Kelly Park + Rock Springs

✦ Location: 400 E Kelly Park Rd, Apopka, FL 32712
✦ Best For: Tubing, swimming, relaxing in shallow water
✦ Admission: $3 per vehicle (1–2 people), $5 per vehicle (3–8 people)
✦ Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM; last entry at 4 PM
✦ More Info: Rock Springs Tubing Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: The park reaches capacity very early in summer — often before 9 AM.

Kelly Park is home to Rock Springs Run, often called a “natural lazy river.” The tubing route is about 3/4 mile and takes 20–30 minutes to float, with a short walk back to the start. Tubes are not available inside the park, but you can rent from nearby vendors or bring your own (must be under 5’ wide). The spring is 68°F year-round and also offers camping, hiking, and paddling opportunities.

Blue Spring State Park

✦ Location: 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
✦ Best For: Swimming, tubing, kayaking, manatee viewing (in winter)
✦ Admission: $6 per vehicle (up to 8 people)
✦ Hours: 8 AM – sundown, 365 days a year
✦ More Info: State Park Website | Tubing + Park Concessionaire Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: Tubing is only available during the warmer months and can close if the current is too strong — always check before you go.

Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge in the winter and a favorite tubing and swimming spot in the warmer months. The water is crystal-clear and 72°F year-round. The tubing run is short (about 1/8 mile) but fun, and you can loop back to do it again. Tubes are not available to rent inside the park but can be rented just outside the entrance. The park also offers hiking trails, a playground, a boardwalk, and kayak/canoe rentals, Scuba Diving, and St. Johns River Boat Tours (Book in advance through Blue Springs Adventures)

As of April 1, 2025, swimming, tubing, snorkeling, and paddling are temporarily closed at Blue Spring State Park while shoreline stabilization work is underway. Check the park website for updates.

Rainbow River Tubing + KP Hole Park

Tubing the Rainbow River is one of the best ways to experience Florida’s natural beauty. There are two launch sites on opposite sides of the river – KP Hole Park and Rainbow Springs Tubing. Both launch points offer shuttle service and tube rentals, but they operate independently and have separate parking, fees, and rules.

KP Hole Park

✦ Location: 9435 SW 190th Avenue Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432
✦ Best For: Tubing, kayaking, paddleboarding
✦ Admission: $30 tube rental package includes park entry fee, tube rental, & return shuttle service ($25/person for 4+ people). Personal tubes not allowed, see website for fees if bringing own inflatable paddlecraft.
✦ Hours: Tube rental opens daily at 8 AM until capacity (seasonal: spring through Labor Day)
✦ More Info: KP Hole Park – Marion County
✦ Pro Tip: You can prepay online for guaranteed parking — highly recommended on weekends and holidays.

The float is approximately 3-4 hours. You’ll enter the river where you park, and a shuttle will pick you up at Blue Run Park. Canoe, kayak, & paddle board rentals are also available all year.

Rainbow Springs Tubing Entrance

✦ Location: 10830 SW 180th Ave Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432
✦ Best For: Tubing
✦ Admission: $24 per person (includes tube and shuttle) plus state park fee
✦ Hours: Tubing open daily from 8 AM – 4 PM (seasonal: spring through Labor Day)
✦ More Info: Visit Rainbow Springs Tubing Info
✦ Pro Tip: This entrance is exclusively for tubing and does not connect to the main Rainbow Springs swimming area.

This float trip is about 2 miles long and takes approximately 2 hours. You’ll be taken by shuttle to the launch point, and when you exit the river, you’ll be back at your vehicle. When you come to the conclusion of your float trip, be sure everyone knows where to exit the river. Other tubers will be continuing past your exit point!

Ginnie Springs

✦ Location: 7300 Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, FL 32643
✦ Best For: Tubing, swimming, diving, camping
✦ Admission: $20–$30 per person depending on day/season; kids 3 and under are free
✦ Hours: 8 AM – sunset
✦ More Info: Ginnie Springs Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: Tube rentals and air stations are available on-site, and you can bring your own gear if you prefer.

Ginnie Springs is known for its crystal-clear water, sand-bottom swimming areas, and snorkeling. Tubing along the Santa Fe River is one of the most popular activities, and the float typically takes 1–2 hours depending on water levels. Note that part of the time you are tubing on a river, not in the springs, so the water may be murkier and deeper in spots.

