Finally got there early enough to snag some tickets to swim in the spring. We got there right around 9 o'clock and to my surprise it wasn't too busy. Right around 11am is when it really started to pick up. They sell tickets in sections. We got the 9am to 1pm pass. They also have a 2pm to 6pm pass. The water was cold as usual but pretty clear this visit we were able to see lots of fish and some were even nibbling on our feet if we stayed still. There were lifeguards out watching the area and was very on top of people not bringing pool floats on the separate side where the spring was. Definitely recommend checking this one out before summers over. read more

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Very rude staff. We understand that rules must be followed, but there are respectful and professional ways to communicate with people without being rude. We had a small dog with us at our campsite, and he briefly walked over to the campsite next to us. A staff member approached us and told us that if our dog was not kept on a leash, he would ask us to leave. We understand the rule and had no issue complying with it, but the way he spoke to us was unnecessarily rude and disrespectful. I am an IR nurse, and I always treat my patients with compassion and respect. Imagine if this staff member arrived at the IR department in pain or with an injury and was treated with the same level of rudeness. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. read more

Stop hiring high school kids who only want to lock down the spring and play football with multiple family's waiting to go in the water during swimming hours. They use the excuse of a 10 mile lightening strike zone but take full advantage of it in the afternoon time to get people out and leave work early. Clear blue skies at the park and the excuse is well the term "out of the blue" refers to blue skies striking people with lightening. Then said well there's a possible storm brewing in Tampa (30 miles away) Beautiful park but absolute shame of hiring incompetent people who want to take advantage of leaving work early with any excuse they can. read more

Well maintained, regional park slightly out of the way but still close to Tampa that emits Old Florida vibes. Arrive before 10 am if you want to swim in the spring for the first session. We arrived slightly late and instead did the trail and had some delicious BBQ from Mr. Blake. The redish-brick tanning of the river / stream is quite lovely. Bring suncsreen, bug spray and plenty of water. We went in June and enjoyed a serene 2 hour visit. read more

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Beautiful park with lots to offer! $2.00 entrance fee per vehicle. Has playgrounds, lots of grills spread throughout the park, a relaxing trail, lots of shade and a spring to swim in with lifeguard on duty! It didn't seem deep, but probably varies with the rain fall. Dogs allowed as long as on leash. read more

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Lithia Springs Park is a hidden gem ! The park has beautiful trails, a historic spring, and tons of picnic spots. Perfect for nature lovers and families . Have you been there? read more

Great spot to camp we it the RV especially if you are a pet owner. Sites can be small however. Beautiful well maintained park.

Rude ranger who works there , obviously is having a bad day. He seemed so perturbed that he might be dangerous. He was threatening despite the fact I was there to pay the park fees. I would have called the cops based on his erratic behavior if he continued on with his ranting It's a shame that public servants act superior to their customers. There is no room for threatening behavior in a quiet park. read more

Well despite all the beaches in Florida both Clearwater Beach and elsewhere I've never seen such a clean and consistent spring with fish swimming with the people this is a hidden gem and you don't pay much if you just want to have quiet moments with the fish and swim at the fish this is the place to go. My only disappointment I learned but I would come back here again is that since they are now developing this part which is sad because from what I understand the subdivisions that they're developing residential is draining the natural spring water which is not a good thing and I think that they should not do that and have another separate reserve of the water there is a deep end and there's a cavern from what I learned but I like that they have native fish swimming with people seeing plecos and some other kind of fish in my videos and pictures. Thus the 4 out of 5 stars otherwise it'll be perfect if the water which is a natural spring that stays in its consistent temperature of 72° and not drain that water is plentiful read more

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Brand new playground! Very nice and clean! One side is recommended for 2 to 5 years, the other for 5 to 12 years old. read more

Lithia Springs Park - 2 - 5 year old playground - Parks Near Me - Lithia, Florida

