21 beautiful springs and beaches within an easy drive from Orlando

Alexander Springs Recreation Area

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 15 minutes
Sitting in the massive, 383,000 acre Ocala forest, Alexander Springs is among Florida’s most popular freshwater destinations. It is the only Ocala forest spring that permits scuba diving. If you prefer staying above water, though, don’t fret: Alexander Springs also has plenty of places to swim, canoe and hike.
49525 County Rd 445, Altoona
Photo via eyes_for_iris/Instagram

Canaveral National Seashore

Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
Canaveral’s beach may not be quite as out-of-this-world as its literally space-bound rockets, but we think it’s a pretty close runner up. This is your go-to when you need a break from it all. Go for a hike to see some awesome birds and hunt for cool driftwood, or just zen out and snooze on the sand.
Photo via Canaveral National Seashore/Facebook

Rock Springs Run at Kelly Park

Estimated driving distance: 40 minutes
Northwest of Orlando, this bubbly Apopka spring features a nice lazy river run. Rent a tube and never look back.
400 E. Kelly Park Road, Apopka
Photo via jonathan.t.marcia/Instagram

Weeki Wachee Springs

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 45 minutes
Mermaids have never been easy to find, except at Weeki Wachee’s iconic live mermaid shows. But if underwater acrobatics aren’t your thing, you can also explore one of Florida’s largest natural springs by swimming, tubing, or taking a 25 minute river boat ride, included in all park admissions.
6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill,
Photo via brittvangraan/Instagram

New Smyrna Beach

Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
Oh NSB, how we love/hate you. You're one of the best surf towns in the country, but you also experience an unusually high number of shark bites. You're the fastest way for Orlandoans to get a beach fix, but the fact that you allow cars to drive on the beach can be a bummer. But you know what, you'll always be No. 1 to us, not just because you're the shortest distance away but because there's no better feeling than putting your hot, sandy feet up on the dashboard and stopping for a dip cone at Frozen Gold on the way out of town.
Photo via scooby7285/Instagram

Devil’s Den Spring

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 45 minutes
Snorkel or scuba dive your way through the blue waters to see 33-million-year-old fossil beds, ancient rock formations and stalactites. Spring access is limited to snorkelers and scuba divers. It's an experience you definitely won't forget.
5390 N.E. 180th Ave., Williston
Photo via aaronkbartman/Instagram

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Estimated driving distance: 30 minutes
Get there early because this popular clear water spring with origins in the Wekiva River fills up fast with tourists and residents. Canoe and kayak rentals are available.
1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka
Photo via meenbean_/Instagram

Blue Spring State Park

Estimated driving distance: 45 minutes
Blue Spring, the biggest spring on the St. John's River, is a designated manatee refuge and home to a population of West Indian manatees during the winter, but in the summer it's all about hanging in the H2O – swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, tubing, kayaking and canoeing are all allowed on the Blue Spring Run. If you've got a scuba license, you should definitely check out the underwater cave lingering about 100 feet below the surface.
2100 W. French Ave., Orange City
Photo via nastya_sot/Instagram

Playalinda Beach

Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
At Playalinda, you just might see a full moon. And by moon we mean a whole lot of naked butts gallivanting around one of Florida's only nude beaches. Just remember, you can only change into your birthday suit in Lot 13.
Photo via daddybyday/Instagram

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 15 minutes
This spring is more than two hours away from Orlando, but boy is it worth the drive. Tube down this serene lazy river or go scuba diving in the caves of nearby Blue Hole Spring.
12087 S.W. U.S. Highway 27, Fort White
Photo via scottmpeck/Instagram

Cocoa Beach

Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
Orlando's closest beach off Florida's Space Coast is just an hour away and the stuff of surfing legend. Explore its sandy Atlantic beaches, famous pier and the world's largest surfing shop at the Cocoa Beach Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Photo via gubbybearr/Instagram

Fanning Springs

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Nestled aside an oxbow in the long Suwanee River, Fanning Springs is one of Central Florida’s premiere second magnitude springs. In case you're a strictly first-magnitude kind of person, and its daily 65 million gallons of newly emerging spring water aren’t quite enough for you, observe also its Wilderness Trail and rentable cabins. For those hiking, cycling or paddling into the springs, primitive camping sites are also available.
18020 US-19, Fanning Springs
Photo via florida_destination/Instagram

Pass-a-Grille Beach

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 15 minutes
The casual, slightly-more-southern cousin of Clearwater Beach, Pass-a-Grille is home to the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, classic hotels and motels, and of course, beautiful, white sandy beaches. Fun fact: its name is reportedly in honor of the fishermen who used to grill catches there hundreds of years ago.
Photo via lwnewstart/Instagram

Ginnie springs

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 15 minutes
’Visibility Forever’ is the tagline of Alachua County’s Ginnie Springs, and for good reason. Dive into its aquamarine waters and see for yourself, or rent one of its stand up paddle boards and check out its surrounding forests.
7300 Ginnie Springs Rd, High Springs
Photo via ginniesprings/Instagram

Clearwater Beach

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours
Stretching 2 and a half miles down the west coast of the Pinellas peninsula, Clearwater Beach is host to a lot more than its high rise resorts. Keep your eye out for Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise ship, or head inland for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, featuring Winter, star of Dolphin’s Tale.
Photo via clearwater.beach/Instagram

Caladesi Island State Park

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Winner of America’s Best Beach 2008, this West Coast reprieve is one of the few completely natural islands on the Gulf Coast. It features no shortage of fishing spots and hiking trails, and it’s home to many native birds, such as Skimmers and Pelicans. Just know that at Caladesi Island, the birds watch you, too. Or at least that sweet sandwich you packed.
Photo via terezkat84/Instagram

Rainbow Springs

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 30 minutes
Come to the place that Floridians have been visiting for almost 10,000 years, according to archaeological evidence. Tube, snorkel, canoe and kayak your way down the Rainbow River before it gets to the Withlacoochee River.
19158 SW 81st Place Road, Dunnellon
Photo via michaela_carver/Instagram

Silver Glen Springs

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 30 minutes
Bubbling up between the Oak, Cedar and Pine scrub forests of Ocala, at this popular spot you can kayak, canoe, and snorkel your way along the mile long river to Lake George. Be careful with your paddles, though, because Silver Glen Springs is also a popular spot for our native, freshwater fish.
5301 North Highway 19, Ft. McCoy
Photo via boquick/Instagram

Cedar Key

Estimated driving distance: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Far from the biggest of the beaches, Cedar Key is host to a charming gulf-side town of roughly 1,000 residents. Rich in history and old-Florida feeling, here you can bicycle along quiet streets and get your fill at several fine seafood establishments
Photo via Tampa Bay CVB/Visit FLorida

Three Sisters Springs

Estimated driving distance: 1 hours, 45 minutes
Host to a number of vital Manatee sanctuaries, the Three Sisters Springs is a great spot for catching a glimpse--or even a touch--of one of Florida’s most recognizable aquatic species.
601 Three Sisters Springs Trail, Crystal River
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