A manatee.

Blue Spring State Park

Encounter the gentle giants we call Manatees

Know Before You Go

During periods of high visitation, visitors may experience long lines to enter Blue Spring State Park. The park frequently reaches capacity and may temporarily close. Closures occur intermittently and may last several hours. Visitors with camping or boat tour reservations will be admitted to the park while it is closed, but pedestrians and bicyclists will not be allowed to enter until the park reopens. Thank you.  

Spring Water Activities

Boat tours and canoe/kayak rentals are available for use on the St. Johns River and the lower section of the spring run. For inquiries on boat tour times and pricing information, contact Blue Spring Adventures, 386-775-0046. 

Arrive Early

Blue Spring State Park frequently reaches capacity during the week and on the weekends, during both the winter and summer months. To avoid waiting, please visit the park early.

Hours

8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year

Fees

$6 per vehicle

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Location

2100 W. French Ave.
Orange City FL 32763

Get directions

Contact Info

386-775-3663

Welcome to Blue Spring State Park

The refreshing 72-degree waters of Blue Spring greet visitors at this gem along the St. Johns River.

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Conservation measures can produce astounding results. In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200, and by 2022 that number skyrocketed to a record 724.

Besides "sea cows," fish abound in the spring run and attract a variety of wading birds, ospreys, eagles and kingfishers. To see the park’s wonders, visitors can hike along the spring run or on the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail.

Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals are available at the park) or take a guided river boat cruise.

Plan Your Visit

Park Manager, Dustin Allen Alafia River State Park
Learn

Manager's Message

Come for a visit and learn about manatees, or, during the hot Florida summer days, enjoy dipping into the 72-degree invigorating spring water.
Blue Spring VS
Service

Gift Shop, Food Service & Cruises at Blue Spring

Our concessions offer a fully stocked gift shop and camp store and provide rentals for park visitors. Also available are a two-hour narrated Nature and Ecological Cruise on the St. Johns River and a Guided Wilderness Escape Segway tour.
Swimming at Blue Spring
Learn

Swimming at Blue Spring

Now's the time to enjoy our refreshing 72-degree waters and take a swim. With a variety of activities to choose from, you’re sure to have tons of fun in the sun.
Four manatees swim at the spring.
Learn

Webcam: Watch the Manatees of Blue Spring

Check out this webcam to watch the manatees swim in the spring at Blue Spring State Park.
A state park volunteer at a booth, speaking with guests.
Learn

Telling the Story of Springs

Last year, 70 Florida State Parks staff joined Department of Environmental Protection water quality experts to find new ways to tell the story of Florida's springs.
Florida Scrub-Jay on a tree at Blue Spring
Learn

Birding at Blue Spring

Blue Spring State Park is known mainly for being the winter home of the Florida manatee, but did you know we have another special species that can be found here year round?

Experiences

Birding
Birding
Boat Tours
Boat Tours
Camping
Camping
Fishing
Fishing
Hiking
Hiking
Paddling
Paddling
Picnicking
Picnicking
Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Snorkeling
Swimming
Swimming
Tubing
Tubing

Amenities

Accessible Amenities
Accessible Amenities
Cabins
Cabins
Campgrounds
Campgrounds
Canoe Kayak Launch
Canoe Kayak Launch
Concession and Restaurant
Concession and Restaurant
Dump Station
Dump Station
Historic Site
Historic Site
Interpretive Exhibit
Interpretive Exhibit
Nature Trail
Nature Trail
Parking
Parking
Picnic Pavilion
Picnic Pavilion
Playground
Playground
Restroom Facilities
Restroom Facilities
RV
RV
Shower Station
Shower Station

Blue Spring State Park Photo Gallery

A manatee.
Swimming at Blue Spring
Foggy morning at Blue Spring
A view of a blue scrub jay.
Blue Spring Leaping Deer

Blue Spring Leaping Deer in the Scrub

Close
Information
Spring Run Swim Dock
Swimming at Blue Spring
Black Bear on the Pine Island Trail

Black Bear on the Pine Island Trail

Close
Information
Blue Spring State Park
Learn

Manatees at Blue Spring State Park

From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees congregate in the spring run to seek shelter from the cold. It’s a truly unforgettable sight to see so many of these iconic animals in one place.
A view of the Thursby House
Learn

The Thursby House

Standing tall near the St. Johns River, the three-story Thursby house is a monument to Central Florida’s frontier days. From steamship to railroad and candles to electric bulbs, Blue Spring State Park is a time capsule for a bygone era.

Upcoming Events

See More Events
Event

Blue Spring Jaywalk

Fri, Aug 19, 2022 9:00 am - 10:00 am EDT

Join a ranger-led hiking tour through a quarter-mile of scrub to look for the iconic Florida scrub-jay.
Blue Spring

Orange City, FL

Event

Blue Spring Boardwalk Tours

Fri, Aug 26, 2022 9:00 am - 10:00 am EDT

Join us for a ranger-led hike on our boardwalk trail alongside the spring run where we will discuss the spring's history, wildlife, ecology and management.
Blue Spring

Orange City, FL

Event

International Manatee Day

Wed, Sep 7, 2022 9:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT

Celebrate International Manatee Day with the Save the Manatee Club, Blue Spring State Park and Volusia County. Learn about manatees and join activities.
Blue Spring

Orange City, FL

People Make the Parks

Park Ranger James Schaeffer

Staff Spotlight

One of James Schaeffer's favorite activities is interpreting and protecting the manatees at Blue Spring.
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints

Volunteer Spotlight

Since May 2018 this group has been part of the Blue Spring State Park family, and has been committed to helping the park create memorable experiences for our visitors.
The Blue Spring Friends group, holding their banner.

Friends of Blue Spring State Park

Supporting the park since 2004, the group’s outreach in the community brings visitors back to learn more about the springs and its famous manatees.

This Park is Recognized by:

Green Lodging
National Register of Historic Places

Park Map

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