Let’s dive into the best experiences this park has to offer, perfect for your next adventure, and especially about Florida’s oldest attraction: Silver Springs. From hikes, camping and especially an incredible experience on their glass bottom boat tour. Let’s go!
Silver Springs is located on the western edge of the Ocala National Forest, about an hour and a half from Orlando, making it a perfect spot for a day trip. It offers beautiful views on the huge space with springs, the Silver River for about 5 miles (8.04 KM) plus the forest. This beautiful location has been a natural historic destination since the late 1870s when glass bottom boat tours began. Here’s the location on the map.
When you arrive at the park you find a very large parking lot. You walk to the entrance where you pay $2 to enter the park (children under 6 years old enter for free). At the ticket booth they explain a little about the boats, what you will find in the park and they give you a map to explore better.
Then you will find the waiting area where you will take the boat for your tour along the river. By the waiting area you’ll find restrooms, a store, a small museum and even a cafe. Everything under shade so it’s perfect for summer.
In the 1930s, Hollywood discovered Silver Springs, among some films filmed in this park: Creature from the Black Lagoon and six films from Tarzan. Although the first one, a large part of the movie was filmed in another spot in Florida: Wakulla Springs, which I will tell you about it in another post soon.
I recommend you buy your tickets for the tour in advance on their website to secure a spot on the boat. We bought tickets 2 weeks in advance, basically because we were planning several tours and short trips and in our group there were 2 people who bought their tickets that same day on the spot. But they were lucky because there were no more tickets available for that boat. There are several schedules and 2 different tours options, one of 30 minutes and a longer one, which was the one we took and it was perfect.
Once they call to board, you get on the boat, they talk to you about safety during the tour and the beautiful ride begins. Thanks to the glass bottom you can see so many fishes and even turtles. It really is a very pleasant tour. We had the opportunity to see 2 manatees, many birds, fishes and of course alligators. There is an area that is known for some little monkeys, but we couldn’t see any at the time.
There are points where they explain some items that you can see in the bottom of the springs, such as props they used in movies and left them there, and even pieces of ships from many years ago.
You can also find options to rent a kayak, canoe or paddleboard. So it all depends on what type of activity you want to do. We loved the boat tour since you learn more interesting details about the place, such as some objects found at the bottom of the spring, films that have been recorded at the place and a lot of history.
After the boat ride, we strolled around the park, not too far from the main area. But you can take advantage of some of the hiking trails that the park offers. Here’s the link where you can learn more about those trails plus a map of the park.
Another of the pleasant options that the park offers to connect with nature is camping. You can rent one of the cabins on site, arrive in your RV or primitive camping with tents. It is important to contact the park to make your reservation.
Silver Springs State Park is open 7 days a week year-round, including ALL holidays, from 8 am to sundown. Here’s the link to their official site for more information and to purchase your ticket for the glass bottom boat ride.
Glass Bottom Boat Tours:
30-Minute Tours,10 am to 6 pm
Extended Tours: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, departures at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm
Canoe, Kayak and SUP Rentals:
Launch Ramp Hours, 8 am to 5 pm
Last Departure Downriver to Ray Wayside Park, 1 pm
Last Pickup at Ray Wayside Park, 5 pm
Last 2-hour rental, 3:00 pm
Last 1 hour rental, 4:00 pm
Would you visit this place? You really spend an incredible day among beautiful landscapes.