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We took a little road trip to check out the springs at Lithia Springs Park. Being a Tuesday afternoon, we expected to find it less crowded, and we were thankfully correct. I don't believe I'd have any interest coming here when it's crowded. I'm sure water levels can fluctuate, but we found the majority of it to be shallow. It's deep near the head of the springs, where they've installed grates to protect it. But the rest is surprisingly pretty shallow. There are a lot of fish and schools of plecos to check out, if you bring snorkels. But other than that and a few very small, low rock formations, there's really not much to look at under water. The bathhouse is quite a distance, uphill from the springs. We didn't even think there was one until we passed it on our way out. Those of us that were still a little wet from swimming just changed in the car. It looked like others had done the same and then discarded dirty diapers into the parking lot. I noticed them when I walked back to the car for drinks. An hour later, when we were leaving, park rangers were there cleaning up the mess. There are plenty of trash cans around, so there was no reason for such laziness. There are a couple showers to rinse off in. Other than that, it's pretty basic. Pretty little spot and the entry fee is cheap. It made for a fun, inexpensive little day trip. read more

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This is another hidden gem in FL. I was originally upset about the swimming hours but honestly it was perfect. We didn't need to be there any longer. It was so much fun and so beautiful. read more

Can confirm Douglas K. Report about threatening, aggressive ranger. The ranger approached my family (with small children) and I and started to threaten us because we were speaking German. Wanted to kick us out of the park. I have never experienced such a blatant discrimination. I had asked multiple times for his name to be able to report him but obviously he just said "my name is Park Ranger". Will file a complaint with Hillsborough County as behavior seems to be a recurring theme at Lithia Springs. Stay away if you have family this place is dangerous. read more

Great area with shade trees, plenty of picnic tables - some with charcoal grills!- and a clean and cool swimming area. Highly recommend

Pros: right in by backyard - nice 3 miles nature walk and springs Interesting some portion you can see into the newly built houses for fishhawk ranch : something ridge neighborhood $2 for one vehicle $2 to go swim in the springs: we didn't go over that side read more

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Visited several times for events. Plenty of pavilions for gatherings large and small. Play area for kids is ample and has something for all ages, including volleyball and grassy fields. Camped for the first time during COVID. The campsites (40+) were full, but it did not feel crowded. Campers we're friendly. A mix of long and short stay guests. Tents and RVs of all sizes were on site. Lots vary in size and shape. Campers can pick location of inland or on the river. Walking paths from each sim made accessing bathrooms easy. Staff cleaned bathrooms and showers several times a day at advertised intervals. Not once in three days did I encounter a nasty bathroom. Sites have water, power and night light on the control panel. We camped in late March. Days were in the '80s. Nights in the 60s. It was tolerable, but I could not fathom tent camping in this region from April-September. It's too hot and humid. Fishhawk hiking trail is within the park. A mere $2 to access the park grounds. A park ranger resides on site for any issues day or night. We'd gladly return! Check it out. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Nice camping sites . Highly Recommended. We were lucky there was 3 Camping sites available #2 site was definitely mostly shade other then #27 And #33 alot of sun in them spots :-).very friendly staff. Quickly checked us in. Yes we would come back again to stay. read more

It's a nice park with walking trails, campground, playground, plenty of picnic spots, nice views, etc. I personally wouldn't want to be here (or any park) during these Florida summers since those are very uncomfortable to me, but definitely something worth going to when the weather is cooler. There's a nice amount of trees for shade. It gets busier at certain times of the year due to the surrounding neighborhoods though. read more

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Very pretty clear water. You can take floats and also swim. It's pretty shallow in some areas. Great in the summer time. Only minor headache is that you have to be there early to make sure you pay to swim. If not it does sell out fast. They have picnic tables and bbqs for the public to use. A ver clean bathroom. Some playgrounds throughout. I would recommend. If you haven't you should go at least once. read more

Don't waste your money! If you swim go to a hotel for a day trust me. The water here is drying up, has piss and bird poo in it, smells wild too. Restrictions like crazy, so many ignorant dumb lifeguards, guarding 4ft of water. Everyone goes to the deep end which is 5ft so social distancing is trash lol what a joke. read more

