When most people think of Blue Spring State Park, they picture sunny days filled with swimming, tubing, and paddling. But winter? That’s when the magic really happens. From watching hundreds of manatees seek refuge in the warm spring waters to enjoying perfect hiking and camping weather, winter at Blue Spring offers a whole new experience.
Keep reading to discover my top tips and things to do for an unforgettable winter visit to this Central Florida state park.
Table of Contents
- Where is Blue Spring State Park?
- Winter at Blue Spring State Park Quick Tips
- Manatees, Manatees, and More Manatees!
- The Manatee Festival in Orange City
- The Boardwalk – The Best Way to See Manatees
- Winter Is the Best Time to Hike Blue Spring State Park
- The Thursby House Will Be Decorated
- Winter is the Perfect Time for A Picnic
- Visit the Blue Spring Canteen
- Forgot Your Hoodie? Buy One at the Gift Locker
- Have Kids? Enjoy the Playground When the Temperature is Mild!
- Paddle the St. Johns River & The Lagoon
- Enjoy a Boat Tour
- Extend Your Stay!
- Ready to Visit?
Where is Blue Spring State Park?
Blue Spring State Park, the winter refuge of Florida manatees, is located at 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City. The park is also recognized for its clear, 72°F waters and abundant wildlife.
It is conveniently located 41 miles north of Orlando and 38 miles southwest of Daytona Beach, making it an easy visit for locals and tourists.
Winter at Blue Spring State Park Quick Tips
Get There Early
Visitors flock to Blue Spring every winter to catch a glimpse (and take photos) of manatees in the spring run. This means lots of cars in line waiting to enter the park, and when it reaches capacity they shut the park.
Go During the Week
To avoid the crowds, try to visit during the week. Weekends are notoriously crowded, with frequent park closures.
Carpool
Not only will it cost less to get in (per-vehicle fees apply up to 8 people), but it will also minimize the number of cars waiting in line so that you and those you are bringing with you can all get in.
The Spring Run is Closed to Water Activities
Every winter, the spring run is closed to swimming, snorkeling, diving, tubing, and paddling to give manatees a safe space to ride out the cold temperatures.
Warmer Day = Less Crowds
Since most people visiting Blue Spring are there to view the manatees, if you go on a warmer day, there will be fewer people. Of course, if you are also hoping to see the manatees, you might not see very many or maybe none at all.
Visit With Your Dog
Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome in all outdoor areas at Blue Spring, including the campground, but not inside buildings. Service dogs are exempt from this rule. Review the Florida State Parks pet policy to make sure you are following the rules.
Campground and Cabin Reservations Fill Up
Overnight accommodations at Blue Spring are often fully booked. Reservations can be made up to 12 months in advance.
Manatees, Manatees, and More Manatees!
Manatee season in Florida runs from November 15th to April 1st. During this time, water temperatures in the ocean, lakes, and rivers drop and manatees seek warmer water.
During manatee season, hundreds of manatees gather together in the spring run as they shelter from cold ocean waters. In January 2024, 932 manatees were counted in the spring run!! We visited the same month when there were 687 manatees.
It’s a fantastic thing to see! But be prepared; they aren’t like dolphins. They typically move slowly about the run and occasionally come up for air.
If you are going with kids, be prepared to keep them busy as you try to get photos of the manatees and just have a moment with them. After kids have seen their 10th manatee, they are kind of over it.
If you are interested in seeing manatees in other places in Florida, check out my blog post: Best Places in Florida to See Manatees This Winter!
The Manatee Festival in Orange City
Every winter, the Manatee Festival is held to celebrate the gathering of manatees and raise funds for the community. The festival is held at Valentine Park, just down the street from Blue Spring. Everyone who goes to the festival can get a bus ride into Blue Spring to see the manatees.
Festival goers can enjoy cool booths and presentations at Valentine Park. There will be other booths at Blue Spring, mostly associated with conservation, manatees, and spring health.
The Boardwalk – The Best Way to See Manatees
The beautiful 1.3-mile boardwalk features scenic views of the spring run and the manatees. There is no other way to see the manatees except from the boardwalk and its many overlooks. Take your time and be on the lookout for mamas and their calves.
The boardwalk is great for visitors with strollers and those with mobility needs who require walkers or wheelchairs. It has benches along the way to rest and for nursing moms to feed their babies.
Other Wildlife Visible from the Boardwalk
Blue Spring State Park is also home to gar (fish), alligators, snake birds, and turtles, to name a few.
The boardwalk offers the best vantage point for seeing a lot of wildlife, but if you keep an eye out, you should be able to see animals everywhere.
Alligators
Alligators are mostly found on the St. Johns River, not the spring run. They are not usually seen outside the water in the heavily populated parts of the park.
However, this is Florida, and alligators can be found anywhere in and around the water. There are many rangers in the park who do their best to notify everyone of wildlife and attempt to keep everyone alert and safe.
Always supervise your children and small pets and do not let them roam in and around water areas alone.
