Blue Spring State Park is our most common activity with friends visiting us, and it’s the best place to see manatees in Florida near Orlando or Daytona Beach. Florida has over 1000 natural springs and they’re all a little different. Some are in high traffic areas like on the Crystal River and others are so strange to pronounce that you might not have ever heard of them… like Ichetucknee Springs.
This is everything you need to know about visiting Blue Spring State Park, including the best time for manatees, handicap accessible wildlife viewing, and kayaking / standup paddleboarding information. When I say that this is the best place to see manatees in Florida, it really is true, even when it’s not manatee season.
If you have any questions about visiting Blue Spring State Park or want to share your own tips, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to help others have unique, unforgettable Florida experiences!
Where is Blue Spring State Park?
Blue Spring State Park is a little over a half hour away from Daytona Beach in Orange City, Florida. It’s actually really easy to get to and quite simple to make a day trip out of. Blue Spring State Park is easy to pair with the trip to De Leon Springs State Park or Gemini Springs. It’s a bit further from Cocoa Beach (where you do bioluminescent kayaking!) if you’re heading to that part of the Florida coast, but it’s still worth the visit.
If you are visiting Orlando this is also an easy trip to add on (45 minutes drive) and is a nice alternative to theme parks or crowded hotel pools. After a whole bunch of time at Disney World or Universal Orlando no doubt you’ll be ready for some nature and Blue Spring State Park is just perfect for that. Also, the manatees and alligators are real, actual wildlife vs being animatronics, so they’re more exciting!
Note: there is an entrance fee into almost every Florida State Park. Usually it’s only $6 USD or so, but just be aware. Not much in travel is free.
Day trip from Orlando to Blue Spring State Park
A lot of people visit Orlando for the theme parks, such as Universal Orlando Resort, and never get to see the natural side of Florida. It’s easy to make a short day trip from Orlando to Blue Spring State Park. Driving, it’s only about 45 minutes from Orlando or Mount Dora to Orange City. In bad traffic it can take you up to an hour and a half (in really bad traffic), but typically visiting Blue Springs you’ll go in the morning and go against the flow of traffic.
To make this a day trip from Orlando, plan to be at Blue Spring State Park for at least three hours. If you’re paddling, plan for five hours or more. You’ll see that there are lots of things to do, from walks and wildlife viewing to swimming and kayaking. You can even take a guided tour, so be sure that you’ve allowed yourself plenty of time.
Tip: the best time to visit Blue Spring State Park is in the mid morning before the sun is fully up and warming the waters. As the day goes on, the manatees work their way back into the St Johns River. In the morning there are also smaller crowds, so it’s much more pleasant.
This is the best place for seeing manatees in Florida, but that’s all dependent on the weather, so keep that in mind. The cooler the day, the more manatees. If it’s a hot day in winter, the manatees will head into the river from the run, so on warmer days, kayaking or SUP are great options for the day trip. If you’d like to visit in the morning and then again just before the park closes, do a little trip to one of the cute small Florida towns nearby, like Deland, and then return around 4:00pm to end the day.
Manatee Tours to Blue Springs State Park
I know that not everyone has their own kayaks or SUPs, or that everyone who wants to visit the best place in Florida for manatees lives here, so booking a manatee tour can be a great idea. This is the easiest way to make this a day trip from Orlando.
There are a few different companies that run tours on the St Johns River at Blue Spring State Park. We recommend booking in advance to ensure you can go paddling with manatees, as the tours tend to book up far out, especially if you’re visiting during peak manatee season.
Here are our top tour picks based on the activities, guides, and tour company reputation. All tours go from French’s Landing on the St Johns River; transportation to launch site isn’t provided:
- 3.5 hour kayaking tour w/ manatees – maximum of 8 paddlers – November through March
- 3.5 hour wildlife kayaking – maximum of 12 paddlers – December through March
- 3.5 hour kayaking w/ boardwalk tour – maximum of 8 paddlers – November through March
- 3 hour beginner kayak tour – maximum of 14 paddlers – November through March
- 2 Hour Standup Paddle w/ manatees – maximum 25 paddlers – November through March
When to visit Blue Spring State Park for Manatees
The best time of year to visit Blue Spring State Park is going to be in January or February when the most Florida manatees are there. It’s very easy to see manatees at Blue Spring State Park starting in mid November and going to March, but the winter months are for sure the best time to visit if you want to experience the crazy congregation of manatees in the river.
