Wekiwa Springs State Park

What to expect

Wekiwa Springs is the closest big spring swimming hole to Orlando, and on a hot day it is the reason most people come. First, a correction to the name it often gets online: this is not a hot spring. The park measures the water at 72°F22°C all year, which is cool, clear groundwater rising out of the limestone. It feels great in July and bracing in January.

The spring sits in a bowl below a grassy slope at the heart of the park. The swimming area is just over half an acre and averages about 4 feet deep. A chair lift, a ramp and a hydraulic swim lift (rated to 400 pounds) help people with limited mobility get in. The park says the spring puts out about 43 million gallons a day, and you can see the sand and rock at the bottom from the bank. Snorkeling is allowed in the spring itself under the same rules as swimming.

Downstream, the spring run flows into the Wekiva River, one of the better paddling rivers in central Florida. You can rent a canoe or kayak by the spring and spend the rest of the day on the water, or walk the trails through sandhill and pine.

The park’s biggest change in recent years is how you get in. Since Sept. 2, 2025, all day-use visitors need a reservation. If you turn up without one, you will not get through the gate.

Getting there

The park entrance is at 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, roughly 15 miles north-northwest of downtown Orlando. Most people drive in from I-4 or SR 429 and follow signs for the state park through Apopka or Longwood. The road ends at the ranger station, and the spring parking is a short walk from the swimming area.

Have your reservation receipt on your phone or printed. Annual pass holders also need to show the pass. If you plan to leave and come back the same day, ask the ranger station for a re-entry ticket before you drive out; without one you cannot get back in.

Booking and entry

• Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org. Each day needs its own reservation.
• Book up to 60 days ahead. Same-day reservations are available until the park’s daily limit is reached.
• The entry fee is paid when you book: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people), $4 for a single occupant, $2 for walkers, cyclists and extra passengers. There is no separate booking fee.
• Cancel for a refund. The entry fee is refunded if you cancel, but no-shows are not.
• Campers just need their camping reservation. Concession customers need their purchase confirmation.

Arriving early still helps you get a spot on the lawn and a quieter swim, but it does not replace a reservation.

When to go

Summer is the busy season. The park says it reaches capacity during the week and on weekends in the summer months, which is exactly why reservations exist. Book well ahead for Saturdays and holidays.

October to April is the sweet spot if you are fine with cool water. The air is milder, the trails are pleasant and the spring is quieter on weekdays. On cold winter days the 72°F22°C water can feel warm compared with the air, but it is still a cold swim.

Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms almost daily. Get out of the water at the first thunder and plan the swim for the morning.

Rules and etiquette

• No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk, and keep children and non-swimmers with an adult swimmer.
• No diving or jumping. The spring is shallow.
• No scuba, tanks or hookah systems.
• Individual-size flotation devices are allowed in the swimming area.
• Swim only in the spring. Swimming is banned in Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River.
• No grills, pop-up tents or canopies on the spring lawn.
• Swimsuits are expected; this is a family state park.
• Pets stay on a 6-foot leash and out of the swimming area.

Paddling the Wekiva River

Wekiwa Springs Adventures, the park concession (407-884-4311), rents canoes and kayaks near the spring. Other liveries work along the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run. If you launch your own boat after paddling in from outside the park, the park charges $2 per person.

The park lists these distances from Wekiwa Springs:

• Wekiva Island (Wekiva River): 1 mile
• Otter Camp (Rock Springs Run): 3 miles
• Indian Mound (Rock Springs Run): 3.5 miles
• Big Buck (Rock Springs Run): 4 miles
• Kelly Park (Rock Springs Run): 9.5 miles
• Katie’s Landing (Wekiva River): 10 miles

Going downstream is easy. Coming back upstream takes longer than most people expect, and some routes involve carrying the boat up uneven slopes. Kelly Park, at the top of Rock Springs Run, has its own spring; see Rock Springs at Kelly Park.

Where to stay nearby

• Family campground: 60 sites with water, electric, a fire ring with grill and a picnic table; some have sewer, and RVs up to 50 feet fit. $24 a night plus tax, a $7 nightly utility fee for RVs, and a $6.70 reservation fee. Four accessible sites can be requested. Book through Florida State Parks at 800-326-3521.
• Paddle-in camps: Otter Camp and Big Buck Camp on Rock Springs Run hold up to 10 people each, $5 per person per night. Reserve up to 60 days ahead at 407-553-4383.
• Hike-in camps: Camp Cozy (about 3 miles) and Big Fork (about 1 mile) hold up to 8 people each.
• Hotels: Apopka, Altamonte Springs and Longwood are all within a short drive, and Orlando is about half an hour away.

Note that the park posted an alert from June 26, 2026 about construction in the campground during business hours. It said the bathhouse should not be affected.

Safety notes

• Cold water: 72°F22°C takes the heat out of you faster than you think, especially for small children. Take breaks in the sun.
• Shallow water: do not dive or jump. Head and neck injuries are the risk in a 4-foot spring.
• Wildlife: alligators live in the river system, and the park runs a Be Bear Aware programme for black bears. Store food in your car or a locked container at camp.
• Head under water: as with any natural freshwater, keep water out of your nose.

Nearby stops worth adding

Kelly Park and Rock Springs in Apopka have a spring run made for tubing. To the north, Blue Spring State Park near Orange City is a winter manatee site and also requires day-use reservations; see Blue Spring. De Leon Springs, further north again, has another swimming area.