Field guides
Springs trips, planned for you
Hand-picked roundups for how you actually want to spend the day — tubing, kayaking, manatee season, a day trip from Orlando or Tampa, the best for families. Each guide has drive times, fees, what to bring, and a link into every spring’s full profile.
10 guides to plan around
Six Crystal River manatee tour operators compared on published 2026–27 prices, boat size, departure times, and what is included, plus when to go and how to book.
Which Florida springs allow dogs? The honest answer: all of them allow leashed dogs on trails, none of them allow dogs in the spring water, and a few let you kayak with your dog on board. Here's the complete breakdown.
7 Florida springs within 90 minutes of Tampa — from mermaid shows to manatee snorkeling, the closest swimming spring, and the only warm spring in the state. Drive times, fees, and what each spring does best.
Every Florida spring with on-site or adjacent camping — tent sites, RV hookups, glamping, stilt cabins, and a 3-bedroom house 100 feet from a spring. Nightly rates, reservation systems, and which campgrounds book out months in advance.
Three weekend springs itineraries from Orlando, each with two days and one overnight: Kelly Park and Blue Spring, the Ocala National Forest, and Silver Springs with the Rainbow River. Fees, reservations, and where to stay.
The 10 best Florida springs for families with toddlers and young kids — ranked by shallow entry, lifeguards, restrooms, shade, playgrounds, and stroller access. Honest about which springs to skip.
The 10 best Florida springs for kayaking and SUP — ranked by paddle quality, water clarity, wildlife, and difficulty. Full details on distance, rental outfitters, shuttle logistics, and what you'll see on the water.
The 7 best Florida springs for tubing — ranked by float distance, scenery, current speed, and family friendliness. Where to rent tubes, how early to arrive, and what the lazy river actually feels like at each spring.
Skip the theme parks for a day. 8 crystal-clear Florida springs within 90 minutes of Orlando — swimming, tubing, snorkeling, kayaking, and manatee watching. Drive times, fees, and what to bring.
Crystal River is the only place in the United States where federal law permits in-water interaction with wild manatees. This guide covers the legal swim-with sites, the view-only sites, the season, the rules, and the tour operators.