In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Wekiwa and Blue Spring via DeLeon Springs, Alexander, Juniper, Silver Glen and Salt Springs to Silver Springs, into the horse country around Ocala and on to the Rainbow River: around 370 kilometres of 22°C spring water, scrub forest and cypress swamp.
The spirit of the route
Central Florida has no sea, but it has water clearer than any sea: from limestone basins, groundwater at around 22°C wells up all year round, turquoise over white sand, and flows as a crystal-clear creek through cypresses, cabbage palms and swamp oaks hung with Spanish moss. The route starts just beyond Orlando’s motorway interchanges and then plunges into the Ocala National Forest, the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi: sand tracks, endless sand pine scrub, black bear signs along SR-40. In the morning mist rises from the spring pools before the first swimmers arrive; in winter, manatees lie in the water at Blue Spring like grey boulders. Through the sliding door you hear sandhill cranes calling, at night tree frogs chirp, and in a canoe on Juniper Run you squeeze under fallen trunks. At the end, glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs, the white paddock fences of Ocala and the Rainbow River are waiting.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Orlando to Apopka (Wekiwa Springs State Park) (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- Orlando is just the starting point here: after picking up the vehicle and doing a big shop, head north towards Apopka on I-4 or the tolled SR-414/SR-429. The motorways around Orlando are busy, multi-lane and full of lane changes; outside rush hour the drive takes 45 minutes. The last few kilometres follow Wekiwa Springs Road through residential areas and pine forest to the park entrance. Plenty of petrol stations and supermarkets until shortly before the park.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Wekiwa Springs: spring pool with a swimming area and lawn; the water stays at around 22°C all year. From here the Wekiwa River flows north to the St. Johns River – by canoe or kayak from the park’s own rental, a calm stretch with turtles, herons and the occasional alligator on the bank.
- Trails through sandhill and wet forest: the park has a network of hiking and horse trails; on the sandy pine slopes you see gopher tortoises and, with luck, the Florida scrub-jay.
- Kelly Park (Rock Springs) near Apopka: Orange County park with a spring run you float down on an inner tube; on warm days the park fills up quickly and then closes its entrance.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Wekiwa Springs State Park Campground: around 60 sites in two loops with water and electricity, bathhouses with showers, dump station. Reserve through the Florida State Parks system; being close to Orlando, the sites are in demand all year and are booked out months ahead in winter and on holidays. Check the vehicle length allowed per site when booking. Alternative: the campground at Kelly Park (Orange County).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is no legal free-camping option in the Orlando area; the cities and counties prohibit sleeping in vehicles on streets and in many car parks. Supermarket car parks only with the store’s explicit permission.
- Insider tip for campers
- At weekends and on holidays Wekiwa Springs often reaches capacity by mid-morning, and the entrance is then closed until visitors leave. If you have a campground booking you can get in at any time and have the spring pool almost to yourself early in the morning. Stock up on supplies and water before leaving Orlando – shops become scarce later in the Ocala National Forest.
2Stage 2: Apopka to Orange City (Blue Spring State Park) (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- Head east on SR-46 through Sanford, then north on I-4 across the St. Johns River to Orange City and along French Avenue to the park. Alternatively, take the tolled Wekiva Parkway (SR-429/SR-453), which bypasses the traffic around Sanford. Flat land, wet meadows and new housing developments; driving time around one hour. Petrol stations and supermarkets in Sanford, DeLand and Orange City.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Blue Spring State Park: the spring run is the most important winter refuge for manatees on the St. Johns River. When the river cools down in the cold season, the animals move into the constantly warm spring water – from the boardwalk along the bank you can often see them from just a few metres away. The park publishes counts and sightings during the season.
- Thursby House: a 19th-century settler’s wooden house on an old Native American shell mound, overlooking the St. Johns River.
