Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park, on the St. Johns River near Orange City, protects a first-magnitude spring that pours out crystal-clear 72°F water year-round. In winter, that warmth makes it one of Florida's most important refuges for manatees, which gather here by the hundreds.

In the warm months the spring run is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and tubing in transparent blue water, while a boardwalk follows the run year-round for wildlife viewing.

In summer, visitors swim, snorkel, tube, and scuba dive in the clear spring run, paddle the St. Johns River, and hike the boardwalk and trails; in winter, swimming closes and the focus shifts to manatee viewing from the boardwalk.

November–March is peak manatee season, when hundreds shelter in the spring (swimming is closed then). Late spring through fall is the time for swimming and snorkeling in the warm, clear run.

Long used by Native peoples and later 19th-century steamboat travelers on the St. Johns River, Blue Spring became a state park in 1972, and its manatee refuge has driven a remarkable recovery in the local population.

Blue Spring is a first-magnitude artesian spring, discharging tens of millions of gallons daily from the Floridan aquifer through a deep limestone vent, feeding a clear run to the St. Johns River.

Hundreds of West Indian manatees winter in the spring; the park and river also host alligators, gar, turtles, wading birds, and the occasional Florida black bear in the surrounding forest.

The constant-temperature spring and its run, fringed by floodplain forest along the St. Johns River, create a critical thermal refuge in winter and a clear-water ecosystem of fish and aquatic life.

Blue Spring is a celebrated symbol of Florida's manatee conservation and spring heritage, drawing visitors statewide each winter to witness the gathering of the gentle 'sea cows.'

Near Orange City, about 45 minutes north of Orlando off Interstate 4, with a per-vehicle entrance fee. The park can reach capacity on winter weekends and cool mornings.

Manatees are protected — swimming and boating in the spring run are restricted in winter to avoid disturbing them. Never touch or chase manatees, and protect the spring's water quality.

In summer, watch for currents in the run and other swimmers; alligators inhabit the river, so swim only in designated areas. Use sun protection and stay hydrated.

The St. Johns River, Hontoon Island State Park, DeLand, and the springs and attractions of the Orlando area are all close.

Come on a cold winter morning for the most manatees (arrive early — the park fills fast), or visit in summer to snorkel the clear run. Walk the boardwalk for guaranteed wildlife viewing year-round.