Florida’s freshwater springs were tourism draws long before the state’s major theme parks, from Silver Springs’ glass-bottom boat rides to Weeki Wachee’s mermaid show. A recent two-day, roughly 300-mile itinerary described by Orlando Sentinel writer Patrick Connolly shows how travelers can link several of those sites by car.
The route begins at Rock Springs at Kelly Park in Apopka, where visitors can float a natural tube run from the Rock Springs Run headwaters. Orange County’s 355-acre park has a swimming area, pavilions, grills, restrooms and a concession stand. Admission is $3 per vehicle for one or two people and $5 for vehicles carrying three to eight people; the report notes that summer days can fill the park early.
At Silver Springs State Park, glass-bottom boat tours offer views into the spring system that feeds the Silver River. The tours began in the late 1870s and now include information on films shot in the area, local wildlife and the springs’ condition. The 30-minute tour costs $17, plus a $2 per-person park admission fee before taxes, and advance online reservations are recommended during busy periods.
Juniper Springs, within the 387,000-acre Ocala National Forest, adds swimming, camping and a historic Civilian Conservation Corps-era mill house and waterwheel. Its seven-mile paddle run passes through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, where motorized vehicles are not allowed. Day admission is $14.50 per person plus tax, while camping is listed at $46 nightly plus taxes and fees.
In Williston, Devil’s Den is a private snorkeling and diving site centered on a spring inside a 120-foot-wide cave. The property also has camping and John’s Oasis swimming pond. A 90-minute snorkeling session costs $30 per person, while a non-snorkeling day pass is $15; rentals and diving are available separately.
The itinerary also includes Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, an area known for manatees. Connolly’s account notes that visitors can join guided swimming tours with local outfitters to see the animals, though the supplied report does not list tour prices or specific operators.
The route illustrates the variety within Florida’s spring country: tubing near Orlando, historic boat rides around Silver Springs, backcountry paddling in Ocala National Forest, underground snorkeling in Williston and manatee viewing on the Gulf Coast.
