Crowded swim area at De Leon Springs State Park with people floating near a historic mill building.

Must-Have Gear for Your Florida State Park Spring Visit

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Did you know that there are more than 1,000 springs and 175 state parks in Florida? With so many out there, there’s bound to be some overlap. You can easily find yourself visiting a state park that’s also a spring.

I put together a list of must-haves for your next visit to one of these spring state parks.

Are you ready?

Here we go!

I’m an affiliate for Oh Snap! Swimwear, Florida Springs Passport, and Amazon. I receive a commission for sales made via these links. I personally own (or want to own) the items I link to, and I don’t share products I don’t believe in.

Table of Contents

Oh Snap! Bathing Suit

You absolutely need to pack your swimsuit! You can bring the one you already have in your closet or try one from Oh Snap! Swimwear.

What makes their swimsuits so special? They come with a sash that has a zippered pocket and dry bag so you can keep valuables with you. And they have snaps at the bottom so you don’t have to struggle with peeling off a wet, clingy bathing suit when you need a bathroom break.

I’m an ambassador for them now, but I reached out first because I thought this was such a fantastic product. They’re also a mother-daughter Florida-based team using 100% recyclable materials. I think what they’re doing is amazing!

👉 Shopping Link: Oh Snap! Swimwear – use code WALKANDPADDLE25 for 20% off

Woman paddleboarding on clear water at Blue Spring State Park with forested shoreline in the background.
Wearing The Monica from Oh Snap! Swimwear

Dry Bags

I really love having dry bags because there’s nothing worse than your wallet and keys getting soggy. Plus, I don’t like leaving my stuff unsupervised. Dry bags are exactly what they sound like: bags that keep your stuff dry.

We have a lot of different ones we take on different adventures:

  • Chums rolltop dry bag – wallet, phone, keys, cameras (great for content creation days)
  • Oh Snap! phone pouch – wallet, phone, keys (light days)
  • geckobrands 30L dry bag – towels, change of clothes (especially useful in winter)
Paddleboard deck loaded with a bright yellow dry bag, gray dray bag, life jacket, and other gear secured with bungee straps.
On the water with the Chum and geckobrands dry bags.

Mask & Snorkel

If you’re at a spring state park where swimming is allowed, you’ll definitely want to bring a mask and snorkel. It’s an incredible way to see the beautiful clear spring water and the animals that live there. And if you’re at one of the healthier springs, you’ll also see a variety of vegetation and plant life.

Do you need fins? If you’re new to springs and are not free diving, you can probably skip them. Fins are more helpful if you’re swimming into spring heads where you need extra power against the millions of gallons rushing out from the aquifer.

👉 Shopping Link: Mask & Snorkel

Woman wearing snorkel gear holding a Florida State Park Activity Book and a Florida Springs Passport.
Almost ready to hit the springs, just missing a few things.

Springs Guide

If you want a book to help you find springs, look no further than the Florida Springs Passport. There are two versions covering 40 springs total. Some are state parks, some aren’t, but all are worth visiting.

The passport lets you mark off springs you visit and note what you did there. It also comes with coupons for vendors at various springs.

👉 Shopping Link: Florida Springs Passport

Florida State Park Activity Book

This one’s mine, so yes, I’m biased, but I created it because I wanted adults, teens, and families to have a fun and unique way to explore the parks and remember their visits.

It does include a list of all the state parks in Florida, but it’s not a guidebook. It’s designed for you to record your experience. There are prompts and activities that can help make your visit unique to you.

👉 Shopping Link: Florida State Park Activity Book

Woman sitting on a bench near the water at De Leon Springs State Park, holding a Florida State Park Activity Book.

Paddleboard

If the spring you’re visiting allows paddling, bring your board, kayak, or canoe and enjoy a beautiful paddle.

Springs are our favorite places to paddle. Standing on a board gives you a unique view into the water. It’s so much easier to see down into the crystal-clear spring.

Some springs let you stop and swim as you paddle, while others require you to return to the launch point before swimming. Be sure to check the rules before you go.

Two paddleboards with gear floating near the shoreline outside the spring swim area.

Pool Tube

An inflatable tube is a relaxing way to experience the springs. You don’t even have to swim or get totally wet if you’re worried about the 72°F water.

Some springs even allow tubing from the source all the way down the run. If you don’t have your own, you can rent one, but I always prefer to bring my own (it saves money).

👉 Shopping Link: Pool Tube

Rechargeable Pump

A rechargeable pump makes inflating all your gear so much easier: tubes, beach balls, chairs, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes. You can use a hand pump, but rechargeable pumps save time and effort, though they can be loud.

If you forget your pump, many springs have blow-up stations for a small fee.

We always bring our Airbank Puffer Pro, even with our hard boards, because it’s compact, quick, and perfect for helping out a fellow paddler.

👉 Shopping Link: Airbank Puffer Pro – use code WALKANDPADDLE for 5% off

lectric pump inflating a turquoise and wood-patterned paddleboard on grass.
Airbank Puffer Pro hard at work.

Sunscreen

Most springs don’t have much shade, so make sure you’re protecting your skin with sunscreen or clothing.

I like to do a combo: wearing a rash guard to protect my shoulders and sunscreen for everything else.

👉 Shopping Link: Sunscreen

Wide-Brimmed Hat

I love the added protection of a wide-brimmed hat. Sure, it doesn’t work while swimming (unless you doggy-paddle like I do), but it’s great for paddling, tubing, or just walking to the water.

It’s a simple way to protect your face and eyes from the bright Florida sun.

👉 Shopping Link: Wide-Brimmed Hat

Cooler

Although most state parks have concession stands, you may want to bring your own food and drinks. We almost always pack a cooler with snacks and drinks. Swimming and paddling always work up an appetite.

Check the park’s rules before you go. Some springs don’t allow coolers or snacks on the water, especially if you’re tubing or paddling.

👉 Shopping Link: Cooler

Ready to Go?

I hope this list helps you get ready for your next visit to a state park spring! Let me know what else you bring with you in the comments.

Quick List – Shop the Gear

Here’s everything I mentioned in one easy list:

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