Blue Springs State Park
Exploring Florida one Campground at a Time
Have you ever listened to a Manatee BREATHE? At Blue Springs State Park, you can listen to hundreds of them.
As these amazing creatures rise and their noses break the surface, their exhale blows across the water. Sometimes with a little poof and sometimes with a more significant splash of the water. We went down to the spring run at sunrise, just to listen the manatees breathing. We could barely see the gentle giants, but we could hear all of them. I have heard this sound many times in my life, but the huge numbers gathered at the springs intensified the sounds. It was MAGICAL.
We planned our trip to Blue Springs State Park almost a year ago. We were looking forward to this trip more than most because of the manatees. And per my usual with Florida State Parks, I have found a new favorite. This trip was a weekend trip with family staying in the park cabins, while we stayed in an RV site. Although our main intent was to stare at the manatees for hours and hours each day, we were pleased to see all the amenities and activities that the park offers throughout the year. The park is open for day guests and campers. The big attraction is the gorgeous spring run. In the summer it is amazing for water activities and in the winter months hundreds of manatees come to this sanctuary to keep warm in the spring water. There is so much to do in the park, including, hiking, kayaking, swimming, playgrounds, grills for cookouts, and boat tours. They also have a big campground store and concessions. The spring run activities are limited during manatee season, but the viewing of these gentle sea creatures more than makes up for that missing activity.
The Campground:
We did not book the park for the campground, but we were delighted when we arrived. Most of the campsites are large and easy to back into with the RV. The area is densely wooded creating good privacy at the sites. There are some sites on the inside of the loop that do not have great privacy, so take advantage of campsite photos to pick your site. All sites have a campfire ring, and we really liked that it was spaced back from the camper with enough area to sit around in camping chairs. The sites have electric and water hookups, and the campground has one dump station. The area has multiple bath houses and laundry facilities. There was an easy paved path from the campground down to the springs, which would be especially nice on crowded days when parking is filled with day guests. One thing to note, it is super dark once the sun goes down and the park has many furry critters including bears and racoons.
The Springs and the Manatees:
The Manatees come to Florida Springs during the winter months for the warmth of the spring waters. The springs stay a constant 72 degrees, which is warm in the winter and refreshing in the summer. So many of these animals come to Blue Springs, the spring run is closed from November through March to give the manatees a safe sanctuary. At first it might seem disappointing that you cannot join the hundreds of gentle giants in the water, but as you stand there watching them you will not mind.
In 1970 researchers tracked 14 Manatees in this spring run, this year we saw over 500 as we stood on the riverbanks. The efforts by the state to protect these wonderous creatures is most certainly working. Some fun facts about the manatees that make it even more fun to watch them in the water.
They live up to 60 years in age.
It was funny to watch them playing and twirling in the water. They come up for air every 3-5 minutes when active, but are able stay submerged for 20 minutes. They can swim up to 20 mph, but only in very short bursts. I have not seen this in real life and would never have guessed they could move so fast.
We did see a ton of little manatees hanging around their mamas. The mom’s gestation period is one year and the calves stay with their mom for 1-2 years after birth.
We think the best time to watch them is first thing in the morning before they leave for the day to go find food in the river. Their primary food source is freshwater aquatic vegetation. They eat up to 10% of their body weight daily. We saw some manatees in the spring run all day long, so we are not sure how this really works. Something to ask the ranger next time we are at the park.
Everyday there is an official count of the manatees. You will see chalk boards with the daily number.
The good news is the manatees have no natural predators. The bad news is humans cause a lot of havoc on their environment. Thankfully, Blue Springs is a sanctuary during winter months, giving these sweet sea cows a safe place to warm up.
Surrounding Area:
For us, this park is a destination park to stay and enjoy what the park has to offer. It is not likely we would stay with the intention of touring surrounding areas. However, if you are staying at this park and want to explore the area, there are many places you can visit within approximately an hour drive. Blue Springs is located in Orange City, which is on the north side of the greater Orlando area. It is approximately forty minutes away from Daytona Beach where you can enjoy a day at the beach in the Florida sun. You can also explore additional springs by heading down to Wekiwa Springs State Park or Silver Springs State Park both of which are about an hour away in separate directions. Another fun day trip would be to head over to Deleon Springs to enjoy the beautiful springs and visit the Old Spanish Mill for a good pancake breakfast. Disney is also an option, taking a little over an hour. If Disney is your plan, be sure to account for traffic as Orlando traffic can be out of control at certain times of the day. Central Florida has such a variety of things to offer, if you want to explore the area you will find plenty to do that will match your interests.
This park was an incredible experience for us and everyone in our group. We all love manatees and have seen them a million times because we live in Florida, and yet, this experience was like nowhere else we have visited in Florida. My husband and I experienced the magic on the first day. We were curious if our friends and family would feel the same as they joined throughout the weekend. We could immediately see from the expression on their faces that they were equally awestruck by the experience. I hope that you and your family find the time to visit and experience this real Florida treasure.
