4.8 / 5
very_high
Half Day
Fall & Winter
Amenities & Activities
Fun Facts
Blue Spring discharges 104 million gallons of 72°F water per day — making it a first-magnitude spring, the highest classification.
The spring was once a steamboat stop on the St. Johns River in the 1800s — remnants of the old dock are still visible.
Manatee counts here have exceeded 700 individuals in a single day during cold winters.
The park is part of the effort to recover West Indian manatees — biologists have tracked individual manatees returning here every winter for decades.
Blue Spring was once the home of naturalist and manatee advocate Howard "Lex" Salisbury, who helped establish federal manatee protections in the 1970s.
Seasonal Events
Manatee Season
West Indian manatees shelter in the warm spring run during cold spells. Swimming is prohibited but the boardwalk view is extraordinary. Peak viewing is January–February.
Snorkeling & Diving Season
When manatees have left, the spring opens for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving in the crystal-clear 72°F water.
Wildlife
Florida's most reliable site to see West Indian manatees — the 72°F spring run shelters hundreds of manatees during winter cold snaps. American alligators, river otters, turtles, mullet, and subtropical fish also inhabit the spring. White ibis, great blue herons, and ospreys are common along the St. Johns River.
Visitor Tips
Visit January–February for peak manatee season when counts can exceed 500 individuals in the spring run. Arrive at opening (8am) on cold winter days — manatees are most concentrated then. The boardwalk along the spring run gives outstanding viewing. Swim, snorkel, or dive in summer when the spring is open.
Safety Notes
Do not touch, feed, or approach manatees — it is a federal crime to harass them. When manatees are present in the spring run (November–March), swimming is prohibited. Stay on the boardwalk trail for the best viewing without disturbing wildlife. Alligators are present year-round — do not feed them.