Blue Spring State Park

This Florida State Park Has a Caribbean-blue, Spring-fed Swimming Hole and Is a Gathering Site for Hundreds of Manatees

"Florida at its finest, this 2,600-acre park west of Orange City and north of Orlando revolves around a first‑magnitude spring that pours more than 70 million gallons of crystal‑clear, turquoise water into the St. Johns River each day and stays a refreshing 72°F year‑round for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and even scuba. That constant warmth makes it one of the state’s largest winter gathering sites for West Indian manatees; from November through March the spring run closes to water activities and becomes a magical refuge where you watch hundreds of manatees from the boardwalk and observation platform, with daily interpretive programs and exhibits along the Spring Run boardwalk. Wildlife sightings go beyond manatees—otters, fish, scrub jays, gopher tortoises, deer, bears, and a variety of birds all make appearances—and hiking options include the 3.6‑mile (one‑way) Pine Island Trail, plus weekly yoga and monthly full‑moon hikes. When the water is open (late March/early April through mid‑November), the smartest swim is to walk the boardwalk to the diver’s entry, head briefly against the current into the spring head known as “the boil,” then float the run back to the swim deck—and on hot days, just jump in rather than easing into the 72°. Time a visit for manatee season, the mid‑March firefly display from the Florida single snappy firefly, or summer’s tubing‑and‑paddle fun—there’s really no bad time to explore." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

This Is the Most-visited State Park in the U.S. for 2025—and It Has 19 Waterfalls in 2 Miles

"I noted Blue Spring State Park in Florida was ranked No. 9 on Google Maps' top-visited state parks list." - Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer who specializes in stories at the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She has lived in Turkey for nearly a decade and has traveled extensively around the region. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

23 Best Things to Do in Orlando With Kids

"During cooler months, manatees gather in the park's clear waters, viewable from a boardwalk." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Manatees Migrate to Blue Springs In the winter months, manatees seek the warmer, shallow waters of Blue Springs State Park. An observation deck allows for viewing of the manatees. It's quite a sight—seeing the gentle, endangered species. I was invited to canoe with a manatee researcher for Save the Manatees. Massive manatees came up to and swam under our canoe, while the baby manatees stayed shyly close to their mothers. Paved paths, hiking trails, and canoe and kayak rentals are available."