Alexander Springs Recreation Area

Florida has thirty-three first-magnitude springs. Exactly one of them sits inside a United States National Forest — and it's Alexander Springs, in the heart of the Ocala. The spring boils out of the limestone at about 70 million gallons a day, fills a wide, gently sloped sand-bottomed swimming pool, then runs ten miles east through 7,941 acres of designated federal wilderness before joining the St. Johns River at Astor. The water is a constant 72°F, the cave system below is open to certified open-water divers, and the surrounding pine forest is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi.

The wilderness around it does not have cell service, so plan accordingly.

• Location: Altoona (Lake County), in Ocala National Forest
• Address: 49525 County Road 445, Altoona, FL 32702
• Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (summer); 8 a.m. to dusk (off-season)
• Day-use fee: $14.50 per person (children 5 and under free)
• Weekend vehicle reservation: $20 per vehicle (Sat/Sun + holidays, Memorial Day – Labor Day)
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: First-magnitude (~70M gallons/day) — only one in any US National Forest
• Park size: 7,941-acre Alexander Springs Wilderness
• Camping: 67 sites, no hookups

• Orlando: 75 minutes (~65 miles) via US-441 north and CR-44 east
• Daytona Beach: 75 minutes via SR-44 west, CR-445 north
• Jacksonville: 2 hours via I-95 south, SR-40 west
• Tampa: 2.5 hours via I-75 north, I-4 east

No cell service in the Ocala National Forest. Download offline maps, save your Recreation.gov reservation, and confirm directions before turning off the highway.

Day-use is $14.50 per person, payable at the gate (cash recommended due to limited internet). Children 5 and under are free. The federal America the Beautiful annual pass and the Senior Pass are accepted.

On weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, an additional $20 per-vehicle reservation is required, purchased in advance at ReserveOcala.com (up to 14 days ahead). No RVs or trailers in the day-use vehicle reservation program. Weekday visits don't require a reservation and are dramatically less crowded.

The Springs Hopper Pass ($80/year per person) covers Alexander, Juniper, and Silver Glen Springs.

The spring vent reaches about 25 feet deep, with the boil strong enough to see from shore. The pool is wide, sand-bottomed, and gently sloping — one of the most family-friendly spring entries in Florida. Crystal-clear water, eelgrass beds, freshwater fish, the visible cave opening, and a constant 72°F temperature.

Downstream, Alexander Spring Creek runs for ten miles through Alexander Springs Wilderness (designated by Congress in 1984) before reaching the St. Johns River near Astor.

• Swimming and snorkeling in the sandy spring pool. Gentle slope makes it one of the most accessible springs for kids and non-swimmers; depth increases toward the vent so keep less-confident swimmers in the shallow zone.
• Scuba diving at the vent — Alexander Springs is the only location in the Ocala National Forest where SCUBA is permitted. Open-water certification required.
• Kayaking and canoeing down Alexander Run — the signature paddle. Six miles through the wilderness with hardwood swamps, palms, alligators, turtles, river otters, and abundant birdlife. The current is mild enough to paddle back upstream, so out-and-back is feasible without a shuttle.
• Hiking — the Timucuan Trail interpretive loop (0.9 miles) starts at the spring's edge with a boardwalk through palm hammock and observation decks. The Florida National Scenic Trail also passes through.
• Wildlife viewing — alligators sunning on the creek, otters, deer, raccoons, occasional bears in the forest, plus a strong bird list (limpkins, anhingas, ospreys, Louisiana herons).
• Fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill from platforms along the Timucuan Trail.

The Alexander Springs Campground has 67 sites across four loops, all walking distance to the swim area. Sites are shaded, with level pads accommodating most RVs up to 35 feet (some sites cap at 23–25 feet — confirm specific site dimensions on Recreation.gov).

Important: no hookups. No electric, no water, no sewer at individual sites. There's a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and bear-proof food storage. RVs need to be fully self-contained.

• Max 5 people, 2 tents, 2 vehicles per site
• Quiet hours 10 p.m. – 6 a.m.
• Pets allowed in campground only, not in day-use area
• Check-in 2 p.m., check-out 11 a.m.
• 14-day max stay in any 30-day period
• Reservations: Recreation.gov (campground 234032) or 877-444-6777
• Year-round operation

• Naventure (in-park concessionaire) — kayak, canoe, and SUP rentals at the launch. Also operates the general store. 352-669-3522. Historical rates: $16/2 hours, $24/4 hours, $38/day (verify current pricing).
• BYO craft is welcome; pay only the day-use fee.

No off-site lodging at Alexander itself — on-site camping is the only overnight option in the immediate area. Nearest clusters:

• Astor (~8 miles east, on the St. Johns River) — Astor Bridge Marina & Motel, Castaways on the River; riverfront motels popular with anglers
• Mount Dora / Eustis (~30 minutes west) — historic small-town hotels and B&Bs; Mount Dora is a charming antique-shop and lakefront destination
• Leesburg (~35 minutes southwest) — chain hotels along US-441
• Ocala (~45 minutes northwest) — best multi-day base for Ocala NF exploration; full hotel range

• In-park concession — snacks, beverages, ice, charcoal, firewood from Naventure's store. No hot food.
• Astor (~8 miles) — Castaways Restaurant and several casual riverfront spots along the St. Johns
• Mount Dora (~30 min west) — diverse restaurant scene, waterfront dining on Lake Dora, craft breweries
• Stock up on groceries in Eustis, Mount Dora, or Ocala before arriving — limited options near the spring

• Download offline maps. Cell service in Ocala NF is essentially nonexistent. Save your Recreation.gov reservation to your phone before leaving signal.
• Bring cash. The concession store has limited internet for card transactions.
• Bear-proof your food. Bears are confirmed in the campground area. Ejection from the campground is the penalty for non-compliance.
• Reserve vehicle entry for summer weekends. $20 per vehicle, in advance only, at ReserveOcala.com.
• The campground has no hookups. RV-ers must be fully self-contained.
• Keep small kids in the shallow entry zone. The pool deepens significantly toward the boil — no lifeguard on duty.
• Mosquitos at dusk. EPA-registered repellent for the campground June–October.
• No pets in day-use area. Pets are campground-only.
• Check fire restrictions at fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/alerts before your visit; campfire rules can shift seasonally.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Verify fees, capacity reservation rules, and current concessionaire operations at fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/recreation/alexander-springs-recreation-area and recreation.gov before visiting. Photos via Wikimedia Commons and the National Archives.