There was a day in 2017 where nearly 400 manatees were spotted in the river approaching the headspring of Blue Spring, their winter home. I don’t know about you, but that is a bucket list item for me to experience!
Our youngest is obsessed with manatees and he actually would have freaked out and no doubt have been crying on the viewing platforms trying to join the manatees in the river. When they do their spring run back out to the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, the numbers drop, but there are still usually a few hanging around. We’ve been to Blue Spring State Park in every month of the year and have always seen at least one manatee (summer time), and that’s why this is the best place in Florida to see manatees.
Note: The manatees congregate here at Blue Spring State Park because when the air temperature drops the water temperature stays nice and warm because it’s pulling from the aquifer. Perfect for manatees! And if you’re not actually going to be in this area, we’ve got suggestions all along the Florida Gulf Coast for seeing manatees too.
The Science of the Springs
The water source that feeds Blue Spring and the St Johns River comes up from the aquifer flowing all through north and central Florida. The rainwater and naturally occurring underground river come up through the limestone bedrock as it erodes away. In some areas the pressure from the aquifer is very strong and that’s where you get these amazingly beautiful head springs.
Blue Spring State Park happens to be one of those spots and gosh, I’m so glad we discovered it. Not that we discovered it, but that we were directed here, but it was discovered a long time ago, but anyways…
The water that bubbles up from Blue Spring and all the other springs around Florida is typically above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) which is quite warm, which is why this is the best place to see manatees in Florida. And that’s why we love to visit the different springs. You can almost always swim in them… except when the state parks close them due to creatures who are congregating, such as manatees or alligators. So yes, the springs are just as attractive to wildlife as they are to the humans, but the animals for sure get priority.
Tip: we’ve really come to love and appreciate ecotours, and there is an ecotour available just down from Blue Spring. The St Johns River Cruise is an ecotour focusing on the natural life found in the river and the delicate ecosystem of Florida’s spring-fed waterways. We’ve done it twice and have both seen lots of wildlife and learned tons about Florida history.
Things to do at Blue Spring State Park
We usually visit the Blue Spring State Park as a day trip, which is also totally fine to do. Visiting Blue Spring can be whatever you want it to be. You can turn it into a picnic day or it can be a day of swimming and communing with nature. It’s up to you which water related activities you do… or you can just enjoy the beautiful views, and since it’s the best place in Florida to see manatees, you’ll be occupied with that November through March.
Stand Up Paddleboarding with manatees
Glad I’ve got your attention. Clearly the most amazing thing you could possibly do at Blue Springs State Park is observe or have an encounter with manatees. You cannot swim with them at Blue Spring State Park like you can at Crystal River, but if you stay just outside the boundary of the headspring area, you can enjoy hanging out with manatees as they swim back and forth. The main spring area is close to all water access during manatee season.
I did a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) adventure with Paddleboard Orlando and it was mildly life changing, and now we go on our own all the time. We launched and then paddle up the St Johns River a few hundred yards to the edge of Blue Springs State Park. Here, we sat on our board and the manatees came to us and said hi. You cannot intentionally touch them but you can be present and they’ll interact with you. They are very curious.
I got a kiss even one time as I laid on my board watching manatees swimming near me. I laid there, still, and one surprise surfaced just in front of me and startled me. The manatee floated forward a few inches and brushed my chin with his rough skin and then when back under. Startling and unforgettable. Manatee kisses are pretty gross, but also the most amazing wildlife encounter I’ve ever had. Now that I’m more experienced at paddleboarding with manatee I know to observe ALL AROUND me and to be sure I’m always 15 feet away whenever possible.
Tip: check out our full article about the best springs to see manatees at here. Gators, manatees and more wildlife tend to congregate around the many fresh water springs, so it’s worth visiting more than Blue Spring State Park if you’re able.
Kayaking at Blue Spring State Park
Blue Spring State Park has become one of our favorite places to kayak in Florida. It’s right up there with bioluminescent kayaking near Daytona at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (glow in the dark manatees there!). Putting in our own kayaks (or stand up paddleboards) at French Landing (Google Map link here) we love to paddle to the mouth of the Blue Spring run. Here, we sit and observe the manatees as they come and go, often swimming right under us and sometime surfacing to just check us out. It really is the best place to see manatees in Florida, and from a kayak or SUP it’s amazing.
