Imagine yourself on a hot summer day dipping your toes into crystal clear blue water while fish swim around your feet. If this sounds appealing to you, then you need to add the best Florida springs to your bucket list! There’s no better way to spend a summer day then visiting one of these hot spots.
I recently spent a month in the van in Florida visiting as many springs as I could. We went to over 15 springs and it was one of our favorite activities we have done! This is one of the very best ways to see Florida one of the very best ways to see Florida.
Read below for all the info you need before you go! This guide includes the best springs, how much they cost, and the activities that they offer. So, you will be prepared to visit them!
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Everything You Need to Know About Florida’s Springs
What are Springs?
Springs occur when water pressure underground is so strong that it pushes the water to the surface. These are natural occurring phenomena and there are hot springs and cold springs throughout the world.
Most if not all of the springs in Florida are cold springs. These springs are often hosts to unique ecosystems and thriving underwater life. Florida springs provide more than 90% of the state’s drinking water, so they are very precious resources. Follow all rules and regulations when you visit to protect these natural pools.
What’s the Best Time to Visit Florida Springs?
Florida springs are year round destinations and it’s truly dependent on what you want to do at the springs.
If you want to swim and cool off, then the best time to go is from late spring through early Fall. These springs are a great way to ditch the Florida heat.
However, if you are trying to see the manatees, then you will want to visit them in the winter. Manatees come to the springs to escape the cold and many of them nest in the spring areas. Especially at springs like Three Sisters Springs.
We went in the late Fall and we were still able to go swimming at all of the springs even though it was a little cool!
Where Can I find Springs?
People have found more than 700 springs in Florida, so the better question is where can’t you find them? They exist all over the state and there are many guides and maps that detail exactly where you can find the best springs.
Some of the most popular are in state parks and others are on private land. There are even springs that are just in the wild and you can take a dip for free without paying any fee at all. I highly recommend you look up the closest spring to you the next time that you visit Florida.
10 Amazing Florida Springs
Picking a favorite spring is one of the hardest things to do. Each of the springs that we visited are unique in their own way.
Some springs in the state are good for scuba diving, others are good for swimming, and others are best for boating. It all depends on what you want to do when you visit springs. But, read further for a list of my favorite springs in Florida!
1. Madison Blue Spring State Park: Best for Swimming
This spring was once named the “Best Swimming hole in America.” So, there’s no way that I could leave this spot off of the list. Located east of Tallahassee this is a must visit spot!
This 82 foot wide spring is a gorgeous destination that brings swimmers from all over. But, if you want to get even deeper into the springs you can go paddling or cave diving if you are scuba certified.
There’s truly something for everyone in this popular spring!
Madison Blue Springs Facts:
Cost: $4-5 per vehicle and $2 per pedestrian
Hours: 8 am until sundown
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, scuba diving, paddling, birding, picnicking, kayaking, and fishing
2. Ginnie Springs, High Springs: Best for Camping
Ginnie Springs is one of the largest establishments and can’t be left off the list of best Florida springs. When you visit here, you’ll find that there are endless amount of things to do.
On the property you’ll find six different springs where you can swim, snorkel, or tube on. Plus, they have volleyball courts, camping sites, and playgrounds. It’s the perfect place to go with the whole family.
My husband and I went a few years ago, but we talked about returning with a large group. It’s the perfect place to have a large camping weekend with friends.
If you want a quieter experience, then you can go to Gilchrist Blue Springs just a little down the road for a more serene experience.
Ginnie Springs Facts:
Cost: $20 per day and $40 for camping
Hours: Seasonal hours
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, tubing, volleyball, camping, snorkeling, and cave diving
3. Three Sisters Springs: Best for Manatee Viewing
Three Sisters Springs is one of the most well known springs in the state, because it’s a large manatee refuge. In the winter, manatees come here to be together and stay warm.
Because of this, swimming and kayaking are only allowed outside of the winter season, which goes from November 15-March 31. If you visit during this time, you can walk on the boardwalk to see the manatees from above.
But, for a truly unique experience you can kayak Crystal River and even swim with manatees during the rest of the year! Just make sure, that you don’t touch them or get too close. The only way you can enter the spring is by swimming or kayaking there.
My husband and I went on November 14th, the last day of the season, and we saw so many manatees in the river and in the spring!
