27 beautiful springs and waterfalls within driving distance of Orlando

By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Feb 12, 2016 at 6:39 pm

On any given afternoon, Orlandoans can visit real springs, filled with real wildlife, and right now is the best time of year for a weekend road trip. What follows are some of the best Florida springs and waterfalls worthy of a full tank of gas.

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Ichetucknee Springs State Park
12087 Southwest U.S. Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32038
2 hours, 10 minutes from Orlando

Back in the early 1900s, this spring was used to mine phosphate. You can still find the mines clustered around the edge of the water, but now, Ichetucknee is a popular tourist attraction, where guests can float lazily through the spring in tubes alongside otters, beavers, wild turkeys and wood ducks. Guests can also canoe, hike, snorkel and scuba dive in Blue Hole Spring as long as they present proper certification.

Photo via siren_of_the_springs on Instagram

Manatee Springs State Park
11650 Northwest 115th Street, Chiefland, FL 32626
2 hours, 7 minutes from Orlando

Living up to its name, Manatee Springs gives guests a chance to catch of glimpse of the gentle sea-cow during early spring as the aquatic mammal seek warmer waters. During manatee season, canoeing and kayaking are forbidden, but the rest of the year, you can fish, swim, boat, snorkel and dive in the Catfish Hotel sink hole.

Photo via sarahndipity_808 on Instagram

Silver Glen Springs
5301 North Highway 19, Ft. McCoy, Fl 32134
1 hour, 15 minutes from Orlando

Perfect for fans of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ novel The Yearling, bibliophiles will recognize the spots made famous by the Baxter family. Pick up some snorkeling gear on the ride over, and take pleasure in knowing that both canoe and kayak launching are free if you bring your own gear.

Photo via kevirrkleyn on Instagram

Alexander Springs Recreation Area
49525 County Road 445, Altoona, Fl 32702
1 hour, 7 minutes from Orlando

Florida weather might be all over the place, but the water here doesn’t care. At a constant temperature of 72 degrees, this spring is perfect to swim, snorkel and scuba in no matter the time of year. Afterwards, take a stroll through the mile-long interpretive loop trail for a view of the vegetation used by early Native Americans.

Photo via its_b_baby_ on Instagram

Falling Waters State Park
1130 State Park Road, Chipley, FL 32428
4 hours, 25 minutes from Orlando

A trip to the panhandle will land you in front of Florida’s largest waterfall, gushing down at 73 feet. You can’t swim around the rush of water, but you can take a dip in a lake nearby after setting up your tent at the campgrounds and peering down at the sinkholes by the boardwalk.

Photo via hissycrissy on Instagram

Suwannee Springs
9225 CR 49, Live Oak FL 32060
2 hours, 30 minutes from Orlando

This historic park is composed of six springs clustered in a sandy hundred-foot stretch at the base of the Suwannee River. The main spring is surrounded by the walls of a late 1800s bath house made out of limestone rock. Unfortunately sand is building up in the pool and tree roots are growing into the walls, so this hundred-year-old testament to Florida’s rich past could soon disappear; Enjoy it while it lasts.

Photo via floridajah on Instagram

Otter Springs
6470 Southwest 80th Avenue, Trenton, FL 32693
2 hours, 15 minutes from Orlando

For the 21st century outdoorsman, Otter Springs offers an authentic natural experience complete with updated amenities. If stewing in algae-filled water before a two hour drive home makes you feel a little icky and gross, rinse off in one of two bathhouses with hot showers or take a dip in the screened-in pool.

Photo via pureflorida on Instagram

Rainbow Springs
A19158 South West 81st Place Road, Dunnellon, FL 34432
1 hour, 27 minutes from Orlando

Sure, Rainbow Springs waterfalls are manmade, but it's too close to not mention. The remnants of its amusement park past doesn’t remain completely hidden; gardens and man-made waterfalls are scattered throughout the acreage. There have been some additions since it was bought up by the state. Swim, canoe, or kayak around, but know that you can only launch your tubing self at a designated spot near the campgrounds.

Photo via josie_day on Instagram

Blue Grotto Dive Resort
3852 NE 172 Court, Williston, FL 32696
1 hour, 36 minutes from Orlando

Blue Grotto is a certified diver’s paradise. With two underwater ecosystems to explore — an hundred-foot deep cavern and a virtually untouched natural cave — both skilled and novice divers can experience the depths of these crystal clear waters. And for those who are looking to make a splash in the Scuba world, Blue Grotto offers dive classes and certifications.

Photo via paulkatz53 on Instagram

De Leon Springs State Park
601 Ponce de Leon Blvd., De Leon Springs, FL 32130
1 hour, 12 minutes from Orlando

If this place is to be defined by one thing, it’s how massive it is. The 625-acre park is witness to 19 million gallons of water being produced every day, for your canoe, paddleboat and kayak pleasure. Paddle through the water trail to explore the creeks and marshes of the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo via melaniejosa on Instagram