Should you go?
Lithia Springs is Tampa's hometown swimming hole — a clear, walled basin on the Alafia River about 30 minutes southeast of the city, run as a Hillsborough County park with a campground attached.
It is not the most dramatic spring in Florida, but it is the only genuinely good one within easy reach of Tampa, which makes it the answer to a question thousands of people search every summer.
Visiting
Park entry is $2 per vehicle (up to 8 people), and swimming adds $2 per person (Hillsborough County rates). Park hours are 8am to 7pm in spring and summer and 8am to 6pm in fall and winter, with the swim area closing an hour before the park. The park closes the swim area periodically after heavy rain when bacteria counts rise, so check the county's status page before driving. Camping is available. For camping: The closest campground-with-a-spring to Tampa, run by Hillsborough County on the Alafia River.
For swim: The closest genuinely good swimming spring to Tampa — a walled basin on the Alafia River that's the honest answer to "is there a spring near Tampa?" Here's the system that catches people off guard: per Hillsborough County's own park page, swimming runs in two timed blocks, 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, with capacity capped at 200 swimmers per block. On weekends the morning block regularly sells out before 10am, so if you arrive expecting to just walk in, you may end up buying the afternoon slot instead and filling the morning with something else nearby.
Swim bands are sold on-site only, can't be purchased for someone not present, and stop selling an hour before the block ends. The basin itself is mostly a shallow 3 feet, with one deeper 7-8 foot spot in the middle that draws a crowd — genuinely good for young kids overall, since most of the swim area is easy wading depth.
One thing worth flagging: the county charges a separate $2-per-vehicle park entrance fee on top of the $2-per-person swim fee, so budget for both if swimming is the plan.
By the numbers: Lithia is a second-magnitude spring discharging an average of about 35 million gallons a day into the Alafia River. The vent sits in 10-15 feet of water under a limestone outcropping roughly 500 feet from the river, and the water holds a steady 72°F year-round — regulars call it the warmest spring in the Tampa Bay area. The park covers 160 acres total. Lithia sits about 20 miles (30-35 minutes) southeast of downtown Tampa, roughly 50 minutes from Sarasota, and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Orlando.
When to go
Cooler months when bacteria closures are less frequent. Always verify the swim area is open before driving.
Local tips
Plan around the swim-block system rather than showing up expecting open access — check current times and arrive early if the morning block matters to you. Lifeguards are on duty, a real plus for families with young swimmers. If you get shut out of a block, Alafia River State Park and Edward Medard Regional Park are both close by as backup plans.
Regulars note the swim bands are on-site only, cannot be bought for someone not present, and stop selling an hour before the block ends — don't plan on a late walk-up entry. Bring water shoes; there are rough spots on the limestone-lined basin bottom. The park occasionally hosts evening "night swim" events in summer with extended hours — worth checking the county's events calendar if visiting in July or August. Pets and service animals aren't allowed in the swim/spring area itself even though the rest of the park is leash-friendly, so plan to leave the dog at the picnic area or home if swimming is the goal.
The closest other springs on this site are Weeki Wachee Springs and Chassahowitzka Springs, both roughly 45 minutes to an hour north, and Warm Mineral Springs, about an hour south near Sarasota.
Rules & restrictions
The swim area closes after heavy rain when bacteria levels rise — this happens often enough to check every time. No alcohol, no glass.
Per Hillsborough County's own park page: pets and service animals are prohibited in the swim/spring area specifically (leashed pets are fine elsewhere in the park), bounce houses aren't permitted, and swim band purchases are non-refundable once sold.
Good to know
Dogs: Yes, leashed. Season: Year-round.
Facilities
Restrooms, showers, a large playground, volleyball courts, and 45 campsites with water, electricity, and fire pits (RV and tent). Youth group camping is available separately for organized groups of 12-50 at $2/person/night. Hillsborough County's own listing confirms the park runs two 4-hour swim blocks daily (9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, capped at 200 swimmers per slot), with the water area sanitized between blocks and closed entirely during thunderstorms — worth factoring into a visit plan, since you can't simply show up and swim whenever you like the way you can at most other springs on this list.
