Such a beautiful place to spend a day with endless activities! You can walk the boardwalk, swim, snorkel, scuba, tube, kayak, or paddleboard down the spring. Fishing is permitted from the fishing dock on the St. Johns River. There is also camping, cabins for rent, hiking, and manatee viewing. You can even rent an all-terrain tracked wheelchair for accesible hiking! You can find a gift shop and a concession stand inside the park. Follow the Blue Spring State Park Facebook page to stay up to date on fun activities and events like Manatee Bingo, Meditate & Move with the Manatees, guided moonlight hikes, and the Junior Ranger Program. My favorite event of the year is Firefly Nights from around mid March to mid April. You get to walk the boardwalk after the park closes to see thousands of Florida fireflies! It is absolutely magical, and a little surreal. Weekdays are less crowded, but honestly if you can only go on a weekend it's worth braving the crowd. It's a separately-ticketed event, and it does sell out some nights so make sure to get your tickets in advance! read more

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The Baseline: For a park/monument the site must be informative, have great attraction, and have a park rangers that are knowledgeable of one of the park we are visiting. Park: This was one of the cleanest and best organized state parks I have ever visited. The parking was easy and the access to the main attraction was easy to get to. The walkway trail along the spring was well taken care of and safe. There is no graffiti or vandalized buildings in the park. Thank you State of Florida and California you should take notes. Attraction: The Springs are the main attraction with options to swim, tube, snorkel, and scuba dive in the spring in the summer. When we visited that was all restricted because the manatees were here to nest in the winter. This was awesome and it was great to see these amazing creatures in their winter respite. This is a must if you are visiting the Orlando area in the winter. Cost: Six dollars to come into the park with up to 8 people in the vehicle. Great price for an unforgettable experience. read more

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Plan a visit to the Blue Spring State Park during the winter months for a chance to view HUNDREDS of manatees basking in the warm waters and sunlight. I visited on a particularly chilly day. We arrived to the park at around 9:30 and there was already a long line of vehicles waiting to get into the park. We were advised the wait was estimated to be 1 hour and made the trek down the row of cars to get in line and wait to see the sea mermaids residing inside. We only ended up actually waiting to get inside for abou 35 minutes. When we paid the $6 entry fee to get inside we were delighted to see that the day's manatee count was at 508. Despite the long line of cars to get in, the park really didn't seem crazy crowded. We walked the boardwalk all the way to very end, as well as checking out all of the lower boardwalk observation pull-outs. Make sure you walk aaaaalll the way to the very end of the boardwalk because that is definitely where the best manatee views and congregrating was going on . In addition to the boardwalk there is a gift shop and concessions area, a nature boat tour you can take of the St Johns river, as well as a 3-story historic home built in the 1800s by the family that previously owned the land. This is a great manatee viewing spot for those visiting the Orlando area and looking for something else to do that isn't Disney World....the park is also not too far away from the cute historic small town of Deland. Worth checking the town out if you're visiting the park (15 minutes aways from the historic "downtown"). read more

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Let me start to say that this is one of my favorite park. The entry to this park is $6 per vehicle. I love this park because there is so many outdoor activities to do here. You can do a boat tour, guided or unguided kayaking, nature walks, snorkeling and swimming in the natural springs. Courtney the park associate was super sweet and told my family and I where we can see a manatee. I was able to see such a beautiful manatee and swim in the natural spring water. I am not an excellent and I was excited that they sell tubes. Before I bought a water tube I asked if they are renting out the life vest but the associate said to me that because of the weather they are not renting it to anyone. I highly recommend for anyone attending this park to wear water shoes because they are branches and rocks on the water floor. I was not prepared. I also recommend if you can't swim well to buy a life vest at Walmart or anywhere that it will be cheaper because once you're comfortable step down from the steps the water is deep. I am so excited that I was able to attend this beautiful park. read more

