Blue Springs Park, High Springs: Address, Phone Number, Blue Springs Park Reviews: 4/5
Blue Springs Park
Blue Springs Park
4
About
Explore 250 acres of the "Real Florida" and stroll along our 1/4 mile boardwalk as it follows the springs run to the Santa Fe River. Gaze into the crystal blue depths from the dock overlooking the spring's boil. Whether it's swimming, picnicking, tubing, canoeing, camping, hiking or just plain relaxing...make Blue Springs your adventure destination!
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
211 reviews
Excellent
112
Very good
55
Average
21
Poor
11
Terrible
12
Rhino2525
Daytona Beach, FL1,966 contributions
Jan 2021
My wife and I recently visited Blue Springs park to see the manatees for something to do outside during COVID times recently on a Tuesday late morning. It was a brisk January morning but not freezing. We didn't expect the size of the crowd there for a Tuesday but the one lot was already full (no big del - we parked in the other end of the boardwalk). The sign stated that there was 454 manatees in the park the day that we visited. We saw at least 100 of them strolling the 1/4 mile boardwalk and lookouts. The sun is on the other side of the water so they were for the most part in the shallow waters in the sun so not real close to the boardwalk / lookouts but could still see the loveable sea cows.
It was an enjoyable and non-hurried morning strolling the waterside and gazing them and the huge amount of fish and some birds. It was very pretty and definitely Old Florida.
The only negative was that some of the people refused to war their face coverings (during COVID - approximately 25% of the people) and did not social distance. We were not in a rush so we just moved away from them.
We sat an open park like area deciding where to have lunch in Deland and enjoyed the scenery. There were kids running around and playing in this park area. A pretty value priced day ($6 per car) to take the family to get of the house.
It was an enjoyable and non-hurried morning strolling the waterside and gazing them and the huge amount of fish and some birds. It was very pretty and definitely Old Florida.
The only negative was that some of the people refused to war their face coverings (during COVID - approximately 25% of the people) and did not social distance. We were not in a rush so we just moved away from them.
We sat an open park like area deciding where to have lunch in Deland and enjoyed the scenery. There were kids running around and playing in this park area. A pretty value priced day ($6 per car) to take the family to get of the house.
Written January 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
wegnerjd1
Salt Lake City, UT28 contributions
Jan 2021
There were 312 manatees there that particular day. We came on Martin Luther King weekend on Sunday and we had to wait to get in for about 45 min. Well worth the wait really cool seeing all the fish, turtles, manatee and even some wild turkeys. Definitely recommend
Written January 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MoodyFoody2
Lenoir, NC227 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
This is an awesome area to bring inexperienced swimmers to because there is a large area of mostly shallow water. There is a significant drop off that is great for snorkeling too. There used to be a jump off where the deep water is, but the jump off is no longer there. The water is crystal clear and ice cold.
COVID changes : The park is only allowing 75 cars in for the day to promote social distancing. We saw many cars that ignored the “closed” sign and had to turn around and leave.
This park has plenty of space for you to set up chairs and stuff. They are many picnic tables and we didn’t feel crowded. We enjoyed our visit and will return.
COVID changes : The park is only allowing 75 cars in for the day to promote social distancing. We saw many cars that ignored the “closed” sign and had to turn around and leave.
This park has plenty of space for you to set up chairs and stuff. They are many picnic tables and we didn’t feel crowded. We enjoyed our visit and will return.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nicole M
Orlando, FL5 contributions
Sep 2020
If you like a family camping experience, this is the place to be! At first we thought "wow, we're close to our neighbors", but everyone was respectful, and it ended up feeling like we were camping with friends by the time our trip was over. We camped at site #12. The spring is beautiful and there's a 1/4 mile spring run where you can kayak or tube in totally clear water until it hits the Sante Fe where the water turns brown (due to the cypress trees). The only drawback was that the bathroom/showers are shared with the day visitors, but since they left at 7:45 p.m., we just used the facilities the most in the evenings. The bathrooms are cleaned every morning between 7 - 8 a.m. Overall, we give our experience two thumbs up! And it's close to Ichetucknee Springs, which was a blast!