Winter Is the Best Time to Hike Blue Spring State Park
Wintertime in Florida is also hiking season! The temperature is finally comfortable, and the humidity is low(er).
Aside from the Blue Spring Run Boardwalk, there are several trails in Blue Spring State Park.
The trails are a mix of paved and unpaved paths. The Blue Spring Campground Trail is 1.8 miles (paved and unpaved), the Sand Pine Scrub Trail (unpaved) is a 0.25-mile loop, and the Pine Island Trail (unpaved) weaves through 4.9 miles.
If you are traveling with kids in strollers, I recommend sticking to the boardwalk unless you have an off-roading model. Families with wheelchair users and other mobility needs can reserve an all-terrain tracked chair here.
The Thursby House Will Be Decorated
Take a step back in time and explore the Thursby House, built in 1872. During the Christmas season, the Thursby House will be decorated with garland—nothing too fancy, but it is fun.
More importantly, the Thursby House is not temperature-controlled, so visiting in winter will make your experience more comfortable.
Only the first floor is open to visitors. Walk through four rooms with interpretive displays and peek into the historically-accurate kitchen.
Need a break? Just sit under the shady wrap-around deck, complete with rocking chairs and space to spread out.
There are steps in the front of the house, but a ramp at the back.
Winter is the Perfect Time for A Picnic
There are many picnic tables throughout Blue Spring State Park where you can feed yourself and your crew.
If all the tables are taken, you can always bring a blanket and set up your own area. The park has grassy open spaces near the Thursby House and the swim area to do just that.
A nice winter picnic in the warm Florida sun is a great way to rest and extend your stay.
Visit the Blue Spring Canteen
If you prefer to skip the picnic, stop by the Blue Spring Canteen for snacks, meals, and drinks. If you are visiting on a particularly cold day, stop in and warm up with a coffee.
Check out the Blue Canteen menu here, but contact Blue Spring Adventures for the most up-to-date information.
Forgot Your Hoodie? Buy One at the Gift Locker
The Gift Locker is a fun stop. There are tons of souvenirs, but they also have supplies and gear for your visit, from hats and sunglasses to hoodies and long-sleeve tees.
They also sell manatee plushies, stickers, and other unique items.
It’s a great stop to warm up on a cold day.
Have Kids? Enjoy the Playground When the Temperature is Mild!
The playground isn’t very shaded, but that doesn’t matter in winter! The kids will be able to play without the heat.
It is surrounded by picnic tables and close to the restrooms and snack shop. The kids can burn off a little energy to make some of the park’s quieter activities (like manatee viewing) more manageable.
Bonus: the playground is not near the water, so you don’t have to worry about the little ones running towards the water.
Click here to check out my blog post about kid-friendly hikes near Blue Spring.
Paddle the St. Johns River & The Lagoon
The mild Florida winter is perfect for paddling the St. Johns River and The Lagoon. Both paddle routes are completely exposed to the sun, which is not so great in mid-summer, but wonderful on a cold winter day.
Blue Spring Adventures has kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for rent, and they offer tours.
You can also bring your own vessels. We rented a canoe years ago and had a blast. Fast forward to the 2020s, we’ve been bringing our paddleboards to the spring.
You can find out more about these routes in my guide, Discover the Magic of Paddleboarding at Blue Spring State Park.
Find out about winter paddleboarding gear here.
Enjoy a Boat Tour
In addition to paddling, Blue Spring Adventures offers a daily St. Johns River Nature Cruise.
Please note that reservations and an additional fee are required for this narrated tour.
They offer 1-hour and 2-hour tours, so choose the one that best fits your family’s needs (and attention spans).
Like the boardwalk, the boats are fully accessible to accommodate strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility needs.
Extend Your Stay!
If you want to visit Blue Spring State Park for more than a day, you have several in-park options.
Go Winter Camping
In my opinion, winter camping is the way to go in Florida. The temperature is wonderful and you can actually have a campfire and make smores! Just make sure to check for fire bans before lighting that fire.
Blue Spring State Park offers 51 campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, water, and electricity. We camped here in a tent and an RV and thoroughly enjoyed the campground.
A railroad track runs to the east of the park, and you’ll hear trains all night. The noise kept me awake when we were tent-camping, but we didn’t hear it in the RV.
There are 2 comfort stations (bathroom, shower, and some washers and dryers) available in the camping area.
The maximum stay is 14 days, and reservations can easily be made online or by phone.
There is a gate that is locked at night, but you are given a code to enter after hours.
Rent a Cabin
If camping (in a tent or RV) sounds like a nightmare, Blue Spring State Park has six 2-bedroom cabins! We haven’t stayed in a cabin…yet!
Cabins feature heating, air conditioning, a bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a screened porch, an outdoor grill, and picnic tables for a cozy and convenient stay.
They book up quickly, so plan accordingly. Cabin reservations are made through the same link as camping reservations.
Ready to Visit?
Plan your visit during a special event! From guided hikes to guided historical tours, you can get details here.
Additional Reading