- Boat tour or kayak on the St. Johns River: sightseeing boats run from the park onto the river; alligators, ospreys and anhingas are seen regularly.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Blue Spring State Park Campground: sites with water and electricity, bathhouse, dump station, plus cabins. Very much in demand during the winter manatee season – reserve through Florida State Parks as early as possible. Alternative if it is full: the campground at Lake Monroe Park (Volusia County) near DeBary; check its status beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is no public land for dispersed camping around Orange City and DeLand. Overnight stays in park and beach car parks are prohibited; the parks close at sunset.
- Insider tip for campers
- During the manatee season in the winter half of the year, swimming, snorkelling and paddling in the Blue Spring run are prohibited – the water then belongs to the animals. Swimming is only allowed outside the season. Manatees are strictly protected under federal and state law; anyone who harasses, feeds or touches them risks heavy fines. Cold mornings after a cold front bring the most animals, but the car park also fills early then: be there before opening.
3Stage 3: Orange City to Alexander Springs (Ocala National Forest) via DeLeon Springs (approx. 75 km)
- The drive
- Via DeLand, head north on US-17 to the town of De Leon Springs (around 30 kilometres), continue on US-17 to Barberville and there turn west on SR-40, crossing the St. Johns River at Astor into the Ocala National Forest, then south on CR-445 to Alexander Springs Recreation Area. From Astor it is two-lane tarmac through sand pine forest, with little traffic but logging trucks and wildlife crossing. Driving time around 1.5 hours. Last major shopping in DeLand; in Astor and Altoona only small shops and petrol stations.
- Highlights & must-sees
- De Leon Springs State Park: spring pool with a walled swimming area, surrounded by oaks and palms; a sugar mill stood on the site in the 19th century. In the reconstructed mill building, at the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, you cook your own pancakes on a hot griddle in the middle of the table – a breakfast ritual with tradition. Waits at weekends are long; check opening hours on floridastateparks.org.
- Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge: borders De Leon Springs; on dykes through marsh and backwaters you see waterbirds, alligators and, in winter, ducks. Reachable by kayak from the park.
- Alexander Springs: one of Florida’s large spring pools, with a sandy beach and a wide, shallow swimming area; suitable for snorkelling and diving. From the shore, a canoe and kayak route sets off along Alexander Springs Creek.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Alexander Springs Recreation Area: Forest Service campground under pines and oaks, a few steps from the spring pool, with a restroom building and showers; run by a concessionaire on behalf of the US Forest Service. Sites are mostly basic; check hookups and lengths when booking. Reserve through recreation.gov; some sites are partly also available on site. There is no campground at De Leon Springs State Park itself. Alternative: Clearwater Lake Campground on CR-42 in the south of the forest.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Ocala National Forest, dispersed camping outside the recreation areas is generally permitted, with a maximum stay and minimum distances from water and roads. During the hunting season in autumn and winter, however, camping is only allowed at designated sites – the hunt camps and a few designated primitive sites. Ask the Seminole Ranger District (Umatilla) or Lake George Ranger District for current rules and dates; many sand tracks are too soft for heavy vehicles.
- Insider tip for campers
- The recreation areas of the Ocala National Forest charge a daily fee per person, including for swimming; check on site whether the America the Beautiful Pass is accepted. When Alexander Springs is full, traffic is stopped at the gate – campers have priority. The Ocala National Forest has one of the densest black bear populations in Florida: always keep food and rubbish in the vehicle or in the bear-proof containers.
4Stage 4: Alexander Springs to Juniper Springs (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- North on CR-445 to SR-40, then west on it to Juniper Springs Recreation Area. A short stage – the time belongs to Juniper Run. SR-40 is two-lane and straight, with sandy verges and few lay-bys; speeds 55–60 mph, and black bears cross especially at dusk. Petrol stations only in Astor, Altoona and sparsely at the junction with SR-19 – fill up beforehand.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Juniper Springs: the spring pool is enclosed by a stone wall built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, together with a mill house with a waterwheel. Next to it is Fern Hammock Spring, where you can see the sand on the bottom boiling.
- Canoe run on Juniper Creek: around 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the spring pool through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness to SR-19. The upper kilometres are narrow and twisting, with overhanging branches and logs – not for beginners, but one of the most beautiful paddling routes in Florida. Allow plenty of time and ask the rental about launch windows.