Written September 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Oxygirl10
Melbourne, FL10 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We visited in December on a cold day and didn’t do much swimming but enjoyed hiking the trails and searching for deer track. The water was beautiful. The trails were awesome. Everything was clean (but there weren’t many people either). Bathrooms are in desperate need of upgrades but they work. Camping is very close to the spring. Everyone was super nice.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Liz D
Key West, FL215 contributions
Aug 2020
We've visited a lot of Florida State Parks and in terms of natural beauty this on is not to be missed! The spring is amazing and that kayaking/canoeing on the Santa Fe River is definitely worth it.
We camped here for one night and that was plenty. This park is on the smaller/less developed than most others I've seen so there really isn't much hiking or anything to do besides swim in the spring. It was worth it to camp because you basically have the spring to yourself in the evening.
The facilities were below par compared to most state parks. The entrance road is long and super rough. The campground is very small and not very private. The bathhouse looks like it was built in the '50s and not updated (or deep cleaned) since. It's my understanding that this had been a private attraction and the state only acquired it a few years ago. I know they're working on fixing a lot of the facilities but it might be a while yet before improvements really get made.
We camped here for one night and that was plenty. This park is on the smaller/less developed than most others I've seen so there really isn't much hiking or anything to do besides swim in the spring. It was worth it to camp because you basically have the spring to yourself in the evening.
The facilities were below par compared to most state parks. The entrance road is long and super rough. The campground is very small and not very private. The bathhouse looks like it was built in the '50s and not updated (or deep cleaned) since. It's my understanding that this had been a private attraction and the state only acquired it a few years ago. I know they're working on fixing a lot of the facilities but it might be a while yet before improvements really get made.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Denisewaters940
St. Marks1 contribution
Apr 2019 • Couples
I have spent the better part of the last hour reading reviews of this park. I am currently staying here in my 19 ft. travel trailer being pulled by an older model Chevy truck. We have not experienced any of the problems as observed by some of the disgruntled “campers” in their posts. Yes, there is a sandy dirt road entrance, yes, the road back to the camping area is a little rutted, yes, you can see other campers from your site. What’s the big deal? It’s called camping for a reason, if you want luxury accommodations go to a 5 star hotel. I don’t know what some people expect when they go camping in Florida at a natural spring in a state park, but I highly suspect these individuals cannot be pleased. So I say to them, PLEASE don’t come back, save this natural wonder for those of us that truly respect what nature has to offer. The natural beauty and absolute wonder of this place far outweighs the inconvenience of anything that we experienced.
Ok, rant over. The springs are absolutely beautiful, the trails leading to the swimming area and campground are pristine and easily accessible, the rangers very helpful and informative, the kayaks , canoes and paddle boards in great condition. We cannot wait for the sun to come up and begin our adventure today. Feeling blessed beyond belief!
Ok, rant over. The springs are absolutely beautiful, the trails leading to the swimming area and campground are pristine and easily accessible, the rangers very helpful and informative, the kayaks , canoes and paddle boards in great condition. We cannot wait for the sun to come up and begin our adventure today. Feeling blessed beyond belief!
Written April 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
gregandpatty
Loxahatchee, FL13 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This place has a nice spring to swim in.
That's about it for the flattery.
Now for the rest of my review.
Do not come here to camp in anything larger than a tent. The whole place is convoluted with regard to how it is managed, run and set up for camping. Getting past the fact that there is no sewer hook ups (in fairness they fore warn you of this) they also do not have a dump station. So if you decide to check in for a few days be aware of the following:
With no advanced warning, they can( and in our case, did) change your check out date with no explanation other than " the Owner said to chase everyone out on Sunday", after saying we could check in on Friday and check out in Monday, One hour after disconnecting our travel trailer from our truck.
