While Florida definitely has its share of stunning beaches and just about everyone you know probably has their own pool, nothing beats a refreshing plunge in a good ole swimmin’ hole. As the temperature and humidity begin to creep up, now’s the best time to explore these outstanding Orlando area swimmin’ spots.
Alexander Springs
49525 County Road 445, Altoona | Distance: 1 hour and 7 minutes
The shallow waters of Alexander Springs are ideal for lazy afternoon dips. When you’re looking to dive right in with, say, a rope jump they’ve got plenty of deeper water to explore. The springs also has a mile-long trail that follows a path once travelled by early Native Americans.
Photo via joelrmstrong/InstagramFanning Springs
18020 Northwest U.S. 19-98, Fanning Springs | Distance: 2 hours and 11 minutes
Fanning Springs used to be a roller rink in the 1950s, but now it’s just a chill little hangout when you’re looking for a shady gazebo on the Suwannee River. Multiple sand boils trickle into the main pool, which is about 20 feet deep. A cannonball off the boardwalk sounds pretty good right about now.
Photo via onetuthuy/InstagramBlue Springs
2100 W. French Ave., Orange City | Distance: 50 minutes
Blue Springs is the biggest spring on the St. John’s River, and probably not a stranger to many Orlando residents. It’s best known for manatee viewing, but if you’ve got a scuba license, you should definitely check out the underwater cave lingering about 100 feet below the surface.
Photo via suzica27/InstagramDe Leon Springs
601 Ponce de Leon Blvd., De Leon Springs | Distance: 1 hour and 12 minutes
De Leon Springs has a reputation for beautiful turquoise water, so grab a canoe and wade through the spring one stroke at a time. Snorkeling is very popular here, which makes sense since there are underwater caves hiding in deep water—just don’t go in ‘em!
Photo via dailyirene/InstagramRainbow Springs
19158 South West 81st Place Road, Dunnellon | Distance: 1 hour and 27 minutes
You can still catch a glimpse of remnants from when Rainbow Springs was an amusement park, but what’s really intriguing here is the colorful waterfall in the center of this land. And there’s nothing quite like splashing around next to a waterfall.
Photo via joelrmstrong/InstagramSuwannee Springs
9225 CR 49, Live Oak | Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
This historic spring is surrounded by the walls of a late 1800s bath house made out of limestone rock. Since sand is building up in the pool, which trickles into the Suwannee River, you just might find yourself kickin’ it on a secret sandbar if you float around for long enough.
Photo via floridajah/InstagramDevil’s Den
5390 N.E. 180th Ave, Williston | Distance: 1 hour and 31 minutes
You can’t exactly work on your tan here, but how could you possibly turn down a dip in a dry cave’s underground spring. At Devil’s Den, you can paddle around 33-million-year-old fossil beds or snorkel the stalactite formations.
Photo via sofiasayaf/InstagramGinnie Springs
5000 Northeast 60th Ave., High Springs | Distance: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Located on the Santa Fe River, Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest bodies of water in Florida. Choose one of the seven different springs for your afternoon splash around or try to find a grotto hidden beneath the water’s surface—there are plenty for you to discover.
Photo via jmadler/InstagramHart Springs
4240 SW 86th Avenue, Bell | Distance: 2 hours and 17 minutes
The water is 72 degrees all year round at Hart Springs, which makes it the perfect place to cool off in Florida. Bring a tube for a lazy swim day, or grab a snorkel to see unique shells on the spring bottom up close. Swimmers have also found arrowheads hidden between the rocks.
Photo via Hart Springs Park & Campground/FacebookIchetucknee Springs
12087 Southwest U.S. Highway 27, Fort White | Distance: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Back in the early 1900s, this spring was used to mine phosphate, which you can still see clustered around the water’s edge. Ichetucknee is best known for its tubing, so prepare to float lazily through the spring alongside otters, beavers and wood ducks.
Photo via iamerica4/InstagramThree Sisters Springs
915 N Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River | Distance: 1 hour and 38 minutes
Swim with a pack of manatees or simply look at them from the spring’s boardwalk. Either way, you’re going to see a bunch of ‘em here. Our underwater best buds are no strangers to huddling together, so grab some snorkeling gear and see what all the commotion is about.
Photo via nellygasmin/InstagramJuniper Springs
26701 E. Highway 40, Silver Springs | 1 hour and 15 minutes
There’s plenty to look at here, whether it’s the simmering sand boils or the vents in the pool. The creek might be small, but don’t let that stop you from canoeing through it. When you’re ready to recharge after all that swimming, indulge in a picnic at the bench tables under the trees.