- Juniper Prairie Wilderness: sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail run through sand scrub and past prairie marshes; take water, shade is scarce.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Juniper Springs Recreation Area Campground: Forest Service site under tall trees close to the spring pool, restroom building with showers and a dump station, but no electric or water hookups at the sites; run by the concessionaire Naventure. The loops are older and tight; with a large motorhome or a trailer rig, check the site length before booking on recreation.gov. For the canoe run, a night right at the campground is ideal.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Primitive Forest Service sites such as Hopkins Prairie north of SR-40 offer simple, inexpensive pitches by the prairie lake with few facilities; access via a sand track. Otherwise dispersed camping only outside the hunting season and not at the recreation areas, see stage 3.
- Insider tip for campers
- The concessionaire at the site rents canoes and kayaks and also offers the shuttle back from the Juniper Wayside take-out on SR-19. Private boats are subject to a fee and a daily quota, and launching is only allowed until early afternoon; inflatables and tubes are banned on the run. If you come without a rental boat, you organise the shuttle yourself. Start early: the run has no exit points along the way, and in summer thunderstorms build almost every afternoon. Bring a dry bag for your phone and keys – there are many obstacles in the creek.
5Stage 5: Juniper Springs to Salt Springs via Silver Glen Springs (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- East on SR-40 to SR-19, then north to Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area on the west shore of Lake George and on through pine forest to Salt Springs. Two-lane, flat, little traffic on weekdays, boat trailers on summer weekends. Driving time under an hour. In the village of Salt Springs: small shops, a petrol station and boating supplies.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Silver Glen Springs: large, wide spring pool with clear water over white sand and limestone rocks, often with shoals of fish and, in winter, with manatees that come up from Lake George. Day use only, no camping. On summer weekends dozens of boats anchor in the spring run and the car park fills quickly – on weekdays and early in the morning it is quiet.
- Salt Springs: the spring is slightly mineralised, hence the name; the spring pool is walled for swimming, and Salt Springs Run flows to Lake George. Boat rental and kayak tours from the recreation area.
- Lake George: Florida’s second-largest lake, shallow and wide; from the shore at Salt Springs or Silver Glen you see ospreys and bald eagles.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Salt Springs Recreation Area Campground: large Forest Service site with electric sites, some of them with full hookups – the only campground in the Ocala National Forest to offer them – as well as basic tent sites; bathhouse, dump station. Maximum stay 14 days in 30 days; there is practically no mobile signal at the site. The campground is popular with winter visitors, so reserve early on recreation.gov in winter. Alternative: Lake Dorr Campground on SR-19 south of SR-40, smaller and quieter.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Overnight stays at Silver Glen and in the car parks of the recreation areas are prohibited. Outside the hunting season, dispersed sites in the forest away from SR-19 are possible; follow the rules of the Lake George Ranger District and watch out for soft sand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Silver Glen has a capacity limit; once it is reached, the entrance on SR-19 is closed and anyone waiting has to turn back – awkward for large vehicles on the two-lane road. So come early or go on a weekday. At all the springs: swim only in the marked areas and in daylight; alligators live in every body of water connected to the St. Johns River.
6Stage 6: Salt Springs to Silver Springs State Park (Ocala) (approx. 65 km)
- The drive
- Back south on SR-19 to SR-40 and west on it out of the forest, across the Ocklawaha bridge to Silver Springs on the eastern edge of Ocala. The forest ends and pastureland and the first horse paddocks begin. Driving time around one hour. In Silver Springs and Ocala there are supermarkets, propane and repair shops again.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Silver Springs: glass-bottom boats have been crossing the spring pools here since the 19th century – through the floor you see limestone caves, eelgrass, fish and sunken props from old film shoots. The boats are run by a concessionaire; departures and tickets on site.
- Rhesus macaques on the Silver River: since the 1930s an introduced colony of rhesus macaques has lived here, often seen from a boat or kayak in the riverside forest. The animals can transmit diseases, including the herpes B virus – keep your distance; feeding is prohibited.