Three Sisters Springs Facts:
Cost: $12.50 in summer, $20 in winter per person
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with last entry at 3:30 pm
Temperature: 72-74 degrees
Activities: Swimming (not in winter), kayaking, seeing manatees
4. Ponce de Leon Springs: Most Serene
Visit this serene springs, go for a swim or take a guided walk into the forest with a ranger. Ponce de Leon Springs is a great place to learn about the wildlife and the ecosystem in the area.
Although it’s super quiet in the off season, during the peak of summer this springs can get to capacity very quickly. So, make sure that you get there early to snag a spot!
Ponce de Leon Springs Facts:
Cost: $4 per vehicle
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 68 degrees
Activities: Swimming, birding, hiking, fishing, and snorkeling
5. Wakulla Springs: Amazing Boat Tours
Wakulla Springs is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the ENTIRE WORLD! This amazing springs is a wonderful place to go with the family to see diverse wildlife.
Visitors can go on boat tours along the large springs, learning about its history and seeing wildlife along the way. Alligators and manatees love to swim in the aqua water.
Or, you can spend your time swimming in the water, jumping off the platforms, and laying along the shoreline. It’s a fantastic place to spend a hot day and cool off in the springs!
Wakulla Springs Facts:
Cost: $6 per vehicle
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 70 degrees
Activities: Boat Tours, swimming, birding, hiking, fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling
6. Weeki Wachee Springs: Most Unique Experiences
Unlike most of the other springs, Weeki Wachee almost seems like an amusement park. With a huge water park, river boat tours, and a world famous mermaid show it will keep everyone entertained!
People come all over to see the underwater mermaid show, where people perform in an underwater theater that seats 400 people. It’s super unique and we really enjoyed watching it!
Then, after seeing the show, you can spend time exploring the large park. Take a ride on a lazy river, hangout on sandy beach shores, kayak on the water, or go on a river boat tour. You may not even have time to enjoy everything!
Weeki Wachee Springs Facts:
Cost: $13 per adult, $8 per child
Hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm
Temperature: 74 degrees
Activities: Mermaid shows, waterpark, swimming, kayaking, boat tours, and dining
7. Silver Glen Springs: Best for a Party
If you’re looking for a livelier vibe, then look no further. Silver Glen Springs in Ocala National Forest is somewhat of a party destination with large groups of people going for picnics and playing music at the springs.
These clear blue springs empty out into the large Lake George. There, you’ll find a bunch of boats and on popular weekend days you may even find vendors selling drinks and food.
This springs has a large shore area where you can picnic, lay in the sun, or play with a beach ball. It’s one of my favorite springs to spend a day!
Silver Glen Springs Facts:
Cost: $14 per person
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, Picnicking, Hiking, and Kayaking
8. Juniper Springs: Most Historic
Just down the road from Silver Glen Springs is Juniper Springs, another great destination in Ocala National Forest. This springs is much more serene than Silver Glen.
Here, you’ll find a ton of history as it’s one of the oldest public springs in the area with hiking trails that were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
At the springs, you can swim in the deep pools, hike further into the woods, or get a kayak to explore further.
Juniper Springs Facts:
Cost: $12 per person
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, Picnicking, Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking and, Visiting the Millhouse
9. Ichetucknee Springs: Great for Scuba Divers
Famous for the alluring Blue Hole, Ichetucknee is one of the best Florida springs to explore below the surface.
Blue Hole is a large spring that pushes out 67 million gallons of water per day. Many individuals in the cave diving community love to get down to explore this natural wonder. But, even if you aren’t a diver you can see many of the caves just below the surface.
Plus, this park has 8 different springs, warm weather tubing, and is a wildlife haven with creatures like otters and manatees. There’s so much to explore once you get under the surface.
Ichetucknee Springs Facts:
Cost: $6 per vehicle
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, Picnicking, Hiking, Tubing, Canoeing, Kayaking, and Scuba Diving
10. Rainbow Springs: Fun for Everyone
Dive back into the past as you visit this spring that has been visited for hundreds of years. Within this park, you’ll find gatorade blue water with plenty of spots for swimming and recreating with loved ones.
You can hang along the shorelines or go on a hike to see the waterfalls in the forest. It’s one of the most popular springs in the state, so just make sure you get there early during the peak season!
Rainbow Springs Facts:
Cost: $5 per vehicle
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Temperature: 72 degrees
Activities: Swimming, Picnicking, Hiking, Tubing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Birding, and Camping
Final Tips for Visiting the Florida Springs
Florida Springs are a fantastic destination year round. There are so many throughout the state that you can find one near you. I recommend thinking about what you want to do at the springs before deciding which one to go to.
You can watch us explore all of the springs at my Youtube here!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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