Should you go?
Rock Springs pours out of a rock face at the top of Kelly Park and runs a gentle three-quarter-mile lazy river perfect for cheap tubes and kids — the closest genuinely great spring run to Orlando, 30 minutes from downtown.
Because it is close, cheap, and beloved, it also fills faster than almost any spring in Florida: summer capacity closures before 10am are routine.
Visiting
Admission is a flat $5/vehicle regardless of occupants ($10/bus), effective August 11, 2026 (verified against Orange County's own park page) — this replaces the older tiered $3 (1-2 people) / $5 (3-8 people) rate. Kelly Park is Orange County's second-oldest park, and Rock Springs itself pumps out roughly 26,000 gallons of crystal-clear water a minute — the source of that famously cold, fast-flowing lazy river everyone comes for. It's genuinely one of the coldest-feeling springs on this list, worth knowing if anyone in your group runs cold. There's no food service inside the park at all, so pack a picnic — this catches first-timers off guard more than almost anything else here.
Tubes aren't rented in the park either; the go-to spot is Rock Springs Bar & Grill just up the road at 4939 Rock Springs Road, $7 for the day, and they'll hold your driver's license as collateral until you return it. The run itself is short — about a 20-30 minute float depending on how much you paddle versus drift — which is actually a feature for families with younger kids, since it's easy to do it two or three times in a morning without anyone getting worn out.
You take the tube out at the end and either walk back up or take the shuttle, depending on which section you started from. One thing worth knowing before you commit to a summer weekend: the park does close for the day once it hits capacity, sometimes as early as 9am, and this happens often enough that the county posts real-time closure notices online — check before you leave home.
If you do get turned away, the first 50 cars in the overflow queue get vouchers for re-entry at 1pm, which is worth knowing rather than just giving up and driving home. A wheelchair-accessible pool lift is available for anyone who needs it. In the interest of honest expectations: reviews are genuinely split. Most families love it, but a few describe peak summer weekends as crowded enough that the water gets stirred up and murky by afternoon, with long lines and limited parking.
The gap between an early weekday morning and a packed Saturday afternoon here is bigger than at almost any other spring on this list.
By the numbers: Rock Springs is a second-magnitude spring discharging around 26,000 gallons a minute (roughly 37 million gallons a day) from a partly submerged limestone cavern — the opening is only about 5 feet across at the mouth, narrowing to a 3-foot throat, at the base of a 20-foot bluff. The run itself is about three-quarters of a mile through the park before it continues on as Rock Springs Run, which flows roughly 8.5-8.6 miles further to the Wekiva River. Water stays a cold, constant 68-72°F year-round. Kelly Park sits about 20 miles/25-30 minutes from downtown Orlando, roughly 75 miles/1.5 hours from Tampa, and about 60 miles/1 hour from Daytona Beach.
When to go
Weekday mornings, hands down — this is one of the most capacity-constrained springs on the list, and summer weekends routinely see cars lined up before the gate opens. If a weekend is your only option, arrive right at opening.
Local tips
Get there early, genuinely early — multiple families describe lining up outside the gate before opening on summer weekends, with some reports of cars queuing as early as 4:30am on the busiest days, and the park reaches capacity fast once it does open (Orange County caps it at roughly 280 vehicles for the morning session, then releases up to 50 more afternoon vouchers on a first-come basis after 1pm). There's a capacity hotline (407-254-1906) you can call ahead to check current status before making the drive, which is worth doing if you're coming any real distance.
Water shoes aren't optional here — the spring floor is rocky, and more than a few reviewers learned that the hard way. Bring a waterproof bag for phones and snacks if you're floating the run, and bug spray if you plan to walk any of the nature trails afterward.
Tubes must be inflated before you arrive or bought pre-inflated — there's no air pump on site, which catches people off guard if they show up with a flat tube expecting to fill it at the gate; tubes also can't exceed 5 feet in length or width. One small joy worth mentioning: deer sometimes come down to drink at the water's edge while people float by, close enough that kids get genuinely excited about it.
Despite the short 20-30 minute float, plan on 3-4 hours total once you account for parking, tube setup, and doing the run more than once — almost nobody floats it just a single time.
Rules & restrictions
No alcohol, no glass. No tube rentals inside the park — bring your own or rent from a vendor before you arrive. Pets are not permitted in the water. No pets except ADA service animals — this is strictly enforced, no exceptions for regular pets.
Good to know
Dogs: No pets. Season: Year-round.
Facilities
Restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions (bring your own food — there's no concession inside), and a campground. Nature trails wind through the surrounding 355 acres if you want to stretch the day beyond the water. For food, you're close enough to Apopka proper that a wider range of options is just a short drive away if the picnic plan falls through — but most families report packing lunch and making a full day of it without leaving.
