Both are worth a trip, but they suit different travelers. Here is the honest side-by-side to help you choose — or fit both into one route.
They sit about 11 miles apart, which makes doing both in one trip realistic. Here is how they actually differ.
| Alexander Springs | Juniper Springs | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.1 / 10 |
| Entry fee | ~$8 / person (USFS) | ~$8 / person (USFS) |
| Hours | 8am – 8pm (seasonal) | 8am – 8pm (seasonal) |
| Magnitude | 1st magnitude | 2nd magnitude |
| Nearest town | Ocala National Forest | Ocala National Forest |
| Best for | The easiest first-magnitude swim in the state | A CCC-era swimming hole and Florida's most famous paddle run |
| Good for | Camping, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Swimming | Camping, Kayaking, Swimming |
| When to go | ||
| Current conditions | Open · quiet weekdays, busy summer Saturdays | Open · run launches limited, reserve in season |
Alexander Springs
Alexander is the gentlest of Florida's first-magnitude springs: a huge, gradually-sloping sandy basin in the Ocala National Forest where you can wade in like a beach. It is also one of the few springs where open-water scuba is allowed without cave certification. The surrounding forest keeps…
Local tip: Weekdays are blissfully quiet. Snorkel the vegetation line at the basin's edge for the fish life.
Full guide, fees & map →Juniper Springs
Juniper is the storybook one: a stone-walled 1930s swimming basin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, an old mill house with a turning waterwheel, and palms leaning over water the color of bottle glass. The Juniper Run is the headline — a narrow, twisting 7-mile paddle…
Local tip: The run takes 3–4+ hours with constant steering — bring more water than you think and leave the cooler behind. Swim the basin after, not before.
Full guide, fees & map →