Photo via jrinaldz_/InstagramLafayette Blue Springs
799 Northwest Blue Springs Road, Mayo | Distance: 2 hours and 51 minutes
Lafayette Blue Springs is a nature wonderland. You’ve got a sinkhole showcase to the West, a limestone bridge at the base of the main pool and the Suwannee River just waiting to flood its waters into Lafayette. Swimming here is unlike anything else in Florida.
Photo via bornofwater/InstagramLake Cane
6645 Lake Cane Drive, Orlando | Distance: 22 minutes
According to the folks at Lucky’s Lake Swim, your inevitable swim guide here, alligators are provided for free, the lake is solar heated, there’s a 1 in 142,857,140 chance you’ll catch Naegleria and if you show them your YMCA card for a free swim they’ll make you do three math problems. No worries, though, they don’t actually charge for swims.
Photo via Lucky’s Lake Swim/FacebookMadison Blue Spring
8300 Northeast SR 6, Lee | Distance: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Madison Blue Spring is a nature photographer’s dream come true. A mix of hardwoods and pines line the outskirts of this limestone spring. For those of you who take swimming to the next level, the underwater cave is mapped and ready for scuba diving.
Photo via beea.virta/InstagramManatee Springs
11650 Northwest 115th Street, Chiefland | Distance: 2 hours and 7 minutes
At Manatee Springs, you get what you expect, which is a ton of manatees swimming around you. This spring is a water activity paradise with canoeing and snorkeling on tap all year round. Manatee Springs also offers moonlight paddleboarding on the Suwanee River when the sun goes down.
Photo via anama.travels/InstagramOtter Springs
6470 Southwest 80th Avenue, Trenton | Distance: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Otter Springs offers an authentic natural experience, which is pretty evident with its massive green spring pool. Take a dip in the always gorgeous water, or stay on dry land and snap some pics with your camera. Dogs are allowed here, so feel free to bring the four-legged homie with you.
Photo via therealjohanbueno/InstagramPoe Springs Park
28800 Northwest 182nd Avenue, High Springs | Distance: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Poe Springs is a local favorite among families. The rope swing should definitely keep the kids occupied in one corner of the springs while the ‘rents chill out on floats just about anywhere else. There’s also a playground on the premises, so don’t forget to bring a volleyball.
Photo via alachuacounty.us/InstagramRock Springs Run
30601 County Road 433, Sorrento | Distance: 39 minutes
A vertical rock bluff pumps out all that clear goodness you can tread through at Rock Springs. Tubing is a major activity on this creek, and with its proximity to Orlando, an afternoon at Rock Springs could be the best summer day ever.
Photo via gowanderer/InstagramSalt Springs
13851 N. SR 19, Salt Springs | Distance: 1 hour and 33 minutes
You might notice the water is a little tastier than the other springs around Florida, but that’s because Salt Springs waters has a bit of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts in it. Spring vents form large pools perfect for a leisure swim, but if you’re more of an activity person, Salt Springs offers some pretty good fishing locales as well.
Photo via thug_motivation_/InstagramSilver Glen Springs
5301 North Highway 19, Ft. McCoy | Distance: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Located in the most beautiful patch of the Ocala National Forest, Silver Glen is a local favorite. The crystal clear water really comes in handy when there’s so many fish floating around. Silver Glen is also where Marjorie Rawlings became inspired to write her classic novel “The Yearling” in 1938.
Photo via acarr168/InstagramSilver Springs
5656 East Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs | Distance: 1 hour and 15 minutes
A ride on one of their glass bottom boats gives you a glimpse at one of the Florida’s largest artesian springs. So here’s the scoop: you can’t exactly swim here, but who’s to say you can’t tip over the canoe for an extended period of time?
Photo via carlos_amoedo/InstagramTroy Spring
674 Troy Springs Road, Branford | Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Troy Spring is a hidden gem on the Suwannee River. It’s surrounded by higher ground, which makes your afternoon swim feel even more intimate than usual. Swimming is king here, but there’s also a trail that takes you through a dense hammock where you just might see a deer or two.
Photo via junkiebratt/InstagramWekiwa Springs
1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka | Distance: 30 minutes
People of Orlando are very familiar with the spring at the end of the grassy hill known as Wekiwa Springs, so we won’t bore you with the details. It wouldn’t be a proper Orlando summer without at least one day here, so get some friends assembled and pick your activity for the day: canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, general chillin’.
Photo via theguineagringa/Instagram
