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Should you go?
From roughly November through March, hundreds of manatees crowd into Blue Spring's warm run to escape the cold St. Johns River — counts in recent winters have topped 700 on cold mornings. The boardwalk view of that gathering is one of the best wildlife spectacles in the eastern United States.
In summer the manatees disperse and the run opens to swimmers and snorkelers, becoming a superb (and popular) swimming spring a half hour from Orlando.
Visiting
$6 per vehicle, 8am to sunset. In manatee season the run is closed to all swimming and paddling — viewing is from the boardwalk, and the park regularly reaches capacity on cold winter mornings by 9–10am. In summer, swimming and the spring run are open.
Local tips
For manatees: go the morning after the first real cold snap, arrive before opening. For swimming: summer weekdays. Kayak the St. Johns from the adjacent launch year-round.
Map & directions
FAQs
When can you see manatees at Blue Spring?
Manatee season runs roughly mid-November through March, with the biggest counts on the coldest mornings. The park posts daily counts in season.
Can you swim with manatees at Blue Spring?
No. The spring run closes to swimmers during manatee season u2014 viewing is from the boardwalk. Legal in-water manatee encounters happen only at Crystal River on permitted tours.
Does Blue Spring State Park fill up?
Yes u2014 on cold winter mornings and summer weekends the park regularly hits vehicle capacity early. Arrive at or before 8am opening.
Visitor photos
See this week's shots: Instagram #bluespringstatepark · TikTok #bluespringstatepark
Great for: Family-Friendly · Kayaking · Manatees · Snorkeling · Swimming — in Central Florida