Lithia Springs Park - Stupidass swimming area - Parks Near Me - Lithia, Florida

Two things you want to come to Lithia Springs Park armed with are insect repellent and plenty of drinking water. Especially if you're going to be walking a lot, because the biting insects are horrendous, and the humidity in Florida is so high, you're going to go through plenty of water. The section I like best is the area where they are restoring the wildlife habitat, but it is, for the most part, inaccessible. This area is roped off from the main spring's swimming area by buoys. These still waters are clean, and teeming with fish, birds, flowers and other small wildlife. It's a quiet, peaceful area. I would love to see the park build a "nature viewing house" in this space, where you could watch the wildlife through a glass window. This would help to teach our children about the habits of Florida wildlife. This "viewing house" would appropriately protect the children, and also create an environment for the wildlife, to keep them in their natural habitat without bothering them. There are several sections in the park, and you can drive to whichever one you'd like. The park, and especially the spring, gets very crowded, even during the week. If you are coming to swim in the spring, I suggest an early arrival, because parking is limited in that area, and this section fills up the quickest. This park is perfect for families who want to take their children to a nice park. It has several playgrounds scattered throughout with the usual equipment. You also can swim in the spring and have a nice picnic. Grills are provided and are scattered around, very much similar to what a typical forest preserve offers. The cost to drive your vehicle into the park is $2 (sorry, no walk-in privileges). It'll cost you an additional $2/per person to have swimming privileges in the cold, clear spring. The fees are supposedly used to maintain the park, and on my visits here, I did not see littering with trash as being a problem. It would be nice if they did more with the money people regularly pay to use this park, or maybe offer a season pass. There used to be one but who knows for sure if they still do that. I can't tell without brochures! The other thing you'll need money for is the food truck that is located just adjacent to the spring. If you don't bring in your own food, the food truck has chicken fingers, hot dogs, nachos & cheese, ice cream and water and soda. This food truck has a contract with the park, and they are the only ones allowed to sell food here. There are campgrounds in a separate section within the park, which has its own bathroom and showers. The sites are heavily wooded for the most part, and there are also group camping sites, if you have a large party. This section also has the required hook-ups and dump station necessary for people coming in with travel trailers. The gatekeepers at the pay station have an attitude towards people. I almost feel as though they don't care for people in general! It's that bad. They have been downright rude to me on several occasions. Also, I've been here many times and each time, I have asked for a brochure to acquaint myself with the park. They have always said they no longer have any, plus they're not printing any new ones. There are a lot of rules to follow, and again, without a rules brochure, how do you know! For camping, as well as day visits, says one of them is no alcohol allowed, even in the overnight camping section. Be aware that if you plan on staying here, you should first ask them to send you a copy of their rules so there are no surprises later. Or get a brochure. read more

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Beautiful county park with a fresh water spring 72 degrees warm . 60 percent of the park is surrounded by Alafia River . This park has 42 camping grounds with showers, volley ball, playground and of course the spring. Plenty of hiking grounds and yes in the river it says no swimming as there are alligators . One was found at the docking area to launch your kayak . There are canoe rentals as well and the entry to the park is 2 dollars per car. We got to this park around 6 pm and they close at 7 pm so we were not able to swim in the spring . Would like to come back and try it some day when I am back in Hillsborough county. Come check out this park and see for yourself how nice it is. read more

This is a nice campground. Most of the campers are good people. The facilities are decent and clean. The park its self is pleasant, with swimming in the Springs and fishing and canoeing on the river. The staff here is mostly polite and helpful. And then there is James. James is just a volunteer here, but he thinks he can bully and intimidate the patrons. He is extremely rude and disrespectful. Apparently, he thinks he is a Law Enforcement Officer, when actually he is just a little man that has let his "power" go to his head. James will ruin your camping experience at Lithia Springs. He rides around the campground and looks for excuses to harass campers. I have taken to videoing my encounters with James because he is such a jerk. The situation has gotten so bad that I am going to file a formal complaint. So are several other campers in the area. This little "man" should not be allowed to have any contact with the public. I consider him to be dangerous. His behavior is just not normal. The bottom line is that this is a great park and campground with just one exception. That exception is James and he has ruined my experience is Lithia Springs. read more

