Beautiful Blue Springs State Park

Blue Springs is a beautiful first-magnitude spring that discharges over 102 million gallons of water daily into the St. Johns River. Located between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Blue Springs State Park is one of the busiest parks in Florida. Visitors can view manatees in the winter and enjoy tubing and swimming in the summer months.

But first, A History Lesson

In 1856, Gold Rush prospector Louis Thursby and his family moved to the area, lured by the desire to plant orange groves. He purchased Blue Spring and built his house atop a large Indian mound. After a massive frost killed most of his orange trees, he turned to tourism, using his home as a hotel and operating a steamboat landing in the spring. He transported tourists and goods to Jacksonville and beyond. The property was purchased in 1972 by the Florida Department of Environment Protection for manatee preservation.

Hiking the Boardwalk

The Blue Springs Boardwalk winds through the length of Blue Springs Run from the St. John’s River to the head spring. There are multiple viewing observation areas along the way overlooking the spring and the spring run from which to view fish, turtles, birds, and in the winter months manatees. The water is crystal clear.

As you walk along the boardwalk, oaks curve over the top of you, and Spanish moss hangs down, lightly swaying in the breeze. Palm trees scattered along the shoreline are home to squirrels. With their bushy tails, they scurry from tree to tree. The sound of the distant call of a bird on the river. This is an excellent place to feel what old Florida looked like, with wild creatures and native plants.

Canoe’s, Kayaks, and Paddleboards

Canoes and Kayaks can be rented and used in the St. Johns river. The river is calm and can be navigated easily.

Tubing

Rent a tube at the park and proceed to the top of the Spring Run, and float back down. 

The spring itself is only about a quarter-mile long, but there is access to get out and walk back up to the top to float back down the spring.

Swimming & Snorkeling

With summertime temperatures in and around the 80s and 90s, Blue Springs State Park is a great way to cool off. With the sun high in the sky, splashing about in the refreshing, 72-degree water is the perfect way to cool off. At the spring boil, you can snorkel into the deeper waters for an extraordinary underwater view of the spring. From the boil, you can lazily drift down the crystal-clear spring run.  Its lush hammock and cool waters offer much-needed relief from Florida’s hot summers.

Manatees

I would be remiss to say that even though my timing was off on my visit to Blue Springs, Florida that I did not get a chance to see Manatees in their natural habitat.  The manatees are actually the main attraction at Blue Spring State Park, but they’re not there all year. Blue Spring State Park is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter home to a growing number of West Indian Manatees.  To see the elusive manatee, your best bet is to visit between November and March. This is when temperatures in Florida are milder, and manatees are more likely to flee the ocean for warmer waters.

Tips for Visiting

There are 51 campsites (RVs up to 40 feet long)equipped with water, electricity, a picnic table, and a grill, and six two-bedroom cabins near the spring.

If you are looking to stay a few days, I can recommend Mount Dora as a great place to stay. It is a cute little town about 38 miles away from the park. Mount Dora offers the pleasure of an old Florida country getaway.

The park allows a limited number of visitors per day. Maximum capacity is often reached within the first hour of visitation. Arrive early to gain entrance.
A $6 parking fee per vehicle is charged.