When most RVers think about Florida travel, they usually consider the beautiful beaches or exciting theme parks. But what if I told you that Florida has many stunning hidden natural gems to explore that most tourists miss?
Our family spent years RVing in Florida before we ever discovered the state’s original tourist attraction, the natural springs. These crystal clear waters are so stunning that they almost seem unreal. Take an RV road trip with our family as we share our top spots to explore Florida’s natural springs
Stop 1: Crystal River, Florida
Swim With The Manatees
One of Florida’s most coveted natural activities is viewing the Manatees, also lovingly known as sea cows. This beautiful, rare, and highly protected animal is easiest to view in the clear water of the natural springs. While there are many places to view manatees in the state, Crystal River, Florida, is one of the only locations where it’s legal to swim with the manatees. Here, you can take a snorkeling tour or swim on your own to get up close and personal with these curious, gentle giants.
While it’s easiest to find manatees throughout the chilly winter months, around 80 reside all year in the Crystal River area. The water is a year-round cold 72 degrees, so one of the biggest benefits of taking a snorkeling tour versus swimming on your own is the included use of a wetsuit. Regardless of how you take to the water, swimming with the manatees is an experience you will never forget
3 Sisters Springs
3 Sisters Springs is the home of a National Wildlife Refuge protecting the manatees, also lovingly referred to as sea cows. If you prefer to stay dry during your visit to Crystal River, you can enjoy walking around on the boardwalks surrounding the springs to view the manatees from the land.
A travel tip for this area is to visit early in the morning, right as 3 Sisters Springs opens. This area is popular, and even with the free shuttle offered, parking can be a challenge.
Stop 2: Williston, Florida
Devil’s Den
You may not think of caves when you think of Florida, but the state is actually full of underground caverns. The problem? Almost all of them are completely filled with water which makes them inaccessible to explore. Devil’s Den is not only a rare exception but also a spectacular beauty that every traveler to Florida should check out.
Devil’s Den isn’t just another cave, but one with a stunning crystal clear spring inside. This cave spring is teaming with fish and turtles, and you can snorkel or dive to explore this geological wonder. The rock formations and fossils found within the cave date back 33 million years! Plus, you can’t beat the beauty of the light streaming from the cave opening above through the blue spring water.
For RVers looking to stay the night, Devil’s Den also has a campground that is a great fit for smaller-size RVs. If you stay longer, they also have a natural springs swimming area to enjoy during your visit, separate from the cave spring.
Stop 3: Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a major city, and one you may not think holds any natural treasures, but this is where our family’s favorite Florida natural spring is located. It’s also the location of many fun, unexpected outdoor activities
The World Equestrian Center
Did you know that Ocala, Florida, is the Horse Capitol Of The World? Before visiting here, we always thought of Kentucky as the hub for equestrian activities, but it’s actually Florida. There are more than 1,200 horse farms here, and many of them have tours where you can get up close and personal with these beautiful animals, feed them, or go horseback riding.
One of the best places to visit is the World Equestrian Center. This expansive resort and competition center is the largest equestrian complex in the United States. With multiple indoor and outdoor arenas, there are always competitions to check out during your visit.
Except for special events, parking and competitions are free. So you can tour the resort, restaurants, and shops while enjoying the horses. In addition to the grand hotel, there is also a large on-site RV campground suitable for RVs of all sizes.
The Canyons
For travelers who seek outdoor adventures with an adrenaline rush, add The Canyons to your road trip list. Most people say there are no canyons in Florida, but the folks at The Canyons would disagree. This old limestone mine has been turned into an epic and scenic adventure park.
Not only are the tall rock cliffs and beautiful turquoise water a rare sight in the state, but this park is also the home to Florida’s tallest and longest zipline. There are a series of ziplines, swinging bridges, and rope repels to satisfy any daredevil you are traveling with.
Prefer to keep your adventures closer to the ground? They also have horseback riding tours around the scenic canyon.
Silver Springs State Park
It’s finally time to reveal our family’s favorite spring to explore in the state. Silver Springs State Park protects the massive headsprings of the Silver River and the surrounding area. It’s a beautiful park to walk around, with spring views around every corner. You can often view fish, turtles, and sometimes also manatees in the crystal-clear waters.
One historic adventure every visitor to Silver Springs needs to experience is the World Famous Glass Bottom Boat Tour. In fact, this boat tour may have been Florida’s very first tourist attraction, dating back to the late 1870s. The boat tour is a fun way to experience an underwater view without getting wet while also learning more about the fascinating history of this park.
Silver Springs State Park Campground
Silver Springs State Park is also the site of our favorite state park RV campground in Florida. The campground is big rig-friendly with oversized, heavily wooded private campsites. Staying here gives you more time to enjoy the epic hiking, bike trails, and paddling opportunities the park has to offer.
The Silver Springs State Park campground has a special place in our family’s heart because it’s where we first found our love of state park camping. Like many RVers with larger RVs, we thought state park camping could be a challenge to fit into. The truth is, with a little bit of extra research, many state parks can accommodate RVs of all sizes. There is nothing like the convenience of being able to access nature and outdoor recreation right from your campsite!
Paddle The Silver River
While you can experience stunning spring views from walking around Silver Springs State Park or taking the Glass Bottom Boat Tour, our family’s favorite way to enjoy the springs is always to get out on the water. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at the state park and either make a loop on the paddle trail near the headspring or paddle the entire Silver River and take a shuttle back to the state park.
Paddling the entire Silver River gives you the greatest chance to experience all of the wildlife found in this area. It’s an easy paddle downriver with the chance to view alligators, fish, turtles, otters, and manatees. From the state park to the shuttle pickup, it takes around 3-4 hours, and every minute of the trip offers incredible scenery. We have paddled many of the Florida springs, and nothing compares to paddling the length of the Silver River.
Short On Time?
If you only have time for one stop to explore Florida’s stunning natural springs, pick Silver Springs State Park. Not only do you have all of the incredible views and wildlife available here, but you also have the bonus of taking the Glass Bottom Boat Tour and paddling the Silver River. This one park offers a complete experience of Old Florida.
Final Thoughts
The next time you take an RV trip to Florida, will you take time out from beaches and theme parks to explore a little piece of Old Florida with a road trip to the springs? I promise you won’t be disappointed!
