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Ichetucknee Springs

Springs in Florida

Nearly 900 springs bubble to the surface in Florida. Explore our major springs to swim, snorkel, and paddle.

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Silver Glen Springs main spring vent

Florida has so many springs that our state geological survey ranks these by size based on how much water comes out of them.

First magnitude springs are the largest, gushing 65 million gallons a day or more. We have more of them than any other state.

Florida's Largest Springs

In order of size, here is where to find Florida’s largest springs with easy public access. Many, but not all, have swimming areas.

Glass-bottomed boats at Silver Springs

Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs State Park
Rainbow Springs

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park
Wakulla River as seen from in front of Wakulla Lodge

Wakulla Springs State Park

Wakulla Springs State Park
Wacissa Springs

Wacissa Springs

Wacissa Springs
Ichetucknee Springs

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Homosassa Springs fishbowl

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Jackson Blue Springs

Blue Springs Recreation Area

Blue Springs Recreation Area
Manatee Springs

Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park
Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Manatees in clear spring water

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park
Troy Spring

Troy Spring State Park

Troy Spring State Park
Fanning Springs

Fanning Springs State Park

Fanning Springs State Park
Madison Blue Springs

Madison Blue Spring State Park

Madison Blue Spring State Park
Silver Glen Springs main spring vent

Silver Glen Springs

Silver Glen Springs
Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs

Resources

These are our books that mention specific springs as destinations. Of these, the Explorer’s Guide to North Florida & the Panhandle contains the most.

Florida Trail Hikes book cover Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover 5 Star Trails Orlando North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Spring Hopping

During the summer months, plan a spring-hopping adventure to beat the heat. Show up at parks at opening time, as they can get filled to capacity early on weekends.

Ichetucknee Springs

Springs of the Suwannee River Valley

It’s August. It’s Florida. Where do you go to cool off? The springs of the Suwannee River Valley. No matter the size, these natural swimming holes are a delight.

Three Days of Lower Suwannee Springs

Not so busy thanks to their locations on the lower Suwannee River, this series of four major springs provide another 3-day weekend getaway option for active outdoor recreation in Florida

Lunchtime underwater at Weeki Wachee

Three Days of Nature Coast Springs

Between New Port Richey and Crystal River, explore a variety of springs along the Nature Coast that provide splashing fun in summer and manatee watching in winter.

Madison Blue Springs

Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee

Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all within an hour of Tallahassee.

Beckton Spring

Paddling Holmes Creek

With a dozen launch points and more than 15 springs along its 16 mile length, Holmes Creek, a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River, is a must-do paddling trip along a remote waterway.

The deep outflow of the spring pool

Three Days of Central Florida Springs

Have a three-day weekend coming up and an urge to spend it with Florida’s springs? Here’s an itinerary for the Orlando area that’ll have you splashing in beautiful locations.

Spring Boils Trail

Why Does Florida Have Springs?

Springs come out of the earth in Florida because the limestone bedrock beneath the state is very porous.

Rainfall soaks into the ground and fills natural underground reservoirs called aquifers, building up pressure. Water must emerge at the surface through crevices in the landscape.

Our spring temperatures are constant year-round, but vary by spring and location. Springs in the far northwest corner of Florida are as cool as 68F year-round.

Those in North Florida and Central Florida tend towards 70F and 72F. Warm Mineral Springs is Florida’s hottest spring at 85F.

Warm Mineral Springs

Warm Mineral Springs

One of the largest natural mineral water springs in the world, Warm Mineral Springs near Venice is Florida’s only hot spring open to the public

Best Springs for Swimming

These are our favorite spring destinations for swimming and snorkeling.

Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs
Hart Springs

Hart Springs

Hart Springs
Swimmers in De Leon Springs

De Leon Springs State Park

De Leon Springs State Park
Ponce DeLeon Springs

Ponce de Leon Springs State Park

Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
Royal Springs

Royal Springs

Royal Springs
Lafayette Blue Springs

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park

Best Springs for Beauty

These are some of Florida’s most beautiful springs. Not all are open for swimming. Some can only be seen on foot, while others can be paddled to or visited by boat.

Springs in open spring basin

Juniper Springs

Juniper Springs
Madison Blue Springs

Madison Blue Spring State Park

Madison Blue Spring State Park
Turquoise waterway flowing through forest in fall colors

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Morrison Springs

Morrison Springs Park

Morrison Springs Park
Clear spring water between palm trees

Gemini Springs Park

Gemini Springs Park
Merritt's Mill Pond

Merritt’s Mill Pond

Merritt’s Mill Pond

Discover More Springs

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