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Blue Springs is definitely worth experiencing, but be prepared to arrive early! If you want access to the park, I highly recommend getting there before 9:30 AM, as it fills up quickly. While the springs themselves are beautiful, the real highlight of our trip was the two-hour boat tour on the St. Johns River. At around $40 per person, it was well worth the cost. Our guide, Lee, did an excellent job sharing the history of the river and pointing out wildlife along the way. After the tour, we swam in the springs and were lucky enough to see several manatees up close. The water was crystal clear, refreshing, and absolutely beautiful. A few tips for future visitors: * Bring water shoes because the rocks can be a bit sharp. * Bring goggles so you can fully enjoy seeing the different species of fish underwater. * A waterproof bag is also helpful for keeping your belongings dry and close by. Overall, this was a fantastic Florida experience. Between the wildlife, history, and stunning spring water, I'd give it a 10/10 and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area! read more

I love blue springs no matter the season! I recently went to see the manatees, as it is peak manatee season. We went on a Saturday around 11am. you go at anytime other than sunrise, expect a line. We got there around 11am and we're told the line was 50 minutes long and it ended up only being 30. It was six dollars per vehicle to enter and there were multiple parking spots available. There are different lookout points to see the manatees as well as paths and trails throughout the park. There is a snack stand, and there were bathroom trailers one one side and another set of bathrooms on the other side of the park. It's very important to pack out what you pack in, or be sure to dispose of your trash in the provided trash bins! The staff takes greet care of this park, and if you plan to visit, I hope you do the same! read more

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Such a beautiful park. The day we went was 75 degrees and sunny. There were 876 manatees in the spring. This is a beautiful park to walk around in. The have many observation docks that you can get a really good view of the manatees. The people that work there are all really nice and informative. It was really a lot of fun listening to their information and experiences at the park. We took a picnic and there were plenty of tables and shade to enjoy the scenery! I will suggest going early as when the park is full you have to wait in your car for a car to leave! read more

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Go to the firefly, lightning bug, walk now, 2 weeks left. They cruise in a flight pattern to make contact with a date and then the bioluminescent insects lay an egg. The firefly talk around 6:45pm or 7:15pm is extremely educational. The volunteers are passionate about their work. What a blessing. The place is extremely great for nature & to relax & recharge. The Thursby House museum is interesting & free. They offer camping. 1 person in a car is $4 entrance, 2 or more carload is a $6 entrance. $14 for a firefly parking pass, you can purchase it in advance, but they cancel if the weather is too cold. Fireflies/lightning bugs live in the dirt for about 2 years, different varieties, then they form a chrysalis/pupa & grow wings!!!! But they have no mouth then. They can fly for a couple of hours, 7~9pm to find a mate to go on a date, then lay an egg. The females stay on the ground & light up their bottom as a beacon towards the direction of the male above that's in a flight pattern. There are patterns to the light show. Different varieties. It's fascinating, looks like small sparklers waving in the air. Closer to April, end of March, you'll see more of them hooking up before they are no more... read more

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Such a Large family friendly park with lots of manatees and occasional a wild pig roaming in the woods. The boardwalks are clean and easy to navigate with several overlooks and swimming area. Head to the end of the boardwalk to see the spring. It can be a long line to get in (we waited 30 minutes). read more

Blue Spring State Park - Baby Manatee and manatees - Parks Near Me - Orange City, Florida

This has been on my bucket list and I'm so glad we got to go!! Not going to lie the line to get into the park was about an hour and a half, but you're sitting in your car so it's not terrible. We made the drive from Jax so we weren't just not going to wait. I'm glad we waited. This place is so peaceful and beautiful. There were 800 manatees this day. We walked around to all the sections and even through the Thursby home, which has awesome history. Love love this spot and would love to kayak here next time in the summer when it's warmer. read more

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Blue springs is a lovely day trip from the Orlando area and when the weather is cool you are sure to see manatees in the water. The main boardwalk trail is an easy walk for any one of all ages and abilities and easily managed with a stroller or wheelchair. The staff are always kind and if you are wanting a bit more of a walk in the woods there are two other trails on property you can venture over to. The Springs trail is mostly shaded and usually empty. read more

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So worth it. The parking rangers were attentive to call, we were worried not getting there before 8 on a weekend would not allow us to go in. But as long as you are in manatee (unable to swim) season, the park doesn't reach capacity. $6 parking, easy lot. Board walk to view the water (does not connect, left side longer) which is super clear and refreshing so I can see why the locals go. Has a trailer bathroom and one boardwalk leads to the other side with the river cruise. Even though they said over a hundred manatees I feel like we didnt see much so not sure where they were hiding. Easy to spot at each of the view points, they are far away and kind of just float. Overall, the water looks amazing you can even see the fish. Worth the drive read more

