inflatable Kayak
Inflatable Paddleboard (I swear by this one!)
Full-Face Snorkel Mask
Safety
Puddle Jumper Vest
Swim Vest
First Aid Kit
Skin Care & Insect Repellent
Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Towels & Swim Suits
Toddler Striped Hooded Poncho Towels
Women’s Boardshorts
Women’s 50+ SPF Shirt
Girl’s Roxy Rashguard
We hope this list compels you to get out there and explore the springs near Orlando! After all, there’s much more to the Sunshine State than theme parks! Grab a towel and a bathing suit, and get out there and explore the natural side of Florida!
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