Hi there!
So you can go to Wakulla Springs State Park as a day trip from Tallahassee or as part of your Florida Panhandle road trip.
At Wakulla Springs State Park, there is the Wakulla Springs. (Yes, just as you’d imagine.)
And Wakulla Springs also connects to Wakulla River that’s also a part of the state park.
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So…
Yes, there are alligators in Wakulla Springs State Park!
This is one of the many Florida state parks with alligators.
If you go to the Wakulla Springs swimming area, then you will see a warning sign for alligators.
According to Florida State Parks:
Alligators are present along the trails and waterways of Wakulla Springs State Park.
They usually eat fish, turtles, and other small animals, but may attack larger animals such as deer.
Alligators have been known to attack humans.
Alligators are dangerous.
Do not swim with alligators.
Do not approach, frighten, or feed alligators.
And, while on a Wakulla Springs State Park boat tour, I did actually see an alligator!
A few, actually!
When I went to Wakulla Springs State Park, the weather wasn’t the best for alligator sightings, but I still saw around 5 alligators.
Apparently there is a stretch that the Wakulla Springs boat goes by that a ton of alligators like to lay around, but because of the weather conditions, they stayed in the water the time the boat went by and there were none in that particular spot.
But even though the weather wasn’t ideal for alligator sightings, I did still see a a few alligators.
👆 Spot the alligator!
Although 5 alligators is nothing compared to another boat tour I did near Orlando. But how many alligators you see on these boat tours is always all about the weather: water temperature, air temperature, and sunny vs overcast will affect whether alligators are out or not!
So Wakulla Springs State Park is one of the Florida state parks that you have a chance to see alligators!
You will increase your chance greatly if you do the Wakulla Springs boat tour!
The boat tour starts at Wakulla Springs in Wakulla Springs State Park, and then you’ll cruise along Wakulla River.
So for a chance to see alligators near Tallahassee, you might want to do the Wakulla Springs boat tour!
Even with minimal alligator sightings, it’s a nice boat ride along the Wakulla River.
Can you go swimming in Wakulla Springs?
There is one designated swimming area in Wakulla Springs State Park.
But again, there are signs at the Wakulla Beach swimming area that caution you about alligators.
As a designated swimming area though, people do go swimming in Wakulla Springs!
This also is a “cliff jumping” spot too. (The “cliff” is a man-made platform.)
A park ranger at Wakulla Springs State Park did say that alligators are most active at dusk though.
It generally seems safe to go swimming at Wakulla Springs, but you may want to avoid swimming at dusk.
If you do spot an alligator in the Wakulla Springs swimming area, as per the alligator caution sign, you’re asked to report it to a park ranger of Florida state parks!
What the people of Florida State Parks say if you see alligators while swimming in Wakulla Springs:
Immediately report alligator sighting in the swimming area to Wakulla Springs State Park staff.
The people at the Lodge of Wakulla Springs that is near the Wakulla Springs swimming area will likely be able to help you get in contact.
More alligators in Florida
- Myakka River State Park alligators
- Lake Louisa State Park alligators
- Lake Kissimmee alligators
- Everglades National Park alligators
- Tamiami Trail alligators
- Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park alligators
- PLUS: Everglades National Park crocodiles
🌴🐊
Watch the video below of a Wakulla Springs State Park alligator!
I saw a few alligators in Wakulla Springs State Park on a boat tour.
If you can’t see the Wakulla Springs State Park alligator video above, you can watch it on youtube.
And that’s a bit about alligators in Wakulla Springs State Park!
More Florida state parks:
- Florida Caverns State Park (1.5 hours away)
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park (2 hours away)
- St Andrews State Park (2 hours away)
Wakulla Springs is near Tallahassee FL. See more for your Florida road trip:
HAPPY ALLIGATOR SIGHTING ON THE WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK BOAT TOUR!
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