Lithia Springs Park- Lithia, FL (Hillsborough County Park $24/night) WARNING: do NOT STAY at Lithia Springs Park!! We checked in two weeks ago with our new Southwind Class A and were given a site map that was wrong. We were then directed to site 29, which only had 30a power (we had not yet gotten an adapter so had to run the generator). We finally moved to a beautiful site by the river and wow - this place is an outdoor homeless shelter. We saw a TV being stolen (reported it and nothing was done), we had people walking into the park who weren't staying there who tried to steal one of our outdoor tables, we had neighbors who were up all night cursing loudly at each other. We were even told by rangers to "watch out for site 35 and that he is ok if he's on his meds". Broken down campers everywhere and worst of all the lady at the front station is VERY rude. Told my wife that we HAVE to leave by 11am tomorrow - meanwhile they had allowed a tent camper to squat on site 45 for DAYS past their departure date and didn't do anything about it. If you are a good and decent camper they will harass you otherwise they can't do anything with the druggies that abound in this park. Stay away!! read more

A friend had told us that this spring was the closest to us so we didn't have to make the drive out east or west for it and so we took our out of state friends since they just wanted to go for a swim. It's located in a wooded area and you almost don't even recognize when you're about to approach it. The park ranger who collected our money at the gate was very nice and bubbly but he didn't give me my $1 change back but he deserved it for being so bright early in the morning. The springs is a small area to swim that is located in the back of the park, no lifeguard on duty, tubing is only allowed in certain area. It was pretty clear for the most part and you can swim amongst live tilapia and mullet fishes. It was a cool sight to see but the ground was very algae and didn't feel good to step in with or without shoes on. I don't think I would return because the staff at the springs were not as friendly and they didn't seem like they wanted to be there. It was an okay experience, very affordable for a big family and if you don't want to make a 1+ hour drive out to other springs. read more

Mid Empty Too many restrictions Have to reserve a spot to get into the spring Spring is drying up This park is dying read more

At this park you don't see a lot of locals but you do have to pay $2 to enter the park and more to swim. He/she will ask if you want to swim you can say no and just pay the $2 fee and get a One-Day Entry Pass. I feel it's worth the $2 fee to just visit the park in the cooler months and I would pay the extra fee to swim in the hotter months. ........... The water is safe to swim in. I love the colors of the beach with blue and aqua colors. Plus there is sand that makes it look like a beach. ...... A cook out would be fun here. The outside grills aren't gas or electric but charcoal or wood can be used. There is an area adjacent from the beach that has covered seating. There are pic-nick tables all around the park. ........................................... The fish sanctuary is like a little pond There were lili pads and tiny fish in the pond. I saw a ton of goldfish. The fish sanctuary is more active in the summer months which are the hotter months. .............................................. There is a playground and it is packed with kids and parent supervising. It's a nice clean park. I haven't been in the bathrooms yet so I can't comment on that. It over all it's a beautiful park. ..... The access to the bathrooms is a little far back right before you get to the playgrounds which is a little walk back. I would use the car in this case. ........... SEE YOU SOON! read more

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Some people love to complain about anything. Our experience was good. Arrived on a Friday morning, no reservations are allowed. Campsites are first come first serve and they allowed me to reserve a second site for family arriving later in the day. Sites were very spacious. Campground fee of 24$/day plus 2$ wrist bands per person for swimming at the spring for each day. The playground was clean and was well maintained. The spring was nearly empty (our trip was in November). It was plenty warm outside. The spring is knee to waist deep on an adult except for the very middle section. Kids were able to move and swim around without too much worry of deep water. Didn't really use the bathrooms on site bc we have a camper. Alcohol is not allowed, but that concept is simple, mix your drink in a tervis, don't be a jackass and they won't give you a hard time. I enjoyed alcohol all weekend responsibly. There is a Publix and several restaurants right down the road from the park. read more

Very peaceful and serene the Spring has definitely changed a lot since we first moved to the area years ago but it's a very clean and well kept park and I'll definitely return. read more

