Located just over an hour from Disney World in Orange City, Florida, Blue Spring State Park provides a wonderful opportunity for visitors who want to take a break from the theme parks and explore one of Florida’s natural springs. This state park offers something for everyone, from swimming and snorkeling in refreshing 72-degree water to hiking, boat tours, and birding. Read on to view some of our recommendations for top activities to do here!
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VIEW MANATEES
Blue Spring State Park is perhaps most well-known for being an area where manatees congregate in the winter. Because manatees cannot tolerate water colder than 68 degrees for long periods of time, they gather at springs in Florida where they can enjoy the warmer water, which remains a constant 72-degrees year-round.
The best time to view the manatees is from mid-November to March. In December and January, the number of manatees present can surpass five hundred! The manatees are easily viewable from the boardwalk, and the swimming areas are closed during this time of the year to protect the manatees. It is illegal to pet or interact with manatees in the wild as it can disrupt their natural behavior and put them at risk, so if you ever come across one while kayaking, swimming, or boating, please leave it alone.
Lines to get into the park can get very long on days when the manatee count is high, and the park sometimes closes due to reaching capacity. If you want to see the manatees during the winter, plan to arrive very early.
TAKE AN ECO CRUISE DOWN THE ST. JOHNS RIVER
Boat tours are a fantastic way to see more of the area and learn about the native wildlife. Blue Spring State Park Adventures offers two-hour scenic St. John’s River Cruises along the St. John’s River. Tickets are $38 for adults, $32 for seniors, and $22 for children (ages 3-12).
We took the ecological cruise back in 2024, and we found it very engaging and educational. The knowledgeable guides shared about the history of the area, including the legend of Pinky, the St. John’s River Monster. They were also great about pointing out wildlife and slowing down so we could take pictures. We spotted a variety of animals, from birds such as egrets and limpkins to turtles and alligators. We highly recommend taking a boat tour if you are able!
STROLL THE BOARDWALK AT NIGHT WITH THOUSANDS OF FIREFLIES
One of our favorite activities at Blue Spring State Park is their Firefly Nights. Fireflies are not very common in Florida anymore due to habitat loss, light pollution, and pesticide use. However, during the months of March and April, the trees at Blue Spring State Park come alive with thousands of twinkling fireflies, and it is truly magical. The park stays open later on these nights and the price is $14/vehicle to get in. Make sure to arrive early, because the park will fill to capacity quickly. The dates vary each year, so if you are interested, please follow the Friends of Blue Spring State Park website for updates.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION
Blue Spring State Park is centrally located in the state, about an hour from the theme parks, one and a half hours from the Space Coast, and two hours from Tampa. The cost to get into Blue Spring State Park is $6/vehicle. (The price may vary for special events, such as the Firefly Nights mentioned above.)
There are a plethora of other activities to participate in based on your interests. Blue Spring State Park offers cabin rentals and campground sites if you’d like to stay overnight. The park has 51 camping sites that are suitable for tents or RVs and start at $24/night. Six cabins are also available to rent for $95/night. Pets are welcome as long as you abide by the pet policy. For more information, visit the park’s reservation website.
There are also kayak, canoe, and bike rentals and designated swimming areas for those who want to brave the chilly water. Kayak and canoe rentals vary in cost from $30 for two hours up to $75 for the whole day. Bike rentals are also available at $25 for two hours.
Want to kayak but also learn about the flora and fauna of the area? Blue Spring Adventures offers educational kayak tours. A knowledgeable naturalist is able to give focused attention to guests on these small group tours. Some animals you might encounter include water birds, alligators, and manatees. These tours last two hours and cost $75/adult.
Other available activities include hiking along the spring run or Pine Island Trail. If you love birds, don’t forget your binoculars, as this park is great for birding. Have a picnic on one of the many picnic tables or explore the historic Thursby House and learn about the history of the area. Blue Spring State Park is full of recreational and educational opportunities and has something for everyone!
Looking for more ideas about things to do near the theme parks? Check out our Central Florida page here!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