We DO NOT EVER touch the manatees. It’s very easy to sit on your board or kayaking and see them up close, and yes, if you’re dangling your feet or hands in the water the manatees may come check you out, but be smart and respectful.
Once you’re done observing manatees at the mouth of Blue Spring, kayak up the St Johns River a bit to explore. Whether you stay on the main river, take the old river path (the river was straightened in the early 1900s), or head down Snake Creek, each route is gorgeous and offers non-stop wildlife and beautiful Florida nature.
As you paddle along the St Johns River, watch for manatees surfacing in the middle of the river or along its banks. There are many large lily pad patches both on the main river and on the bend at Snake Cutoff. Manatees LOVE to hang out here in groups, eating the vegetation and hanging out with egrets. Watch for their noses, flukes (tails) and backs to surface at the edge or in the middle of the lily pads. We love to sit at the edge and watch and listen to them. Their exhales and grunts are amazing to hear!
For an off-the-beaten-path paddle, take your kayak or SUP up the Snake Creek. While you could plan a very long loop and eventually return to your starting point, it’s easy to paddle down Snake Creek as far as you like and then turn around. The view on the way back is just as beautiful. And watch for alligators on this route, as it’s a hot spot for gator action.
Paddling on the St Johns River at Blue Spring State Park is really wonderful. There are quiet stretches, perfectly still cypress stands and beautiful oxbow lakes. Enjoy some of the side trails as you paddle. There is so much to see and tons of wildlife!
Swimming at Blue Spring State Park
While you cannot swim in Blue Spring year round due to the manatees being present in the winter months, after manatee season the spring opens! From Spring to early Autumn you can swim from the main spring area to the western swimming platform. It’s full of Florida gar and other fish and turtles, so know that you won’t be alone in the river. And there are alligators sometimes too, so watch out! There is a line crossing the run to show you how far you can swim, and west of the rope the number of gar and alligators goes up immensely and quickly.
Diving or Snorkeling Blue Spring
If you are a diver Blue Springs State Park might just be your unknown dream diving destination. We’ve seen several people in their gear getting ready to dive into the head springs. I’ll admit, I was completely jealous and wish that I had my PADI certification. The head springs when viewed from above are absolutely gorgeous with such vibrant colors, and so deep.
Note: because this is the best place to see manatees in Florida, during manatee season, diving and snorkeling isn’t allowed, so plan appropriately.
While it’s okay to snorkel into the head spring diving would for sure give you a more complete experience. Scuba diving IS permitted though, per Florida State Parks rules. If there are manatees present, you can’t dive, but there are usually park staff or volunteers monitoring manatee activity and keeping visitors and wildlife equally safe.
Tip: Blue Springs State Park and also Rainbow Springs offer different diving experiences at the head spring and down river. Check locally for advice about snorkeling or diving to the caverns that are along the different rivers. That limestone wears away and there’s so much wonder to find.
Blue Spring State Park with Kids
Our goal upon visiting Blue Spring with the kids the first time was hopefully to spot a few manatees, but we were there a little late in manatee season to do that. Now we know that it’s the best place in Florida to see manatees, so we visit during the proper season (Nov-Mar). Even in off season, we were completely impressed with the enormous fish in the river. The Florida gar and other large variety were genuinely impressive and were easily visible from the viewing platforms.
There are platforms dispersed along the river to be able to take in the natural wonder of the perfect waters, but then also for viewing the manatees. Since that first trip to Blue Spring with the kids we’ve been back countless times and have seen hundreds of manatees from the viewing platforms, the ecotour boat cruise and from our own kayaks and paddle boards.
Tip: If you missed it before, the best time to visit for manatees is in the winter until the end of February. Hundreds of manatees. Hundreds.
If you’re there for the swimming and appreciating the beautiful crystal clear water of Blue Spring State Park then you’re in luck. There are quite a few access points along the river for swimming. You can even rent tubes for floating the river if you like. When the weather is hot the water is going to seem chilly but it’s totally not bad. For us being from the Pacific Northwest, the water is wonderfully warm and the kids aren’t hesitant in the slightest.
Note: Pay close attention to the signs and swimming closures placed at the swimming holes and on the boards around the park. The rangers will close the river and Blue Spring to swimming if there are manatees present or if there is alligator activity. It is gator country.