- Silver River by kayak: from the headspring the river flows around eight kilometres through cypress forest to the Ocklawaha; kayak rental at the main entrance, arrange the return shuttle beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Silver Springs State Park Campground: its own entrance on SR-35 (Baseline Road), separate from the springs area; sites with water and electricity, bathhouses, dump station, plus cabins. Reserve through Florida State Parks. From the campground, hiking and cycling trails lead through the forest to the Silver River.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Ocala and Marion County, overnight stays on streets and in the parks’ car parks are prohibited. The nearest legal dispersed options are in the Ocala National Forest east of the Ocklawaha River.
- Insider tip for campers
- Swimming is prohibited in the Silver Springs headspring area; you experience it from a boat. The main entrance is easy to drive for large vehicles; for kayak trips, early morning is worthwhile, before the motorboats arrive. Pick up propane, water filters and spare parts in Ocala.
7Stage 7: Silver Springs to Dunnellon (Rainbow Springs State Park) (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- Through Ocala and then south-west through horse country: if you want to see the stud farms, take CR-475A, SR-200 or country roads such as CR-225A west of town, past pastures with white and black wooden fences, oak avenues and training tracks. Then SR-40 and US-41 to Dunnellon. Driving time around 1.5 hours with detours. Petrol stations and shopping in Ocala and Dunnellon.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Ocala, “Horse Capital of the World”: Marion County has hundreds of thoroughbred and sport horse farms; some offer tours by appointment. The World Equestrian Center on the western edge of town hosts competitions that you can often attend free of charge. The brick buildings on the Downtown Square are good for a stroll.
- Rainbow Springs State Park: the headspring of the Rainbow River with a swimming area, old gardens and artificial waterfalls from the days when the site was a private tourist attraction. The water is exceptionally clear; kayaks and canoes from the park rental.
- Tubing on the Rainbow River: from the park’s separate tubing entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road or from the KP Hole county park, you float downstream on an inner tube; tubing is prohibited in the headspring area itself. The park’s tubing entrance only opens in the summer half of the year (closed from October to March), and rules on disposable containers apply – check current conditions beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Rainbow Springs State Park Campground: a separate facility a few kilometres from the headspring, apart from the day-use area; all RV sites with water, electricity and sewer, bathhouses, dump station. The gate is always locked; you get the code from the park by phone on your arrival day. Reserve through Florida State Parks; well booked in winter.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is no public land for dispersed camping around Dunnellon. If you continue from here to the Gulf Coast, you will find only designated campgrounds there too.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Gulf Coast manatees are only half an hour away: in Crystal River they gather in winter at Three Sisters Springs; the viewing and the rules are described in the CampingSpirit guide to Florida’s Gulf Coast down to the Everglades, as is Homosassa Springs with its underwater observatory. If you head north, you reach the Ichetucknee River – it is described in the CampingSpirit guide from the Okefenokee Swamp to the springs of North Florida.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Florida has hardly any options for free camping. Cities and counties prohibit sleeping in vehicles on streets and in public car parks; state parks and recreation areas close at night to anyone not camping.
- Ocala National Forest: dispersed camping outside the recreation areas is generally permitted, but during the hunting season only at designated sites (hunt camps and a few designated primitive sites). Length of stay is limited; observe fire bans in dry conditions; check current rules with the Forest Service (Seminole and Lake George Ranger Districts).
- Rest areas on the interstates and the Turnpike are for time-limited breaks, not overnight stays. Supermarket car parks only with explicit permission; many municipalities ban it outright.
- Reservations: Florida State Parks through the central reservation system (floridastateparks.org). Under state law, Florida residents can book up to eleven months ahead and out-of-state visitors up to ten months – for Wekiwa, Blue Spring and Rainbow Springs in winter, book as early as possible. Forest Service sites (Alexander, Juniper, Salt Springs) through recreation.gov.