The park also has multiple spring runs for swimming and exploring, and there’s a large general store with snacks, supplies, and rentals. Camping is available, with tent and RV sites throughout the property. The spring is privately owned, so it has different rules than state parks — including permitting alcohol and music. Families may prefer to visit early in the day or mid-week for a quieter experience.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

✦ Location: 12087 SW US Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32038
✦ Best For: Tubing, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling
✦ Admission: $6 per vehicle (main entrance); tubing shuttle fees range from $7–$20 per person depending on route
✦ Hours: 8 AM – sundown daily
✦ More Info: State Park Website | Tubing + Concessionaire Website
✦ Pro Tip: Advance reservations are strongly encouraged for tubing or paddling.

Ichetucknee Springs is one of the most iconic tubing rivers in Florida. The spring-fed Ichetucknee River stays a cool 72°F year-round and offers several tubing routes: a short 45-minute float or a longer 2-hour float. Inner tubes, rafts, and shuttle service are available from vendors just outside the park. The North Entrance also provides access to Blue Hole Spring, a deep swimming spring with especially clear water that’s popular with snorkelers and experienced divers.

Although it is a full day trip from Central Florida (2.5-3 hours from Lakeland), the Ichetucknee is often considered the best place for tubing in Florida, so we couldn’t leave it off this list! {If you’ve ever been tubing in North Carolina or Georgia, this is the closest tubing experience in Florida}

Lithia Springs Park

✦ Location: 3932 Lithia Springs Rd, Lithia, FL 33547
✦ Best For: Swimming, families with young children, shallow water play
✦ Admission: $2 per vehicle + $2 per person to enter the swimming area (adults supervising children under 12 must also purchase a wristband)
✦ Hours: Swim times are divided into two sessions: 9 AM–1 PM and 2 PM–6 PM
✦ More Info: Lithia Springs Website
✦ Pro Tip: The park limits swimming to 200 people per time slot. Weekends often fill quickly — check the website for current capacity updates before heading out.

Looking for a swimming spring near Lakeland, FL? This spring is the closest to us at just 30-45 minutes from Lakeland. Lithia Springs Park offers a natural spring swimming area that’s especially great for families. The sandy-bottomed spring is mostly shallow, with a beach area on one end, and the water is clear and salt-free. Floaties like arm bands and life vests are allowed throughout the spring, while inflatable toys are restricted to shallow areas. The park also features a playground, volleyball court, and hiking trails.

De Leon Springs State Park

✦ Location: 601 Ponce de Leon Blvd., De Leon Springs, FL 32130
✦ Best For: Swimming, pancakes at the Sugar Mill, boat tours, history
✦ Admission: $6 per vehicle; additional cost for restaurant, boat tours, and rentals
✦ Hours: Swimming available from 8 AM until 30 minutes before sunset
✦ More Info: DeLeon Springs Website | Facebook | Sugar Mill Restaurant website
✦ Pro Tip: Floaties and rafts are allowed, but must be under 5 feet in diameter or 4×6 feet if rectangular.

Once called Acuera, or “Healing Waters,” by Mayaca Indians who inhabited the area hundreds of years ago, you too will feel refreshed and restored after you spend the day outdoors at De Leon Springs. After you make your own pancakes at the famous Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, you can take a swim in the 72 degree spring-fed swimming area, go hiking, bird watching, book a eco/history boat tour, and learn about the history of the park.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

✦ Location: 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712 – North of Orlando, near Mt. Dora and Apopka
✦ Best For: Swimming, hiking, paddling, family day trips
✦ Admission: $6 per vehicle
✦ Hours: 8 AM – sunset daily
✦ More Info: Wekiwa Springs Website
✦ Pro Tip: The park regularly reaches capacity during summer — arrive early, especially on weekends.

Take a swim in crystal-clear Wekiwa Springs where the water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. A large grassy lawn surrounds the swimming area, perfect for a picnic or afternoon nap in the sun. You can bring your own tube or float, individual size flotation devices are allowed in the swimming area.

In addition to swimming, Wekiwa is popular for hiking, wildlife viewing, and renting canoes or kayaks to explore the Wekiva River. It’s also just a short 10-minute drive from Kelly Park, home of Rock Springs tubing.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

✦ Location: 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, FL 34606
✦ Best For: Swimming, mermaid shows, water slides, boat rides
✦ Admission: $13 for adults, $8 for children ages 6–12, free for ages 5 and under
✦ Hours: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
✦ More Info: Weeki Wachee Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: During the busy summer months, the park often reaches capacity. We highly recommend arriving before the park opens on the weekdays, and earlier on the weekends. {Speaking from experience, you’ll wait in an entry line out in the sun, so plan accordingly}

On a visit to Weeki Wachee, you can experience true old Florida tourism at this one-of-a-kind Florida attraction blending natural springs with classic roadside charm. Families can enjoy the famous live mermaid shows in a submerged theater, a scenic riverboat “jungle” cruise, and a full spring-fed water park called Buccaneer Bay.