People are always complaining that there is nothing to do in the Tampa Bay area, and while I will concede that Tampa Bay isn't one of the busiest cities in the United States, it does have many things going on. The thing is that things are not well advertised or connected to each other. You have to know the right people or discover the right location on accident someday, such is the case with Lithia Springs Park. Located in Lithia, just a short drive from Bloomingdale, Riverview, and Brandon. Lithia Springs Park is this hidden park that you could easily drive right past and never visit. I've been living in Brandon for about 4 years and had no clue this even existed. When I visited this past weekend though, I found out the place is actually pretty popular among locals and was right under my nose. The park has camp grounds, playgrounds for kids, and a really nice spring that keeps the water at 72 degrees year round (from their website). The water is chilly, a rare thing to find in summer weather when pretty much every pool or ocean water has been heated to pretty warm temperatures by the hot Florida sun. The water is also crystal clear and you can see all the fishes swimming in the water, and the sand at the bottom. Lots of families come here and relax either in the spring or around it. There's a small snack truck selling hot dogs, nachos, shaved ice, and other goods for really cheap prices. Families are grilling and picnicking in the area. It's a really nice place that I never knew existed right by me. I'll be sure to be back and drag the family along next time. read more

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I grew up coming here and have so much nostalgia every time I return. If you're a tourist or just looking for cheap relaxing fun with friends or family I would HIGHLY recommend coming to Lithia Springs. read more

Lithia Springs Park - The swimming spring has crystal clear and cool water - Parks Near Me - Lithia, Florida

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Starting to turn from a great place to a ok one, we've been here once before and it was fantastic this time several things have caught our attention. It's first come first serve camping, 30 day max, 30 50 and 110 outlet, discount for seniors, water, toilets/showers, dump station, close to shops, great cellular service, and it's a nice county park. All good but it looks like the county are shifting this to a partial weigh station for social services. Odd vehicles coming in at different times of night (there are camp hosts but no 24 hr security) using the facilities, we saw perhaps 10 county officials overseeing the moving in of at least one gentleman with a trailer full of trash and 2 pop up campers? But he only stayed a few days. One of the mens bathrooms was ransacked over night soap dispenser ripped down, the shower soap dish and curtains were ripped down and all the hooks in the facility were extreme pull tested by someone with one or two gone. My wife no longer uses the facility at night, we reported it to management but they said there was nothing they could do about it. We've adjusted our situational awareness and keep an eye out just in case, we saw no threatening behavior from anyone and we always say hello to everyone. On a positive note they're redoing the roads starting March 1st 2023 going the whole month (camping will be closed) so they are putting money into the place but it needs to be better managed by the county IMO. read more

$2 per car to enter the park, then an additional $2 per person to go into the spring itself. Very small area, and very limited walking/nature areas to see. There's a tiny overlook where you can see one of the boilers (non-Floridians, that's where the water comes up from the ground) and lots of fish. Well-maintained and pretty decent lifeguards. Young children's playground has lots of shade, which is nice. But get here early - the place is small and fills up quickly. Limited vendors, no booze allowed. read more

Such a wonderful refreshing place. Pretty accessible. Handicap parking close and only 5-6 steps to the sand and a few feet into the water. The water is very shallow until you get close to the spring and it's about 6 feet with a calm current flowing. read more

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It's not often a County park has a fresh water spring for swimming. This is a nice, well maintained park and very family friendly. The cost is $2 per vehicle, and $2 per person to swim. Dogs are allowed in the park, but not in the swimming area. There is a nice playground, with plenty of shade for the kids. The spring is nice, but not very deep. There was a grate over the boiler, so that was a bummer. Even though the water is only over three feet deep in a very small area, there were at least four lifeguards on duty at any given time. There are several picnic areas scattered all over the park, with picnic tables and grills. There are a couple of scenic nature trails, but I only partially walked one. Overall, the family and I had a great time! it's a nice place to cool off from the summer heat. Get here early, it gets very busy. read more

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Great camping sites, 45 all together. 25$ a night for full RV hookups and such. The springs are constantly 72 degrees all year. Perfect for a little break from the business of the cities. Plenty of hiking trails too. I love this place. read more