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I was driving from Orlando to Ponte Vedra and decided to stop at this state park to view the manatees. The park is open at 8 am and there was a line of about 100 cars. It took about ten minutes to get into the park. Admission for one person was four dollars. There is a long boardwalk to walk along the river and view the manatees. There were 177 manatees there today. read more

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Beautiful destination spot along the Saint John's River! Multiple spots to enter the water by foot or paddleboard and the was even a boat selling food and beverages. read more

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Plan out your visit Being a chair and a tub to float They get upper busy quick , lots of wasp king and swimming You can see manatees in the water They have a cafe and a gift shop. Lots to do from trail walking and sight seeing to swiping paddles and tubing. read more

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I love that their Facebook page states how many manatees are in the park on any given day. We chose to visit because my family from out of town has never seen manatees before. The day prior, there were 607! On the day we went, there were only 209, but still enough to see mommas and babies and many others out there. Entrance to the park is $5. You can go online and buy a day pass. They also have other passes for camping etc. One thing I don't like about the state park website is you can only buy a day pass on the actual day you are going. You cannot buy in advance. I wish they would let you buy in advance. The park had plenty of parking for us. They have a public restroom and water fountain. They have park play areas for the kids and a launch site for kayaks etc. We booked the river tour (separate company) and found their dock very easily. We were early so we walked the park and stopped at many of the lookout sites to observe the manatees. The gift shop was great. Lots of cute Christmas stuff for the season. The snack shop had hot tea and hot coffee to warm up our hands. This is one of the few places that does not flip the iPad around and ask for a tip. I was amazed. The tip culture has gotten a little overboard these days IMO. We didn't spend the whole day there but people were enjoying picnic lunch etc and letting the kids run around. We just went to see the manatees and take our tour. I would recommend this park. read more

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If you're looking for a place where the water's clearer than your summer plans and the vibes are float-tastically flawless--Blue Springs State Park is it. We came, we tubed, we saw manatees... and honestly? We might never emotionally recover. From the moment we strutted down the boardwalk like queens of the springs (carrying our giant green tubes like badges of honor), it felt like stepping into a Florida fairytale--complete with towering palms, dreamy Spanish moss, and water so clear it made us question if it was CGI. We drifted down the spring run like lazy river royalty, legs kicked up, sun beaming, and not a single care in sight. Caught a glimpse of a manatee just vibin' near the bank--total highlight. And when we weren't tubing? We were crushing a few rounds of cards under the shaded pavilion, snack stash fully loaded. Balance, folks. Bonus points for the mosaic manatee statue (iconic), clean walkways, and all the scenic shade you could ask for on a hot Florida day. read more

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I hadn't been to Blue Springs since I was a kid so it was pretty awesome to take my boys. A buddy of mine had a boat so we were able to dock from the St John's river and access the park. There were lots of families there with tents, chairs, coolers, etc. We also brought our cooler filled with sandwiches and snacks and luckily found a table under the pavilion that was there next to an onsite restaurant and store filled with swimming and sun things you would need. The springs were beautiful and cold! And completely clear!! They have two entrances to the springs, we entered closer to where the spring actually is and road the current down to the second entrance/exit. I would highly recommend wearing crocs or water shoes as there are lots of rocks, logs, and other debris. Also great idea to have goggles so you can see under the water. It's also good to bring floats if you're not over 6 ft tall because some areas are definitely deep. We were also able to swim/walk upstream to the source of the water, that was super cool to see but tough to get close because of the current. Again highly recommend some sort of floats because it gets deep and the only place to hang on are the rocks on the sides. We will definitely be back!! read more

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We ended up visiting this state park after my dad mentioned the history of the springs, and then we ended up at blue spring, coming from southern Florida. I think this is a beautiful and well maintained park! It has plenty of options for hiking, swimming; kayaking and tubing. We walked on the paths and had a great time checking out all of the wildlife, I also stepped into the spring up to my knees, just to say I had been in them! Beautiful day, this is worth the visit! Check them out! read more