Part of the joy of wandering and swimming at Blue Spring State Park is actually the boardwalks that go through the palm jungle to get to the swimming holes. Elevated above the jungle floor, this was the first experience we had walking through a palm jungle of its kind. It is really cool. The kids loved the in-the-trees feel and the photo ops are endless.
Tip: if you’re on the West Coast and want to experience a palm jungle, go hiking in Palm Springs. It’s not as dense and lush as Blue Spring State Park, but it’s beautiful and unusual. Joshua Tree National Park has some options for palm forest hiking too.
Floating at Blue Spring State Park
This is another activity for us for next time. Since Blue Spring was kind of an impromptu stop for us the first time we visited we hadn’t planned ahead for renting inner tubes within Blue Spring State Park. There is a vendor for renting tubes for floating the river midway along the boardwalks, and the water is so mellow the only reason you wouldn’t do it is if you were pressed for time. It’s a short float, but easy to repeat and enjoy!
If you’re planning on renting inner-tubes for floating at Blue Spring, know that this is only available when the manatees AREN’T in the headwaters. The springs are closed to swimmers and boaters of all sorts in winter months when the manatee population soars into the hundreds each day.
Note: Even if the river is open you still need to be cautious of alligators because they can make an appearance at any time without the rangers’ knowledge. And respect the gar in the water; they’re big fish…
Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Spring State Park
Just in case we missed anything important, here is everything else you might have wondered or skimmed over for planning your visit to Blue Spring State Park.
What is Blue Spring State Park known for?
Blue Spring State Park is known for the great number of manatees that congregate here year round, but particularly from November to March. The daily manatee count can be in the hundreds during winter months.
When is the best time to see manatees at Blue Spring State Park?
Manatees are most frequently seen at Blue Spring State Park in the early morning, with them heading out into the St Johns River as the day warms up. In the colder winter months, they’ll stay at the headspring all day, with 10 to 600 visible at any given time.
How much does it cost to enter Blue Spring State Park?
Like most Florida State Parks, Blue Springs costs $6 USD per vehicle. You can also by a state park pass, but you’ll need to pay for additional visitors, so the per vehicle cost is the better deal.
Are pets allowed at Blue Spring State Park?
Yes! You can bring pets to Blue Spring State Park, but they need to remain on-leash and in designated areas only.
Can you swim in the spring at Blue Spring State Park?
Yes! You can swim in the main spring at Blue Spring State Park, but ONLY when it’s NOT manatee season. They open the run for swimming typically in April and close it at the end of October. If there is a significant number of manatees or other wildlife in the spring, the Park Rangers may close the run to swimming.
Are there camping facilities at Blue Spring State Park?
Indeed, there is a campground at Blue Spring State Park. You should make your reservation as far in advance as possible, especially if you’re using an RV or camper trailer for camping.
What are the park’s operating hours?
Blue Spring State Park is open from 8:00 am until sundown every day of the year. It’s busiest in winter from late morning until just before it closes.
What wildlife can you see at Blue Spring State Park?
Our favorite wildlife to see at Blue Springs is the manatee population, but we also have seen alligators, otters, lots of different birds and many HUGE fish in the crystal clear water.
Are there kayak or canoe rentals at the park?
You can rent both kayaks and canoes at Blue Spring State Park, or you can do the eco-tour boat. They do provide life jackets and paddles, so you can just show up. Rentals may run out on busier days, including peak manatee days. Always pay attention to paddling restrictions.
What are the hiking trails available at Blue Spring State Park?
There are several hiking trails at Blue Spring State Park that go through the forest and railroad pathway areas. The best hiking at the park is actually the accessible boardwalk trail, and this is where you’ll see the most wildlife too.
Isn’t it just the coolest place? We visit Blue Spring State Park multiple times each year, and always at lease during manatee season. It’s one of the best places to observe wildlife in Florida. Have you been to Blue Spring State Park before? Of the more than a thousand springs in Florida which is your favorite to visit? Tell us so that we know where to visit as we continue to explore our beautiful state.
Muhammed jazeel
Sunday 18th of October 2020
The park looks great....
m
Monday 27th of April 2020
Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures. All the best
Rejith
Wednesday 26th of February 2020
Travel blogs are a wonderful source for ideas & advice of planning a trip. Thanks for sharing
Ashmi
Saturday 1st of February 2020
Such gorgeous pictures dude! amazing.
Rejith
Saturday 21st of December 2019
Thanks for sharing, its very useful