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Are you dreaming of crystal-clear, turquoise water, manatees and even mermaids? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Florida has one of the highest concentrations of freshwater springs on Earth, and they’re magical: constant 72-degree water, surrounded by cypress trees and Spanish moss, perfect for swimming, tubing, paddling and spotting wildlife.
This road trip starts in Orlando and ends in Tampa, covering around 300 miles and taking in 10 of the best springs in the state (plus two bonus stops if you have time).
But obviously you can also do it the other way round, from Tampa to Orlando, or as a loop.
🚗 You’ll need a car: These springs are spread across central Florida with no real public transport between them, so a car is essential. If you need to hire one, I recommend Discover Cars, because I always find great deals and you can compare all the companies in one place.
🩱 Good to know: The water stays around 72°F year-round, so it’s refreshing in summer and warmer than the ocean in winter. Bring a swimsuit, water shoes and reef-safe (mineral) sunscreen, and book ahead where reservations are required.
🌴 1. Wekiwa Springs State Park
📍 Good to know: day-use reservations required (book up to 60 days ahead)
Just north of Orlando near Apopka, Wekiwa Springs is the perfect first stop.
You can swim in the clear spring, paddle a kayak or canoe up the lush, jungle-like Wekiva River, and hike the trails. It feels wonderfully wild for somewhere so close to the city.
Just note you’ll need to book a day-use reservation in advance, as it’s very popular.
Drive to Kelly Park – Rock Springs: about 15 minutes (8 miles)
🛟 2. Kelly Park – Rock Springs
📍 Good to know: first-come, first-served, arrive early (it fills fast)
Right nearby, Kelly Park is home to the gorgeous Rock Springs Run, and it’s a total joy.
The star here is tubing: you float down a crystal-clear, gently flowing natural lazy river through the forest. It’s such a fun, only-in-Florida experience.
There are no reservations, so it’s first-come, first-served, and it reaches capacity by mid-morning on summer days. Get there early!
Drive to Blue Spring State Park: about 45 minutes (32 miles)
🌴 3. Blue Spring State Park
📍 Good to know: swimming April 1 to Nov 14; manatees mid-Nov to March; day-use reservations required
Your next stop will be Blue Spring, near Orange City. This is one of the best places in Florida to see manatees!
In the warmer months (April to mid-November) you can swim and snorkel in the beautiful blue spring run.
Then in winter, hundreds of manatees pile into shelter in the 72-degree water, and you can watch them from the lovely boardwalk (swimming is closed then to protect them).
Drive to Juniper Springs: about 1 hour (40 miles)
🌲 4. Juniper Springs
📍 Good to know: in the Ocala National Forest (US Forest Service); entrance fee
Your next stop will be Juniper Springs, in the Ocala National Forest.
The Springs complex area was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It has a lovely old mill house and a gorgeous swimming area.
If you’re into kayaking, you can also tackle the famous Juniper Run, a wild, narrow canoe trail through the forest.
It’s a peaceful, historic spot right in the heart of the woods.
Drive to Silver Springs State Park: about 30 minutes (25 miles)
🚤 5. Silver Springs State Park
📍 Good to know: no swimming; famous glass-bottom boat tours
Silver Springs, near Ocala, is one of Florida’s most historic attractions as it’s home to the original glass-bottom boats (running since the 1870s).
They were the first glass-bottom boats in the world! Not just Florida! So obviously, that’s a must do!
You can’t swim here, but the glass-bottom boat tours are magical, gliding over crystal-clear water and letting you see straight down to the springs, fish and old film props below.
Keep an eye out for the park’s famous wild monkeys along the riverbanks!
You can also kayak and canoe here.
Drive to Devil’s Den: about 55 minutes (35 miles)
🕳️ 6. Devil’s Den
📍 Good to know: private; snorkel and scuba only; reservations mandatory; no sunscreen allowed
Now your next stop is something completely different and honestly one of the most unique places in Florida.