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Superb place to view manatees in the winter. Best to arrive before 9:30 or after 4 pm as they leave the springs and swim out to the wide St. John River. In the springs the water is crystal clear. We arrived at 10:45 and saw over 100 manatees. Great walks and they have boat tours in the St. John and kayak rentals. Most highly recommended. read more

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I was in Orlando visiting and saw this place on a local blog as a top attraction and that it was manatee season. It was about a 45 minute drive and totally worth it. There's an entrance fee since it's a state park. It was BEAUTIFUL. Crystal clear water and lots of manatees. The sign at the entrance said 107 were in the water that day. The best place to see them was at the very end of the walking path. This is a must stop when visiting the area. read more

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We had friends visiting from Scotland who had never seen floaty potatoes and we were having a cold spell! So off to Blue Spring we went! This was my first experience with sitting in the line of traffic and honestly it wasn't too bad. They guided us into the parking lot and right to our parking spot which was nice. They finished the boardwalk from my last visit. I have never been on a sunny afternoon so it wasn't too bad neat to experience it. There were so many manatees and they were some massive ones and they were even bumping into each other and being a little territorial. We saw babies too and some funny ones that seemed like they knew they had a captive audience. What I love is how quiet and serene it is. Just meandering from lookout to lookout. My friends loved seeing the Spanish moss in the trees as well. They were like ,"it's like in the movies!" If you have friends visiting from out of town please bring them here to see a bit of real Florida! read more

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Incredible variety of wildlife (you swim with manatees right next to you, it's amazing), crystal clear water (especially when it's sunny), option to go kayaking, take a boat tour or rent a floatie, and overall well maintained. Out of all the springs in the Orlando area, this is my favorite. I recommend avoiding summers and holidays because it can get very crowded. read more

Blue Spring State Park - Parks Near Me - Orange City, Florida

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Lovely park and the manatees were great! Also saw an alligator which was exciting. There are picnic areas and a play area for kids as well as shops. Some seating at the lookout points and a few along the path. There are restrooms which was good. It was a quiet immersive adventure! read more

They had an event last night Park after Dark to see the Manatees at night. It was a free roam hike around the park and towards the end one ranger gave us a little quick quiz guide, wish there was a lil more of that since we had questions and would make it more interactive for the little ones. Seeing the manatees was so peaceful. Also saw an injured baby one. I heard someone say they take care of them and monitor them when that happens so it's nice to know we are supporting a park that cares about them. We also saw an owl and possum. Wish I would have snapped photos but I was to into the nature and feelin like a kid again! read more

Absolutely beautiful state park! The park is very well maintained and the water is crystal clear. The day I camped there, there were 900+ manatees in the water! The walk around the camp sights and the spring are very calming and filled with picturesque nature scenes. Each campsite has a water and power hook-up. Some also had fire pits and a picnic table. Some are paved, some are not. The communal restrooms require a specific code given to you at check-in and they are very well maintained as well. Overall amazing experience and can't wait to come back. Loved seeing the manatees, armadillos, and surprise nighttime cat visit. read more

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Bissy Elliott and I made a spontaneous trip from Orlando to Blue Spring State Park to see the manatees. The official count for the day was 338 manatees, a remarkable number considering that just 30 years ago, the largest population in Florida was only 25. It's heartening to see the positive impact of eco-conservation efforts. read more

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BSSP is a gorgeous park. It's super popular in the winter because of the hundreds of manatees that warm up there! Walking the newly renovated paved boardwalk along the head spring is a must, or enjoy the head spring with snorkeling & swimming in the summer! The sandy trails through the scrub jay habitat are unique as well. Hike earlier in the AM to see this special bird! I also recommend kayaking the river. You will see manatees, gators and plenty of bird species. There is a launch down the road past the park entrance. The boat tour in the park is also a lovely activity. You'll get a peaceful guided river tour and see many species. The only drawback to the park is how packed it can get, especially in the summer. If it's a weekend, you have to get there EARLY, like 7 am. Or, come back around lunch time and you might get in as some of the early birds are leaving. read more