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This place was beautiful, however, the disrespect from the visitors took away the meaning of a conservation park. There were signs posted everywhere about no amplified music , and that's all you could here. You could hear peoples music even all the way on the hiking trails. There should be more monitoring in the area to insure rules are being followed to maintain the peace and serenity of a park. read more

I live so close to this park that I try to get there every week. Unfortunately during the summer it's so crowded that unless you get there right when it opens you're going to have a hard time finding any relaxation. The crowd isn't the best, drawing largely from the surrounding rural communities. Lots of rednecks about! And unfortunately a lot of people that attend the park don't understand what a spring is, and there isn't adequate signage explaining it. I've heard such things as there's a pipe that pumps the water in, and one that pumps the water out. The pump that pumps out that the person is referencing is a pipe and pump station operated by phosphate giant Mosaic, taking precious water from the spring. The pump has a constant whirring sound which disrupts the serenity of the park. The environmental stewardship of the park needs a big improvement. There are no signs near the main swimming area explaining what the spring is and why it's important to not litter. Countless times I've been near someone smoking next to the spring who leave their cigarette butts. I'd really love Hillsborough Co to ban smoking at its recreation areas. Not only is it a health issue, but it's also an environmental issue when cigarette butts litter our public areas. There are also no recycling containers available. The camping area is very nice, wooded with large sites. Also close to the canoe ramp. Have had several great trips up the river. It's just unfortunate a lot of the wildlife still hasn't returned following the giant phosphate release into the Alafia River in the 90's. For that reason swimming is not allowed in the river. There are also plentiful bbq's, picnic tables and pavilions for having get-togethers, read more

This Park comes so close to being the perfect recreational area except for a few things that could be improved. 1. The policy for buying a ticket to the spring is bogus. Upon entering, you will be told that the springs will be closed if the weather is iffy. Obviously, they have to close them if there are thunderstorms. Well, we paid the $2 to get in and enjoy the parks with our daughter. You are NOT allowed to buy a ticket to the spring once you enter if the spring is closed. When we took a walk to find the springs after playing, what did we see? More than 100 people swimming in the spring that we were told we could not get tickets to because they closed it! Another family was told the same thing when they entered the park and was beyond frustrated! We went up to the life guard on duty and asked if we could pay the fee at the spring gate to which he replied rudely that there was absolutely nothing he could do. We had to go all the way back to the front to get tickets! It is a pain in the ass to get out to the spring when you are fully unpacked only to find out that you have to cart your kid/s (if you have them) and belongings back to the front gate to buy tickets since it reopened. Who came up with this policy? Get on the ball guys. Sell your tickets at the actual spring so people do not have to drive back and forth and be inconvenienced. 2. When putting in a complaint about how rude the lifeguard was to my husband (who was not rude in return), the employee did not care. So, they have some sucky employees. 3. There are no hiking trails. Big shame. If there were trails, if they fixed their dumb policy, and if the few employees were a bit nicer to guests, then this would be the absolute perfect nature park to be at imo. As for the awesome things here, there are a lot. You can easily spend the whole day here. We have a 2 yr. old and she loved it. The area itself is very clean. The parks for the kids to play at are great. There was a volleyball net (probably more than one), tons of pavilions for picnics and grills for grilling. The spring itself was very nice. I overheard one of the employees also telling someone that there is fishing in the back. Very cool. The atmosphere is also very nature-like as it is surrounded by palm trees and those trees that have the hanging moss. It was cool like being near a swamp. It's fun here, a great place to spend the day with family and friends, and a super cheap outing. It's worth it. Just make sure that it isn't over-casted when you go. We didn't know what to expect so we didn't bring anything with us, but If you go to the springs to swim for the first time, bring rafts. There is sand too in areas so make sure to bring buckets for the kids, and whatever pool items they play with. It is worth coming to the springs on a hot day over the hassle of the beach if you have small children. read more

I love this park it is best when there are not a ton of people in it so I recommend going early in the morning after the springs have 'flushed' yesterday's water into the Alafia. The water is best closest to the source, bring your mask as there Are always a ton of colorful fish to watch. In the late afternoon the staff is looking for any excuse to shut down the water hole early so plan accordingly.... read more