Wekiwa Springs State Park

Florida State Parks' day-use reservation page, checked September 22, 2026:

• All day-use guests must have a reservation, a camping reservation or a concession reservation to enter.
• Reservations open up to 60 days in advance. Same-day bookings work until the daily limit is met.
• There is no additional fee to reserve; the entry fee is collected when you book.
• You need a separate reservation for each day.
• Annual pass holders choose the pass option at checkout and must show the pass and the receipt at the gate.

Florida Rambler reported that the park's capacity is 213 vehicles and that the booking system has a "Notify Me" feature for spots that open up as cars leave. The park's current alert says reservations have been required since September 2, 2025. For summer weekends and holidays, book as soon as your 60-day window opens.

The swimming area is open from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes before the park closes. There are no lifeguards; swimmers and snorkelers go in at their own risk. Diving and jumping are banned because much of the basin is shallow. A swim lift gives wheelchair users access to the water.

Seventy-two degrees feels cold on a winter morning and perfect in August, which is exactly why summer is when the park fills. Bring your own snorkel gear and water shoes; the park does not list rentals for either. Pets are welcome in the park on a 6-foot leash but not in the swimming area.

Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the park's concession. Florida State Parks does not list the rental prices, and the concession's site blocked our check, so confirm the current rate on arrival. Florida Rambler reports that renters who only hire equipment still need a park day-use reservation, while guests on a concession tour enter without the separate entry fee.

Distances from the Wekiwa Springs launch, per Florida State Parks:

• Wekiva Island: 1 mile
• Otter Camp on Rock Springs Run: 3 miles
• Buffalo Tram on the Wekiva River: 3.5 miles
• Kelly Park on Rock Springs Run: 9.5 miles

On land, hiking trails range from a 0.8-mile boardwalk that meets ADA standards to a 13.5-mile route through sandhill and river swamp. There is also a 9-mile off-road bike trail and an 8-mile horse trail. The park also has a nature center, a playground and two rentable pavilions for up to 100 people each.

The address is 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712. By road it is about 17 miles from downtown Orlando (roughly 35 minutes without traffic), 20 miles from Universal and about 30 miles from Disney Springs. Plan to drive.

The park opens at 8 a.m. Your reservation gets you in; arriving early gets you the coolest hours of the day in the water. Weekdays outside school holidays are the easiest days to book. If you are staying out by the parks, Wekiwa is a full half-day commitment, so pair it with a day that is already in the north of the metro, such as Winter Park or downtown.

Central Florida has other springs, each with its own rules. Kelly Park's Rock Springs is known for tubing and sits upstream on the same river system. Blue Spring State Park is best known for its winter manatees; our day-trip page covers its swimming rules. Check each park's own reservation or capacity rules before driving, since Florida State Parks has been extending the day-use reservation pilot to other parks.

Construction notice: the park's alerts say campground work may take place from June 26, 2026 during business hours. The park says it will not affect the bathhouse facilities.