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Super cool experience! Definitely get there early before the park opens. We got there about 7:45 and there was already a line. I would recommend renting a kayak or canoe. We saw plenty of wildlife and got away from the crowd that way! 2 hour kayak rental is more than enough time. I'll definitely be back! read more

Blue Spring State Park - Parks Near Me - Orange City, Florida

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What an amazing park! More than 700 manatees on our visit! Go early, it is packed. More than 1 hour wait, but it is worth it. The park itself is marvelous, gotta go back in the summer. read more

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This is definitely a great place to stop at in either the summer time or the winter! The winter will have many manatees in the springs so in close proximity to the viewing areas while in the summer, you can float down the springs which is also fun. I recently went in February and there were 500+ manatees visible. read more

Blue Spring State Park - Parks Near Me - Orange City, Florida

What a lovely stop! We were able to pay the small fee and enter with our dog on a leash. Great way to stretch your legs if you are on a road trip! We loved seeing the manatees. The walk is mostly covered and paved. There are other opportunities to take out kayaks, but we could not with our dog. There is a small store as well. read more

Blue Spring State Park - Manatees!! - Parks Near Me - Orange City, Florida

Went to this park with the main of purpose of seeing the manatee. It cost $6 for the car to get in. We were able to see the manatee in the crystal clear water and was awesome, they are so beautiful gentle majestic creatures. We also enjoyed the park very much, we walked around the trail, and daughter played in the playground for some time. They have picnic tables, kayak/canoe rentals and boat tours. However, the day we went was cold, windy so most of the services were closed, no swimming, and wasn't crowded at all. We as a family had a great time, so I would recommend it. read more

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Beautiful Park with lots to see! Stayed overnight here and was very happy with the cleanliness! The real star of the show are the Springs. Absolutely beautiful. We saw so many manatees and fish. Great place to snorkel. A visit from an owl and other birds. There is a train track close to the park could hear a few times during the night. read more

An absolute delight every time Blue Spring State Park offers something new every time you go. In the summer, a beautiful swimming hole filled with the freshest water on earth. In the winter, a manatee sanctuary where you can find sometimes 700 manatees bunched together in the small spring. It's a beautiful hidden gem in Florida. If you wanna get in early prepare to wait in line though because everyone else does too! read more

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The park itself is awesome for manatee viewing in January. There's an old historical home you can walk through, the Thursby house, and a playground for the kids. There are multiple boardwalk overlooks for sightseeing and tons of fish. Dogs are allowed at the park and there's a cool bike trail nearby called the Spring to Spring Trail, you can jump on after sight seeing. Definitely prepare to go early or there will be a line of cars waiting at the front by noon. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8F5sCN3/ read more

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This park is worth the wait to get in during Manatee season (cold weather). It took an hour to get inside, but once we did the park didn't seem crowded at all. We had excellent views of the 560 manatees spending their winter days in the spring water. We even bought lunch in the cafe and enjoyed the sunny day eating under the pavilion. We had burgers, a hot dog and pulled pork sandwich. All was delicious. read more

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One of my favorite spots to visit to see the manatees during the winter season. Paid $6 for the entire car to enter the park. Be sure to get there early during peak season. The park is always clean and plenty of viewing platforms. Part of the walking path near the spring was closed due to construction. read more

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We really enjoy visiting Blue springs. In the winter season this is home to many manatees! It's cost about $6 per car to enter and typically you have to wait between 10-20 minutes in line to get in. In Dec 2024 some of the boardwalks and bathrooms and docks are closed for renovation. But you can still enjoy yourself. Dogs are allowed and you can fish on a small dock at the end in the river. They also have options to rent kayaks and book a river cruise. read more

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We came for manatees and Blue Spring State Park delivered! We came on a cool day in January and the manatee numbers had been record breaking- the count was over 700 in the springs on the day we went. The price is great- just $6 a vehicle- and it's easy to navigate. Once you get on the boardwalk it's just manatees everywhere! We saw hundreds of them, and it was a joy just to sit and listen to them coming up to breathe. We also saw some birds on the boardwalk and an armadillo! I can't comment on other activities, but if you're here to view manatees you made the right choice! read more

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