- Capacity limits: Wekiwa, Blue Spring, De Leon, Silver Glen and Rainbow Springs often close their entrances by mid-morning at weekends and on holidays when the car parks are full. Arrive early and travel on weekdays; campers with a booking usually still get into the state parks.
- Wildlife: alligators live in every river and lake on the route – swim only in marked swimming areas and in daylight, keep dogs away from the water, never feed them (a criminal offence). Manatees are strictly protected; swimming bans in their winter refuges are absolute. Black bears in the Ocala National Forest: store food securely. Venomous snakes such as cottonmouths and rattlesnakes also occur.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt and Recreation.gov; Park4Night is not widely used in Florida.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations: at the state park campgrounds at Wekiwa, Blue Spring, Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs, and at Salt Springs; simpler Forest Service sites and primitive sites sometimes have none – check beforehand.
- Drinking water: at the campground taps; the tap water is drinkable but often tastes of sulphur or chlorine. Do not drink spring water unfiltered.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at dump stations. The springs are fed by the Floridan Aquifer, which also supplies the drinking water – any pollution ends up in the groundwater.
- Propane: petrol stations, DIY stores and camping shops fill US cylinders; European cylinders are usually not filled. There are hardly any filling points in the forest, so top up in Orlando, DeLand or Ocala.
- Electricity: state park sites offer 30, sometimes 50 A; in the summer months the air conditioning runs almost non-stop, and without electricity a stay from June to September is hardly pleasant.
- Shopping and fuel: Orlando, Sanford, DeLand, Ocala and Dunnellon are well supplied; in the Ocala National Forest only small shops in Astor, Altoona and Salt Springs. Fill up before driving through the forest.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits: interstates and Florida’s Turnpike mostly 65–70 mph, four-lane highways up to 65 mph, two-lane roads such as SR-40 and SR-19 mostly 55–60 mph. No separate limits for motorhomes; the posted signs apply. On rural roads in the forest, bears and deer cross, especially at dusk.
- Tolls: Florida’s Turnpike and the expressways around Orlando (SR-408, SR-417, SR-429, SR-414, Wekiva Parkway) are tolled and largely cashless. SunPass is the state’s transponder, and E-ZPass and other compatible transponders are accepted; without a transponder you get a bill by number plate (Toll-By-Plate), which is more expensive and includes surcharges. With rental vehicles, clarify the toll arrangement in advance; rates are based on the number of axles.
- Phones at the wheel: in Florida, texting while driving is prohibited, and in school and work zones only hands-free use is allowed. For police and breakdown vehicles at the roadside the “Move Over” law applies: change lanes or slow down significantly.
- Hurricane season: 1 June to 30 November, peaking from August to October. Central Florida lies inland but is regularly hit by the outer bands of storms, with high winds, heavy rain and flooding; state parks and Forest Service sites close at such times. Follow National Hurricane Center warnings daily and obey evacuation orders.
- Heat and thunderstorms: from May to September there are afternoon thunderstorms with intense lightning almost every day – Florida is one of the most lightning-prone regions in the USA. At the first sound of thunder, get out of the water immediately; plan paddling trips for the morning. In summer the heat index is often above 40°C.
- Fire: in dry conditions the counties and the Forest Service impose fire bans; campfires only in existing fire rings, and do not bring firewood from other regions.
- Emergency: 911. Mobile coverage is good in Orlando and Ocala, but weak or non-existent in places in the Ocala National Forest.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Snorkel, mask and a shorty wetsuit or Lycra: the spring water is around 22°C all year – cool in winter, refreshing in summer.
- Dry bag and a life jacket in the right size: for Juniper Run, the Silver River and the Rainbow River.
- SunPass or E-ZPass transponder: saves you the more expensive plate-based bills on the Turnpike and the expressways around Orlando.
- Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin and a mosquito net for the sliding door: mosquitoes and no-see-ums are at every spring run in summer.
- Bear-resistant cooler or lockable box for food: in the Ocala National Forest, black bears search campgrounds for anything edible.
- Weather radio or severe-weather app with lightning and hurricane alerts: thunderstorms and storms develop quickly in Florida.
As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
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