Buccaneer Bay features water slides that plunge into the 72-degree spring, a lazy river float, a sandy beach area with chairs, and a water play zone for kids 6 and under. The swimming area is Florida’s natural version of a water park, and while tubes are available for rent, outside floatation devices are not allowed.

Kayak the Weeki Wachee River – Head over to our kayak rentals page to get more info on booking a kayak tour at Weeki Wachee.

Rainbow Springs State Park

✦ Location: 19158 SW 81st Place Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432
✦ Best For: Swimming, kayaking, picnicking
✦ Admission: $2 per person (main park)
✦ Hours: 8 AM – sunset
✦ More Info: Rainbow Springs State Park Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: The tubing entrance is separate from the main park entrance and fills up quickly on summer weekends — plan to arrive early.

Rainbow Springs is one of Florida’s most stunning natural springs, offering crystal clear water and scenic views. The main headspring area has a designated swimming and snorkeling zone, but water depth is over 5 feet even near the entry points. There’s no true shallow area for toddlers or small children, and tubes and floats are not allowed in the swimming area. Picnic areas, hiking trails, and waterfalls make it a beautiful spot for a full-day trip.

Tubing the Rainbow River is a separate experience with a 2-hour float and shuttle service, accessible from the tubing entrance about 6 miles from the main park gate.

Alexander Springs Recreation Area – Ocala National Forest

✦ Location: 49525 CR 445, Altoona, FL
✦ Best For: Swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, camping
✦ Admission: $13 per person (plus tax – check website for current rates)
✦ Parking Reservations: Required Saturdays, Sundays & holidays (late May–early September); $20 per vehicle; available online in advance
✦ Hours: Day use typically open 8 AM – 8 PM
✦ More Info: Naventure | USDA Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: A lifeguard is on duty daily during summer months, making this spring especially family-friendly.

You’ll feel like you’re somewhere tropical as you swim in this spring surrounded by subtropical vegetation. A spacious green lawn surrounds the beach area, perfect for a picnic lunch or an afternoon nap in the sun. The lake-like swimming area has a soft sandy bottom and crystal clear water, excellent for snorkeling to see fish and freshwater marine life. Visitors can also enjoy hiking trails, canoe/kayak rentals, and camping on-site.

Juniper Springs Recreation Area – Ocala National Forest

✦ Location: 26701 State Road 40, Silver Springs, FL
✦ Best For: Swimming, hiking, kayaking, camping
✦ Admission: $13 per person (plus tax – check website for current pricing)
✦ Hours: Day use typically open 8 AM – 8 PM
✦ More Info: Naventure | USDA Website | Facebook
✦ Pro Tip: The spring pool is deep with few shallow areas — bring life jackets or floats for young kids.

One of the oldest and best-known National Forest recreation areas in the eastern United States, Juniper Springs Recreation Area includes a millhouse with a working water wheel on a crystal clear spring and 100 foot wide freshwater spring surrounded by a stone wall. Dense foliage surrounds the swimming area, providing shade and a tropical swimming experience. The “swimming pool” is too deep to stand in most places, but tubes and floats are allowed. Don’t miss the jumping platform!

Silver Glen Springs – Ocala National Forest

✦ Location: 13851 North Highway 19, Salt Springs, FL – 30 miles northeast of Ocala
✦ Best For: Swimming, snorkeling, relaxing in clear spring water
✦ Admission: $13 per person (plus tax – check website for current rates)
✦ Parking Reservations: Required Saturdays, Sundays & holidays (late May–early Sept); $20 per vehicle; available online 14 days in advance
✦ Hours: Typically 8 AM – 8 PM
✦ More Info: Naventure | USDA Website
✦ Pro Tip: Silver Glen often reaches capacity early — check the Facebook page for real-time closure updates before you go.

Often described as the most beautiful spring in the Ocala National Forest, you’ll experience constant 73°F crystal-clear water at the popular swimming hole. Bring your snorkel to fully experience the beauty of Silver Glen Springs. Also an important archeological site where you can see middens, large mounds that were part of this village site for Native Americans.