Our guide below will help you make the most of your trip, by letting you know what mistakes to avoid in Florida Springs!
I hope you can use the mistakes and helpful tips I have learned on my many visits to the Springs as your Florida Springs travel guide!
There are over 1000 Springs in the State of Florida, and wonderful to visit year-round! Many of the most popular Springs are located in North-Central Florida and are known for their crisp crystal clear water, perfect for swimming, tubing, or paddle boarding. We hope this guide helps you plan the perfect visit to the Springs!
If you are overwhelmed by which springs to visit, here are our 17 favorite springs in Florida to visit! Here is a map of Florida springs to help in the planning of your adventure!
10 Big Mistakes To Avoid At The Florida Springs
Mistake #1: Assuming you will 100% see an Alligator
As with any Florida body of water, there is ALWAYS the POSSIBILITY of seeing an alligator! This is something that anyone visiting should be aware of. I have not seen an alligator at any of the Springs I have visited.
When the Springs are busy, and visitors are splashing in the water, the alligators seem to stay away and be in warmer water. If you want a 0% chance of seeing an alligator, go to Devil’s Den! Here is a list of the best places to see alligators in Florida!
Mistake #2: Assuming you can always see Manatees
I have heard many people exclaim that they did not get to see manatees when visiting the Springs! In my experience, manatees are usually only in the springs during wintertime(as they move towards warmer water), when most visitors do not think to visit Springs.
The best chance of seeing manatees is from the middle of November through the end of March. Peak manatee activity from December to February.
Manatee Springs State Park is one of the best places to see manatees! You can check our guide to the best place to see manatees in Florida! Or visit Silver Springs State Park where you can see manatees from the glass bottom boat!
Just remember that you should NEVER touch or feed wild manatees in Florida!
Mistake #3: Not reserving parking in advance
This is a mistake I have made in the past when I first started visiting Florida Springs. There are some Springs that I will list below that you MUST book parking in advance!! I would do your research, especially if visiting during holidays, weekends, or during peak summertime.
It is easy to reserve parking directly on the website of the Springs and is required at the following.
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area
- Silver Glen Springs
Additionally, another the mistakes to avoid at the springs in Florida is not booking the camping at the Springs in advance if you plan to do so. Each park has a limited number of camping spots that fill up during the busy season.
Mistake #4. Not visiting the springs during off-season
One of the biggest mistakes to avoid in Florida Springs is visiting only during the summertime. I think this is a huge mistake. When visiting during the off-season, the springs are far less crowded, the water actually feels warmer, and you can visit on weekends without risking the springs being at capacity.
Central Florida stays warm into the fall and spring, so if you visit during these months, you don’t have to compete with crowds, and the weather is still warm!
Springtime is actually my favorite time of year to visit the springs ( just remember if you visit during spring break it will be busier than normal!). While visiting during wintertime you will have the highest chance of seeing manatees.
Mistake #5. Not reserving Devil’s Den in advance
Another of the mistakes to avoid at the springs in Florida is not pre-booking! Devil’s Den is one of my favorite Florida Springs!
If you want to learn all about visiting make sure to check out our article on what you NEED TO KNOW! This prehistoric spring is a must-visit for snorkelers and divers. If you are interested in diving, checkout our list of the best Springs to dive at! This Springs is truly unlike any other you will visit in the state!
You MUST reserve Devil’s Den snorkeling or diving online in advance! Or you risk showing up and being turned away because they are at capacity. You can reserve your spot at the website: devilsden.com, or you can call at 352-528-3344!
Please note, while they do offer walk-up spots they are not guaranteed, especially during the busy season.
Mistake #6. Not arriving EARLY on holidays or weekends
I can not stress this enough! Especially on busy holiday weekends ( Memorial, 4th of July, Spring Break) some places such as Rock Springs (or Ginnie Springs) people line up at like 5am to hopefully get in! This means you will want to plan ahead. I like arriving no later than 8 am on weekends, or during holiday times, especially during summer when school is out!
If you have the opportunity to visit the springs during the week, I highly recommend this option, as there are far fewer visitors on a Tuesday than there will be on a Saturday! But, not to worry, with some planning, you can enjoy a weekend visit too!
This is especially true of Rock Springs Park, Gilchrist Springs, and Ichetucknee Springs
Mistake #7: Not expecting the water to be cold
The Florida springs stay at a constant 68 to 72 F YEAR ROUND. This means the hotter it is outside the colder the springs will feel, but that does not mean it is not enjoyable to go.
I actually prefer to visit the springs during the fall and spring, as the temperature difference between the outside air and water is not as large, as during the summertime when it can reach 90 or 100 degrees.
Don’t let the cold water scare you, your body quickly adjusts and it ends up being quite enjoyable once you are used to the water temperature. And if the water is still too chilly, why not try paddle boarding!
Mistake 8: Assuming there will be plenty of phone service
Learn from my mistake, and make sure you download maps offline, ahead of time, as service can be VERY spotty. Some springs are located within the Ocala National Forest, or in rural areas with heavy tree cover away from cell towers.
Manatee Springs comes to mind, as does Rainbow Springs (Florida Springs tips), and Juniper Springs.
While others like Ginnie Springs (helpful tips), I have never had cell phone reception issues! Just remember to do some research if it is your first time to Florida Springs!
Mistake #9: Not all Springs are child-friendly
This is another of the big mistakes to avoid is assuming that all the Springs are child-friendly. In my opinion, the Springs that best cater to families, and those with small children have shallow areas where children can stand or play.
A few that come to mind are below:
- Gilchrist Blue Springs in North Florida
- Alexander Springs (one of the most family-friendly) Springs near Orlando
- Ichetucknee State Park (love the lazy river for tubing) near Gainesville
- Weeki Wachee -( Has a waterpark and mermaid show) Springs near Tampa
Mistake # 10: Not all Springs are swimmable
This is another of the mistakes not to make when planning a visit to Florida Springs. Some of these springs include Silver Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Three-sisters ( unless you kayak out), and Wekiwa Springs.
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