Florida Trips·Oct 10, 2026
Blue Spring State Park
- Park
- Blue Spring State Park, 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City
- Our site
- Campsite 36
- Hookups
- Water and electric
- Bathrooms
- Short walk. Very nice and clean, with showers
- Water
- 72°F spring run. Swim and float in season
- Wildlife
- Manatees Nov. 15 to March 31; fireflies mid-March to mid-April
- Boat tour
- St. Johns River, two hours
- Good for
- A weekend trip
- From Winter Garden
- About 1 hr 15 min (55 mi), no traffic
- From Wekiwa
- About 50 min (30 mi)
Blue Spring State Park is in Orange City, in Volusia County, about an hour and 15 minutes from Winter Garden. Manatee season runs Nov. 15 to March 31. Swimming season is April 1 to Nov. 14.
Blue Spring is a great weekend trip. It's a sanctuary for manatees from Nov. 15 to March 31, and you can see them from the boardwalk. They also have a fun boat tour of the St. Johns River.
You can float the spring and swim, although it's closed during manatee season, and the closure can run longer if the manatees stay. They also have a great firefly season, when you can do evening walks and watch the fireflies from the boardwalk. Firefly Nights are run by the Friends of Blue Spring with advance passes. In 2026 they ran March 13 to April 12; 2027 dates aren't out yet. (Dates as of Oct 2026.)
We stayed in campsite 36, a short walk from the bathroom. They have very nice, clean bathrooms and showers.
Our tips
- Come Nov. 15 to March 31 for manatees, mid-March to mid-April for fireflies, and April through mid-November to swim.
- Book the boat tour ahead of time.
- Pair it with Wekiwa Springs. It's about 50 minutes on from Wekiwa, so you can do one night at each for a weekend.
A simple weekend
- Day 1. Set up at the site. Walk the boardwalk, then swim or float if it's in season.
- Day 2. Take the morning boat tour on the St. Johns before you head home.
Good to know
As of Oct 2026. Check the park site before you go.
- Manatee season is Nov. 15 to March 31. The spring run is closed to swimming, tubing, diving and paddling then. It can start earlier or end later if manatees are around. Source
- Swimming season is April 1 to Nov. 14. Swimming with manatees is never allowed. Source
- St. Johns River Cruises runs two-hour narrated tours daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Book through Blue Springs Adventures, 833-953-2583. Source
- Firefly Nights are run by the Friends of Blue Spring each spring, with advance passes. In 2026 they ran March 13 to April 12. 2027 dates aren't out yet. Source
- Day-use visitors need a reservation to enter. The park often fills up and closes for a few hours, but campers with reservations still get in. Source
- Open 8 a.m. to sundown, every day. Entry is $6 per vehicle. Source
- Camping is $24 a night plus tax, a $7 nightly utility fee and a $6.70 reservation fee. 51 sites with water and electric, RVs up to 40 feet, dump station in the campground. Source
- Florida residents can book up to 11 months ahead, non-residents 10 months. Source
- Arriving after sunset? Call the park that day at 386-775-3663 for the gate code. Source