Camping rates scale by age: the standard rate is $24/night (up to 8 people), seniors 55+ pay $18/night, and Hillsborough County residents 65+ pay $12/night. Cell signal is inconsistent across the property — don't count on it near the swim basin.
Wildlife you may see
Turtles and fish in the basin, alligators in the Alafia River, and good birding along the park's trails.
By season: spring and fall are best for birding along the trails; summer brings the most swimmers and the most visible turtles and fish in the basin; alligators are more likely spotted in the Alafia River itself rather than inside the walled swim basin, and sightings pick up in the warmer months.
History & background
The land was originally purchased by a phosphate mining company (Gardinier, Inc., later Mosaic) and leased for public recreation starting in 1957 — an unusual origin story shared with a few other Florida springs whose land passed through industrial hands before becoming parks. Per Hillsborough County's own page for the park, the full property — officially Lithia Springs Conservation Park — covers 160 acres, considerably more than just the walled swimming basin most day visitors see, which is part of why camping, hiking trails, and birding are all real options here alongside the swim.
Map & directions
FAQs
How does swimming work at Lithia Springs?
Swimming runs in two timed blocks per day, with capacity capped per slot and the water area sanitized between them and closed during storms. Confirm current block times and pricing on Hillsborough County's own park page before you go, since they've shifted over time.
Is Lithia Springs good for young kids?
Yes — most of the basin is a shallow, easy-wading 3 feet, with one deeper 7-8 foot spot in the middle for those wanting more, and lifeguards are on duty.
What if the swim block at Lithia Springs is sold out?
Consider the afternoon block instead, or head to nearby Alafia River State Park or Edward Medard Regional Park while you wait.
Is there camping at Lithia Springs?
Yes — 45 campsites with water, electricity, and fire pits for RVs and tents, plus separate discounted camping for organized youth groups of 12-50.
How big is Lithia Springs Conservation Park?
160 acres total, per Hillsborough County — far more than just the swim basin, with room for camping, trails, and birding beyond the water.
Is the Lithia Springs swim area open right now?
Check first — conditions can change quickly after heavy rain, when Hillsborough County has closed the swim area for elevated bacteria in the past. The rest of the park can stay open even when swimming is paused.
Is there cell service at Lithia Springs?
Coverage is spotty across the park and can drop out near the swim basin itself. Don't rely on it for anything time-sensitive.
Can you bring your own tube or kayak to Lithia Springs?
The swim area is a supervised, timed-block swim zone, not really set up for personal floats or kayaks in the basin itself. Paddlers generally use the Alafia River portion of the park instead of the walled spring pool.
Are there alligators at Lithia Springs?
Alligators live in the Alafia River that borders the park, but sightings inside the walled, actively supervised swim basin are rare. Stay out of the river itself outside designated areas.
How cold does Lithia Springs feel?
At a steady 72°F, it feels refreshing rather than shocking, especially in summer heat — locals call it the warmest spring in the Tampa Bay area, which is part of why it's comfortable even for young kids.
Is Lithia Springs open today, and what are the hours?
Hillsborough County lists the park as open 8am-7pm in spring and summer and 8am-6pm in fall and winter, with the swim area closing an hour before the park. Swimming runs in two slots, 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, capped at 200 swimmers each. Because the swim area can close after heavy rain or storms, check the county's park page or call (813) 744-5572 the morning you go.
Where is Lithia Springs, Florida, and what does it cost?
Lithia Springs is a second-magnitude spring inside Lithia Springs Conservation Park, a Hillsborough County park at 3932 Lithia Springs Rd. in Lithia, on the Alafia River about 20 miles southeast of downtown Tampa. Entry is $2 per vehicle (up to 8 people) and swimming adds $2 per person, per the county's park page. The water holds a steady 72°F year-round.
Visitor photos
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Great for: Camping · Family-Friendly · Swimming