Had we known that we could only stay two nights, we would've checked in at another campground. We even called ahead to make sure the dates were fine ( since they take NO reservations).
Also - water and electric hook ups are on the opposite side of every American made RV ( which as we all know is the left, or driver's side, their's are on the right so you had better have a lot of cord and hose for power and water). Plus they charge $12.00 / night for electric usage no Matter the size of your RV ( ours is 24 ft ).
Otherwise this is a pretty place but in our opinion is more useful for a day visit to enjoy swimming (which is $10.00 per person per day).
So if you are an RV'er, there are a lot of nicer options with more amenities for the same or less $$$. We were charged $42/night for the two of us. ( that included the $12.00 per night for power that we didn't have to use because it was cold so we used our LP heater).
Try Ginnie Springs about three miles away, or as I said, there are several other nice camping venues within a 20 mile radius of this place.
That's about it for the flattery.
Now for the rest of my review.
Do not come here to camp in anything larger than a tent. The whole place is convoluted with regard to how it is managed, run and set up for camping. Getting past the fact that there is no sewer hook ups (in fairness they fore warn you of this) they also do not have a dump station. So if you decide to check in for a few days be aware of the following:
With no advanced warning, they can( and in our case, did) change your check out date with no explanation other than " the Owner said to chase everyone out on Sunday", after saying we could check in on Friday and check out in Monday, One hour after disconnecting our travel trailer from our truck.
Had we known that we could only stay two nights, we would've checked in at another campground. We even called ahead to make sure the dates were fine ( since they take NO reservations).
Also - water and electric hook ups are on the opposite side of every American made RV ( which as we all know is the left, or driver's side, their's are on the right so you had better have a lot of cord and hose for power and water). Plus they charge $12.00 / night for electric usage no Matter the size of your RV ( ours is 24 ft ).
Otherwise this is a pretty place but in our opinion is more useful for a day visit to enjoy swimming (which is $10.00 per person per day).
So if you are an RV'er, there are a lot of nicer options with more amenities for the same or less $$$. We were charged $42/night for the two of us. ( that included the $12.00 per night for power that we didn't have to use because it was cold so we used our LP heater).
Try Ginnie Springs about three miles away, or as I said, there are several other nice camping venues within a 20 mile radius of this place.
Written November 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
900jayc21
Alachua, Florida, United States3 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
This place is a gem of Florida. However the people running it do not care about you or your family and just want your money. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING BY BOAT DON'T GET OUT ON THEIR PROPERTY OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED! If you don't immediately pay what they ask you to, they will call all 3 branches of law enforcement in the area. I have seen it happen twice. They are mean and aren't afraid to send you to jail for not paying their fees or not following their rules. I would suggest accessing it FOR FREE by boat or by just swimming over from Rum Island which is a free access right across the river. Its free and there is no danger of going to jail...
Written October 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AineFlorida
Florida608 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
The springs are beautiful. Kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals are reasonable. The campground should only be opened to tents or very small camping trailers. The dirt road into the park is deplorable. Potholes across the entire road and filled with water. We were afraid our vehicle would become stuck in the muddy pothole. It only got worse when we arrived at the site. Our camper is only 20 feet long so it is not large. We had to pull into the site across from our site (unoccupied) and back ours into our site. The utilities are located in the wrong place on the sites. They should be toward the middle or back on the left hand side. We had to park our camper in the middle of the site to reach the utilities. No place to park our truck so we had to park it in the road. The dirt roads are all being washed away and you really don't know where to drive. While we were setting up in the rain another camper came to set up on his site. He was unable to get into the site and ended up leaving. The bathhouse is not wheelchair accessible. I believe that is against the law. It does have a small wooden ramp that has sunk into the dirt but a gap from the ramp to the concrete makes it inaccessible. I had a difficult time getting my stroller onto the concrete. No dump station. If you have a tent and don't mind the road conditions it would be okay to camp here. This campground needs a lot of improvements.