The campground has 26 sites plus 2 group sites, established on land donated by Dr. Howard A. Kelly back in 1927 for use as a public park and wildlife preserve. For food and supplies, Rock Springs Bar & Grill, a Publix, and an Ace Hardware are all close by in Apopka. A group or bus rate exists too: $10 plus $1 per person, useful for anyone organizing a larger outing.
For a longer paddle on the same water, King's Landing (a private outfitter, not part of Kelly Park) launches kayak and paddleboard trips down the full 8.5-mile Rock Springs Run to Wekiva Island — rentals run about $64 for a single kayak or $84 for a double, both including a return shuttle, and the trip takes 4-6 hours for experienced paddlers; bringing your own boat costs $30/adult, $25/child. Reservations are required and fill up on weekends.
Our nearest sister spring is /springs/wekiwa-springs/, a short drive south and part of the same Wekiva River system, worth pairing with Kelly Park if you want a second, quieter spring the same day.
Wildlife you may see
Deer are a genuine possibility right at the water's edge, along with turtles, fish, and birds visible from the tube run itself — several families specifically mention this as a highlight for kids.
History & background
Kelly Park has been an Orange County institution since the 1920s, making it the second-oldest park in the county, and generations of Central Florida families have grown up floating this same run.
The land was donated in 1927 by Dr. Howard A. Kelly specifically for use as a public park and wildlife preserve, and the county has run it continuously as public parkland ever since — nearly a century now. The August 2026 switch to a flat $5-per-vehicle rate, replacing the older pricing tiered by vehicle occupancy, was Orange County's response to years of complaints about the old system penalizing larger families and groups.
Map & directions
FAQs
How early does Kelly Park fill up?
On summer weekends the park routinely reaches vehicle capacity within one to two hours of the 8am opening — sometimes faster, with lines reported forming well before dawn. Arrive before the gate opens.
Is Rock Springs good for young kids?
Yes — the tube run is shallow, slow, and short, making it one of the best first spring runs for small children.
How much is Kelly Park?
$5 per vehicle, flat rate regardless of occupants ($10 per bus), effective August 11, 2026 per Orange County's own park page — this replaced the older tiered $3 (1-2 people) / $5 (3-8 people) rate. Tube rentals outside the gate are inexpensive.
Does Kelly Park rent tubes?
No, not inside the park. Rock Springs Bar & Grill at 4939 Rock Springs Road, just up the street, rents them for $7/day and holds your driver's license as collateral.
Is there food at Kelly Park?
No concession inside the park — bring a picnic. This surprises a lot of first-time visitors, so plan ahead.
How cold is the water at Rock Springs?
It runs a consistent 68-72°F year-round, notably cold even by Florida spring standards — which is exactly why it's such a popular summer escape.
What happens if Kelly Park is at capacity when you arrive?
The park closes for the day once capacity is reached, sometimes by 9am on summer weekends. The first 50 cars in the overflow queue receive vouchers for re-entry at 1pm, so it's worth checking with the park's info line (407-254-1906) before giving up entirely.
Is there a wheelchair-accessible way into the water at Kelly Park?
Yes, a pool lift is available for visitors who need it.
Is Kelly Park always crowded?
Not always — weekday mornings and off-season visits are genuinely calm. But summer weekends are a different story, and reviews describe long lines and water that gets stirred up and less clear by afternoon on the busiest days.
Can you inflate a tube at Kelly Park?
No — there's no air pump on site, so arrive with your tube already inflated or plan to buy one pre-inflated nearby. Tubes also can't exceed 5 feet in length or width.
How long does the Rock Springs tube run take?
About 20-30 minutes of actual floating for the three-quarter-mile run, though most visitors budget 3-4 hours total for parking, setup, and doing it more than once.
Can you reserve a spot at Kelly Park in advance?
No — Orange County doesn't take reservations for general admission. It's first-come, first-served, which is exactly why early arrival matters so much on weekends.
Can you bring your own kayak or paddleboard to Rock Springs?
Not for the short tube run inside Kelly Park itself — that stretch is really built for tubing. For paddling, King's Landing just downstream launches the full 8.5-mile Rock Springs Run to the Wekiva River, and you can bring your own boat there for a per-person launch fee.
Is there cell service at Kelly Park?
Coverage is generally decent given how close the park is to Orlando and Apopka, though signal can weaken in the more wooded sections along the run.
Are there alligators at Rock Springs?
They're uncommon in the immediate tube-run area given the volume of people and current, but alligators are present in the wider Rock Springs Run and Wekiva River system downstream — something to be aware of if you paddle beyond the park.
Is Kelly Park worth it in winter?
Yes for a walk or a picnic, but the tube run is a much colder proposition once air temperatures drop — the water itself barely changes, so a summer-warm spring feels genuinely cold in December and January.
Visitor photos
See this week’s shots: Instagram #rocksprings · TikTok #kellypark
Great for: Camping · Family-Friendly · Snorkeling · Swimming · Tubing