Devil’s Den, near Williston, is a prehistoric spring hidden inside an underground cavern.
You descend into the cave to snorkel or dive in the otherworldly 72-degree turquoise water, with light streaming down through the opening above.
It’s privately run, so reservations are mandatory, it’s for snorkelers and divers only (not casual swimming), and sunscreen is banned to protect the water.
Drive to Rainbow Springs State Park: about 35 minutes (25 miles)
🌈 7. Rainbow Springs State Park
📍 Good to know: swimming and tubing; entrance fee
Next is Rainbow Springs, near Dunnellon.
It’s a stunning first-magnitude spring and the head of the Rainbow River.
You can swim in the clear blue headspring, tube or paddle down the beautiful river, and wander the lush gardens, which even have some (man-made) waterfalls left over from its days as a private attraction.
Drive to Three Sisters Springs: about 40 minutes (25 miles)
🌴 8. Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River
📍 Good to know: access via the City of Crystal River (8:30am to 3:30pm, admission); in-water access only from the water and closed in manatee season (Nov 15 to March 31)
The three sisters springs are my favorite in this list because that’s the best place in Florida to see manatees (and who doesn’t love manatees).
In winter, this is one of the only places in the world where you can legally swim with manatees, via a permitted tour operator (you access the springs from the water, by boat or kayak).
At other times, you can walk the boardwalk around the springs (which is beautiful as well).
PRO TIP: I would recommend calling the visitor center before you visit to know if there are manatees. They do daily counts so they will be able to tell you.
Drive to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: about 15 minutes (7 miles)
🦭 9. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
📍 Good to know: wildlife park with underwater observatory; entrance fee
Not far from Crystal River, you will find Homosassa Springs which is a wonderful wildlife park built around a beautiful spring.
The highlight is the underwater observatory where you can walk below the surface and watch thousands of fish and manatees swim past.
The park is also home to rescued Florida wildlife, from manatees and black bears to alligators and flamingos.
It’s a fantastic, family-friendly stop and a guaranteed way to see manatees up close year-round.
Drive to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park: about 30 minutes (25 miles)
🧜♀️ 10. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
📍 Good to know: live mermaid shows; reaches capacity and closes early on busy days
This is your last spring stop, and it’s a classic: Weeki Wachee, home of the famous underwater mermaids.
Since 1947, performers have put on live mermaid shows in a submerged theater built into the spring, and it’s wonderfully retro and charming.
In summer, you can also cool off at Buccaneer Bay, the park’s spring-fed water park, or paddle the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee River.
Just note it’s hugely popular and reaches capacity early on busy days, closing its gates until people leave, so arrive first thing.
From Weeki Wachee, it’s an easy drive south to end your trip in Tampa or loop back to Orlando.
Drive to Tampa: about 1 hour (60 miles)
➕ Bonus Stops
If you have extra time and don’t mind a detour north after the Devil’s Den, these two are well worth adding:
- Ginnie Springs: A privately run spot on the Santa Fe River, famous for its clear water, tubing, snorkeling, cave diving and camping.
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park: Best known for tubing the gorgeous Ichetucknee River, a long, lazy float through pristine, wildlife-rich forest.
🗺️ Map of this Florida Springs Road Trip
💡 A few practical tips
- The water stays around 72°F all year, so it’s refreshing in summer and cozy in winter (when the manatees arrive).
- Several springs require reservations (Wekiwa, Blue Spring, Devil’s Den) and others fill to capacity early (Kelly Park, Weeki Wachee), so plan ahead and arrive early.
- To swim with manatees at Crystal River, go between November 15 and March 31 with a permitted tour operator but double check with the visitor center how many manatees are there if you’re planning on visiting at the beginning of January or end of march.
- Use reef-safe mineral sunscreen (or rinse off before entering), and bring water shoes, as some spring bottoms are rocky.
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