Written March 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
tati
Orlando, FL
How early should be at the park to be able to get in? It says the park opens @8:00am looking to go on Friday morning to walk around and see the manatees.
Macer1980
Edgewood, MD
Thinking about taking a vacation to the springs from Maryland around January 4th first timer a bit apprehensive due to some of the reviews... Does anyone here have anymore suggestion in reference to a trip to Florida during these unprecedented times of Vvid 19
gksbas
Murfreesboro, TN31 contributions
It will be cold but I was there in October and no restrictions
Some restaurants had less hours due to Covid
Are there no gators in this water???
Alita
39 contributions
Yes, we saw one very small alligator that was swimming quickly away from us.
funfamilyAthens_Ga
athens, ga1 contribution
I see that you state you've visited 5 springs in Florida. I've just recently started researching a spring to visit with my spouse on our way between Athens Ga and Anna Maria Island. Is there another spring you'd recommend that's better and why?
Thank you,
LB
MoodyFoody2
Lenoir, NC227 contributions
Hello, not sure who you were directing your question at 😁? When you ask a question - TripAdvisor sends a request to answer the question to everyone that has ever left a review for it. We have only visited 2 Florida Springs, but I do have some advise. There are several Springs all over FL. They all have their own unique charm and amenities. One even has a water park. You should visit each Spring’s website to get details on their hours, closures, amenities, map, rental fees, etc. Some places are closed and using this COVID time to refurbish. Most places have a set limited capacity for the day. Some only have certain areas open. Some are owned by the state and some are privately owned. Some offer swimming holes, some offer tubing, some offer kaiaking, some offer encounters with manatee (depending on time of year). So - it really depends on what you are looking for - to determine which “spring” is best for you. Blue Spring offers a great swimming hole that is large and has a large shallow area for little ones. Some springs have large large swimming areas and the depth is never less than 8 feet. One thing all springs have in common - they are beautiful and freezing 🥶 cold! Good luck on your research.
MountainlakeGirl
Huber Heights, OH295 contributions
We are thinking of stopping here but will be limited on time. Is it reasonable to stop for just an hour or so to see the springs?
Robert F
Stowe, VT77 contributions
Yes it is okay for a short visit. If warm day go for a swim. You can walk in the water out to the river and back. Current is strong so it is a longer walk returning.
Dany S
Sao Paulo, SP12 contributions
There's a picture showing a snake. Is that real? Do you have snakes around? I was considering to camp with my 6yo girl...
Can you fish here
521AZ
6 contributions
In the springs itself, no. On the River yes.
Beatriz Teixeira
Buenos Aires, Argentina45 contributions
Is it possible to rent a snorkel set over there?
JILL F
Zephyrhills, FL105 contributions
Absolutely
diaq
Palm Harbor, FL605 contributions
Can you actually tube down the spring run, or is swimming/tubing allowed only in the spring area?
2Seasons843
Myrtle Beach, SC33 contributions
It is about 1/4 mile from main spring to the opening of the Sante Fe. You can kayak/tube back and forth. We took a Kayak to the Sante Fe and then Kayak'd up the river a bit. You can also rent or bring your own. One day we used paddleboards and that was a great way to be able to see the fish swimming around.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Springs Park
- Hotels near Blue Springs Park:
- (0.00 mi) Blue Springs Park Incorporated
- (0.81 mi) Rum Island Cabin on the Santa Fe River, Florida
- (4.93 mi) Grady House Bed and Breakfast
- (1.06 mi) Ginnie Springs
- (5.03 mi) Rustic Inn Bed and Breakfast
- Restaurants near Blue Springs Park:
- (5.20 mi) Great Outdoors Restaurant
- (5.19 mi) Bambi’s Country Market & Restaurant
- (5.44 mi) Bev's Burgers
- (5.25 mi) The Talented Cookie Company
- (5.19 mi) Alice's Parkside Restaurant