Planning a trip to Blue Spring State Park? You'll need to secure a spot online before you head out. The park is rolling out a new reservation requirement for all day-use visitors, a policy designed to cut down on the traffic backups that have long plagued the entrance gates.
The change applies across the board — annual passholders, pedestrians, and cyclists are all included, not just drivers paying at the gate. Reservations opened for booking on July 8, giving visitors a window to plan ahead before enforcement kicks in.
Full enforcement of the new policy begins July 15, so anyone arriving without an advance reservation after that date should expect to be turned away. The park is encouraging visitors to book as early as possible, especially for weekend visits when demand tends to run high.
Blue Spring, located along the St. Johns River in Orange City, is one of Florida's most popular manatee viewing destinations and draws large crowds year-round for swimming, snorkeling, and tubing in its crystal-clear 72-degree waters.
This story was first reported by Fox 35 Orlando.
